Reading settings
“Hostage? What hostage?” Tony stopped what he was doing, turned around, and looked at Bruce with dangerous eyes, “What hostage are you talking about? What have you done to my people?”
“I have a hostage, someone you know…” Bruce said with difficulty, “Come back with me, and I won't hurt him. Since you constantly claim you don't trust Harvey, then prove everything with facts. Rescue Harvey, and let him prove to both of us who was truly wrong!”
“Bruce, I still underestimated the depths of your shamelessness…” Tony knocked Bruce to the ground again, his gaze growing increasingly dangerous.
In an instant, many faces flashed through Tony’s mind. Who could the hostage be? Crane, Old Bartender, Blade, even Anderson, who was currently in Arkham Asylum…
“Come back with me, Tony. We must rescue Harvey first…” Bruce coughed up a mouthful of blood, panting.
Tony’s expression was cold, yet tinged with an undeniable complexity: “You place your hope for Gotham City’s transformation on Harvey, yet you hold such immense hostility towards me… because he’s a prosecutor? Law-abiding? But he’s not that great, you’ll regret it…”
Two-Face’s extreme personality is not something to be trifled with…
“You clearly possess great power, yet you stand by and watch the weak common people die. You could rally them, then charge at the front, striking down the Falken Family with the might of thunder.” Bruce said.
“Listen, Bruce, I don’t owe the people of Gotham City anything! On the contrary, I’ve given the people of Gotham City the courage and opportunity to resist. The power unleashed by these impoverished people, all at once, is enough to terrify all the Gangs. I gave them opportunities and tangible hope, while for over a year, you’ve only offered them grand visions, fantasies of heroes protecting them.”
Tony gradually reined in his killing intent. People like Bruce are stubborn, yet sometimes foolish, finding joy in doing difficult things; otherwise, he wouldn't have transformed into Batman to enact justice as soon as he returned to Gotham City. But precisely because of this, it can sometimes be even more infuriating.
He then recalled Batman’s “no-kill” principle, which he adhered to for a period: capturing and releasing, releasing and capturing, like a repetitive cycle. Batman himself constantly swayed between light and darkness, living entirely in contradiction.
“Go back? People like Joker and Harvey are minor issues; I have more troublesome things to do. Go home, Bruce, I can’t be bothered with you. I’ll return to Gotham City soon after I’ve finished what I’m doing.” Tony’s eyes stared unblinkingly at the boundless night. He could feel that the lurking Undead were already stirring.
An owl flew through the air, flapping its wings, and finally vanished into the night, like a ghost that only appears at night.
Bruce stared at Tony for a long time, eventually rising in silence and leaving with the timely assistance of Alfred. Bruce’s expression was complex, and Alfred’s was even more so. Alfred looked at Bruce, then at Tony, opening his mouth to say something, but Bruce stopped him.
“Let’s go, Alfred…” Bruce waved his hand.
“Understood, Young Master.” Under Tony’s gaze, Alfred assisted Bruce as they walked into the distance. After walking for a while, Alfred, the old butler, finally couldn’t help but ask: “Young Master, are you really not going to tell Tony that there was no hostage at all? That ‘hostage’ was actually yourself…”
“It doesn’t matter anymore, I failed…” Bruce rasped, his voice genuinely hoarse this time, not a pretense, and a profound weariness emanated from it.
In the distant darkness, numerous figures flickered, unnoticed by either Bruce or Alfred. These individuals possessed exceptional stealth abilities, and the distance further allowed them to remain perfectly concealed.
These individuals watched the departing Bruce with cold indifference, making no move. The Wayne Family, good neighbors of the Court of Owls, would not be easily provoked by those influential families until Bruce Wayne directly threatened the Court. This generation of the Wayne Family publicly had only Bruce as a direct descendant; rashly killing him would trigger a complete economic collapse in Gotham City. Most importantly, the Court of Owls already had other plans in the dark, believing their methods would yield more perfect results.
It was precisely because of Batman’s existence that the darkness of Gotham City could more closely revolve around the Court. The Court of Owls and the Wayne Family had secretly contended for centuries, but each time, the Court of Owls emerged victorious, with many Wayne Family members assassinated and their deaths disguised as accidents.
“According to the Court’s orders, kill Tony at all costs!”
A figure issued the command, and numerous lurking figures slowly emerged from the darkness, distantly surrounding Tony to prevent his escape.
For centuries, the Court of Owls either remained inactive or, once they made a move, ensured success. Regardless, the Court of Owls could not expose themselves; they were like terrifying ghosts that devoured everything at night, secretly watching over all of Gotham City.
After a long time, the Court of Owls once again made a move, directly targeting the renowned mutant, Tony. Tony’s actions severely threatened the Court’s standing, fundamentally severing the Court’s factions. This time, they would spare no effort to destroy Tony.
After killing Tony, the entire Court would immediately go into hiding to avoid the furious backlash from the Mutant Faction. Furthermore, they possessed Dionesium technology, capable of resurrecting the dead. If Tony were resurrected and then Augmentated into one of the Court’s “Talons”… Tony was a mutant with at least Level Four potential. With such a strong enforcer, who could possibly shake the rule of the Court of Owls?
“Court of Owls, for centuries, you’ve been involved in all the major events in Gotham City. Even over a year ago, when the League of Shadows invaded Gotham City, a group of assassins mysteriously disappeared and were killed – that was your doing, wasn’t it… Beware the Court of Owls, who watch your every move. Peering from the shadows of Gotham City, hiding in low walls and attics. He is in your home, and he exists in your bed. Never mention his name, or the Talons will seek your head.”
Optimus Prime stood up. Tony took a thin chest plate from Optimus Prime's body and slowly put it on. It was Augmentated from his Vibranium brick, sufficient to protect the many organs within his chest during intense combat.
“This nursery rhyme has been circulating in Gotham City for centuries. You foolish Owls, you hide better than any rat.” Tony subtly glanced at Arcee, who lay motionless nearby, ultimately only summoning Optimus Prime to his side. One large, one small figure, they stood ready to face the unknown number of Court assassins in the dark night.
These assassins had a fixed name: “Talons.”
The Court of Owls’ Talons wore identical outfits: all in black, equipped with various cold weapons, and their balaclavas were fashioned after the design of an owl, sharing a striking similarity with Bruce’s Bat-suit.
The leading Talon watched the battle-ready Tony with his sinister gaze through thick black lenses. This person was tonight’s definite kill target.
“Mechanic tony, you have severely destabilized Gotham City. The Court has decided to sentence you – to death!”
(end of chapter)
“I have a hostage, someone you know…” Bruce said with difficulty, “Come back with me, and I won't hurt him. Since you constantly claim you don't trust Harvey, then prove everything with facts. Rescue Harvey, and let him prove to both of us who was truly wrong!”
“Bruce, I still underestimated the depths of your shamelessness…” Tony knocked Bruce to the ground again, his gaze growing increasingly dangerous.
In an instant, many faces flashed through Tony’s mind. Who could the hostage be? Crane, Old Bartender, Blade, even Anderson, who was currently in Arkham Asylum…
“Come back with me, Tony. We must rescue Harvey first…” Bruce coughed up a mouthful of blood, panting.
Tony’s expression was cold, yet tinged with an undeniable complexity: “You place your hope for Gotham City’s transformation on Harvey, yet you hold such immense hostility towards me… because he’s a prosecutor? Law-abiding? But he’s not that great, you’ll regret it…”
Two-Face’s extreme personality is not something to be trifled with…
“You clearly possess great power, yet you stand by and watch the weak common people die. You could rally them, then charge at the front, striking down the Falken Family with the might of thunder.” Bruce said.
“Listen, Bruce, I don’t owe the people of Gotham City anything! On the contrary, I’ve given the people of Gotham City the courage and opportunity to resist. The power unleashed by these impoverished people, all at once, is enough to terrify all the Gangs. I gave them opportunities and tangible hope, while for over a year, you’ve only offered them grand visions, fantasies of heroes protecting them.”
Tony gradually reined in his killing intent. People like Bruce are stubborn, yet sometimes foolish, finding joy in doing difficult things; otherwise, he wouldn't have transformed into Batman to enact justice as soon as he returned to Gotham City. But precisely because of this, it can sometimes be even more infuriating.
He then recalled Batman’s “no-kill” principle, which he adhered to for a period: capturing and releasing, releasing and capturing, like a repetitive cycle. Batman himself constantly swayed between light and darkness, living entirely in contradiction.
“Go back? People like Joker and Harvey are minor issues; I have more troublesome things to do. Go home, Bruce, I can’t be bothered with you. I’ll return to Gotham City soon after I’ve finished what I’m doing.” Tony’s eyes stared unblinkingly at the boundless night. He could feel that the lurking Undead were already stirring.
An owl flew through the air, flapping its wings, and finally vanished into the night, like a ghost that only appears at night.
Bruce stared at Tony for a long time, eventually rising in silence and leaving with the timely assistance of Alfred. Bruce’s expression was complex, and Alfred’s was even more so. Alfred looked at Bruce, then at Tony, opening his mouth to say something, but Bruce stopped him.
“Let’s go, Alfred…” Bruce waved his hand.
“Understood, Young Master.” Under Tony’s gaze, Alfred assisted Bruce as they walked into the distance. After walking for a while, Alfred, the old butler, finally couldn’t help but ask: “Young Master, are you really not going to tell Tony that there was no hostage at all? That ‘hostage’ was actually yourself…”
“It doesn’t matter anymore, I failed…” Bruce rasped, his voice genuinely hoarse this time, not a pretense, and a profound weariness emanated from it.
In the distant darkness, numerous figures flickered, unnoticed by either Bruce or Alfred. These individuals possessed exceptional stealth abilities, and the distance further allowed them to remain perfectly concealed.
These individuals watched the departing Bruce with cold indifference, making no move. The Wayne Family, good neighbors of the Court of Owls, would not be easily provoked by those influential families until Bruce Wayne directly threatened the Court. This generation of the Wayne Family publicly had only Bruce as a direct descendant; rashly killing him would trigger a complete economic collapse in Gotham City. Most importantly, the Court of Owls already had other plans in the dark, believing their methods would yield more perfect results.
It was precisely because of Batman’s existence that the darkness of Gotham City could more closely revolve around the Court. The Court of Owls and the Wayne Family had secretly contended for centuries, but each time, the Court of Owls emerged victorious, with many Wayne Family members assassinated and their deaths disguised as accidents.
“According to the Court’s orders, kill Tony at all costs!”
A figure issued the command, and numerous lurking figures slowly emerged from the darkness, distantly surrounding Tony to prevent his escape.
For centuries, the Court of Owls either remained inactive or, once they made a move, ensured success. Regardless, the Court of Owls could not expose themselves; they were like terrifying ghosts that devoured everything at night, secretly watching over all of Gotham City.
After a long time, the Court of Owls once again made a move, directly targeting the renowned mutant, Tony. Tony’s actions severely threatened the Court’s standing, fundamentally severing the Court’s factions. This time, they would spare no effort to destroy Tony.
After killing Tony, the entire Court would immediately go into hiding to avoid the furious backlash from the Mutant Faction. Furthermore, they possessed Dionesium technology, capable of resurrecting the dead. If Tony were resurrected and then Augmentated into one of the Court’s “Talons”… Tony was a mutant with at least Level Four potential. With such a strong enforcer, who could possibly shake the rule of the Court of Owls?
“Court of Owls, for centuries, you’ve been involved in all the major events in Gotham City. Even over a year ago, when the League of Shadows invaded Gotham City, a group of assassins mysteriously disappeared and were killed – that was your doing, wasn’t it… Beware the Court of Owls, who watch your every move. Peering from the shadows of Gotham City, hiding in low walls and attics. He is in your home, and he exists in your bed. Never mention his name, or the Talons will seek your head.”
Optimus Prime stood up. Tony took a thin chest plate from Optimus Prime's body and slowly put it on. It was Augmentated from his Vibranium brick, sufficient to protect the many organs within his chest during intense combat.
“This nursery rhyme has been circulating in Gotham City for centuries. You foolish Owls, you hide better than any rat.” Tony subtly glanced at Arcee, who lay motionless nearby, ultimately only summoning Optimus Prime to his side. One large, one small figure, they stood ready to face the unknown number of Court assassins in the dark night.
These assassins had a fixed name: “Talons.”
The Court of Owls’ Talons wore identical outfits: all in black, equipped with various cold weapons, and their balaclavas were fashioned after the design of an owl, sharing a striking similarity with Bruce’s Bat-suit.
The leading Talon watched the battle-ready Tony with his sinister gaze through thick black lenses. This person was tonight’s definite kill target.
“Mechanic tony, you have severely destabilized Gotham City. The Court has decided to sentence you – to death!”
(end of chapter)
