"Hey, Bruce." When Penguin heard Bruce had arrived, he hurried downstairs.
"Cobblepot. It's been a while since you visited us." Bruce nodded to him.
"Thomas has his hands full with Helena. I didn't want to bother him," Penguin explained. "Besides, I've had a few things to take care of lately."
Damian quietly pricked up his ears. Could this universe's Penguin actually discuss his criminal enterprises directly with Bruce Wayne? Could they even skip the part where Bruce beat him up?
"Oh? What sort of things?"
"Real estate again. I'm planning to develop an upscale residential complex in the Diamond District."
"Run into any trouble?"
"Nothing on the government side. Since Kate became mayor, I haven't even needed to pay bribes. It's the other aspects that are a hassle—"
"Other aspects?"
"There's a lot of vegetation on that plot, including a few nanmu trees. I don't know how Poison Ivy found out I was going to develop it, but her threatening letter has already arrived."
"Looks like Arkham Asylum's treatment really is working. She actually sent a threatening letter first instead of attacking outright," Bruce remarked.
"Ah..." Penguin sighed. "When I was in the gray-market business, Batman gave me trouble. Now that I'm running a legitimate business, my old prison buddies are giving me trouble instead."
"You really do have it rough." Bruce wanted to laugh.
"Anyway, enough of my troubles. Let's talk about you." Penguin looked at Damian. "And this is—"
"My son, Damian Wayne."
"...Wow—does Selene know about this?" All sorts of high-society family dramas played out in Penguin's mind, quite a few of which he had witnessed firsthand.
"She knows."
"You—this—" Penguin didn't know what to say. It wasn't exactly surprising when Bruce was involved, but the problem was the boy's age...
"Don't go spreading rumors."
"Do I