Bruce sat at the bar, took the water Alfred handed him, and drained it in one gulp.
There weren't many customers in the bar. A young couple huddled in a corner, whispering to each other, while one patron played a pinball machine. Elegant blues flowed from the record player amid a soft crackle, lending the bar a gentle, soothing atmosphere.
Hearing the doorbell jingle, he looked up and met William's eyes.
Until then, he had still been wondering whether the deal was worth it, but the ice pack in William's hand put his doubts to rest.
The guy really was trying to help.
But William demolished all that newly earned goodwill the moment he opened his mouth.
"Oi~ That was quick. Find anything?"
"We're analyzing its chemical composition. It'll take a little time." Bruce had already explained it once, so Alfred took over this time.
The old butler swirled his glass of ice as he recounted how Batman had slipped into the hidden room to steal evidence.
"Master Wayne found crates of unidentified drugs in the storeroom. He brought back one vial, hoping it was the culprit behind Zsasz's hallucinations."
William had a different opinion.
If this really was some new hallucinogen, it shouldn't have been there in bulk.
"But there weren't any more suspicious locations in the aboveground buildings."
Bruce emphasized "aboveground buildings," implying that he hadn't yet gained access to explore underground. Before leaving, he had planted several ultrasonic mapping devices. Before long, every space in Arkham Asylum would be scanned and recorded, and then he would pay another nighttime visit.
William also shared the terrifying experience they had had in the visiting room.
Bruce leaned forward, propping his chin on one hand, clearly intrigued by the bizarre story.
"Are you sure that wasn't Zsasz?"
"Isn't Zsasz with