The half-mad Batwoman still had tricks up his sleeve. With Jar-ro's help, Su Ming had not read much intelligence from him—only what he had been willing to offer.
Deathstroke against Batwoman, Strangle against Jar-ro. Another draw.
Strangle withdrew its threadlike tentacles. In the nearly lightless surroundings, Batwoman rolled his neck. "I know about your past experiences, but you haven't told me what you plan to do next."
"Aren't you the same?"
Su Ming smiled and shook his head. Clearly, both sides had held something back. He had originally thought that having Cindy help out in Gotham might earn him some trust, allowing him to consolidate some resources there after Batwoman inevitably left.
Bane had laid a solid foundation. He and Thomas had gathered the villains and put them to use. Su Ming had intended to take over and rebuild the Arkham Knight through them.
Gotham had an exceptionally simple and honest culture. Whenever the city faced a crisis, villains and civilians alike picked up weapons and united. Gang members could fight shoulder to shoulder with police officers against outside threats. Arkham's lunatics were no exception; everyone stood as one.
If there was anywhere Year of the Villain had failed to affect, it was Gotham. The people here had long grown accustomed to Joker appearing on television every other day with his "chicken soup for the soul." Luthor's version? Too bland for them.
If Batwoman's "figurines" could be twisted into one force, they would be formidable. After all, some lunatics would not go mad a second time even if infected with The Batman Who Laughs Virus, while some villains had no flesh and blood to begin with.
Bane and Thomas had played an excellent hand terribly. Aside from the Arkham Knights, Gotham's population of eight million could have fielded an army