S.H.I.E.L.D. Makes Its Move

But S.H.I.E.L.D. got there even faster than Zhou Xiao.

"Hello, please tell Bruce Wayne that people from S.H.I.E.L.D. are here to see him. Yes, the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division..." Outside Wayne Manor, the head of the black-ops team, Agent Hill, and another person no one could have expected spoke to the camera by the entrance.

Alfred's voice came through. "I'm sorry, but I don't believe I've heard of that organization..."

"You can just call us S.H.I.E.L.D.!"

The Old Butler finally fell silent. A moment later, the gate creaked open.

"See? That guy Tony really is an old family friend of his. News like this even reached our Gotham City golden boy..." the team leader said.

Hill shrugged. "Boss, are you sure Tony's the one who told him?"

"You just called him a blabbermouth. How could he not tell everyone?" The team leader's reasoning was so airtight that Hill couldn't argue with it.

After crossing the courtyard, the S.H.I.E.L.D. bigwigs met the Old Butler.

"Sorry to bother you so late. Is Mr. Bruce Wayne home?" the team leader asked with false sincerity.

"Of course." The Old Butler replied with impeccable politeness. "My master heard that the two of you were coming, so he sent me out to welcome you... and Miss Natasha Romanova!"

That's right. The girl Bruce had been seeing was none other than Natasha Romanova, one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top agents—the Black Widow.

"I'm sorry to disturb you so late, Mr. Alfred..." Black Widow said with ladylike grace.

By now, it was obvious that the supposed star dancer of the Moscow Ballet was actually an agent. So the Old Butler replied with courtesy that held not a shred of warmth: "Ladies and gentlemen, my master is waiting for you in the living room. This way, please."

Neither Nick Fury, Hill, nor Natasha cared about any bad feelings the Old Butler—or Bruce Wayne—might have harbored. Not long after the Joker's terrifying declaration, a video had appeared online showing the Joker brutally killing a civilian who had tried to imitate Batman and "fight crime." It had sent shock waves through Gotham City and the entire United States.

Just as the Joker had said in the video: "Don't think I'm joking! Though I do love a good joke! I say what I mean and mean what I say. If I say I'll kill ten people, then it'll be ten—not one less, not one more. Wa-ha-ha-ha!"

"This is the first one, Batman!"

"If you don't bow your head to me, there'll be a second, a third... until you take off that hypocritical mask and surrender to me..."

So as soon as he landed, Nick Fury had contacted the agent embedded in Bruce Wayne's life, Black Widow, Natasha Romanova, and prepared to reveal the truth to Batman.

As for how S.H.I.E.L.D. had figured out Batman was Bruce Wayne, well, honestly, it hadn't been difficult at all. In 2012, across the Marvel and DC worlds of America, cameras were everywhere, and there were databases full of high-tech facial recognition software. With all that to compare against, did the flashy rich guy driving the Batmobile and flying the Batplane really think he could get away with it? (In the real world, if he were that conspicuous, the author didn't think he'd stay hidden for long, either...)

So after Batman had been active for a while, S.H.I.E.L.D. quickly identified him. They were surprised, of course, but they also sent one of their top agents to get close to him and assess what kind of person he really was. That was how Natasha Romanoff had ended up going undercover as a ballet dancer and getting close to him.

When the Joker's scheme unfolded, Black Widow promptly sent a report to headquarters. She was worried that the young superhero might not be able to withstand the repeated psychological manipulation and attacks on his character from the Joker, a master of psychological warfare. That was why Nick Fury and Hill had come to Gotham City.

With that background established, Nick Fury and his two companions met the target of their visit in the living room.

"S.H.I.E.L.D.? That's the agents' hideout Stark told me about, right? Why is an intelligence agency looking for me? Wayne Enterprises doesn't dodge taxes or sell illegal goods. Why would the intelligence services take an interest in me? If anyone came looking, I'd expect the FBI, the tax authorities, or some other agency. Since when does S.H.I.E.L.D. care about my family, the Wayne Family's little company here in Gotham City?"

Bruce was thoroughly unchivalrous, leaving the old fox and his two vixen underlings standing without so much as offering them a seat. "So, what can I do for you?"

The head of the black-ops team didn't mind. In fact, shamelessly, he plopped himself down on the Wayne Family's custom-made luxury sofa and let out a groan. "No wonder the rich have it so good!"

"Agent Hill, Agent Natasha, why don't you try sitting down too?"

Hill was fine, but Natasha felt a little awkward. She turned to Bruce. "I'm sorry, Bruce..."

"Call me Wayne!" Gotham City's golden boy said bluntly.

"...Wayne!" Black Widow's face stiffened slightly, but she quickly regained her cool. "We're here because of what happened today, Mr. Wayne. The Joker's words and actions violated federal law, and we're also concerned..."

"Since when did S.H.I.E.L.D. start meddling in people's personal affairs?" Bruce cut her off again, without the slightest courtesy. "The Joker made it clear he's coming after me. Why is S.H.I.E.L.D. sticking its nose in? Besides..."

He spoke mockingly. "As far as I know, your concerns are supposed to be global security, strange artifacts, alien technology, and things like that. At most, the likes of me and the Joker pose a public threat or commit terrorist acts. Is that really enough to bring a director and two senior agents here in person?"

"Bruce." At last, after a moment of silence, Nick Fury stepped in himself. "You're right. On the surface, this incident doesn't seem to warrant our involvement, but..."

Nick Fury tried to explain. "This world is full of dangers and unstable elements. A while ago, Agent Phil Coulson discovered what appeared to be weapons left behind by aliens in Northern Europe. Then, reports surfaced near Asia of warlocks—yes, the kind you're thinking of! A group of Dark Warlocks who appeared out of nowhere have been kidnapping vagrants, beggars, and other unfortunate people to use as sacrifices. Yes, that kind..."

Ignoring the absurd, disbelieving look on our Batman, Bruce Wayne's face, Nick Fury went on describing things that would sound like complete nonsense to an ordinary person.

"Sacrifices to a Demon God? That's what they call it." The people at S.H.I.E.L.D. had mistaken the Dark Lord for a Demon God. "In exchange, they gain incredible power... Bruce, stop shaking your head for a moment!"

The team leader's single eye fixed fiercely on Bruce.

"Unbelievable as it may seem, Bruce Wayne, I'm telling you that supernatural forces really do exist in this world..."

"..."