Joker's Plan

"But if any of you want to act like a diva and run off because you don't feel like playing your part anymore, you're welcome to try. Arkham has been sealed off now, though, so whether you can get out depends on your own abilities. If you can't, then there will only be two outcomes tonight."

"One is that a new lead gets chosen. The other is that our great male lead, Batman, defeats all the villains and locks you all back up."

"Of course, I don't think anyone would turn down the chance to play a game with the Bat, would they?"

The released inmates gathered together and erupted into cheers.

Settling scores with Batman was politically correct in Arkham.

And everyone loved doing it.

"Where's that Bat? I can't wait to break his spine again."

Bane snapped a thick iron door off with one hand, eager to get going.

"No need to rush, buddy. I've prepared a gift for everyone—a gift that'll let each and every one of you break the Bat's spine."

Joker said, gesticulating wildly.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's get moving!"

Black Mask spat twice into his hands and rubbed them together eagerly.

"All right, but I need some tough guys to stay behind first and help me hold Batman off for a while. Of course, it'd be even better if you can just take Batman out directly."

Joker said with a cackle.

Many of the criminals were already unable to wait any longer, especially those confident in their own strength.

Like Bane and Killer Croc.

Black Mask followed as well, carrying a gun he had snatched from a guard.

Clearly, he had already forgotten what Shimizu had told him before.

Very soon, Joker's next plan was revealed before everyone.

Titan Serum.

Or rather, an improved version of Titan Serum, created by Bane's attending physician, Penny Yang.

The doctor had originally been reverse-engineering Titan Serum to cure Bane's venom addiction, but had accidentally created this even more powerful Titan II Serum.

There was no need to carry a huge canister on one's back like Bane did, reverting to normal the moment the tubes were pulled out. All it took was an injection to gain Titan-like strength.

Its downside, however, was that it had a greater effect on the mind, and the transformed body looked even more monstrous than Bane's.

"My dear Dr. Yang, please tell me, where did you hide that stuff?"

Inside the chief neurologist's office, Joker smiled at the female doctor in a white lab coat. With a magician-like snap of his fingers, he produced a rose from his sleeve.

"I already threw all of it away. Don't even think about it."

Tied to a chair with hemp rope, Penny Yang spat at Joker.

"Oh, really? Would you truly be willing to throw away all your hard work? Let me think. You probably didn't have a chance to throw it very far, so you must have put it in some corner where it wouldn't be easy to find, right?"

Joker looked around the office but found nothing unusual.

"Um, Mr. Joker, how about I inspect the place? Before I came to Arkham, I was a forensic doctor. I know criminal investigation too. Maybe I can find something out of the ordinary."

A burly man raised his hand and said.

Joker made an inviting gesture.

The burly man stepped forward and asked Yang several questions.

He received no answer, but he did not mind. He merely observed Yang's expression, then led others in a meticulous search of the office.

The entire process was orderly and methodical. They even found the pink, rod-shaped vibrator Dr. Yang had hidden in a cabinet.

And in the end, they really did find something suspicious.

It was a painting. Behind it, after it was pushed aside, was a safe.

"I flushed the key down the sewer a long time ago."

Dr. Yang smiled as she watched.

"Um... I can pick locks. All I need is a paper clip from his desk."

One of the lackeys said sheepishly.

Standing by the doorway like some ordinary grunt, Shimizu could not help sighing inwardly.

Arkham truly was packed with talent.

The guy straightened out the paper clip, inserted it into the keyhole, and moved it up and down forcefully a few times. He pulled it out and examined it, then bent the top of the paper clip into shape with several quick twists before inserting it again.

With a light turn, the safe opened with ease.

A burst of cold air drifted out.

It was actually a freezer. Inside, test tubes filled with green liquid were arranged neatly in rows.

Titan II Venom.

"Aha, I knew you had hidden something good here. But why is there only this much? You know what I want most."

Joker lifted Doctor Yang's chin, a dangerous gleam flickering in his eyes.

"I told you, I threw it away. Flushed it down the toilet. Maybe it's in the sewers? But the formula was only a sheet of paper. It should be completely destroyed by now."

Fear filled Doctor Yang's eyes, yet she snapped back at Joker without hesitation.

"Oh... you really know how to make me unhappy, sweetheart. But I like fiery girls like you."

Joker pulled another knife from his pocket and waved it before Doctor Yang.

"Dear Mr. J, what did you say? I heard that, you know~"

A lively female voice came from the walkie-talkie hanging on Joker's chest, carrying Harley Quinn's jealous tone.

"Oh, it's nothing, Harley. I just wanted to tell Doctor Yang a story. For example... do you know how my mouth got this way? When I was a child, my father came home drunk and abused me. He used broken beer bottle shards to cut open my mouth, all because my mother refused to give him my tuition money to gamble with..."

Shimizu, standing by the door, could not help but curl his lip.

No one knew how many versions there were of the story behind Joker's split mouth. No one knew which was true and which was false.

"Poor Mr. J. Your past experiences are truly heartbreaking."

Joker ignored Harley's words over the walkie-talkie and instead slid the knife into Doctor Yang's mouth.

"Why so serious, Doctor Yang? Want me to make you just like me, happy forever? Of course, if you're willing to give me the formula, we can be very happy together."

"You're dreaming."

Doctor Yang said indistinctly.

"Dear Mr. J, you'd better hurry. That useless Bane got locked back in his cage by the Bat again. Batman will catch up to you soon."

In Arkham Asylum's control room, Harley Quinn propped her legs on the desk and watched the surveillance screens.

"Looks like the plan needs to change."

Joker coldly pulled out the knife.

"Doctor, are you sure you're the only one who knows the formula?"

"Of course. So as long as I don't tell you, you'll never know the formula."

Bang!

Joker drew his pistol and pulled the trigger at Doctor Yang's head.

"Good. Now Batman can't get the formula either, and he won't be able to make an antidote anytime soon."