Chapter 515

No matter what they thought, this was the only thing they could do. It was the best option available.

All that mattered now was to act immediately to prevent more victims.

...

Half an hour later, Bruce Wayne retrieved a sample of an incurable contagious virus from his pharmaceutical company's lab.

Handing it to Clark and Barry, the three of them went their separate ways to distribute it among the infected victims.

The process tore at their hearts.

Those people were victims. Yet for the greater good, they had to continue harming them.

Heroes who were supposed to save lives had become perpetrators.

Each time they released the virus, it felt like someone was gouging out a piece of their hearts.

There was no describing how painful it was.

While carrying out this grim task, Bruce contacted governments across affected regions to explain the situation.

At first, the governments thought it was a joke. But once they realized it was Wayne Enterprises calling, they immediately took it seriously.

Especially since Wayne Enterprises offered to cover all medical costs. This made local authorities far more proactive.

So almost simultaneously, in different countries and cities, hospitals, nursing homes, and private residences where nightmare infections appeared received immediate lockdown orders.

When it happened, everyone was stunned and unable to react.

Naturally, the first to panic were the people being quarantined. Many tried to break out.

But they were forced back inside by military personnel who arrived to enforce the lockdown at gunpoint.

In an instant, despair and sorrow filled every isolation site.

Half an hour ago, they had been living normal lives. Now, suddenly infected, they were told they could never leave isolation.

Living like prisoners – no one could endure it.

News of the events broke out quickly. Multiple countries experiencing the same crisis caused an even greater uproar.

A massive wave of public outrage swept through society.

Everyone demanded answers, questioning how this could happen, blaming their governments.

The families of the quarantined were the most vocal, demanding their loved ones be released.

Among them were many high-ranking officials and elites.

Meanwhile, residents near quarantine zones were so terrified of becoming the next infected that mass relocations began, creating widespread chaos.

Bruce Wayne, however, had already handed over public order responsibilities to local governments, along with generous donations to ensure they did their jobs well.

He also arranged for doctors and nurses to remain on site for care.

Watching those fully suited up medical staff enter the quarantines…

Bruce couldn't bear to look.

Distributing the virus was already cruel enough. Now he was sending others to their deaths.

His heart ached with overwhelming sadness.

If not for the fact that the infected didn't die immediately, his moral foundation might have collapsed entirely.

All he could do now was provide the victims' families with wealth and lifelong assistance to ease his guilt.

Some reporters noticed Wayne Enterprises' massive donations and tried to interview them, asking if there was a connection to the virus.

Those questions were left to company PR to handle.

"Glug glug…"

After finishing countless arrangements, Bruce returned home.

He violently uncorked a bottle of red wine and drank straight from it, gulp after gulp, not caring if it was properly decanted or tasted good. He just desperately wanted to numb himself, to forget the pain in his heart.

"Bruce."

At that moment, Clark and Barry appeared beside him, along with Diana and Arthur.

"We're sorry we couldn't help," Arthur said awkwardly, unable to find better words.

"I'm so sorry," Diana added with a heavy sigh.

She and Arthur lacked the super speed of Clark and Barry, or Bruce's ability to build ultra-fast jets.

That meant all the dirty work fell to the three of them.

They alone carried the weight of sin.

As teammates unable to share that burden, Diana and Arthur felt deeply guilty.

"It's not your fault. It's that damn containment object's fault!" Bruce growled angrily.

"What about the respirators?" Arthur asked.

"I destroyed them with Ki Blasts and Heat Vision," Clark said calmly.

Technically, he only needed one attack. Using both showed just how furious he was inside.

"If you're all done here, leave me alone. Call me when the next containment object appears. Right now, I just want to drink!" Bruce shouted, barely holding back his rage.

"We're not leaving. You're not the only one who feels horrible. I'm a murderer too," Clark replied quietly.

Then he grabbed Bruce's wine bottle and took a deep drink himself.

"Hey, let me have some too," Barry said from the side.

Clark tossed him the bottle.

Barry gulped some down, but after a few swallows, he couldn't stand the taste, coughing violently and spitting it out.

"Idiot. Don't drink if you can't handle it," Arthur teased, grabbing the bottle from Barry and taking a drink himself.

Just as he was about to finish it, Diana snatched it from him.

"Hey, four men's saliva on that bottle," Arthur warned.

"I'm a warrior woman. I don't mind," Diana smiled and downed the rest of the wine.

Seeing his comrades drinking with him, sharing his burden of guilt, Bruce was at a loss for words.

"Master Wayne."

At that moment, Alfred entered, opening another bottle with practiced care.

"This time, drink properly. But don't drink alone."

He poured each of them a glass.

This time, Bruce didn't chase them away. He let everyone sit and drink together.

...

["Containment of the Nightmare Respirator in the DC Universe has succeeded. Rewards are being issued."]

Regardless of their current state or thoughts, the screen continued its duty.

["Reward for Clark: Increased Mental Resistance."]

["Reward for Barry: Perfect Control over the Speed Force."]

["Reward for Bruce Wayne: Red Ice Grenade."]

["Although Clark is physically powerful, his mental resistance is relatively weak. This upgrade will make him immune to all mental attacks."]

["Barry's Speed Force has always been difficult to control. When carrying others at super speed, he risks tearing them apart. Perfect control allows him to carry people safely and unlocks further applications of the Speed Force."]

["The Red Ice Grenade is a weapon created from the containment object 'Red Ice.'"]

["Red Ice is a strange red liquid. Although it appears red, chemically it is identical to normal water."]

(End of Chapter)

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