"Some moisture has seeped into this cigar. That's Gotham for you. You have to take better care of them here if you want them to reward you with a good smoke."
Thomas Wayne exhaled toward the ceiling, sunk deep into the sofa with his eyes half closed.
He wore a wrinkled dark blue trench coat with mud spattered all over its hem, over a pilled pale yellow sweater. His legs were crossed, exposing holes in his dark red socks beneath his trouser cuffs. Yet even this outfit, which looked as though it had been stripped off a scavenger, could not conceal the chilling air about him. Just standing before him made Royce's heartbeat inexplicably quicken.
After ruling out the possibility that he had fallen in love with Thomas Wayne at first sight, the older man decided he must have run into someone dangerous.
"Mr. Wayne, may I ask what brings you here?"
Although the visitor had asked to see the boss as soon as he came in, Royce knew that, as a loyal subordinate, he should eliminate any potential threats to Qin Wei.
"I don't think I have that much to say to you. Please don't misunderstand. This isn't arrogance, but a matter of safety.
H
Thomas Wayne tilted his head, his gaze sweeping from Royce's toes to his face like a precision scanner.
"Royce Ben, formerly Maroni's lackey, one of the East End's Three Poor Giants. Tsk!"
Despite his claim that he was not arrogant, contempt filled the man's eyes.
"I know far more than you think, so don't test me. It won't do you any good. Now, do as I say.
"Withdraw everyone lying in ambush outside the door, then bring Will to me."
Thomas Wayne had no intention of provoking him. Perhaps because his parents had died