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Chapter 852 Double-edged Sword
Joker was quite heartbroken. Not long ago, he decided to put on a fireworks display for Batman, specifically robbing Penguin to get money to buy explosives. He didn't expect Batman to be so unappreciative as to invite others to join their game.
He had even set a very generous detonation time for the bomb, but he didn't expect that neurosis to be so devoid of fun.
A disappointed Joker wandered aimlessly through the streets of Gotham. His peripheral vision caught sight of an alley beside him, and he noticed someone committing a crime within the alley.
A man who was all bluster and no bite, a handgun, a panicked woman, a bag – a truly uninspired crime.
Joker revealed a hint of a smile. He thought maybe he'd been too soft lately, and Batman had forgotten the thrill between them. How could that be? He wouldn't accept a seven-year itch in their relationship.
The saying "art imitates life" really isn't wrong. Perhaps it was time to let Batman experience a more stimulating game.
Thinking this, Joker's mood improved considerably. He casually snatched the cane from a thug of the Joker Gang beside him, and walked towards the alley with the gentlemanly dance steps favored by those suited actors of the modern era.
The purple cane spun continuously in his hand. The sound of air being torn, coupled with the laughter Joker squeezed from the corner of his mouth, drew the gaze of the two people in the alley.
At this moment, both the robber and the victim revealed terrified expressions. Green hair, pale white face, purple suit – in all of Gotham, and even worldwide, only one person would dress like this.
"Hahaha!" Joker approached the man and woman, who were already huddled together for warmth, with light steps, and extended his right hand to them.
"Thank you both for your contribution to art. Please allow me to offer my most sublime greeting to you two artists. Come, shake my hand."
The man looked at the electric shock device openly displayed on Joker's palm. Just as he was contemplating whether to take a gamble and perhaps find a way out, he noticed a black shadow standing behind Joker at some point.
"Hmm?" Joker seemed to sense something. He turned his head and saw a thick bat enlarging in his line of sight.
"Bang!"
A good sound indeed. Joker fell in response, his whole body collapsing onto the damp floor of Gotham like a broken doll.
"Take him away."
Black Shadow stepped forward, emerging from the shadow into the dim lights of the alley. Only then did the man and woman realize that the newcomer wasn't Batman, but a tall man wearing an ice sphere mask.
Several people emerged from the shadow. Previously, due to the man's imposing figure, the couple hadn't noticed there were more people behind him. These individuals wore uniform attire, clearly belonging to the same organization.
"Deal with these two as well." Sportsmaster retracted his baseball bat and left the alley without looking back. Behind him followed those carrying Joker, stuffed into a sack, and two muffled gunshots.
And that group of Joker Gang guarding the alley entrance had long since vanished, their fate unknown – whether they were dealt with or had fled.
…
"Splash!"
Cold water splashed across his face. Joker immediately opened his eyes. The first sensation upon waking was the pain throbbing in his forehead, followed by dizziness from his brain.
He wiped his face, then rubbed his throbbing forehead. Joker stood unsteadily from the ground and found himself in a pitch-black space.
"Kidnapping? Secret Room?" Joker's tone held a hint of disgust. "Truly lacking in originality. Next, is a white light going to suddenly flash, followed by the appearance of a mysterious person with only a black silhouette?"
"Bang!"
Just as Joker predicted, the pitch-black room suddenly illuminated with light. Joker turned around and saw that the source of the light wasn't a light bulb, but several projection screens.
"Oh, alright." Joker waved his hand dismissively. "One mysterious person has become six. How utterly revolting."
"Joker." The screen directly in front spoke first. It was a man's voice. "We need you to do us a favor. You can choose not to, in which case we will kill you."
"No room for negotiation at all." Joker chuckled. "Sounds like I have no reason to refuse."
"Indeed, you don't." The screen on the left spoke, a woman's voice.
"We need you to draw the attention of the Justice League." The person in the main seat continued.
"Of course, we understand this isn't an easy thing, so we've arranged manpower for you. Your task is to create as much of a commotion as possible."
Joker's expression shifted from excitement to disappointment as the man spoke, and he finally sighed and said.
"Boring, so boring. Why do so many people believe that only grand spectacles create a big stir?"
Joker shrugged and shook his head, adopting a 'holier-than-thou' attitude, but no one seemed angered by his demeanor.
"I can understand. Is that a refusal?"
As the man spoke, a figure emerged from the corner of the room – Sportsmaster, the one who had kidnapped Joker. He withdrew a baseball bat from the bag on his back, tapped his palm menacingly, and started walking towards Joker.
"What I mean is, I accept." Joker maintained his cheerful demeanor, as if it wasn't him who had just stared death in the face, but some stranger he didn't know.
"Wise decision." The man said. "Sportsmaster will provide you with detailed information later. Remember, your mission is to attract attention, and stick to the mission."
It was clear that even though the man projected an image of control, he was still afraid of Joker's unpredictability in his heart. After all, no one could foresee Joker's next move.
"A formulaic performance?" Joker pouted. "I don't like it, but who are you to be the employer, Vandal Savage."
Joker revealed the man's hidden identity with a single phrase. This plunged the scene into silence once more. After a moment, Savage, seated in the main position, voluntarily dropped his disguise.
"How did you figure it out?" Savage's expression remained unchanged. He wasn't afraid of his identity being revealed, but he was genuinely curious how he'd been exposed.
"There's only one person worldwide who speaks with that condescending tone." Joker pulled a pull ring from his pocket. Colorful confetti erupted as he pulled it, celebrating his correct answer to the problem.
Savage fell silent. This was also the reason he hadn't wanted to choose Joker. Though he was a neurosis, he was undeniably too clever. However, it was precisely for this reason that the Justice League would never ignore any action Joker took.
Joker was a double-edged sword for him, but Savage was confident he wouldn't get cut.
Joker, still grinning, was led away by Sportsmaster. Before leaving, he waved goodbye to everyone in the room, an act that unsettled even the self-proclaimed elites within the room.
(End of Chapter)
Joker was quite heartbroken. Not long ago, he decided to put on a fireworks display for Batman, specifically robbing Penguin to get money to buy explosives. He didn't expect Batman to be so unappreciative as to invite others to join their game.
He had even set a very generous detonation time for the bomb, but he didn't expect that neurosis to be so devoid of fun.
A disappointed Joker wandered aimlessly through the streets of Gotham. His peripheral vision caught sight of an alley beside him, and he noticed someone committing a crime within the alley.
A man who was all bluster and no bite, a handgun, a panicked woman, a bag – a truly uninspired crime.
Joker revealed a hint of a smile. He thought maybe he'd been too soft lately, and Batman had forgotten the thrill between them. How could that be? He wouldn't accept a seven-year itch in their relationship.
The saying "art imitates life" really isn't wrong. Perhaps it was time to let Batman experience a more stimulating game.
Thinking this, Joker's mood improved considerably. He casually snatched the cane from a thug of the Joker Gang beside him, and walked towards the alley with the gentlemanly dance steps favored by those suited actors of the modern era.
The purple cane spun continuously in his hand. The sound of air being torn, coupled with the laughter Joker squeezed from the corner of his mouth, drew the gaze of the two people in the alley.
At this moment, both the robber and the victim revealed terrified expressions. Green hair, pale white face, purple suit – in all of Gotham, and even worldwide, only one person would dress like this.
"Hahaha!" Joker approached the man and woman, who were already huddled together for warmth, with light steps, and extended his right hand to them.
"Thank you both for your contribution to art. Please allow me to offer my most sublime greeting to you two artists. Come, shake my hand."
The man looked at the electric shock device openly displayed on Joker's palm. Just as he was contemplating whether to take a gamble and perhaps find a way out, he noticed a black shadow standing behind Joker at some point.
"Hmm?" Joker seemed to sense something. He turned his head and saw a thick bat enlarging in his line of sight.
"Bang!"
A good sound indeed. Joker fell in response, his whole body collapsing onto the damp floor of Gotham like a broken doll.
"Take him away."
Black Shadow stepped forward, emerging from the shadow into the dim lights of the alley. Only then did the man and woman realize that the newcomer wasn't Batman, but a tall man wearing an ice sphere mask.
Several people emerged from the shadow. Previously, due to the man's imposing figure, the couple hadn't noticed there were more people behind him. These individuals wore uniform attire, clearly belonging to the same organization.
"Deal with these two as well." Sportsmaster retracted his baseball bat and left the alley without looking back. Behind him followed those carrying Joker, stuffed into a sack, and two muffled gunshots.
And that group of Joker Gang guarding the alley entrance had long since vanished, their fate unknown – whether they were dealt with or had fled.
…
"Splash!"
Cold water splashed across his face. Joker immediately opened his eyes. The first sensation upon waking was the pain throbbing in his forehead, followed by dizziness from his brain.
He wiped his face, then rubbed his throbbing forehead. Joker stood unsteadily from the ground and found himself in a pitch-black space.
"Kidnapping? Secret Room?" Joker's tone held a hint of disgust. "Truly lacking in originality. Next, is a white light going to suddenly flash, followed by the appearance of a mysterious person with only a black silhouette?"
"Bang!"
Just as Joker predicted, the pitch-black room suddenly illuminated with light. Joker turned around and saw that the source of the light wasn't a light bulb, but several projection screens.
"Oh, alright." Joker waved his hand dismissively. "One mysterious person has become six. How utterly revolting."
"Joker." The screen directly in front spoke first. It was a man's voice. "We need you to do us a favor. You can choose not to, in which case we will kill you."
"No room for negotiation at all." Joker chuckled. "Sounds like I have no reason to refuse."
"Indeed, you don't." The screen on the left spoke, a woman's voice.
"We need you to draw the attention of the Justice League." The person in the main seat continued.
"Of course, we understand this isn't an easy thing, so we've arranged manpower for you. Your task is to create as much of a commotion as possible."
Joker's expression shifted from excitement to disappointment as the man spoke, and he finally sighed and said.
"Boring, so boring. Why do so many people believe that only grand spectacles create a big stir?"
Joker shrugged and shook his head, adopting a 'holier-than-thou' attitude, but no one seemed angered by his demeanor.
"I can understand. Is that a refusal?"
As the man spoke, a figure emerged from the corner of the room – Sportsmaster, the one who had kidnapped Joker. He withdrew a baseball bat from the bag on his back, tapped his palm menacingly, and started walking towards Joker.
"What I mean is, I accept." Joker maintained his cheerful demeanor, as if it wasn't him who had just stared death in the face, but some stranger he didn't know.
"Wise decision." The man said. "Sportsmaster will provide you with detailed information later. Remember, your mission is to attract attention, and stick to the mission."
It was clear that even though the man projected an image of control, he was still afraid of Joker's unpredictability in his heart. After all, no one could foresee Joker's next move.
"A formulaic performance?" Joker pouted. "I don't like it, but who are you to be the employer, Vandal Savage."
Joker revealed the man's hidden identity with a single phrase. This plunged the scene into silence once more. After a moment, Savage, seated in the main position, voluntarily dropped his disguise.
"How did you figure it out?" Savage's expression remained unchanged. He wasn't afraid of his identity being revealed, but he was genuinely curious how he'd been exposed.
"There's only one person worldwide who speaks with that condescending tone." Joker pulled a pull ring from his pocket. Colorful confetti erupted as he pulled it, celebrating his correct answer to the problem.
Savage fell silent. This was also the reason he hadn't wanted to choose Joker. Though he was a neurosis, he was undeniably too clever. However, it was precisely for this reason that the Justice League would never ignore any action Joker took.
Joker was a double-edged sword for him, but Savage was confident he wouldn't get cut.
Joker, still grinning, was led away by Sportsmaster. Before leaving, he waved goodbye to everyone in the room, an act that unsettled even the self-proclaimed elites within the room.
(End of Chapter)
