第15章 巨头的棋局

When Bruce left Gotham Academy, his expression had not changed in the slightest. He knew that planting a seed in Tim's heart would take time to sprout. He had given Tim a choice, and he believed that smart boy would ultimately make the right one.

Once he was back in the car, he immediately switched into "war mode."

"Alfred, make the arrangements. We're going to Blüdhaven."

"Right away, sir? You haven't slept for over thirty-six hours." Alfred's concerned voice came through the car's communications system.

"I'll sleep on the plane." Bruce closed his eyes and leaned back against the soft leather seat, already constructing a battle plan against Lex Luthor in his mind. "Also, issue an emergency announcement in the name of the Wayne Enterprises board. Announce the launch of the Blüdhaven Urban Renewal Plan, with an initial investment of... fifty billion dollars. The project will include renovating urban infrastructure, building high-tech industrial parks, and creating more than ten thousand jobs for local residents. Hold a press conference tomorrow morning."

"Fifty billion?" Even the unflappable Alfred could not help drawing in a sharp breath. "Sir, that will severely affect the group's cash flow this quarter."

"That's exactly the effect I want." A cold curve touched Bruce's lips. "I want every media outlet in the world focused on Blüdhaven. I want Luthor to understand that if he wants to play, I'll play big. He wants to control that city through hostile acquisitions? Then I'll just buy the whole city outright."

This was Bruce Wayne's way of waging war. Simple, brutal, and effective.

Blüdhaven.

The city was like Gotham's insignificant, oil-stained cousin. It lacked Gotham's iconic and oppressive clusters of Gothic architecture; in their place stood vast stretches of decaying industrial districts, crowded apartment blocks, and chaotic docks. The air was always thick with the salty stink of seawater and industrial fumes.

When Bruce's private helicopter landed on the rooftop helipad of a luxury hotel in the city center, Dick was already waiting for him.

He had changed out of his skintight suit and into a faded denim jacket and T-shirt, looking like an ordinary young man struggling to make a living. He lived in a rundown apartment building in one of Blüdhaven's roughest neighborhoods, a stark contrast to Bruce's current surroundings.

"You're here." Dick looked at Bruce as he stepped off the helicopter, his expression complicated. "I just saw the news... fifty billion? Bruce, what are you doing?"

"Flipping the table." Bruce was concise. He entered the already prepared presidential suite and handed his coat to Alfred, who followed behind him. "Luthor wants to play one card at a time, so I'll flip the entire table over. He wants to infiltrate through acquiring small companies, so I'll drown every one of his plans in capital."

From the suite's floor-to-ceiling windows, they could overlook most of Blüdhaven.

"Starting tomorrow, Wayne Enterprises' team will move in and compete head-on with every one of Luthor's acquisition plans. Whatever he offers, we'll offer double. Whoever he tries to poach, we'll hire at triple the salary. I want every step he takes in Blüdhaven to cost him ten times as much."

Dick was dumbfounded. He was used to solving problems with his fists in the darkness; he had never imagined war could be fought this way.

"Then... what about me?"

"You keep doing what you should be doing." Bruce walked over to a massive holographic map of the city, which already marked every known LexCorp stronghold in Blüdhaven, as well as the locations of recent gang shootouts.

"By day, I'm Bruce Wayne, the 'White Knight' here to save this city. But at night..." A glint of cold light flashed in Bruce's eyes. "...Batman and Nightwing will find Luthor's 'toys' hidden in the shadows, one by one, and smash them all."

He pointed to an abandoned warehouse in the dock district on the map.

"According to my intelligence analysis, this is Luthor's largest weapons transit hub. A new shipment will arrive tonight. This is where our first battle begins."

Dick looked at the red marker on the map, then at the man beside him, who seemed to be in control of everything. A long-forgotten heat surged in his chest.

This was the Batman he knew, and the Batman he did not know. Always ahead of everyone else, always with the most comprehensive plan.

"I understand." Dick nodded heavily. "Tonight, we'll show them who truly rules the night."

Night fell once again.

In Blüdhaven's dock district, the sea wind carried a heavy dampness and the stench of fish. Inside an abandoned "Starfish" cannery warehouse, a group of gangsters tattooed with octopuses surrounded several large metal-glinting crates that had just been unloaded from containers, greed and excitement written across their faces.

A one-eyed brute at the head of the group held a crowbar, preparing to pry open one of the crates.

At that moment, the warehouse skylight silently opened.

Two black figures appeared above them, hanging upside down in silence like grim reapers descending through the night.

One was broader and sturdier, like a boulder. His brand-new Arkham Knight Armor, filled with sharp, aggressive lines, gave off a chillingly cold presence beneath the warehouse's dim lights. The deep-blue lenses of his mask coldly scanned the vital signs and weapon loadouts of every person below.

The other was leaner and more agile, like a cheetah. The blue bird emblem on his chest stood out sharply in the darkness.

Batman and Nightwing.

Through his tactical lenses, Bruce marked every enemy position, firing point, and possible escape route, then synchronized them to Dick's lenses.

"Dick, take out the two snipers on the platform to the left, along with the five below. Leave the rest to me." Bruce issued the concise command through the encrypted channel.

"Copy."

The next second, both men released their grapples.

Like an elegant gymnast, Dick traced a graceful arc through the air and landed soundlessly on the platform. Before the two snipers could react, the escrima sticks in his hands flashed like lightning, striking the backs of their necks with precision. They collapsed limply without even making a sound.

Bruce, meanwhile, chose the most direct and violent method.

Like a black meteor, he plunged from above, his heavy combat boots smashing down onto the weapons crate in the middle of the gangsters!

Boom—!!!

A deafening blast rang out! The crate, made of special steel, was stomped inward and burst apart! The massive impact hurled several nearby gangsters through the air!

"Who the hell is that?!"

"It's Batman! And Nightwing!"

Amid the chaos, the gangsters finally reacted. They raised the futuristic-looking energy rifles in their hands—clearly military-grade weapons—and unleashed a frantic barrage at the black figure!

Pew! Pew! Pew!

Blue energy beams crisscrossed through the warehouse, weaving a deadly net of firepower.

But Bruce did not dodge. He merely raised his left arm, covered in heavy armor.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The dense energy beams struck his armored bracer, throwing up dazzling sparks but failing to leave even a pale mark. The armor's defenses far exceeded anything they had imagined!

The instant they froze at the failure of their weapons, Bruce moved.

His body became an uncatchable bolt of black lightning, charging straight into the crowd!

No wasted movements. No flashy techniques.

Only the purest, most efficient, most lethal strikes!

A vicious elbow shattered a burly man's ribs, sending him screaming through the air. He crashed into the wall, blood spraying from his mouth, and instantly lost the ability to fight.

Bruce spun with the momentum and lashed out with a sweeping kick. His alloy combat boot howled through the air before slamming into another man's knee. With a crisp crack, the man's knee bent backward at a grotesque angle, and he let out a shriek of agony.

The Arkham Knight's fighting style was lethal in every move, without a shred of mercy!

On the other side, Dick joined the battle like a phantom. His movements were more nimble and fluid, the escrima sticks in his hands spinning up and down as they repeatedly struck his enemies' joints and weak points. One gangster after another cried out in pain and fell, losing the ability to resist.

Less than thirty seconds later.

No one in the warehouse besides Batman and Nightwing remained standing. The only sound left in the air was the gangsters' pained groaning.

Dick looked at the "results" scattered across the floor, then at Bruce beside him, completely unscathed and without even the slightest disruption to his breathing. His heart was full of shock.

He knew Bruce was strong, but he had never imagined he could be this strong. This was no longer fighting. This was simply... crushing them.

Bruce paid no attention to the small fry on the ground. He walked to a smashed-open crate and took out an oddly shaped energy rifle.

He handed the rifle to Dick.

"Analyze its power source and technical specifications. I want to know exactly where Luthor got these things."

His gaze seemed to pierce through the warehouse walls and into Blüdhaven's night sky.

"Luthor, this is just the appetizer. Let me see what else you've prepared to deal with that god... and when you plan to lure him onto my chessboard."