I'm doing bidirectional science popularization in American comics

Upon hearing this, Bane gained a new understanding of Batman, and his previous contempt for him dissipated considerably.

To be honest, Bain's respectful and eager-to-learn attitude before was mostly due to his respect and admiration for Depp.

As for Batman... to be honest, Bane didn't think the other man had anything to offer him guidance.

At least in terms of combat and intellect.

When it comes to the code of conduct for Batman or any superhero, Bane certainly feels he needs to brush up on his knowledge and learn more from Batman.

However, after hearing what Bruce had just said, he began to change his opinion of this Dark Knight of Gotham.

After all, unless one is bold, meticulous, and has extensive connections, it would be impossible to figure out the details and background of those previous missions in such a short time.

Now Bane has learned the first thing from Batman: to become a Batman who can anticipate the enemy's moves, money, power, and connections are absolutely indispensable!

Before setting off, Bruce and Depp waved goodbye and led their new gang of henchmen to the places in Gotham City where the heinous acts were unfolding.

Depp created a portal and returned to his home.

"Let's leave the task of protecting Gotham to Batman for now," Depp thought irresponsibly. "As for me... I still prefer to enjoy life at a leisurely pace."

Furthermore, Depp estimated that Bruce and Bane's operation might not go too smoothly.

Or perhaps... the mission will go smoothly, but Bruce might suffer some minor emotional trauma.

After all, Bane's intelligence is no less than Bruce's.

Although he brought Bane to Bruce for coaching, Depp felt that Bruce would definitely learn a lot of different things from Bane during the time the two worked together.

Bruce taking Bane on missions is completely different from taking Robin or Oswald.

The two are not in a master-servant relationship, but rather are equals.

Sometimes, it's not a good thing if a junior or apprentice is too clever.

Like soldiers taking their Border Collies on missions, for example...

Soldier: I think now is a good time, let's go!

Border Collie: Wait, I don't think now is the time!

Or perhaps...

Soldier: Hurry up, run over and bite that guy's thigh.

Border Collie: Why don't you go up? That mourner has a gun!

Outside Gotham Bank, Bruce's situation was somewhat similar to what Depp had envisioned.

Bruce used the eavesdropping device on his suit to listen to each car parked outside Gotham Bank.

He was certain that the Red Hood gang members were hiding in a car, waiting for the opportune moment to swarm out, violently break into the bank and its vaults, and plunder the bank's coffers.

Bruce quickly found his target.

From a small van about fifty meters away, the excited voices of the Red Hood gang could be heard.

"Boss, when do we make our move?"

"Don't rush, you idiot. My informant at Gotham Bank told me that old Jim, who works the night watch, will skip work and go home at midnight sharp. We'll wait until 12:10 before we make our move."

"But why do we have to wait for that idiot on night watch to leave before we make a move? We can just blast him to smithereens!"

Then Bruce heard the guy stroking the rocket launcher barrel.

"We're robbers, not murderers! Are you an idiot? Or are you trying to get us all killed? Robbery might land us in jail, but if we kill someone, we might get shot on the spot!"

"Yes, boss, but my cannon is getting restless!"

"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll shove the barrel of my gun down your ass!"

On the rooftop, listening to the conversation coming from the eavesdropping device, Bruce said in a deep voice, "I think we can start our operation at 12:10, when these guys are ready to make their move."

As soon as Bruce finished speaking, he saw Bane jump down from the side.

Upon landing, Bain rolled over to dissipate the force of the fall.

Then it rushed towards the minivan like a small mountain.

"Bane, what are you doing? Now is not the time to strike!"

Bruce shouted into the walkie-talkie.

Bain's voice came through the walkie-talkie quickly: "I think the battle should be decided quickly. If these guys decide to cancel the operation tonight, or can't wait and just rush in and kill that idiot on night watch, then we'll be in trouble!"

Bruce then saw Bane rush to the minivan and tear a large gash in the door and body of the minivan as if it were paper.

"I'm sorry, guys, our Gotham Bank tour is over for today."

Bane grinned mischievously at the bewildered Red Hoods inside.

"Boss, what should we do? Should I use the rocket launcher to blast him?"

The red-hooded man, who had been talking a bit too much, looked at the person next to him and said...

The guy who was called the boss was so angry he wanted to devour the kid alive. "Can't you just shut up?"

Now that this weirdo knows I'm the boss, he definitely won't let me off the hook!

Besides, you're using a rocket launcher at such close range?

"You idiot, are you trying to blow us all up?"

Bain had no interest in listening to these foolish thieves bickering. Instead, he said expressionlessly, "Now, throw away your weapons, come out one by one, and crouch down with your hands behind your heads. If you think your crappy guns can do any damage to me, feel free to try."

As he spoke, Bain picked up an unclaimed AK47 and broke it in half with his bare hands.

Bane said those words partly because he was confident in his physique enhanced by Venom.

Secondly, according to Bruce, the suits he gave Bane and the others were extremely protective; as long as they weren't directly blasted into the mouth by rockets, they would be fine.

When Bruce arrived at the van, he saw Bane standing there with his head held high, while the Red Hood gang members were all squatting on the ground with their heads in their hands, looking resigned to their fate.

Seeing this, Bruce sighed helplessly and then dialed Gordon's number.

“There’s a Red Hood gang at Gotham Bank that’s trying to rob the vault. You can send your men over now. These guys have rocket-propelled grenades in addition to basic firearms.”

“Once the cops arrive, we can head to the second location, right?” Bane asked.

Even now, he still habitually refers to Gordon and other police officers as "cops."

Bruce hummed in agreement and said nothing more.

He glanced down at the time: 11:27.

It took him an hour to resolve the Red Hood gang's situation earlier than he had anticipated.

Although it's hard to admit, Bain's impulsive behavior did save him some time.

If every task could save an hour or half an hour like this, then I could sleep an extra two or three hours.

Thinking of this, Bruce couldn't help but glance at Bane a few more times.

It has to be said that this guy, who looks like a complete goofball, is actually very smart.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have come up with the plan to release the guys from Arkham Asylum to keep them busy, and then take advantage of their weakness when they were at their weakest.

Thinking about this, Bruce suddenly realized that Depp's decision to have Bane follow him might not simply be about having him mentor Bane.

Perhaps Depp's real goal was to enable himself and Bane to understand, cooperate, and learn from each other.

"Depp, you really are someone I can't figure out!"

Chapter 264 Poisonous Bats

The following tasks were completed quite smoothly with the cooperation of Bruce and Bane.

After resolving the gang fight, Bruce reviewed the incident.

It was 3:30 a.m., three hours earlier than I had expected to finish the mission.

This was mainly thanks to Bane's assistance; if it were Bruce himself, he would definitely have waited for the right opportunity to make his move.

With Bain around, the right time seems to have become anytime.

After all, Bane's intellect and strength are no less than Bruce's, and he is even more physically formidable.

Those criminals could only flee when faced with one Batman, let alone two at once.

“You did a good job.” Back in the Batcave, Bruce said to Bane, “Maybe you should give yourself a nickname too, so I don’t have to call you by your real name and can avoid revealing your identity.”

Bruce's words made Bane realize that if he were to return to his homeland to carry out vigilante action in the future, he could not use his real name Bane, but would have to use a cool nickname like Batman.

Bain thought about it and finally decided on his title.

"Because my body was enhanced after being modified by GL11 venom, I think I can be called... Poison Bat."

"Poison Bat...that sounds incredibly ominous, a great name!" Bruce praised. "I hope you will bring peace and happiness to your hometown in the future."

Upon hearing this, Bain bluntly stated, "I don't think I can guarantee any of that. Peace and happiness depend on them. What I can guarantee is that those criminals will receive the punishment they deserve."

Bruce sighed silently: "I hope you can hold your ground and not become a bloodthirsty madman."

“By the way, about you…Batman, what’s your bottom line?” Bane asked.

“You should have heard about it.” Bruce did not answer directly.

Bain blurted out, "Is it just that seemingly foolish oath of non-killing?"

Bruce pondered for a moment and said, "The oath of no killing is just the last rule that keeps me from falling into the abyss. If I really break through this boundary, I don't know what Batman would become."

"Perhaps even if you break through this barrier, you will still be no different from what you are now, just a pitiful person who can't find peace either day or night... Bruce Wayne."

Bane's words made no attempt to conceal his speculation about Batman's true identity, while also reminding Bruce that he is still a human being, not a god.

But Bruce didn't care about Bane's words and said, "This is not just my personal opinion. Depp thinks the same way as me, so I trust Depp and myself more than you, Bane."

"Depp...?"

Bain suddenly fell into deep thought.

Depp's impact on Bane far surpasses that of Batman.

Therefore, when faced with Depp's decisions and actions that contradict his own, Bain would first consider whether he had really made a mistake.

But Bain has no answers to the current problems.