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For God's sake!! X
🕑 Added 2022-06-08 14:29:16 +0000 UTC.................
Chapter 107: For God's sake!! X
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"Ah, for God's sake. I knew we should've thrown him in jail the first time I saw him." Nightwing brought both his hands up, facepalming himself with undeniable exasperation.
"I... I don't know what to say anymore." Batgirl besides him also added in dismay.
They were in the Batcave, standing in the central command chamber. In front of them was Batman who was intensely watching something on a large monitor.
The place looked quite advanced, filled with a variety of technologies, including the supercomputer before them with several monitors, one of which was playing a video.
Batman's eyes traced every movement in the video, again and again. He continued to replay it as if he wants to go back in time and see it for himself.
The two behind him waited and waited until he finally paid attention to them, specifically Nightwing, "He escaped again even though you were there."
Indeed, Nightwing was the only one in the area of the incident. He watched it happen, but couldn't get close... He even lost Deathstroke's body.
"There were too many," Nightwing frowned, "They were strong. They had more numbers, and they were stronger than the last time."
Batman glanced at him before going back to his contemplation, "Why did Ian leave him alive? He already faced such a scenario before, so being the person he is, he will definitely do something extreme."
"Yeah, I was wondering about that too. I even saw him whispering something in Deathstroke's ears despite the latter looking dead."
Nightwing explained, stroking his chin before shaking his head, "Unfortunately, I will have to go. I will be going back to Birmingham."
Batman nodded before focusing on the video again. His sidekicks already dispersed, leaving him alone, until Alfred entered the bat cave that is.
"Master Bruce, the guests have arrived." Alfred respectfully spoke, faintly peeking at the video playing on the monitor, showing the absolute destructiveness of Deathstroke, Ivy, and most importantly, Ian.
The Justice league heroes do not yet know who Batman is, so of course he wouldn't bring them to his base which is right below the Wayne manor.
The place of the meeting was a monitored place in the city. Batman nodded and made his way there discreetly.
The meeting place was a simple room with a large table in it and several chairs, two of which were filled. Batman on the other hand remained standing, working something out on a laptop.
"Everyone else is busy." The Bat frowned. He was even willing to have a remote video communication, but only two showed up.
"To each their own. They're either busy with something personal, or they're fighting for what they believe in. They didn't ask for help, so they should be okay."
The one who spoke was a noticeably tall and fair-skinned woman with straight waist-length black hair, blue eyes, and broad shoulders. She was absolutely gorgeous in appearance, sporting a slender and athletic frame with a well-toned yet muscular build.
It wasn't just her body that made her the center of all attention, it was above all her demeanor, her overwhelming presence. A warrior at heart, confident, but seems to be quite outgoing.
Batman didn't show any weakness or annoyance, he kept looking through the laptop though this time for something different altogether, "I will warn them all later lest they fall into his clutches, but for now, let's talk about the incident."
"Why am I here? I mean, didn't I tell you everything about my interaction with him?" The last person in the room finally saw the opportunity to speak, it was the Flash himself.
"Because of this video." Batman didn't explain further, but let them see it for themselves.
It wasn't long before the Flash's eyes widened as he stood up, vanishing from his place only to appear with his eyes next to the laptop screen, his eyes were moving at such miraculous speed that they looked white as if he had no iris or pupil.
"Speed force!! But it's orange? Not red... What is happening?" Confusion was written all over his face as he eyed Batman, "This... How?"
Much to his disappointment, however, Batman shook his head, "I do not know, but it must have something to do with the strange staff-like weapon, and Ian himself."
"I have never heard of such a weapon. It looks complex and dangerous? Too dangerous." Diana also remarked with a frown, "So he is the one?"
"Yeah, I'm nearly a hundred percent certain he's the one. He should be responsible for the Hope diamond heist." Batman affirmed.
"You seem too certain..."
"I'm certain. I studied the clues you sent me meticulously. The number of distractions in the heist and the way they're done. It is definitely him. I've been studying his behavior since long ago, so trust me on this."
"I do trust you. I'm just wondering why someone like him would target the Hope diamond when he can target more valuable stuff... Does he know about the curse?" Diana revealed her doubts.
"I don't know... Flash, I think you should already know how he acquired the speed force, right?" Batman already deduced the reason, so the Flash should've too by now.
"I just don't know why it's orange?" Flash instead of answering, gave a question of his own.
"I don't have as much data about the speed force but I can make an assumption based on the visible spectrum.
He either did something to increase its wavelength, thus producing the orange light. I can also assume based on that; the possible power increase in the force."
Batman narrowed his eyes, glancing at the Flash, "The other option would be..."
The Flash's eyes widened, many possibilities running through his mind, "Red and yellow. The combination of the two colors makes orange!"
"Pretty much. I don't know exactly how the speed force works, or if it has any relation with the visible spectrum, but that's the best I can do with the information I have."
Batman was too much of a Guinness. His deduction skills were out of the world, especially considering how little he knows, yet how much he can figure out.
"Where is he?! I have to meet him!" The Flash's emotions were in turmoil. The possibility of Ian knowing something about the Red Flash, the killing of his mon was something he couldn't ignore.
However, Batman was unmoved, "Let go."
In the Flash's defense, batman was quite intimidating to most people, so it was only natural he complied.
"We need to plan it out. You saw the staff. It's obviously capable of absorbing powers, more likely energies. The way he used it in the footage shows that he doesn't have many limits in using the staff's powers.
The good thing, for now, is that he doesn't seem to be able to use the speed force like you, only his staff seem affected by it. The bad news is that he can use magic."
He noticed Diana trying to say something, but he wasn't done just yet, "Most importantly... There seem to be ten closed vessels on the staff.
I can only assume the energies are held within. I can also assume that a vessel can only hold one energy, otherwise, it will simply be a disaster.
I can only wonder how many types of energies he acquired, but what I'm sure of is that he'll want to acquire more. Ian is a collector, he likes to take stuff for himself... I can see where this will lead."
"He... What kind of person is he?" Diana asked, a bit apprehensive.
"He is... Opportunist, odd, successful, wise, willing to sacrifice others for what he believes in or for what he wants..."
That wasn't the end, Batman continued with a more detailed and personal evaluation, so in-depth even Diana and Flash looked at him strangely. When he said he studied Ian, he really meant it.
"He is certainly not crazy, but he refers to himself as such... I don't think he truly thinks that. He may be looking at it from a human perspective because he could be considered crazy with normal evaluations.
I think he's incredibly rational and logical, but he chooses to throw logic away sometimes for fun."
"Why?" Diana finally got the chance to speak, raising her voice, "Why is someone like that a crime lord in Gotham. You're even allowing it. When I heard about it, I thought you chose someone of your own, but... Why?"
"Ian is incredibly dangerous, perhaps the most dangerous person I've met to date. He could be our greatest enemy, but also our greatest aid... The problem is his randomness, so..."
Batman eyed both people in the room with a serious look, "He's a crime lord because he can do what I can not... And because I didn't see too far into the future.
I didn't foresee his quick advancement nor did I see to depth into him at that moment... I've made a mistake, but perhaps it's not a mistake."
Diana frowned, understanding dawning on her, "I see. You didn't want us to follow in your footsteps. You didn't want anyone in the team to make a similar mistake."
"And I've already made a mistake..." The Flash murmured to himself. If only Ian knew how much of a headache he's becoming to the inhabitants of earth and hell alike.
"Stay silent for a while." The bat instructed before making a call and putting it on speaker. Soon Ian's voice rang from the phone, sounding a bit unclear. It seemed to be too windy on his side.
"Hello!? Bats? Doing any charity work recently? I'm quite interested in your bat mobile! Like imagine, we can hold a charity event, and I can buy it for tens of millions.
It will all go to the charity of course, so it's all for the greater good. Great idea, is it not?" How should it be said? Ian stole the show in an instant.
The two superheroes were naturally speechless while Batman remained unfazed, "I want to meet."
"Huh? Nah, I'm like somewhere in the pacific right now. I think I'm lost? not sure. Anyway, I'm doing charity work here, so I can't go back any time soon..."
That was certainly bad news, and everyone in the room knew it, so Batman pressed further, "What kind of charity are we talking about?"
"Sus..." Ian remarked but still answered nonetheless, "But let me think about how should I say it... Oh, yeah, hunting a giant harmless animal for the sake of a charity related to Gods.
The charity is also very charitable as they gave me tools for the harvest... Oh wait, I found it! Anyway, goodbye stingy bat!"
"Wait!!" Albeit, despite Batman's shout, Ian still hung up.
"Gods? Pacific?" Diana murmured with a strange look on her face.
Batman heard her. The gears in his mind turned quickly, and all he could say was, "Oh for God's sake!!"
