Starting With Batman

The image on the screen remained still, capturing a man with a chilling smile fixed on his face, staring directly into the camera lens. The magnified picture rendered every detail of his expression, a smile that seemed to mock the viewers on the other side. The room, filled with high-ranking officials and seasoned agents, was deathly quiet. The atmosphere had become so tense that the air itself felt heavy.

For a long moment, no one spoke. The weight of the situation pressed down on everyone, each person grappling with the implications of what they were seeing. It wasn't just the content of the image that was disturbing, but what it suggested about one of their own.

"Are you certain this image is authentic?" Dr. Hines finally broke the silence, his voice laced with doubt and concern. "Video footage can be manipulated, synthesized even. What we see here might not be the truth…"

Professor Miyazaki, standing at the front of the room, didn't hesitate. "If this were a composite video, we would have detected it. I can assure you, Dr. Hines, that the image you see before you is genuine. The reality is exactly as it appears."

He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "What you're seeing here is Agent Ivan Petrov, captured on surveillance footage. He was present at the Fourth Precinct of the Riverton FBI earlier tonight and left behind this provocative scene. This is no coincidence."

The room remained silent, the tension growing as the full weight of the situation began to settle in.

"And shortly after this footage was taken, an infected individual appeared in that very precinct," Miyazaki added, his tone making it clear that the connection between these events couldn't be ignored.

"It's... difficult to call that a coincidence," Dr. Hines murmured, frowning as he processed the information. His mind was already racing, considering the possible ramifications.

"Agent Petrov... isn't he currently suspended?" The voice came from a man with a fierce countenance, his presence commanding despite the tension in the room. Dressed in a sharp suit, he wore a black mask adorned with steel studs that made him look more like an executioner than a bureaucrat. Even in the formal setting of the conference room, his aura was intimidating, a man who had seen and done things others could only imagine.

This was Hercules, the Minister of Operations.

"Yes," Melanie responded, stepping forward. She had been quietly observing until now, but the conversation had turned toward her direct subordinate, requiring her to speak. "He was suspended for unauthorized actions. He initiated an unsanctioned attack on a casino owned by a mafia syndicate, resulting in multiple fatalities among non-infected gang members."

"I've heard this isn't the first time," Hercules said, his voice a low growl as he turned his intense gaze on her. The steel studs on his mask reflected the dim light, making his already piercing eyes seem even more threatening.

Melanie hesitated for a moment before responding. "That's correct. Ivan has a history of disregarding protocol and acting independently. He's been disciplined multiple times for his aggressive methods during missions."

Hercules stared at her, his eyes narrowing. "What you're describing sounds like a pattern of insubordination and a disregard for discipline. But today, we're not here to discuss his violations of protocol. What concerns us now are the potential implications of his mental state."

"That's precisely what I wanted to address," Professor Miyazaki interjected, sensing the urgency of the moment.

"I've always found Agent Petrov's case fascinating. He's an anomaly, even among our agents at the Ninth Division. As Melanie mentioned, Ivan has a deep-seated hatred for evil—a trait that undoubtedly stems from his past experiences."

Miyazaki's voice was measured, but there was a growing tension in his words, as though he was building toward something unsettling. "While this drive to eradicate evil is beneficial for a Secret Service agent, it's not without its dangers. There's a fine line between righteous zeal and uncontrolled aggression, and when that line is crossed, the consequences can be catastrophic."

He paused, letting the significance of his statement linger in the air before continuing. "For Secret Service agents, the most critical qualities are high resistance to infection, exceptional operational capabilities, and above all, emotional stability. An agent who cannot maintain control over their emotions is a liability—a ticking time bomb."

Miyazaki's gaze swept across the room, making sure he had everyone's attention. "Ivan Petrov's behavior raises significant concerns in this regard. He has a pattern of disregarding the rules and acting on impulse without considering the broader implications. For him, punishing criminals isn't just about upholding justice—it's personal. It's about satisfying his own deep-seated need for vengeance."

At this, Miyazaki paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle over the room like a heavy fog. He then adjusted the image on the screen, replacing the magnified surveillance still with a summary of the infection incidents that had plagued Riverton throughout the night.

"As you can see," he said, gesturing to the data on the screen, "a pattern is beginning to emerge in these outbreaks. Let's start with the incident at the docks. Our first team of detectives arrived on the scene and meticulously reconstructed the events."

He clicked a button, and the screen displayed an image of the docks, overlaid with notes and diagrams outlining the events that had taken place.

"It appears a group of human traffickers were in the process of unloading their 'cargo' when one of them suddenly became infected. This individual then attacked his accomplices before self-destructing due to the infection overwhelming his physical limits."

Miyazaki's expression grew more somber as he moved to the next slide. "Now, consider the incident at the Fourth Precinct—the very branch where Ivan Petrov once worked. Based on our intelligence, we have reason to believe that some of the officers there were involved in illegal activities."

The room's occupants began to piece together what Miyazaki was implying, their expressions shifting from confusion to concern.

"And then there's the attack at the barbecue restaurant," Miyazaki continued, his tone becoming more intense. "A laughing infected individual suddenly appeared and began attacking gang members, resulting in multiple fatalities. The restaurant owner and two diners were seriously injured, with another person sustaining minor injuries. If Batman hadn't arrived when he did, the situation could have escalated into a full-scale massacre."

"You're suggesting that the majority of the infected are targeting criminals?" Dr. Hines asked cautiously, his mind working to connect the dots.

Miyazaki nodded gravely. "Exactly. While there are numerous incidents I could cite, these examples should suffice to illustrate my point. In each of these cases, although innocent people were indeed endangered, the primary targets of the infected individuals were criminals—individuals who, in many cases, were known to have committed heinous acts."

He paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in. "One or two cases might be dismissed as coincidences, but when you examine the broader pattern, it becomes clear that these incidents are following a disturbing trend."

Miyazaki's gaze hardened as he addressed the room. "By now, you should have an idea of the hypothesis I'm about to present."

"You're saying that Ivan Petrov, one of our own agents, may have become infected," Hercules said, his voice low and filled with a dangerous edge. "And that he's using his... condition... to spread his own twisted version of justice?"

"Yes, that's one way to interpret it," Miyazaki confirmed, his tone serious and measured. "Ivan Petrov is an unusual case, even among our ranks. His psychological evaluations have always indicated a 'relatively safe but needs observation' status. His extreme actions in these incidents—and the specific targets chosen by the infected—align disturbingly well with his personal vendetta against criminals."

Miyazaki took a deep breath, preparing to deliver his final, most unsettling conclusion. "In summary, the likelihood that Ivan Petrov is the source of these infections is not negligible. In fact, it's alarmingly high."

Hercules drummed his knuckles on the table, deep in thought. "A specific individual's immunity to infection is not absolute. While they're resistant to most influences, exceeding their mental endurance can still pose a risk of infection. This is why regular psychological evaluations are mandatory for our agents."

"No," Miyazaki interrupted, his voice firm as he looked around the room, his eyes intense. "I don't believe Ivan Petrov is just another infected individual. He might be something far more dangerous."

He clicked the remote again, bringing the image of Ivan's grinning face back onto the screen, the man's unsettling smile seeming to mock them from within the confines of the frame.

"What I'm suggesting," Miyazaki said slowly, carefully choosing his words, "is that Ivan Petrov may not just be 'a' source of infection. He might very well be 'the' source—the origin of this terrifying outbreak that has plagued Riverton."

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