Does the technical department also recruit lunatics?

"Hello, may I ask if this is Mr. Ma Zhaodi?"

"It's me, who is this?"

"Lucius Fox, you can call me Lucius. I found a special wheelchair last night, so I wanted to call and ask if you recently lost a motorized wheelchair."

"Ah, yes, that's my wheelchair." Ma Zhaodi replied to the call, his mind already in turmoil.

Damn it, the person on the other end said his name was Lucius Fox. If we disregard the possibility of two people with the same name, then he's one of Batman's technical support team.

He also said he found my wheelchair. So where did the robbers go? And according to the System's description, the modification technology and materials used in that wheelchair weren't anything groundbreaking; it was just a regular modification, perhaps a bit reckless. Why would something like that attract his attention?

"Oh, it's like this, that wheelchair rear-ended my car yesterday. I suggest the Gotham Police Department minimize the impact of this incident, and you don't need to pay any compensation. But personally, I'm very interested in some things on the wheelchair. Would you mind discussing it with me privately?"

"Uh..."

Seeing that the person on the other end seemed to be hesitating, Lucius calmly added, "Sir, I am the Technical Director of Wayne Enterprises. You don't need to worry too much. The reason I'm contacting you is simply because I believe there might be potential for cooperation between us on a technical level."

"Since you've already confirmed my phone number, you've also confirmed my other information, right?"

"That's correct. I apologize, but I mean no offense. This is just a routine information check, and we don't intend to infringe on your privacy."

It was clear that Lucius's inquiry was merely a formality. If the investigation by Wayne Enterprises was blocked, someone else's investigation might be knocking on his door. Although this sounded like Ma Zhaodi's paranoia, in Gotham, it was far from impossible.

"I just don't understand why you're looking for me—it certainly can't be because of that wheelchair; its technology isn't that impressive."

"We can discuss that when we meet, Mr. Ma Zhaodi. Today, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow between 3 PM and 5 PM. Please be ready to call this number later, and I will send someone to pick you up."

"What if I don't want to come?"

"I respect your wishes, but I still hope you'll come. Communication would be beneficial for both of us, and I won't take up too much of your time."

"Is after 10 PM tonight okay?"

"I will compensate you for any economic losses during your absence. Please be sure to come between 3 PM and 5 PM."

"Alright, alright."

Lucius's tone was very polite, even to the point of being courteous. After careful consideration, Ma Zhaodi decided to ask Donald for leave. As for the loss of a few hundred dollars in assets, he could only consider himself unlucky.

As a family business whose operations covered various aspects of Gotham, including healthcare, food, transportation, and construction, Wayne Enterprises was a super-capital behemoth that even a mob godfather like Falcone would never dare to offend directly.

To survive in Gotham, even if one didn't want to cooperate with them, one should at least not make enemies of them.

So, at 3 PM, Ma Zhaodi dialed the number Lucius had left.

Donald was truly reliable. He didn't even ask Ma Zhaodi what he was taking the afternoon off for, and just granted him the leave.

At 3:26 PM, Wayne Tower.

"Mr. Ma Zhaodi, let's get straight to the point." A middle-aged black man in a suit sat opposite Ma Zhaodi at his desk and gently placed a small bag on the table. Inside was a fragment of a blue flower petal.

Holy crap, where did he get the petal?

Ma Zhaodi's poker face faltered. As far as he remembered, he had only drunk flower tea once, and he had even chewed up the petals and the thermos.

Wait, where's my thermos?

Holy crap! There was a cup holder next to the modified wheelchair seat! I even praised the modification design as thoughtful and practical and casually put the cup in it.

He never expected that the reason he was being sought out was because his thermos had a little bit of flower tea left in it, and it had been sent to Lucius along with the wheelchair after the car accident.

"This was found on your wheelchair. We are still conducting further analysis, but the preliminary test results are out. Mr. Ma Zhaodi, the plant you brought to Gotham seems to be extraordinary."

Ma Zhaodi's mind raced. Denying it outright would be the worst option. His DNA was in the thermos. It would be better to just admit it and play the role of an unremarkable passerby.

"I thought you were looking for me because of the wheelchair."

"That illegally modified wheelchair is also very interesting, Mr. Ma Zhaodi, but I advise you not to use such dangerous transportation. And as I said before, the reason I'm looking for you is 'the things on the wheelchair'."

"Alright, actually, I only got that flower tea after I came to Gotham. And there wasn't much of it; I only have one bag left now. Even before yesterday, I had never drunk that kind of flower tea before. I also didn't know it could help you stay awake."

After hearing Ma Zhaodi's answer, Lucius continued to ask, "Stay awake? Its effect is to help you stay awake?"

"Yes, I drank a cup of flower tea at noon yesterday and couldn't sleep all night. I only slept for ten minutes in the car this afternoon. It feels much more effective than coffee."

So it wasn't a new type of drug, just a natural long-acting stimulant. This result made Lucius slightly relieved. At least Batman's to-do list wouldn't have another item, which could help him maintain a slightly more normal schedule.

"Very interesting. So where did it come from?"

"I found it on the train when I came to Gotham. I don't remember when or where it happened. Anyway, it floated in through the window, and I thought they looked beautiful and smelled nice, so I collected them."

"Sounds poetic."

"Uh-huh. In short, the rest is here." Ma Zhaodi took out a small cloth bag from his pocket, which indeed contained some blue flowers similar to those in the small bag.

"Although I don't know why you're interested in these flowers, they're of no use to me anyway. If you want them, I'll sell them to you."

"Can you not recall the approximate location where they fell?"

"Sorry, I wasn't very awake on the train; I was mostly asleep."

"Alright, then—I will pay you a sum of money, or you can choose another form of compensation."

"What compensation?"

"For example, joining Wayne Enterprises and becoming a member of the technical department."