Wayne Manor.
"Ethan Cobblepot became the CEO of Cobblepot Gold? So after this kid was disfigured, Penguin actually acknowledged him?"
Batman felt that things probably weren't as bizarre as Roland had made them sound.
"Exactly. My guess is that the kid used to be handsome and refined, so he didn't look like Penguin's son. Now that he's disfigured, they look more like father and son." Roland said.
"Wasn't he burned?" Batman shook his head. "If he wanted to look like Penguin's son, he should've had the kid's legs amputated."
"...You're much more vicious than I am." Roland shot him a glance.
"You're too modest. I still have a long way to go." Batman picked up his coffee and took a sip. "My guess is that Penguin figured the kid wouldn't be able to escape Gotham's whirlpool anymore, so he decided to keep him close. That way, he could protect him better."
"You think Penguin would be such an expensive, devoted father?" Roland clearly didn't think so.
"Hard to say." Batman shook his head. "Maybe only Penguin himself knows."
"Still, this incident shows that Barbara has improved tremendously." Roland praised her. "She's become a qualified superhero, and she's even a little stronger than Wally."
"You mean she's more decisive than Wally when attacking ordinary people?" Batman asked.
"Exactly. How many superheroes clearly have the upper hand, only to fall into the villains' hands and suffer humiliation because of hostages..." As he spoke, Roland looked at Batman.
"If you have something to say, just say it. Why are you looking at me?" Batman rolled his eyes. "I'm not the kind of person who surrenders just because the other side has hostages."
"That still isn't enough." Roland said. "Look, when has anyone ever dared threaten me with ordinary people?"
"The Joker did it