American comics: What kind of evil intentions could Batman have?

Chapter 61 The Man Behind the Scenes

Chapter 61 The Man Behind the Scenes

"With my help..." Before he could finish speaking, Bane went around to the back of the tank and pointed to a half-handprint deeply imprinted on the armor next to the obviously replaced tank entrance door, saying, "This looks like one of the National Guard tanks that I destroyed with my bare hands."

"How could that be?" The penguin's eyes widened, causing his monocle to fall out of its socket. "I'm an honest and reliable penguin, how could I possibly take advantage of someone's misfortune and sell their equipment?"

The muscular freak with explosive muscle responded with silence.

"Alright, alright," the penguin surrendered under the other's intense gaze. "Yes, I did pick up the equipment, but I repaired it all. It was simple, just a few armor parts replaced..."

Bain didn't say anything.

The tanks he destroyed were severely damaged. Even though the Penguin picked up the equipment, the fact that he was able to repair them in a short time proves his strength.

The deal was proceeding smoothly, with Bane's men unloading the weapons brought by the Penguin.

"By the way, Bain, there's something I need to tell you."

The Penguin puffed on his cigar as he put his monocle back in its socket.

"Did you know that one of my nuclear bombs was recently stolen?"

"Nuclear weapons?" Bane paused.

He immediately said, "Damn it, you actually possess such a dangerous thing."

The penguin narrowed its eyes slightly.

This action is very intimidating. Even though he is a short, fat, and ugly guy who is less than 1.5 meters tall, his squinting while smoking still makes people's hair stand on end.

"You didn't know my nuclear weapons were stolen?"

Bain immediately retorted, "Should I know?"

The two of them stared at each other for a while, and the atmosphere slowly began to freeze.

Some of the more astute members of the Penguin and Bane's henchmen beside them had already begun to see through the scheme. They lowered the weapons they were exchanging and stared at their respective leaders.

"Hahahahahahaha!" The Penguin suddenly burst into laughter. "It's nothing, my friend. I just wanted to ask you a favor: if you know where that little thief who stole my nuclear weapon is, remember to let me know immediately so I can come and tear him to pieces!"

But Bane remained taut, coldly watching the Penguin.

"Haha, hahahaha..." The penguin chuckled dryly twice and then fell silent.

He casually beckoned to one of his henchmen and said directly to Bain, "Have the armed helicopters that are waiting above us withdraw. This probably wasn't Bain's doing. There's no need for them to keep pointing missiles at our dear customer."

Bain's movements relaxed.

The atmosphere began to ease, the tense standoff vanished, and the penguin stroked his chin, his eyes darting around.

"My friend, these weapons may greatly enhance your strength," he said.

"But I don't think you'll succeed. You'll soon suffer the same fate as countless others who have challenged Batman over the years."

He didn't seem to care that Bain looked a little downcast.

He could tell that Bain didn't wear his emotions on his sleeve as he appeared, but since the other man liked to play the role of a brainless muscleman, why shouldn't he play along?

His goal was simply to keep Bane fighting Batman for longer so he could continue selling merchandise, so he stated bluntly:

"For the sake of our partnership, Bain. I've met quite a few talented people from Arkham before, and they've all said the same thing."

"Bane is not Batman, so let me point you in a simple fact, my respectable ally."

"No matter how many killers and strongmen you bring from St. Priscilla Island or how many scum you take from Blackgate Prison, these Arkham lunatics have been through worse and they are not afraid of you."

Bain remained silent.

The ensuing transaction was unremarkable, and in a strange silence, the deal between the peculiar customer and the merchant was completed.

"The next batch of weapons will be delivered to you in two days, my ally. This time you'll have to pay real money to buy them. You know, this super deal of getting so many weapons for a single corpse is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

He gave Bane a price list, detailing how much it would cost to buy a certain number of weapons, and then the Penguin swaggered away under Bane's watchful eye.

A few minutes later, in a secluded corner.

Bain gestured for a few of his men to guard the entrance, then placed his finger on his headset: "So, my ally... has anything to say?"

"I am not your ally."

A British-accented voice came through Bain's headphones, sounding like a butler carrying a tray, making a polite inquiry in a noble manor.

"We're just in a naked, exploitative relationship, Bane. There's no need to tie us together... Are you addicted to playing the alliance game with the Penguins?"

This was an extremely impolite taunt, but Bain responded with silence.

"I provide you with the necessary information and give you money. All you have to do is repay me and achieve what you were always meant to do—destroy Batman. That's my goal."

The mysterious voice said, "It doesn't matter what method you use, even if it means destroying Gotham. Go and achieve your great cause."

"I smell a conspiracy," Bain said. "I never believe in help without a reason."

But the mysterious voice ignored him. It continued, "The final payment for the weapons will arrive soon, and then we'll never see each other again."

"Give me as much as you can," Bain said.

"Of course, Bane," the figure in the shadows tapped his cane, "more than enough for you to arm all your men to the teeth."

Bain hung up the phone, turned around, and was about to tell his men to leave with the weapons when he heard a loud commotion.

"What's going on? Zombies, go check it out."

Before the henchman Bane called "Zombie Man" could even make a move, a voice rang out:

"There's absolutely no need for that. Your name is Bane, right?"

"Pfft!"

A faint laugh came from the room. Bane frowned and saw the zombie man beside him smile.

Bane silently activated the venom behind him. The dark green liquid flowed, raising his body slightly by two or three inches.

"Oh, no need to be so wary. We're both going to deal with Batman; we're allies!"

"Pfft! Hahahaha!"

The zombie man suddenly knelt down and began to laugh hysterically.

Bane looked at the pale figure that appeared before him: "The Joker!"

(End of this chapter)