Starting from scratch, Batman crushed my dream of getting rich

Chapter 317 Barry's Confusion

As Joe entered the lobby of Star Labs, he saw Dr. Wells in his wheelchair smiling as he approached. Cisco and Caitlin also looked pleased to see Barry, clearly indicating that the young people got along well.

But he no longer had the patience to be kind to others, so he went straight to the point and questioned them.

"Barry wasn't the only one affected by the particle accelerator explosion, was he?"

Upon hearing this question, Professor Wells frowned. He turned to look at Cisco and Caitlin, and the three quickly exchanged glances—Caitlin and Cisco, still quite young, couldn't help but show expressions of "Oh no, we've been found out."

Such expressions could not escape the notice of a veteran detective like Joe. He glanced at them and immediately saw their guilty conscience. Just as he was about to continue questioning them, Barry stopped him.

“Doctor, you said that the particle accelerator explosion is over and that Central City is no longer in danger.” He shook his head: “But that’s not right, Doctor. From everything I’ve seen today, the situation is getting worse.”

Wells frowned: "What happened?"

“Explain clearly what happened that night,” Joe interrupted Wells’ question. “Then we’ll decide whether or not to tell you.”

Looking at Joe's slightly angry face, the doctor seemed to understand something, so he nodded and operated the microcomputer next to his wheelchair armrest for a few moments.

The large screen in the lobby lit up, displaying a simulated scene—a simulation of the accident that occurred that night when the particle accelerator exploded.

The doctor's voice rang out at the right moment, explaining what had happened: "The accelerator activated, the accelerator ran, we celebrated for a little while—and then the accelerator exploded."

"A spatial barrier between dimensions has been broken, and an unknown energy has sprung from that gap into our world—call it whatever you like—antimatter, dark matter energy, element X."

"But these are all just theoretical speculations from the scientific community."

“Mr. Allen, when no one can definitively say a truth, we can only move towards it through reasoning,” the doctor replied calmly. “Don’t assume they are false just because they are inferences, because just a few days ago, you yourself were ‘impossible’.”

Barry fell silent.

"In short," the doctor continued, "we've already conducted investigations in the city center, but we can't determine what this energy is, nor can we determine who has been affected by it. In fact, we've been searching for other 'superhumans' like you."

Barry and Joe exchanged a glance.

He sighed and said to the doctor, "We met one today, well, according to you, a 'superhuman'—he used to be a bank robber, but now he can control the weather."

"Oh!" Cisco's eyes lit up when he heard the news. "This is getting cooler and cooler."

“He robbed a bank, Cisco,” Barry emphasized with a headache. “Although no one has died yet, this guy is an absolute thug. He once shot a detective when he had a gun, and now he’s gained even more power from that explosion and is still at large.”

He is in great danger.

"Oh"

Seeing the anger and seriousness on Barry's face, Cisco obediently sat back down on the stool.

"We have to stop him."

Upon hearing Barry's words, Dr. Wells adjusted his glasses, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes. "Mr. Allen, that's the police's job."

"I am also a police officer."

"You know what I'm talking about."

The doctor continued unhurriedly, "You're a forensic assistant in the police force, but you clearly want to use your superpowers to fight criminals—don't argue, your meaning is too obvious, it's written all over your face."

Upon hearing this, Joe, who had initially intended to say something in Barry's defense, suddenly fell silent. He and the Doctor exchanged glances and instantly reached a consensus—neither of them wanted Barry to go to the battlefield.

“Doctor, you are responsible for this,” Barry advised. “You should help us catch him, not stop me.”

“That superhuman criminal isn’t important, Barry,” the doctor retorted expressionlessly. “But you are different. You are a thousand times, ten thousand times more important than him.”

“You can criticize me all you want, I won’t shirk responsibility, but you shouldn’t take risks because of my mistakes.”

“I have lost everything: the company, my reputation, my ability to walk. In a sense, Wells is now insignificant.”

“But you are different, Barry—your very existence is a huge contribution to humanity—remember? We tested your speed before, you crashed into an obstacle, and your arm broke.”

"Three hours later, your cells regenerate at a speed dozens or hundreds of times faster than normal, and your hand bones are completely healed."

"Do you know what this means? — If combined with gene technology, your cells could help humanity discover entirely new gene therapies, vaccines, drugs, and highly effective technologies for rapid wound healing. These are treasures, Barry, treasures for all mankind!"

"You could easily make a fortune with it and be written into world history, Barry—don't take such a big risk just because you want to be a hero."

"Don't give up the wonderful life that you could have had so easily. Don't try to play the hero, Mr. Allen. You've never been a hero."

Wells’ tone was cold and rational: “You’re just a young man struck by lightning, nothing more.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the laboratory hall fell silent. Dr. Wells' words, calm and ruthless, shattered Barry's enthusiasm. From any perspective, his advice was in Barry's best interest. From any perspective, Barry seemed to really be able to live his life honestly and enjoy the good fortune that the lightning bolt had brought him.

Joe and Barry were both confused by Wells's words. Joe didn't want Barry to take any risks in the first place, so he found Wells's advice very agreeable. Barry, on the other hand, couldn't help but look bewildered. He kept asking himself, "Do I really need to insist on using my superpowers to fight? Maybe Dr. Wells's suggestion is actually better?"

“Barry,” Joe patted him on the shoulder and said, “I think the doctor does have some truth to what he said.”

“I’m sorry, Joe.” Barry shook his head, turned and transformed into a streak of light, running out of the Star Labs.

"Barry! Barry! Come back!"

Joe's voice echoed in his ears, but Barry didn't want to go back.

As night fell, he ran wildly through the streets of the city center, where the entire city seemed unusually quiet at that moment—a feeling of grievance welled up in his heart as he ran past the streets where he had lived as a child.

So he ran while tears streamed down his face.

(End of this chapter)