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“Plenty of people want to kill Batman... Countless people hate his guts, but none have succeeded. All who tried ended up with broken bones in prison, or they were thrown into Arkham Asylum... And you say you're going to kill him?”
Maroni laughed out loud, a murderous intent toward the Joker forming in his heart. Such a suggestion was utter nonsense. He poured himself a beer, carefully adding a large ice cube.
“Hee hee hee, how to kill him is my business. In any case, you lot are helpless against him... I have a way. I’ll do it my way!” The Joker licked his lips neurotically.
“So how much do you want?”
“Hmm... half...”
The crowd erupted in laughter, and one man even drew his gun. “You madman!”
“No, I’m not mad. No, I’m not... If we don't settle this soon, all you little Rogues here won't be able to hand over a single cent to his dear old grandma.”
The Mexican man slammed his hand on the table, his face ferocious, his patience finally gone.
“I’ve had enough of this! This ridiculous thing! Let me...”
The Joker abruptly pulled open his suit jacket, revealing a row of grenades hanging inside, a pull-ring looped around his finger. In a crazed voice, the Joker said, “You’d better not... hmm, hmm, you don't want me to just blow everything up.”
The entire conference room was in an uproar. Everyone’s face changed color. The short-tempered ones began to curse; this damned lunatic could die on his own without taking everyone with him!
The Mexican man was surprisingly furious. “You think you’re so great? I’m putting out a public offer right now. Fifty thousand for your corpse, one hundred thousand if you’re brought in alive!”
“Hmmm, suit yourself...” The Joker pulled out one of his Playing Cards, which had a string of numbers on it. “This is my card. If you change your minds, just... give me a call? Just call me directly... hmm, hmm...”
With a soft click of the door, all that remained was a group of underworld bosses staring at each other in dismay. The Mexican man roared with anger, furiously smashing the table.
...
Tony was perfectly clear on the series of major events that had unfolded recently. Several Jokers had attacked the Bank, Harvey was being run in circles by Maroni in court, and the Police were striking out everywhere, coming up with nothing...
None of this had anything to do with him. This was Mr. Wayne's business, not his. He had chosen to come to Gotham City to achieve only two objectives.
The first was the phone. He had to find the person behind it and kill them. The second, however, was the most important: he had to find clues in Gotham City, to search for that legendary, miraculous substance—Dionysium. It was a nigh-divine material. Anyone infused with it possessed a virtually infinite lifespan and an astonishing Regenerative Ability.
Most importantly, metal forged with Dionysium possessed the ability to regenerate itself! Just like the Adamantium in Wolverine's body, which had fused with Wolverine's Healing Factor, allowing it to regenerate even after being severed.
Dionysium was what Tony coveted most. He had to obtain this miraculous substance to forge the steel bodies of his Transformer Legion. Batman and the Joker, tied together, weren't as important as Dionysium.
Three days had passed. Tony returned to the same small alley, silently waiting for the local Underworld Rat, Anderson. Tony was currently wearing a cloak, the large hood concealing his head and face completely.
He was a little agitated. He had too few helpers, forcing him to start from scratch to win over the local gangs. Anderson was just the beginning; he would bring more people into his fold to help him achieve his goal as quickly as possible.
After waiting for another half hour, a bruised and swollen Anderson limped over, looking around cautiously to make sure no one was following him.
“What happened?” Tony asked with a frown.
“Some strange guys have shown up on this street recently. I’ve never seen them before. They seem to be from another faction,” Anderson said, his words muffled as he held his cheek.
Tony’s brow furrowed even deeper. What a coincidence. He had approached Anderson three days ago, and immediately after, this street was occupied by a strange force, and Anderson got beaten up?
Tony cursed inwardly. Ever since arriving in Gotham City, he had felt a constant sense of oppression. This city was Batman's city. Batman monitored everyone in it, and Tony always felt as if a pair of eyes were watching him here.
“How’s the thing I asked you to do?”
“It’s almost done. Although the information is incomplete, I’ve covered most of it,” Anderson said. “Gotham City's most famous gang—the Falken Family—has always operated within Gotham City. They rarely extend their reach outside, nor have I heard of them deliberately offending anyone from the outside.”
Anderson wiped the sweat from his forehead. If the Falken Family found out he was secretly leaking their information to an outsider, he’d be in for a world of hurt, if not killed. During this time, Anderson had secretly bribed other Underworld Rats on other streets, gathering information bit by bit.
“What else?”
“That Crane you wanted me to focus on—he was thrown into Arkham Asylum by Batman some time ago. It’s heavily guarded. This is all I could find out.”
Tony was lost in thought. He could have just asked Fox for this information, but that would be crossing a line. Fox was Batman's man, and Scarecrow Crane was someone Batman had gone to great lengths to put in Arkham.
A flurry of hurried footsteps and curses echoed as a group of people crowded into the narrow alley. Every one of them was holding a gun, smirking at the two men.
“Heh heh heh... Anderson, is this the guy you’re meeting with? Daring to investigate the Falken Family, I see you’ve got a death wish,” the leader said with a cold smile.
“Aaron! What are you doing here? No, how did you find me?” Anderson’s face went pale, his hands trembling slightly.
Aaron smiled sinisterly. “You think every Underworld Rat is like you, choosing money over their life? In Gotham City, how many people dare to offend the Falken Family? The little bit of money you have can’t possibly be more important than their lives. Same old rules: break both their legs, then send them over to the Falken Family... Hey, you in the hood, you’ve got some nerve. Which gang are you from, or are you one of the cops’ lackeys?”
“He’s probably from another new gang trying to replace the Falken Family... just like those others who got wiped out!” one of the subordinates said with a loud laugh.
“I’m not doing it for the money!” Anderson had completely let go, his voice sharp and fierce. “I’m willing to help anyone who can make trouble for the Falken Family! In Falcone’s era, at least he didn't stoop to deliberately exploiting ordinary people. But Falcon?! The Falken Family are the biggest maggots! They only prey on the poor! If it weren’t for them, my family wouldn’t have...”
The gang members roared with laughter. Ever since Falcone was driven mad by Scarecrow Crane, many gangs had tried to challenge Falcon, but they were all annihilated. This group thought Tony was just another fool trying to replace Falcon. As for Anderson’s deep-seated hatred? Was it important? Plenty of people had been killed by Falcon; one more Anderson wouldn't make a difference.
Tony finally lifted his head, baring his teeth with a murderous look. “Replace them? I originally had no such intention... I just came to this city looking for someone... but you’ve given me a new idea. I am a Stark shareholder, after all. I have an obligation to expand the company’s business...”
He released a Little Transformer, which fearlessly charged into the crowd, unleashing a storm of blood and gore.
(end of chapter)
Maroni laughed out loud, a murderous intent toward the Joker forming in his heart. Such a suggestion was utter nonsense. He poured himself a beer, carefully adding a large ice cube.
“Hee hee hee, how to kill him is my business. In any case, you lot are helpless against him... I have a way. I’ll do it my way!” The Joker licked his lips neurotically.
“So how much do you want?”
“Hmm... half...”
The crowd erupted in laughter, and one man even drew his gun. “You madman!”
“No, I’m not mad. No, I’m not... If we don't settle this soon, all you little Rogues here won't be able to hand over a single cent to his dear old grandma.”
The Mexican man slammed his hand on the table, his face ferocious, his patience finally gone.
“I’ve had enough of this! This ridiculous thing! Let me...”
The Joker abruptly pulled open his suit jacket, revealing a row of grenades hanging inside, a pull-ring looped around his finger. In a crazed voice, the Joker said, “You’d better not... hmm, hmm, you don't want me to just blow everything up.”
The entire conference room was in an uproar. Everyone’s face changed color. The short-tempered ones began to curse; this damned lunatic could die on his own without taking everyone with him!
The Mexican man was surprisingly furious. “You think you’re so great? I’m putting out a public offer right now. Fifty thousand for your corpse, one hundred thousand if you’re brought in alive!”
“Hmmm, suit yourself...” The Joker pulled out one of his Playing Cards, which had a string of numbers on it. “This is my card. If you change your minds, just... give me a call? Just call me directly... hmm, hmm...”
With a soft click of the door, all that remained was a group of underworld bosses staring at each other in dismay. The Mexican man roared with anger, furiously smashing the table.
...
Tony was perfectly clear on the series of major events that had unfolded recently. Several Jokers had attacked the Bank, Harvey was being run in circles by Maroni in court, and the Police were striking out everywhere, coming up with nothing...
None of this had anything to do with him. This was Mr. Wayne's business, not his. He had chosen to come to Gotham City to achieve only two objectives.
The first was the phone. He had to find the person behind it and kill them. The second, however, was the most important: he had to find clues in Gotham City, to search for that legendary, miraculous substance—Dionysium. It was a nigh-divine material. Anyone infused with it possessed a virtually infinite lifespan and an astonishing Regenerative Ability.
Most importantly, metal forged with Dionysium possessed the ability to regenerate itself! Just like the Adamantium in Wolverine's body, which had fused with Wolverine's Healing Factor, allowing it to regenerate even after being severed.
Dionysium was what Tony coveted most. He had to obtain this miraculous substance to forge the steel bodies of his Transformer Legion. Batman and the Joker, tied together, weren't as important as Dionysium.
Three days had passed. Tony returned to the same small alley, silently waiting for the local Underworld Rat, Anderson. Tony was currently wearing a cloak, the large hood concealing his head and face completely.
He was a little agitated. He had too few helpers, forcing him to start from scratch to win over the local gangs. Anderson was just the beginning; he would bring more people into his fold to help him achieve his goal as quickly as possible.
After waiting for another half hour, a bruised and swollen Anderson limped over, looking around cautiously to make sure no one was following him.
“What happened?” Tony asked with a frown.
“Some strange guys have shown up on this street recently. I’ve never seen them before. They seem to be from another faction,” Anderson said, his words muffled as he held his cheek.
Tony’s brow furrowed even deeper. What a coincidence. He had approached Anderson three days ago, and immediately after, this street was occupied by a strange force, and Anderson got beaten up?
Tony cursed inwardly. Ever since arriving in Gotham City, he had felt a constant sense of oppression. This city was Batman's city. Batman monitored everyone in it, and Tony always felt as if a pair of eyes were watching him here.
“How’s the thing I asked you to do?”
“It’s almost done. Although the information is incomplete, I’ve covered most of it,” Anderson said. “Gotham City's most famous gang—the Falken Family—has always operated within Gotham City. They rarely extend their reach outside, nor have I heard of them deliberately offending anyone from the outside.”
Anderson wiped the sweat from his forehead. If the Falken Family found out he was secretly leaking their information to an outsider, he’d be in for a world of hurt, if not killed. During this time, Anderson had secretly bribed other Underworld Rats on other streets, gathering information bit by bit.
“What else?”
“That Crane you wanted me to focus on—he was thrown into Arkham Asylum by Batman some time ago. It’s heavily guarded. This is all I could find out.”
Tony was lost in thought. He could have just asked Fox for this information, but that would be crossing a line. Fox was Batman's man, and Scarecrow Crane was someone Batman had gone to great lengths to put in Arkham.
A flurry of hurried footsteps and curses echoed as a group of people crowded into the narrow alley. Every one of them was holding a gun, smirking at the two men.
“Heh heh heh... Anderson, is this the guy you’re meeting with? Daring to investigate the Falken Family, I see you’ve got a death wish,” the leader said with a cold smile.
“Aaron! What are you doing here? No, how did you find me?” Anderson’s face went pale, his hands trembling slightly.
Aaron smiled sinisterly. “You think every Underworld Rat is like you, choosing money over their life? In Gotham City, how many people dare to offend the Falken Family? The little bit of money you have can’t possibly be more important than their lives. Same old rules: break both their legs, then send them over to the Falken Family... Hey, you in the hood, you’ve got some nerve. Which gang are you from, or are you one of the cops’ lackeys?”
“He’s probably from another new gang trying to replace the Falken Family... just like those others who got wiped out!” one of the subordinates said with a loud laugh.
“I’m not doing it for the money!” Anderson had completely let go, his voice sharp and fierce. “I’m willing to help anyone who can make trouble for the Falken Family! In Falcone’s era, at least he didn't stoop to deliberately exploiting ordinary people. But Falcon?! The Falken Family are the biggest maggots! They only prey on the poor! If it weren’t for them, my family wouldn’t have...”
The gang members roared with laughter. Ever since Falcone was driven mad by Scarecrow Crane, many gangs had tried to challenge Falcon, but they were all annihilated. This group thought Tony was just another fool trying to replace Falcon. As for Anderson’s deep-seated hatred? Was it important? Plenty of people had been killed by Falcon; one more Anderson wouldn't make a difference.
Tony finally lifted his head, baring his teeth with a murderous look. “Replace them? I originally had no such intention... I just came to this city looking for someone... but you’ve given me a new idea. I am a Stark shareholder, after all. I have an obligation to expand the company’s business...”
He released a Little Transformer, which fearlessly charged into the crowd, unleashing a storm of blood and gore.
(end of chapter)
