[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel":3,"chapter-my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-chapter-960":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","My Life as a Mental Mentor in Marvel",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2323528,4544,"Chapter 960","my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-chapter-960",960,"\u003Cp>In the pitch-black tunnel, two glowing eyes suddenly appeared; Batman stepped forward first from the darkness, peering through the smoke of explosions toward the tunnel ahead, while behind him emerged a towering figure who had to bend low to advance through the two-meter-high passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first thing visible in the light was an alligator’s mouth, followed by limbs that were both reptilian and human, and a massive tail; Batman turned to ask him, “Wei Lun, can you still smell anything?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The giant alligator-man lowered his head, sniffed lightly, then spoke in an extremely deep voice: “They passed this way—I won’t be wrong about my sense of smell…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his face, covered in raised bumps, wrinkled into a more ferocious expression as he added: “This place is too dry. I hate it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dry?” Batman said, puzzled. “Are you sure? This is beneath Gotham’s aquifer—there’s abundant groundwater above. How could it possibly be dry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s exactly what’s strange,” the alligator-man said as he stepped forward, causing the tunnel to tremble. “I lived in Gotham’s sewers before—damp, dark, perfect. But here? It’s the opposite. I feel like I’m drying out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Batman narrowed his eyes as he walked alongside the alligator-man, saying: “Thanks to you, Wei Lun. Without you, in this dark, narrow place, I’d have no way to track them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No thanks needed, Batman. When that warehouse burned, you saved me. Without you, I’d have been crushed.” The alligator-man glanced at his waist and abdomen—his powerful healing had left no scars, but the memory of being pinned under debris, skin burning in flames, remained vivid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when Bruce had visited the slums and become a warehouse manager, he once worked alongside Killer Croc. When the warehouse suddenly caught fire, it was Bruce who pulled him out. Later, Bruce even visited him once, hearing his story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killer Croc was born with atavistic genes, mocked since childhood by classmates and friends. Unable to survive in normal society, he came to Gotham.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d been living comfortably in the sewers—until the Ice-Bound Gotham incident nearly trapped him there. The sewers were no longer safe, so he had to find housing on land. But to find housing, he needed a job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most jobs wouldn’t hire someone so grotesque. Only brute labor—moving heavy loads—didn’t care about appearance. So Killer Croc got steady work, decent pay, even saved some money, letting him recover at home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We need to hurry,” Killer Croc said. “I only took half a day off. If I’m late, I’ll miss dinner. Boss said he’d save me a live chicken…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of his swallowing echoed through the dark tunnel; Batman quickened his pace, following the direction Killer Croc indicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Shi Le was brought to the larger base the agents had mentioned, and sat down again in a chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Laurenna pull out ropes, he shook his head: “I advise you not to waste your time. It’ll only delay your transfer later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We won’t be moving you again,” Scott said from beside him. “We’ll stay here until the boss arrives with reinforcements to take you away. Soon, you’ll board a plane to Washington. Professor, pray the people there have my patience—or else…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a cold snort, his threat unmistakable—but Shi Le’s attention wasn’t on him. He scanned the base’s layout, realizing it was indeed a larger, more complete facility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Specifically: seven major tunnels led in different directions, ample lighting made it far brighter than the smaller rooms, and crucially, every intersection had defensive positions, with stacks of ammunition crates piled deep inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The agents who’d just arrived were swapping gear. Originally, they’d carried only sidearms, with two long guns in the vehicle—but here, there were rifles of all models, rocket launchers, grenades. Enough ammo for a small war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Shi Le’s gaze remained fixed on the three tunnels ahead. He hesitated, then asked: “Don’t tell me those barricades you placed in front of the tunnels are your ‘defensive positions’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Shi Le’s gaze, the three largest tunnels each had blast barriers and coils in front. Scott shook his head: “Don’t try to undermine our morale, Professor. We know you’re a renowned psychologist—you understand psychological tactics inside out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“During the initial attack, you warned us to flee ahead of time—even planned our rearguard action—pretending to side with us to lower our guard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You constantly emphasized your weakness, even begged me to inject you with double the sedative dose, implanting the illusion that you couldn’t resist physically or escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I’ve seen the effects of sedative overdose—they lose all logical thought, become sluggish, nearly immobile. You? You’re still mocking us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After creating the illusion that you’re on our side and utterly helpless, you began fabricating a powerful enemy—painting him as the hunter, us as the prey—to pressure us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scott shook his head: “But clearly, the opposite is true. His first two attacks didn’t harm a single one of us—they only exposed his position and mindset.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our initial strategic relocation wasn’t a retreat. In fact, if not for your safety, we wouldn’t have moved at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After the so-called aftermath, you started meddling in everything. Anyone else would’ve fallen into your trap—thinking you’re a harmless advisor who can resolve this crisis, that only by trusting you can we escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But every illusion, every assumption—it’s all your trap. Among the criminals we’ve arrested, this trick’s been used countless times.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scott stepped before Shi Le: “I hate dealing with high-IQ criminals. Every action they take, every word they speak—it’s all meant to trap me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Shi Le smoothly picked up his line, speaking in a dreamy whisper: “And you know the best way to deal with them—besides ignoring them—is violence. Make them shut up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scott’s fist, halfway raised, froze. Shi Le lifted his head, lowered his eyelids, and peered through the gap between his lashes, then smiled triumphantly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do you know my goal with this chain of traps is to escape—and not to die here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Le closed his eyes, his voice dropping lower: “You know I’m a renowned psychologist. Even with sufficient sedatives, I can lower my heart rate to an extreme state through self-hypnosis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And if subjected to violent stimulation now, I might go into immediate shock. I’m certain you have no means to revive me.” On the edge of unconsciousness, Shi Le emitted a low chuckle:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Want to try swinging again? Give me a punch, make me scream—and gamble that the heart monitor on my wrist will forgive your rude behavior?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scott slammed his fist against his own temple, clenching and unclenching his fist, then finally lowered his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bent forward, hands on his knees, pressing his face close to Shi Le’s, staring into his eyes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Professor, among the most vicious, cunning criminals I’ve ever seen, you’re the most surprising.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I must remind you—this rhetoric won’t work in Washington, with its advanced medical facilities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for the warning, Agent.” Shi Le lowered his head again, as if asleep, murmuring: “I warn you too—your fist will lose effectiveness before my words do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bang! Bang! Bang-bang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Intruder! Intruder!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoosh! Bang-bang! Boom!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! What’s that?! Oh my God! A monster! There’s a monster!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Help!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A crocodile monster’s broken in!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scott spun around. In the central tunnel, a massive figure leapt out—the barricades and coils in front of it were crushed instantly, useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the indoor lights, Scott saw a giant half-man, half-alligator monster. Standard pistol rounds bounced off its armored scales, sparking. Laurenna, raising her gun to fire, was swept away by its massive tail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind it came a shadow. He wasn’t as strong or tall as the alligator-monster—but far deadlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any agent who faced him fell within a single strike. Scott saw electric sparks flickering across his black armor; agents who touched the sparks collapsed instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their advance was too fast. The remaining agents had no time to arm themselves with heavy weapons. Watching them charge straight for Shi Le, Scott instinctively drew his combat knife and pressed it to Shi Le’s throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadow froze instantly. Scott narrowed his eyes: “Whoever you are, I know your goal. Drop your weapon. Order your partner to stop—or I kill him now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scott’s grip tightened around Shi Le’s neck, the blade pressed against his Adam’s apple—and precisely because of that, he felt the faint vibration of Shi Le’s vocal cords: “He doesn’t have a gun. He can’t drop it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shut up!” Scott hissed through clenched teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take the knife off him.” Batman’s face was stone. Shi Le’s condition, choked by Scott, exceeded even his worst expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His suit buttons were all torn open, his tie loose and dangling, one lens of his glasses smeared with mud. But from the pupil of his exposed eye, it was clear—he’d been given an overdose of sedatives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve violated the Geneva Convention. Let him go immediately.” Batman advanced steadily, each step pressing hard on Scott.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scott hesitated. He hadn’t expected this stranger to strike straight at the core—if Shi Le accused them of prisoner abuse in court, it could mean another lawsuit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did this stranger have recording equipment? If he was allied with Shi Le, and produced this footage in court, claiming coercion—it would cripple the trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then Shi Le’s faint voice came again: “Ask him—what authority is he using to obstruct a Federal Bureau of Investigation operation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scott froze. He opened his mouth—almost blurted out Shi Le’s question—then realized, and fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought it over. There was nothing wrong with that question. It struck right at the heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Batman wanted to oversee the FBI’s operation, he had to act under a public, legal citizen identity. Clearly, neither he nor the alligator-man currently held such status. Challenging identity was the best move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This FBI operation is fully lawful and compliant, with official approval and arrest warrants. We accept reasonable oversight from any American citizen. But are you a registered American citizen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Batman paused, then narrowed his eyes. He realized—he’d met his match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You should’ve realized—the monster chasing you isn’t my fabrication.” Shi Le kept his head lowered, so Batman didn’t notice his lips still moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scott hesitated—but he’d seen it too. This opponent wasn’t human. They weren’t trained for combat. They couldn’t handle this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t try to defeat him with words. Don’t think you can force him to give you escape tools. The only way now is to stall him for a few seconds—then take me and run.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the monstrous alligator grin at the fallen agents, Scott’s hand trembled. He whispered: “How do we stall him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Le replied: “I see behind you, near the ammo piles—besides grenades, there are smoke bombs. That’s your only hope of escaping.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now I’ll teach you how to make them not attack you. That’ll buy us at least thirty seconds—enough to grab the smoke bombs and create a thick enough cloud to flee.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scott gripped Shi Le’s neck, teeth clenched: “You better have a method. You know—if this transport fails completely, we have authority to execute the prisoner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Batman was nearly at the two men. He knew: two more steps, and he’d be in position for a violent rescue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And still, Shi Le, head bowed, murmured incoherently:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know… I know… You always want to find my weakness, but never succeeded. So until now, I never used such a dishonorable tactic…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is your fault, Batman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Shi Le tilted his head slightly, exposing his neck. A devilish whisper, soft as a curse, reached Scott’s ear:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See the scar on my neck? Cut there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The farther the blood flies, the safer you are.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1928,"2026-06-20T16:39:22.658Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f377efcb62dc09ebe26dd6e719f408985e573ff25c78f7d6aedcccf3ac7c3768","my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-chapter-961","my-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-chapter-959",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-life-as-a-mental-mentor-in-marvel-cover.jpg"]