In the dim light, Joker's finger rested on the trigger as he slowly approached the man ahead who wore a teddy bear headgear, iron armor, floral shorts, and sneakers.
Around them, the members of the Joker Gang were restless, Batman was poised on the ceiling, and Willis trembled behind them.
With the slightest misstep, it would mean a firefight of a scale hard for ordinary people to imagine.
"If I don't get close... how am I supposed to show you the pictures of Batman selling hooker services?"
Lynn said in a low voice.
His mission was just one final step away from provoking Batman to reach 100% progress.
Surely slandering Batman was enough to accomplish that.
After all, Batman used fear to deal with criminals, so he should care about this sort of thing, right?
Unless he didn't care about his own reputation.
In that case, Lynn would have to use an even more drastic way to provoke Batman.
Like the Waynes, for instance.
"Ohoho? They aren't photoshopped, are they?"
Joker was skeptical. Although he desperately wanted to see what Batman looked like selling hooker services, was such a thing even possible?
[Bolt character card has expired.]
Lynn ignored the system's reminder and, amid everyone's gaze, pulled a few photos out of his pocket along with...
A Bat Token.
"This is the token of the Bat Gang. Look, it even has the bat symbol right on it."
Batman: ???
Since when did Gotham have a Bat Gang, and why didn't I know about it?
Lynn handed the photos to Joker and said:
"These are the proofs that Batman sells hooker services. And besides, you said I didn't know who Batman was?"
Lynn stepped closer to Joker, speaking in a voice meant for Joker's ears alone:
"I know Batman is Bruce..."
"Alright, stop talking!" Joker quickly raised a hand to cut him off.
The greatest joy of playing his game of cat-and-mouse with Batman lay in the mystery.
If Joker really found out that Batman was a capital-rich capitalist with parental issues, the fun would vanish.
Joker focused his attention on the photos in his hand, scrutinizing them carefully.
Batman Bruce Wayne, Robin, and even that old butler Alfred along with quite a few burly men were hidden in the shadows.
No matter how he looked at it, he couldn't find a single trace of photoshop on these pictures.
Holy crab! Batman turned out to be this kind of person?!
"Do you know why the Bat Gang has always stayed hidden in the shadows?"
Lynn's voice was low, audible only to Joker.
"Batman rules the Bat Gang and Wayne Enterprises through his hooker services. Only with the Bat Gang in the shadows and Wayne Enterprises in the light can he rule the entirety of Gotham City."
Joker came to a sudden realization, a gleam of profound wisdom flashing across his bright eyes.
So that was how it was! He wanted to be Robin too, he wanted to join the Bat Gang too, and he wanted Batman's hooker services too!
Not far away.
Seeing the smile fade from Joker's face and his silent demeanor, Harley Quinn grew even more certain of one thing.
This damn Joker didn't love her at all; she was going to leave Joker and strike out on her own!
Not just her, but even Batman, upon seeing Joker's reaction, couldn't help but freeze in shock.
What on earth did this guy see?
Wait... you Joker, you son of a bitch!
Batman felt his scalp tingle and leaped down in a hurry.
The moment he landed, he flicked his wrists and sent two Batarangs flying outward.
With a whistling sound, the Batarangs struck two Joker Gang members squarely in the forehead, sending them crashing to the ground. By the look of it, they were somewhat dead.
Batman lingered his gaze for an extra second on the bodies of those two fallen men.
Hm, nothing serious, just heavy injuries.
"Holy crab! It's the Old Bat who used to sell hooker services!"
Harley Quinn yelled in a panic, snatching up her weapon and unleashing a barrage of gunfire at Batman.
Hearing Harley Quinn's words, black lines crisscrossed Batman's forehead.
When on earth did I ever sell hooker services?
He quickly spread his Cloak to shield himself from the firepower of the Joker Gang members.
"Hehehe... I want to join the Bat Gang too, hur hur!"
Batman frowned.
Joker, what kind of trouble are you stirring up again?!
While Batman dealt with the members of the Joker Gang, Lynn followed Joker, sneaking stealthily toward the direction of the abandoned factory where the chemical drums were stored.
Coming along with them was Willis.
He couldn't afford not to come; he was terrified of being shot to death in the crossfire, or being beaten half to death by Batman only to get extorted for medical bills by the hospital.
Watching Joker and Lynn-these two lunatics-Willis felt his heart leap straight into his throat.
"Um... can I go back?"
"Think about your Audi, your wife's..."
"I don't want it, I don't want any of it." Willis shook all over.
The scene of the gang firefight just now had nearly frightened him out of his wits.
Lynn frowned.
"How can that do? We agreed this was a robbery, how can you quit halfway through?"
Willis: "..."
Big brother, the person I'm robbing is you, not Joker, damn it.
He regretted it.
He regretted boarding this leaky pirate ship of Lynn's.
This bastard was completely insane!
"Spit it out. You brought out photos of the Bat Gang to find me-what do you want?"
Walking at the very front, Joker slowly spoke up.
Though the evidence of the Bat Gang secretly ruling Gotham did cause his emotions to fluctuate somewhat.
Still, brilliant as he was as Joker, how could he possibly get depressed over a trifle like this?
All joking aside though, he really needed to find some time to kill Robin.
Until Robin was dead, he wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully.
"This is a robbery. Hand over the money you just stole from Gotham Bank."
As he spoke, Lynn raised the gun in his hand and pressed it against the small of Joker's back.
"And by the way, hand over the position of Joker Gang boss to me as well."
Joker: ???
Good grief, are you a lunatic too?
"Can't we talk things out properly now? Why are you still trying to rob him?"
Willis had some trouble understanding Lynn's thought process.
"During the day, I'm a heinous player," Lynn explained indifferently.
"But right now, it's night."
"At night, I'm an even more heinous player."
Willis: "..."
A madman, if this isn't a madman I'll eat my hat!
A pitch-black shadow swept through the dim factory, and in a flash, Joker was suddenly pounced upon and knocked face-down onto the floor.
Following closely, heavy blows rained down fiercely against Joker's face, and a rich, pungent smell of blood quickly filled the air.
"Hehehe... Batman, smile! I'm not that fragile!"
Joker collapsed on the ground, his face pale, a manic smile curling the corners of his mouth.
"Besides, I still have the photos of your Bat Gang right here. Would you consider letting me be Robin?"
Batman, who had been raising his fist to strike, paused abruptly, and the force behind his punch instantly grew heavier.
"You think I, Batman, would do such a thing?"
"Of course you would," Lynn chimed in from behind.
"Why?"
"Because you're Batman."
Batman: "..."
"Who are you people? How do you know about these things?"
Batman recalled the phone call he had received earlier; that person definitely knew his true identity.
He had to find that fellow and resolve any unnecessary trouble.
Lynn looked at the mission progress on his panel, feeling somewhat puzzled.
Why was it still 50%? Could it be that slandering Batman for selling hooker services wasn't enough to provoke the man?
In that case, it seemed he would have to switch to another method.
He gave a light cough, then spoke up toward the rising figure of Batman:
"Batman, let's guess a riddle. Answer it correctly and I'll tell you."
"Riddler's riddles?" Batman asked in surprise.
Guessing riddles wasn't a particularly difficult task for him, given that he was a detective.
After all, Riddler's riddles lacked any real substance; a little bit of brainpower was all it took to solve them.
"Go ahead. No matter what the riddle is, I can guess it."
As he spoke, an aura of quiet confidence radiated from Batman.
"Is that so?"
Seeing this look, the corners of Lynn's mouth twitched upward into a smile.
You asked for it, Haji-bat.
"Then you better listen closely."
Batman slapped handcuffs onto Joker, stood up, crossed his arms, and waited expectantly.
"What goes into an alley with six legs, and comes out with two?"