Joker

Ten years later, Illinois.

Ever since the world's first Superhero, Captain America, was rescued from being frozen underwater for nearly 70 years and successfully thawed, this world has become increasingly dangerous and complex. It was as if all sorts of monsters and demons had suddenly emerged overnight. Correspondingly, Superheroes also appeared, as if destined to be opponents.

Among them, the most famous was the CEO of Stark Industries, one of America's largest arms companies, the playboy billionaire Tony Stark. He was kidnapped in Afghanistan, then built his own mechanical armor and successfully escaped from the terrorists. After a series of dangers, he publicly admitted to the world's media that he was Iron Man, causing a global sensation.

Immediately after, in another American aviation, railway, and research center, Vice City, Gotham City, another vigilante emerged, dressed in a Bat-suit, appearing and disappearing at night to fight criminals – Batman. For a time, people worldwide and in the USA, while cheering, couldn't help but wonder, what was happening to this world? Why had so many Supermen suddenly appeared?

"Damn it!" In a Western restaurant in downtown Gotham City, in broad daylight, a group of menacing-looking mob bosses sat together, indignantly discussing recent events.

"What is going on with this world lately? Suddenly there's a billionaire flying around, and then at night, a damn bat freak appears!" one boss with Mexican heritage grumbled, "It's making it impossible for us to do business lately!"

"It's only temporary," said another boss, a White person who appeared more calculating. "Whether it's a billionaire or a night freak, it's not that easy to cause trouble for us! We have people in the government, police, and courts. You want to cause trouble for us? Haha..."

"To the beautiful world of capital!" said the cunning and sinister White boss.

"Yeah!" the ruffians echoed in agreement.

On a laptop in the middle of the table, a middle-aged man of Chinese heritage said, "Boss Manoni is right. As long as the money we have is used safely and effectively, these things will never be a problem!"

"And gentlemen, my company's accounts and vaults are always the safest. You can all rest assured putting your money with me..."

In response, one of the eight bosses, a Black man, said, "But just yesterday, one of your money vaults was robbed! By a guy in a stupid blue outfit and a clown-like mask, in broad daylight! What do you have to say about that, Mr. Liu?"

"Yes, Boss Gambo is right. Yesterday, a guy in a ridiculously cheap blue suit and gloves, with clown makeup on his face, robbed us of our money, 68 million! Mr. Liu, don't you owe us an explanation?" the other bosses said, looking menacingly at the Chinese man.

The Chinese man's expression turned slightly grim, but he calmly replied, "I did hear about this. The loss is neither big nor small... Listen, everyone, banks might indeed be a bit unsafe now, but I've already thought of another comprehensive solution. That is to transfer all the money to a secure location that only I know. This way, not only will the police be unable to trace your funds, but even the clowns who are eyeing us from the shadows won't know where to rob our money!"

"But what makes you think Batman won't come after you?" a comical and neurotic voice interjected. "When he finds you, interrogates you, tortures you, do you think you can keep such a secret? Then..."

Facing the murderous and enraged gazes of the thugs and mafiosi in the restaurant, a man with clown makeup and a blue suit walked in, boldly sitting opposite the bosses.

"Then it won't be just 68 million that's at stake, but everything! All your money..." he exhaled nervously.

"Damn it, you still dare to show your face!" the most hot-tempered Black boss roared, his anger surging. "You think you can rob us and get away with it without paying a price..." As the boss spoke, the surrounding henchmen drew their pistols.

"No, no, no~" the Joker pulled open his jacket, revealing rows of high explosives that startled the surrounding mafiosi, making them recoil like frightened snakes. They wanted to kill him but were hesitant, their hands holding pistols trembling slightly.

"I advise everyone not to provoke these little fellows," the Joker said nervously. "These are quite powerful little things. They're connected to my heart. If, by any chance, I... hehe~~"

"What exactly do you want?" the leader of the Manoni family, the most calculating among the bosses, suppressed his anger and said sinisterly, "Are you here to provoke us? To provoke all the underground kings of Gotham City?"

The Joker sneered, "Underground kings? Maybe you were! Now..." He whistled playfully.

"Fk!" The hot-tempered mafiosi couldn't stand it anymore.

"Wait, wait," the Joker chuckled again, his blood-red mouth appearing even more ferocious. "Gentlemen, ladies, the reason I'm saying all this is simply to clarify our relationship. I, a helpful and benevolent good person, am not your enemy. The real enemy should be that, cough, who forces you to hold... gatherings in broad daylight. Sorry, if you prefer to hear it that way! OK, OK, calm down, everyone calm down. All of us, the enemy of all the underground kings of Gotham City, should be that guy in the weird costume and funny helmet, Batman! Yes, that's who I'm talking about, Batman!" the Joker cackled. "A, uh, Superhero?"

"Bang!" Boss Gambo, who controlled half of Gotham City's drug trade, finally slammed the table, unable to contain himself. "Enough, I've heard enough of this guy's nonsense. First, he steals all our money, then he strolls in to tell us he's not our enemy, and our enemy is this Batman? Damn it, do you really think we're idiots? We can't even see through such a simple 'luring the tiger into the mountains' ploy? Fuck! Why don't you mention that Stark guy? You, like us, are one of the targets Batman is cracking down on! Don't think you can fool us by acting crazy! If you're not afraid of Batman, why are you here spouting nonsense?"

The Joker's expression remained unchanged, and he continued with a smile. (He couldn't help but smile, as all the bosses present had noticed that the bloody maw on his face was actually a cut made with a knife.) "No, no, no, gentlemen, you've misunderstood something. I'm not doing this for myself, but for everyone. Compared to me, a single individual, Batman hates you mob bosses more, doesn't he? Or would he chase after an insignificant nobody like me?"

The Joker's words left the mafiosi in the room speechless. The Joker chuckled triumphantly. "Besides," he cackled, "things aren't done like this. If you can do something well and accomplish it, shouldn't you receive the reward you deserve? Gentlemen?"

The other bosses finally understood his meaning. Doug, of Mexican descent, forced a smile and asked, "So, how much do you want?"

He glanced at the Chinese man, surnamed Liu, who had been video-conferencing with them remotely.

The Chinese man, surnamed Liu, stared at all the bosses present with a grim expression. He had initially thought these mob leaders wouldn't agree to the nonsensical ramblings of this lunatic, but to his surprise, even the new leader of the Manoni family, the most cunning White boss, stated, "If you can truly pull this off, I think we can be friends!"

The Joker laughed. What was more terrifying than his makeup was his eternally unpredictable, chaotic mind. He licked his lips and said maniacally, "Then, gentlemen, we have a deal! I'll take care of Batman, and half of all your money will be mine, wahaha~~"

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