Chapter 100 Carnival Day is probably a carnival.
"He just left like that?" Robin stood on tiptoe and looked out the window. "Just like that?"
“That’s right,” Batman didn’t follow. He had to ensure Penguin’s survival to prevent the already chaotic situation in Gotham from worsening. Instead, he calmly picked up the signal receiver, placed it in Robin’s hand, and then said to Thomas, “So you know him?”
Obviously, even Thomas Jr. wouldn't know what to say to a stranger to make them leave immediately, so Thomas Jr. must at least have some clue about Batman's identity.
“Yes, I know him, although he’s closer to Bruce Wayne,” Thomas admitted without hesitation, “but I can’t tell you any more details about his true identity, because the truth won’t do us any good.”
Thomas Jr. will expose his plans, while Bruce can only accept the fact that he has been betrayed by three family members, and the pathetic fact that his family members are not perfect, and even selfish and despicable.
“So it’s Thomas Wayne’s men again this time? Do you have to resort to such despicable means to infiltrate the Court of Owls?” Claw shouted, but no one paid him any attention.
“Sometimes I just want to deal with you the same way I deal with criminals. Do you really have to hide clues in such an important place?” Batman turned from the window and looked at Talon warily. “A criminal is wreaking havoc on Gotham’s order.”
“To be honest, I don’t care what happens to Gotham. It has nothing to do with me. Although I personally prefer things to be well-organized, it doesn’t matter if I can’t achieve that, because it’s just my personal preference, and my preference isn’t something that I have to achieve,” Thomas continued. “It doesn’t matter whether I or someone else is the next one to die or suffer because of chaos… You should know, Batman, it’s a complete fantasy to expect someone who can’t see the meaning of life to empathize with others.”
“I’m already regretting not breaking your legs and keeping you in the hospital for a month or two,” Batman said menacingly. “If you don’t want me and Penny One chasing you around with sticks, then shut up.”
He's feeling a bit flustered right now.
Isaiah Thomas seems to be getting increasingly erratic lately. In the past, he at least consciously concealed his morally questionable views, even subtly aligning himself with mainstream values. Now, however, his emotions are more outwardly expressed, and he makes no attempt to hide his actions or malice, just like…
Like a deathbed celebration, abandoning hope and the future, exposing everything and focusing only on the final outcome.
“Okay,” Thomas agreed, “I’ll talk to you after you’ve finished dealing with things over there.”
"Once I've finished dealing with things here, I'm going to take him to the hospital for a full checkup. I'll tie him up and take him there," Batman thought.
This matter cannot be delayed any longer; it cannot be delayed any longer under any circumstances.
"So what's going on?" Claw continued. "This is another one of Thomas's men. Are you guys fighting amongst yourselves again?"
Batman and Robin exchanged a glance.
“This is difficult to explain,” Robin replied in a forceful, dramatic voice, “because it’s a very long story…”
Taking advantage of Claw's attention being drawn to Robin, Batman threw out the sleeping gas at top speed, put on his mask, rushed over and restrained Claw, who was holding his breath in time but whose movements were slightly slowed as a result, and neatly tied him up.
“Alright, next we need to interrogate him to get information about Night Owl and the bomb…” Batman knocked out the struggling Claws, “Although Thomas Wayne is currently the bigger suspect.”
"Ugh, ugh, ugh," Robin held her breath and waved at Batman, "Ugh, ugh, ugh!"
“…I remember you also have a folding gas mask in your belt,” Batman turned to him helplessly, “Does it have to be so ‘Thomas-esque’?”
Surprisingly, the person being used as an adjective didn't protest loudly, leading Batman to even suspect that he had secretly left.
Robin pulled out his mask, pressed it to his face, and breathed a sigh of relief: "I just wanted to test if you could understand what I was saying... so why didn't you use the hypnotic gas earlier?"
“The other guy is a ‘Batman.’ Apart from that gun, his equipment is almost identical to mine,” Batman replied. “Based on weight, if I throw the gas at you without warning, you’ll be the first one to fall.”
“Impossible, I won’t be the first one to fall,” Robin denied, nudging the Penguin’s arm with her toe with a hint of personal grudge. “In any case, there will always be a Penguin at the bottom.”
“It’s dangerous to deliberately distort the conditions of a problem to arrive at a conclusion that is more favorable to oneself,” Batman said, picking up the more dangerous claw. “Don’t learn from Thomas Wayne Jr.
This family can't afford to have any more "Thomas Wayne IIIs" in it. Batman simply can't imagine what he would do if Dick grew up to look like Thomas the Tank Engine.
Robin picked up the fallen Penguin and followed behind Batman. "That's strange. I thought Thomas Wayne Jr. would be the one to argue with you."
“It’s probably because young master Thomas was just ordered not to speak. It’s quite rare to see young master Thomas being so obedient,” Alfred added. “But there’s another thing, Bruce. There have been a lot of casualties in the East End as they resisted the Penguins. I think you should go and see.”
...
Why can't Gotham's criminals and terrorists take a break?
“I need to expand the back seat of the Batmobile,” Batman shoved Claw and Penguin into the Batmobile, securing them firmly. Clearly, there wasn't enough room for a third criminal. “Don't let me find out who that person is…”
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Actually, Batman doesn't need to worry about the Batmobile not being able to fit this mysterious terrorist.
Because he made a hasty escape. The mysterious criminal left almost no discernible trace; his sole purpose seemed to be to kill as many people as possible, so he didn't linger. The clues at the scene were completely erased by the exploding armory.
He spent a great deal of time but gained almost nothing. In the end, he could only leave Claw and Penguin at another base, drag his heavy legs back to the Batcave, and collapse into a chair.
As for Robin, considering what they were going to discuss later, Alfred forcibly sent her back to her bedroom.
“I’ve already prepared hot water; you can take a bath anytime,” Alfred said, standing behind him. “Or would you like some supper first?”
Batman mumbled something.
“Young Master Thomas has already drawn up the blueprints for the search device,” Alfred handed over a piece of paper, “but he says that to build this thing, we need more sophisticated instruments, and he requests to use the equipment in his own laboratory.”
“…Okay,” Batman took off his helmet, glanced at the paper briefly, and casually placed it on the Batcomputer. “I’ll go to Wayne Enterprises with you guys tomorrow. If I can’t make it, keep an eye on him, Alfred.”
"Don't you really need to get a good night's sleep?"
“I can manage for two or three days, and besides me, there aren’t many people who can understand what those drawings he’s made of…” Batman rubbed his temples. “Now Thomas Wayne Jr. is a prime suspect, but I don’t understand why he would do this.”
“It would be strange if you could figure it out. Even I don’t know what I want right now,” Thomas said, standing behind him. “Besides, people in this world can never truly understand each other, no matter how close they are.”
"Can I take that as you confessing to me?" Batman turned his chair around to face Thomas, meeting his gaze. "You were the mastermind behind both of today's terrorist attacks?"
“No, of course not,” Thomas Jr. denied, as Thomas Sr. and Martha Sr. had indeed not consulted him before taking action. “Actually, I was talking about something else.”
"So you're hiding something else from me," Batman said confidently.
“That’s right,” Thomas admitted directly, “I certainly have a lot of secrets I haven’t told you.”
"...You're deliberately trying to annoy me."
"I'm just telling the truth. Based on my judgment, you'd rather be angry than not get more information from me right now."
"But in fact you didn't say anything; you hid almost everything from us."
“Maybe, it doesn’t matter,” Thomas said quickly before Bruce’s temper flared up. “I’ll tell you everything after Christmas.”
"I would prefer you to say it now."
“That’s impossible. It’s not Christmas yet. Even if you threw me headfirst off the top of Wayne Tower, I wouldn’t tell you, Bruce. Besides, you can’t even do that,” Thomas shook his head. “And I only have one wish, a small wish.”
The two looked at each other.
Bruce carefully observed that familiar face, staring intently at those blue eyes that were so similar to his own, trying to find something more familiar within them—whether it was madness, guilt, excitement, hesitation, sadness…anything, positive or negative emotions.
As long as it's not this kind of unknown nothingness, which makes Bruce suddenly realize that he has never really known the person standing opposite him, even though they have similar blood, they are just two strangers with blood ties.
"What is your wish?" Bruce took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.
“I want to have a perfect Christmas,” Thomas Jr. emphasized. “A perfect Christmas. Will you trust me again?”
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Author's Note: The evil Gugu is testing us relentlessly ( ).
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It's reached chapter 100! (Yay!)
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Midterm week, writing òvó went crazy with ease ( ) This is probably just the prelude? The real crazy thing is yet to come.
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