Broken Promise

"What I mean is, the Joker kidnapped Mayor Carlo, after all. He may not wield much power, and his head may be full of ambition for authority, but he is still the mayor of all Gotham City."

"Wouldn't the Joker...?"

Chen Tao cut him off. "How could the bait have any problems before the fish takes the hook?"

That was what he said, but if he were the real Batman, he would definitely go rescue him immediately. If he broke his promise, the Joker might not hurt Mayor Carlo, but he might.

The outcome of this matter would become an unknown. It might develop in a positive direction, but it might also turn out badly—which was precisely why!

The real Batman would never gamble with someone else's life based on how well he thought he understood the Joker.

But Chen Tao was different.

The transmigrator chose to go all in.

After all, if he lost the bet, it would not be his life on the line.

He would never let the Joker summon him at will and dismiss him just as easily like a stray dog, then make him beat up the other Arkhamites until he was exhausted enough to roll his eyes back.

The lunatics Bane had released from Arkham definitely had to be dealt with. There was no way around that, but it absolutely could not be done this way. That was when these mercenaries would come in handy. Otherwise, why had he spent all that money?

Face Bane while exhausted? He was not stupid.

Instead, he planned to use Bane's own plan to disgust him a little.

"Has the thing been delivered to the Joker?"

Tim nodded like a pecking chick.

An amusement park on the outskirts of the city.

The Joker Gang's various bizarre-looking lackeys listlessly sat in bumper cars and Ferris wheel cabins.

The bumper cars had been modified into artillery vehicles—genuine killing machines. The Ferris wheel had been sped up as well; if Batman dared to get on, it would shake his brains into a smoothie—

But none of that mattered.

The Joker had told them Batman would come, yet the other side had already stood them up for two hours.

"Impossible! I gave Penguin such an obvious notification... Batman never does things like this!"

The Joker was getting frantic. "That's not bat-like!"

Scarecrow's voice sounded from nearby.

"Maybe Penguin didn't notify Bat—"

"Impossible!"

The Joker said, "I saw him send the message with my own eyes."

He paced back and forth anxiously, and even the smile on his face had faded considerably.

He rushed over and grabbed Mayor Carlo by the collar. "Hey, are you some kind of alien, robot, or puppet?"

"No, I'm not! I'm just an ordinary person, a genuine human being! Please, let me go!" the mayor wailed. Not a single rope was tied around his body, yet he still did not dare run away.

He was not crying because of the Joker's threats. It was because there were four spring-loaded land mines beneath his seat, while his neck was fitted with a bomb that could be detonated by either remote control or timer. He was practically a human ammunition depot.

Move? He did not dare move.

"Maybe Batman is busy," Scarecrow said. "Waiting this long has nearly exhausted my patience. Why can't we go do something else—something that can truly bring fear to this city and let us control it—instead of cowering in this completely boring amusement park?"

Seeing that the Joker completely ignored him and continued muttering nearby like a madman, Scarecrow could not help growing angry.

"Why is it impossible for Bat—"

"I understand Bat! The moment Bat sticks out his ass, I know what kind of bat shit he's about to take!"

The Joker spoke with an extraordinarily normal expression, displaying the logical reasoning of a rational deduction, like a pale-skinned detective.

Scarecrow felt that the Joker had become even crazier.

But just then, a drone broke into the trap the Joker had meticulously laid out.

Scarecrow watched as the Joker shouted and chased after it, looking as happy as a child about to receive candy.

A recorder hung beneath the bat drone.

The Joker eagerly took down the recorder and pressed its play button.

"This is Batman."

The Joker immediately revealed an expression of delighted anticipation, as if to say, You finally came. But the next second, his face turned furious.

Because he heard Batman say:

"Joker, you are not the greatest threat right now. Stop sending me messages through Penguin. I'm worried Bane will misunderstand and think I don't take him seriously enough."

"Soon, the police, the National Guard, or someone else will come deal with the mess you caused. Stop bothering me."

"Uh-oh," Scarecrow said.

Then, in the next second, he met the Joker's bloodshot eyes.

Bane arrived at Blackgate Penitentiary Island at night.

Most of his men were in the process of landing. He had summoned the people he had scattered throughout Gotham City—the brawny men he had brought from Santa Prisca.

He led the entire team underwater into Blackgate Penitentiary... through the sewage pipes.

The bars in sewage pipes were usually electrified, but after receiving two punches from Bane, they were no longer a problem.

Bane and his men knew every inch of Blackgate Penitentiary. Clearly, this was one part of the entire plan, and it had been prepared long ago.

Before Bane had fully entered Blackgate Penitentiary, a massive prison break had already erupted inside. So when Bane arrived... the carnival was reaching its climax.

After Bane continuously snapped the necks of hundreds of people, no one dared challenge his authority anymore.

Beep beep beep...

Bane answered his phone.

Penguin's somewhat helpless voice came from the other end. "I feel like one of those idiots from elementary school who got stuck between two classmates with incompatible personalities. One moment I'm supposed to pass a message for one of them, and the next I have to pass one for the other."

He continued, "I have some information on who the Joker really is. I'll stake my reputation on it—this information definitely came from Batman."

He said, "Although I don't know why Batman gave this information to you, I imagine he must believe you can make use of it."

"Send it over."

Bane answered him indifferently, then hung up and said, "Bring me the warden and his lackeys... I'm going to completely consolidate this prison's military forces."

"Allow me to introduce you, Mr. Bruce Wayne. This is Lincoln March, the chief operating officer of March Ventures—"

"A candidate for mayor of Gotham City this term. Yes, I know. Also, March Ventures is funding Leslie Thompkins's clinic in the East End, correct?"

Chen Tao recited the information he had read before the banquet, but then his head suddenly buzzed.

He recognized who the other man was!

Lincoln March—wasn't this man an agent of the Court of Owls?

As Chen Tao looked at him, the Talon of the Court of Owls revealed a polite smile. "I'm genuinely interested in the investment. I'd also like to become part of it. Bruce, can we discuss the details?"

Chen Tao stared at him intently.

"Mr. Bruce?"

"Of course." Chen Tao answered him, "What do you have in mind?"

Thanks for everyone's rewards in Qidian Coins.