Chapter 4929

"This trick is most likely like this." Tim paused, then explained, "Not long ago. Doctor Manhattan used his superpowers to control Ogilvy. Had him act in Cobblepot's name — or simply disguise himself with superpowers — and deceived Victor. Got 200 tons of ice from him."

"He tampered with this ice. There's most likely something inside that can interfere with Brainiac. Like nanoviruses or the like. On the surface it looks like just a pile of ice blocks, but after melting, it can actually contaminate Gotham's underground water sources."

"This ice was transported to Cobblepot's underground cold storage and has been stored there ever since, also serving as a contamination source all along. Ice blocks constantly melt and seep into the groundwater system. And the pollutants in the water didn't take effect right away, but waited until these things spread throughout Gotham via the water cycle, even including Professor Xilei's home and the area near that lake, before the contamination finally showed signs."

"Because groundwater contamination was discovered, Brainiac started investigating, but it was actually very difficult. Still that same saying: Gotham's groundwater situation is too complex. Besides natural contamination, Jonathan's decades of daily poisoning, there are many weird things. Brainiac couldn't figure out the source for a while."

"I guess he might first check industrial wastewater discharge and such, then Professor Xilei and the others who threw pollutants into the water. This led them to think Brainiac's target was investigating the lake monster. But actually, Brainiac wasn't using water contamination as an excuse to settle scores for their past deeds, but was genuinely investigating water contamination."

"Brainiac's thinking fell into a blind spot. That is, he believed the pollutant source was most likely discharged into the groundwater system along with the water flow. Whether it was contaminated industrial wastewater or the lake water that spawned the lake monster, both polluted the entire groundwater system in liquid water form."

"He didn't realize the contamination source was actually solid ice blocks. Under Ogilvy's operation, the ice blocks would melt at a preset rate and discharge directly into the groundwater. This rate certainly wouldn't be fast, so Brainiac couldn't discover it immediately."

"Just like that, Brainiac's server room next to the Xilei home was corroded. He suspected even more that the lake monster might be behind it, believed the lake monster was the contamination source, and investigated lake monster related matters even more closely. This made those who originally participated in this matter distance themselves one after another."

"However, Brainiac should soon discover the lake monster's influence isn't that great. This incident wasn't an accident, but someone deliberately poisoning. And once you mention poisoning, Jonathan Crane is inevitably the first to be investigated."

"As luck would have it, Jonathan really did poison. This led Brainiac to think controlling Jonathan in prison solved the problem. Next he only needed to purify the water bodies."

"But things are far from that simple." Tim's tone grew increasingly grave. "Doctor Manhattan's goal certainly isn't just contaminating groundwater or striking at Cobblepot's confidence. His target has always been Brainiac himself."

"What he used the ice blocks to introduce into the groundwater system wouldn't be simple corrosives. Because even if he destroyed one of Brainiac's server rooms, Brainiac still has countless servers spread globally. Quite a few on Krypton and other alien planets, even backups in other universes."

"To truly harm Brainiac, one must hack his system, at minimum touch the underlying code. I'm not sure if Doctor Manhattan has expertise in this area, but it appears he succeeded."

Pamela leaned back on the sofa with arms crossed and said, "Meaning the game system malfunction is very likely not just because Brainiac's code wasn't rigorous, but because someone tampered with his system."

"Yes. This not only caused system collapse, but also caused certain protective measures that should have triggered during circuit breaking to fail, leaving some players' mental bodies stranded in the system. Once these mental bodies suffer harm, this is an absolutely unacceptable mistake, and no one will be willing to play Brainiac's games anymore."

"I understand," Red Robin sighed softly, "Previously Doctor Manhattan's own game system had problems, and Brainiac just happened to launch a test version at that time. This would steal Manhattan Amusement Park's customers. To interfere with a competitor, Doctor Manhattan had to make Brainiac commit a bigger error."

"Right. Although Manhattan Amusement Park's system also crashed then, fortunately no one was hurt. Even though it hasn't reopened yet, with some adjustment time it can definitely go online again. But Brainiac caused player danger during testing; once this spreads through the multiverse, his game system will never go online."

"Truly despicable competitive tactics," Damian said, "But they picked the wrong people this time. Those trapped in the game system aren't pushovers. What means does Doctor Manhattan have to threaten this group?"

"I guess Doctor Manhattan's target was originally you all." Harley looked at the people from other universes, "On one hand, there are almost no superpowered individuals among you. Once mental bodies are trapped, the disordered game system is enough to injure your mental bodies."

"Once you're injured, Batman will definitely investigate, might also come find trouble with Brainiac, and this matter will spread through the multiverse. Brainiac's reputation will be damaged."

"But for some reason, the plan execution went awry. You weren't stuck; instead those psychics got stuck. These people aren't vegetarians. No matter what dangers Doctor Manhattan arranged in the system, they can't possibly succeed."

"I'll tell Batman about this." Nightwing also knew the matter was critical. Doctor Manhattan dared harm Robin to ruin Brainiac's reputation. Even if his ultimate target was Brainiac, Batman would absolutely not let him off.

"What exactly went wrong with the plan?" Red Robin was thinking about this, "Why were those psychics the ones who got stuck instead?"

"I feel you not only didn't cause trouble, but might have saved yourselves." Dick said thoughtfully, "I think Doctor Manhattan wouldn't have predicted we'd impulsively go mess with that gun. The resulting system error might not have been at a node he intended to arrange. So although the same effect was achieved, the targets were wrong."

"Like he buried a landmine, originally waiting for a car to pass before detonating, but an elephant walked by instead. The mine detonated early, didn't hit the car, but hit the elephant."

Everyone nodded; they thought this possibility was quite high. Red Robin thought a moment then said, "But why these people? Even if the detonation timing was off, it should more likely have been those people at Viscount Manor back then? After all we were all together."

"There's some connection among them." Tim said.

"Collective unconscious." Harley continued, "Death connects them."

The topic gradually entered the metaphysical realm, but was quickly pulled back on track. Red Hood asked, "What do we do now? Go rescue Brainiac, or investigate Doctor Manhattan, or go back to the main universe..."

"No." Tim said, "We go find Joker."

After many years, the main universe Robins finally reunited with Jack once more. The scene was indeed somewhat awkward, but the main awkward point was that Joker Jack was a bit impatient with them.

Usually, when Joker sees the Robins his eyes light up. In his eyes, the Robins are the start button for his and Batman's game. Just grab any one, and Batman has to play the game with him. Joker is fanatical toward Robin.

But at the same time Joker hates Robin, because Robin divides Batman's attention from him. So once he catches a Robin, he tortures them severely. In various comics there are plots of Joker abusing Robin.

Seen fanatical hunters, seen hate-driven madness, but Joker Jack should be the only one in the multiverse who finds Robin annoying.

Bleary-eyed Jack opened his door, saw a row of Robins standing outside, and "bang" shut the door.

"Wait," Tim shouted, "Uncle Jack, don't be so heartless. We're here for a visit, and brought your favorite barbecue..."

"I keep feeling like I'm dreaming." Damian leaned against the East District apartment building wall, "I should've been asleep since last night and never woke up."

"Here you should call him Uncle Jack," Tim turned and told him, "He held you when you were little."

"Don't bring that up again!" Damian shouted, "Like I wanted to be held by him. Wasn't it Bruce who stuffed me in his arms?! Could I move?"

Red Hood was the boldest instead. He walked straight up, knocked bang-bang-bang on the door and said, "Open up, open up!"

Jack opened the door, disdain written all over his face. "What do you want? I drove all day yesterday, just slept less than 6 hours..."

"Joker actually sleeps," Red Robin whispered to Nightwing, "First time I've heard that."

"We have business with you," Tim ignored Jack's attitude entirely, familiarly squeezing through the door crack and putting the barbecue on the coffee table. The rest filed in after.

Jack wanted to stop them, but with a Pamela and a Barry there was no way. One used vines to prop the door, the other turned into a bolt of lightning and got everyone inside.

Actually Jack's place is pretty big. He's been a truck driver a long time, stable too. US truck drivers earn quite a lot, even among the highest-paid blue collar. Before Brainiac came he already had his own house.

After Brainiac came he drew a nature reserve for him, but because East District population is too dense and many won't move, the nature reserve is just the two connected apartments, half a floor, about the size of Viscount Manor's living room, not small either.

Harley and them are all familiar with the place, clearly haven't harassed Uncle Jack a few times. Mainly Barry's Speed Force isn't good for bringing people. Joker Jack's ability to traverse Dreamland by truck is the most convenient fast travel the Young Avengers can find. This place has become their bus stop.

Jack doesn't want to drive them, but shameless people are invincible. The Robins truly don't stand on ceremony with him. He won't drive, they just shamelessly camp out and won't leave. What can he do? It's New Year's, they came all this way, they're kids after all.

Jack looked at the Robins filing in, sighed, and went to find the truck keys.