Penguin's Transformation

"Were you just on the phone with Oswald? That name sounds familiar," Ivy said.

"Anyone who's spent time on Gotham's streets knows that name. But he has an even more well-known alias—Penguin."

Ivy smacked her forehead. "Right, right, that's him. You actually know Penguin?"

"We've dealt with each other before. I helped him out, and he told me you'd been sent to the depths of Arkham. But one piece of information isn't enough to repay the favor he owes me."

Ivy hesitated for a moment. "Jude, I feel like I don't even know you anymore. You weren't like this before."

"Then what was I like?"

"You weren't capable of much, and you were pretty cowardly. Honestly, I didn't think you could save me. There just wasn't any other way, so I figured I'd give it a try."

So the original host was that kind of loser.

"Then forget that old me and accept the new me. Just remember that we grew up together as best friends. We're on the same side."

Ivy had just undergone the experiment and was emotionally exhausted. She had been worried whether anyone could accept what she had become. Hearing that, she smiled. "Right. We're on the same side."

Firefly made a retching gesture beside them. "Enough already. There are people right next to you. If you want to play house, wait until you're alone."

The two gave awkward laughs and continued onward in silence. Before long, they arrived at the Iceberg Lounge. This time, the greeters at the entrance had far more sense. Without saying a word, they hurriedly let them inside.

The secretary was waiting just inside the entrance. When he saw Jude, he enthusiastically came forward.

"Hello, Mr. Herbert. I've been waiting for you for quite some time."

Jude did not know him, nor did he need to. In American Comics World, a minor character like this did not even qualify as a bit player.

"Let's go. Take me to Mr. Oswald."

"Yes, sir. He isn't in his office. He's in the gym."

Inside the Iceberg Lounge was a surprisingly spacious gym. Even through the door, they could hear shouts and grunts from within.

They pushed the door open and saw Penguin sparring with five burly men. He usually trained in combat as well, but because of his physical deformities, the results had never been very useful in actual fights. After his genes had been altered, however, the effects of all that training had emerged. Ordinary men could not even get close to him.

"Hey, Mr. Oswald, I'm here."

Penguin glanced at him, then suddenly sprang into action and knocked all five burly men to the ground. He stripped off his sweat-soaked tank top and walked over bare-chested.

Jude teased, "Looks like you're in a great mood now that you've returned to normal. How does it feel?"

"I've never felt this good in my life."

"Then it worked. That means my potion was decent and I didn't mix it wrong."

Penguin frowned. "What do you mean? Your potion could have gone wrong?"

"Of course. Nothing in this world is one hundred percent certain. To be honest, I only had a seventy percent success rate. You were very lucky, Mr. Oswald."

"FUCK!"

"Don't fuck me. I'm not interested in men."

Penguin calmed the anger in his heart and pointed behind Jude. "Who are they?"

"My friends. I brought them out of the depths of Arkham."

Firefly extended her hand. "Hello. Bridget Pike. You can call me Firefly."

"Firefly. What a fine name. It lights up the darkness."

Firefly shook her head. "No. It sets everything ablaze."

Ivy also took the initiative to extend her hand. "Ivy Pepper. That's all."

Penguin studied her for a moment. "Yes, miss, I've heard of you. Mr. Herbert stormed Arkham alone for your sake. You must have something special about you."

With his body restored, Penguin's inferiority complex had vanished as well, and his high emotional intelligence showed itself. Just a few words made Bridget and Ivy beam.

The four entered the reception room. After the servants served coffee, they withdrew.

"What did you want to ask me?" Jude spoke first.

"About Arkham. But seeing these two ladies, the answer is already obvious. I never imagined you'd breach that place all by yourself. I underestimated you."

"It wasn't difficult. Science will help me accomplish anything."

"Will it? I don't think so. At the very least, science can't help you deal with Batman."

Jude's heart skipped a beat. "Did you hear something?"

"Do I even need to ask around? Something this big happened at Arkham. The Bat Family will definitely mobilize in full force. As long as you remain in Gotham, you won't escape their pursuit."

Before Jude could respond, Bridget became excited instead. "Batman? I'd like to meet him. They say the face beneath that mask is very handsome. It would surely look beautiful if it were burned to ruin."

"You won't want to meet him. He'll throw you right back into Arkham Asylum."

Ivy, on the other hand, was deeply worried. Come on, that was the legendary Batman. What person from Gotham did not know him? Who was not afraid of him?

Penguin took a sip of coffee. "Saving someone was fine, but you shouldn't have thrown Arkham into complete chaos. Everyone locked up in there escaped, including Joker."

Jude shot him a glance. "What? Are you worried? Worried those people will come out and try to seize your territory and power?"

"Hahaha, not at all. Anyone who wants to try is welcome to come. I'll crush them one by one."

"You're becoming more and more confident, Mr. Oswald."

"Heh heh. Science made you powerful. Power and money made me fearless."

"Fine. Keep pursuing power and money, but I need to explore science. I want to borrow Cobblepot Technology Company's laboratory. Something is wrong with Ivy."

"No problem. Use it for as long as you like."

That afternoon, Jude and Ivy arrived at Cobblepot Technology Company. As for Firefly, she remained at the Iceberg Lounge for the time being.

The moment the researchers in white coats saw Jude, they swarmed him like madmen. The shock he had given them last time had been far too great.

"Hello, Mr. Herbert. I'm Leonard, the company's chief scientist. May I ask you a question?"

"Sorry, I'm busy. Another time."

"Sir, this is truly important. That Interstellar TV you created—what principle was it based on? Could you tell me?"

"Sir, I really am busy. See the green girl beside me? I need to treat her. We can talk after that."

Leonard did not want to give up and continued making his request. "Mr. Herbert, are you conducting another experiment? Forgive my boldness, but could you let us participate? Or just me alone would be fine. I can simply assist you."

Jude looked at the old man, who was well into his seventies or eighties, and decisively refused.

"Sir, I'm not trying to insult you, but you wouldn't understand my experiments, and you could never learn them either. The gap between us is one of scale, like the gap between Earth and the entire universe."

Jude's words were hurtful, but he could not help saying them. In the field of science, he dared to look down on anyone.