I'm doing bidirectional science popularization in American comics

But it is also a place that produces a lot of talent, and it is home to all kinds of supervillains... The infamous Arkham Asylum is located on the island.

This is also why Bruce Wayne happened to walk into Depp's antique shop that day.

Depp had considered selling the antique shop and moving to a safer downtown area.

Unfortunately, the houses on Naihe Island simply cannot be sold.

People outside the island have money but disdain to buy, while homeless people on the island want to buy but have no money.

Moreover, they are more accustomed to begging and robbing than buying.

This is also why Depp was so angry when he first traveled through time. If Gotham is hell, then Naihe Island is the eighteenth level of hell.

As dawn broke, Depp got up early, washed up briefly, and ate breakfast earnestly.

It's been three weeks since he returned from Marvel, and he's spent most of those three weeks training.

During his time at Marvel Studios, he realized firsthand that his physical abilities were utterly pathetic.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been pinned to the ground and mocked by Natasha. If we're talking about combat skills alone, the fighting techniques he learned from the young Bruce Wayne have already surpassed those of Natasha.

There's only one reason he lost: his physical condition was too poor.

So after returning this time, he went to bed early and got up early every day, maintained a healthy routine, and spent a lot of time exercising.

Although three weeks is not a long time, the results were quite obvious under Depp's extremely high-intensity exercise.

The muscles in my arms and legs are noticeably firmer than before, and I've lost a lot of belly fat. My muscles are also thicker, and the outline of my abs is faintly visible.

After feeding Gou Dan'er some cat food and bottled water, Depp started doing push-ups.

He set himself daily exercise goals: 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run around the Gotham City Police Department every day.

After three weeks of training, he can now complete it very easily, and can even chat with others while exercising.

For example, right now, he's doing push-ups while video chatting with Tony.

"Depp, you have no idea how boring it would be to develop armor without your help!"

In the video, Tony complains helplessly, surrounded by a jumble of tools and parts, with a black oil stain on his left cheek.

"Are you really not going to consider coming back to help me develop the armor?" Tony tempted. "I can also have your name engraved on the inside of the armor."

Depp lay on the ground, sweating profusely, and said, "Next time for sure."

I don't know when I'll get to travel to Marvel again.

At this moment, the system notification appeared: [Aurora Monroe has sent a new message].

It's news about Storm.

During this time, she often chatted with Depp, and Depp was not averse to this Storm, whose personality was like that of a girl next door.

Ororo is still innocent and naive, not yet evolved into the queen-like Storm.

Moreover, Depp recently discovered that whenever someone calls, texts, or videos him, he can easily switch the system to receive the calls after a simple setup, saving him the trouble of answering the phone himself.

Furthermore, whether it's Marvel or DC, as long as someone contacts you with the correct phone number and social media account, the connection will be transmitted promptly.

Furthermore, it can automatically convert your words into accurate text and send it over, which is quite convenient.

"Good morning. I got scolded by the professor again yesterday. I'm so sad (?﹏?)."

Perhaps because of the confidentiality agreement of Xavier's School, Ororo told Depp that she was a freshman in college, a climatology student at some unknown university, and that she was often scolded by her professors because she often caused trouble.

However, Depp knew that the unknown university Ororo referred to was Xavier's School of the Rising Sun.

The professor who frequently reprimanded him was Professor X, Charles Xavier, the founder of Xavier College.

"That's terrible! What happened this time? Did something go wrong with the experiment?"

"Yes, I may have made a mistake during the experiment and destroyed a large area of ​​farmland to the right of the college."

...What kind of experiment could destroy a field? Sister, you studied meteorology, not ammunition engineering and explosives technology.

Depp was a little exasperated; this kid couldn't even lie properly anymore.

However, he decided not to expose the other person and instead said in a cooperative tone, "Take it slow, don't be discouraged, I believe you will definitely become the world's greatest meteorologist!"

She is known in the martial arts world as Storm Girl.

“You’re so kind,” Ororo replied. “I always feel warm when I chat with you.”

Depp glanced at the date on the screen in front of him and said in a deep voice, "If I'm not mistaken, Aurora, it's time for the first class now. Pay attention and don't daydream."

Upon receiving the message, Ororo was startled and immediately edited a final message for Depp: "I...I was paying attention! Let's talk after class."

After sending the message, she put her phone away, feeling annoyed that she might have left a bad impression on Depp, but then she thought again...

"Oh my god, he actually remembers my class schedule!"

Aurora immediately felt surrounded by happiness.

After completing push-ups, sit-ups, and squats, Depp drove to the Gotham City Police Department to start running.

The reason for choosing this place is simple: it's probably the second safest place in Gotham, although the chances of something happening are still very high.

The safest place would naturally be Wayne Manor, but running laps around its gates every day, Depp was afraid Batman would knock on his door at night.

Outside the police station, Gordon ate a hamburger with a worried expression.

After three weeks of contact, Depp learned that the current Gotham Police Department Commissioner was not Gordon, but a guy named Rob.

Under Rob's leadership, the Gotham City Police Department, from top to bottom, was in cahoots with the mob.

Gordon was an outlier, the only one in the police department who refused to compromise his principles.

However, Gordon, who was full of justice, was isolated and ostracized by everyone in the police department.

It has to be said that this is really ironic.

Depp waved to Gordon and said, "Good morning, Detective Gordon."

Gordon looked up, saw Depp, and smiled, "Good morning, Depp. Ten kilometers again today?"

This energetic young man is Gordon's daily morning remedy for rejuvenating himself.

In this filthy and decaying Gotham, the young man before them inexplicably radiated a light.

When Gordon saw Depp, he felt that he hadn't completely fallen into darkness, and that Gotham might... still be saved.

"Yes, ten kilometers without fail. But I'm considering whether to increase it to twenty kilometers starting tomorrow."

After Depp finished speaking, he ran past Gordon, and when he reached the back of the police station, he saw someone.

The man was thin, wearing a white vest and beige overalls, with disheveled hair, a long face, a pointed chin, and eyes filled with despair and exhaustion.

However, there are people like that everywhere in Gotham, so Depp didn't pay too much attention and quickly ran past the man.

Chapter 15 The Uninvited Guest (Part 1)

After the ten-kilometer drive, Depp drove back to the antique shop.

The materials ordered a while ago have all arrived. Depp locked the door of the antique shop and began to use the technology he had in mind about the Mark 5 to make some simple little things.

After all, he has the technology but not the conditions to build the Mark 5 armor. He lacks materials, his house is too small, his tools are incomplete, and he can't even buy many things.

However, while it's impossible to create a complete suit of armor, certain smaller items can be manufactured using limited resources.

For example, the mask he is currently making has simple head protection, anti-poison function, and can effectively resist most mental attacks and the enemy's X-ray vision.

After all, there are quite a few people in Gotham who possess poison gas attacks and psychogenic hallucination attacks, such as the famous Joker and Scarecrow, so we have to be careful.

The ability to see through objects is used to hide oneself. In the DC universe, Batman's identity as Bruce Wayne was exposed by Superman, who also possessed the ability to see through objects.

Of course, many people have also figured out Batman's identity through reasoning and speculation, but none of them are as direct as Superman's.

Furthermore, it only requires a mask and does not need the massive energy supply of an arc reactor; a few specially made No. 7 batteries are sufficient.

While Depp was focused on tightening the screws, the locked door was suddenly banged on loudly.

"Who is it?" Depp was a little annoyed by the interruption. He shouted towards the door, "It's not open yet. Come back tomorrow."

However, the person outside was clearly very persistent, continuing to knock on the door and pleading loudly, "Boss, please, I have something good to sell! I need this money to save my life!"

As an antique shop owner, he naturally sells and collects antiques. Although Depp was reluctant, when he heard that the other party needed money to save his life, he still picked up the half-finished mask and parts on the table and went over. After all, he was not as heartless as the local residents of Naihe Island.

Before opening the door, Depp held the double-barreled shotgun in his hand and looked out through the peephole.

Unexpectedly, it was the same thin, pointed-faced man from behind the Gotham Police Department that morning. His face was covered in large beads of sweat, and he looked to be in very poor health. The despair in his eyes seemed even more intense.

The skinny monkey didn't seem like a threat, but Depp still gripped his shotgun tightly and carefully opened the door.

Depp habitually put on his briefcase-like glasses and asked, "Hello sir, do you have any old items for sale?"

Joseph Cole

"This name sounds like something out of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure," Depp thought shamelessly.

Joseph Cole stood outside the door, hesitated for a long time, and finally pulled it off from the end of his left ring finger.

“This is it, boss,” Joseph said. “He looks very beautiful in the sunlight, don’t you see?”

As he spoke, he held up the diamond ring in his hand to the sunlight.

Bathed in sunlight, the diamond ring emitted a soft and exquisite radiance. Under this light, the despair in Joseph's eyes lessened somewhat, as if he were recalling some happy memories.

"Please come inside; I need to take a closer look."

After leading Joseph into the antique shop and pouring him a glass of hot water, Depp took the diamond ring and examined it carefully.

It must be said that the clarity of the diamond on this ring is actually very average, but the cutting technique is perfect, so perfect that it can make an inferior rough stone so dazzling.

But to be honest, items with such perfect craftsmanship aren't very valuable. After all, the secondhand recycling industry only values ​​the weight and quality of the raw materials.

Therefore, he needs to know the real reason why the man in front of him needs this money.

Depp looked up into Joseph's eyes and asked, "You just said you needed this money to save your life. Are you seriously ill yourself?"

“It wasn’t me, boss.” Joseph shook his head. “It’s my wife. She’s about to give birth, but her health is very poor. I need money for her treatment and to support the pregnancy. But my income is too little… really too little…”

Depp felt a pang of sympathy for Joseph, who looked haggard.

This poor man had come to the antique shop to sell his wedding ring in order to pay for his wife's medical treatment and recuperation.

No wonder his eyes, which had been filled with despair, were now brimming with happiness when he looked at the ring in the sunlight.