American comic book: After mastering resurrection, I became incredibly popular.

Cassandra looked up at Wang Baixi, then at Zatana behind him.

"I'm fine," she said awkwardly after a few seconds.

Then, Tim and Dick also came out of the armory. They greeted Wang Baixi and Zatana respectively, and now the personnel were complete.

"Alright, Your Majesty, let's get down to business now."

Seeing that everyone was seated, Batman walked to the head of the conference table and slowly turned on the projector.

The meeting began.

Joshua Wayne spoke first, “Ladies and gentlemen, please look at the first picture.”

He stood up and walked to the projection screen, pointing at the image on the screen with the laser pointer in his hand. It was a three-dimensional grid map of Gotham City's underground pipe network, with a density of markings high enough to give any city planning bureau project manager a phobia of trypophobia on the spot.

"This is the latest survey data from Wayne Enterprises' urban development department, covering the underground waterways, abandoned railroads, and air-raid shelter systems in the old city, the dock area, and the Gotham Center business district."

He pressed the page-turning button on the laser pointer, and the projection switched to another image.

It's still a map of Gotham's underground pipe network, but this time, the overall color tone of the projection has changed from green to dark red, and there are many more markings that weren't there before.

“The second picture you’re seeing now,” Joshua said, gesturing with his hand in the air, “is a reconstruction of the real ‘Gotham’ that we’ve created after integrating all the historical archives from the Batcave. Outside of the public utilities, the Court of Owls built at least twenty-seven outposts in the mid-19th century, mostly disguised as abandoned pumping stations and mine ventilation shafts. They even connected six of these outposts with tunnels, and all of this went unnoticed.”

"That's how owls are; they like to build burrows in other people's homes," Wang Baixi complained.

Tim rested his chin on his hand. "In other words, the underground pipe network maps that the municipal department has always only drawn the 'surface world' layer."

“No, even the ‘Surface World’ isn’t fully drawn.” Joshua switched the screen back to the third page, which now showed a map of Gotham City. “We’ve temporarily put the issue of the courthouse location aside and searched through all the old letters, court records, and shareholder meeting minutes accumulated over three generations of the Wayne family. We’ve narrowed it down to nineteen local Gotham families that might have connections to the Court of the Owls.”

“It’s a pity William Cobb wouldn’t betray his boss, otherwise we wouldn’t need to say ‘maybe.’” Dick shook his head.

For a claw frozen in a freezer, its loyalty is truly admirable.

Batman said in a low voice, "Go on, Joshua."

“Okay.” Joshua pressed the page-turning button, and a map of Gotham’s East Side popped up on the screen, marking two names very close together. “Now for the main point. Our investigation revealed that the Bowles’ dealings with the courts are the most suspicious. Joseph Bowles and his wife Maria Bowles have several real estate development projects that happen to be located near the courthouse we just marked, but their security is very strong, making it difficult for us to get close. Besides them, there are these other families…”

Wang Baixi leaned back in his chair, listening to Joshua finish reciting his personnel list. "So what do we do now?"

"The best way is to take advantage of the darkness, carry out a decapitation strike, capture the suspects, and conduct the necessary interrogations." Batman walked to the projection screen.

"Won't this alert them?" Zatana asked calmly.

“We’re just trying to 'stir up trouble',” Batman replied.

Everything was going according to his "plan".

Wang Baixi sat up straight. "What about me? I don't need to participate in the interrogation, right?"

“Wang, go and meet the Bowles. They’re staying at their hotel tonight. I had a project to discuss with them, so you’ll go in my place.” Batman’s gaze shifted to him. “If anything seems amiss, let me know immediately. After all, if they really are acting strangely, they’ll surely know your true identity.”

"So you want me to pretend to be stupid and fool them, right?"

“Should we let him go alone?” Zatana asked from beside Wang Baixi. “I think our dear mage might need my company.”

Batman looked at Wang Baixi and handed the decision over to him.

“Uh…” Wang Baixi smiled awkwardly, “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Miss ‘Tell the Truth’.”

"Huh? I am flattered by your praise, Master."

“Just in case,” Batman’s voice came again, interrupting the two’s bickering, “Cassandra will go with you.”

Cassandra lifted her gaze from her fists, her calm eyes sweeping over Wang Baixi, then over Zatana, and finally nodding to Batman.

“Then I’ll gladly accept your offer.” Wang Baixi stood up, his eyes suddenly shifting. “Speaking of which… Batman, there are some things I’d like to discuss with you privately.”

"Hurry up, you guys." Dick also stood up from his chair. "Wang, I also have something to tell you."

“You two are having private conversations one by one. I thought there were no secrets in the Bat Cave.” Zatana raised her eyebrows.

“This city is full of secrets, Zatana, everywhere,” Joshua said with a smile and a sigh.

Chapter Seventy-Eight: Batman's Plan

Wang Baixi followed Batman into the small soundproof room next to the armory. This was where Batman conducted encrypted communications and private conversations, and the four walls were lined with lead.

Batman closed the door, turned around and looked at him, seemingly waiting for Wang Baixi to speak.

Wang Baixi didn't mince words and went straight to the point: "Batman, what exactly do you want to do with the Joker?"

Batman remained silent for a long time, so long that Wang Baixi thought he wouldn't answer, before finally replying, "Well, I have to tell you something: there's more than one Joker."

"Ok?"

Wang Baixi was surprised; this statement completely baffled him. What did he mean by saying there was more than one Joker? And there was more than one Batman, right?

You know what, it really is, numbers 001 and 002.

Batman continued, “Perhaps my words are a bit sensational, but ever since I put on this cape, ever since I met the Joker and died, I’ve been watching this guy closely. I’ve fought him countless times, and that’s why I’m certain that I believe at least two, or even three, different people have used this identity.”

"Huh? Really?"

"It's highly likely to be true. These clowns may look similar and be of similar height, but their personalities and fighting styles are quite different."

At that moment, some vague fragments of memory immediately surfaced in Wang Baixi's mind.

Three clowns?

He seemed to have heard the name before; it must have come from a scene in a comic book, but he couldn't quite remember the specific details.

"...They are equally insane, equally unpredictable, yet their vastly different pasts are revealed in the details." Batman's voice gradually lowered.

"So? That's why you left the Joker alive, you didn't even bring him to justice." Wang Baixi suppressed the fleeting thought in his mind and continued to ask, "You've prepared a huge plan?"

"Yes, a plan I can't tell you. This plan also concerns the whole truth about the Joker."

Wang Baixi sighed and didn't press the matter further.

This guy has too many secrets hidden in his heart, and not one of them is not heavy.

“Alright, I’ll leave that aside for now. There’s something else I need to tell you: Victor has made a new discovery, which is that claws can produce frost resistance. If the court finds out about this, our tactics will soon be obsolete.”

Batman's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this; it was valuable new information. "This research is important. How's Victor doing? Nora should have been resurrected by now."

“I spoke to him on the phone half an hour ago. Everything is normal so far. His wife has no aftereffects. However, Victor still plans to take her to Switzerland for a full cardiac evaluation. But, as you and I both know, his face won’t get him on any plane.”

Batman nodded as he listened, then looked directly at Wang Baixi. He now understood that Wang Baixi's resurrection technique could not only bring the dead back to life, but could also be used as a kind of "healing method." This was both a unique ability and a hidden danger for him.

He couldn't let any more criminals know his whereabouts, so he decided to change his original plans.

“Wang, after the matter of the Court of Owls is settled, I will go to the Middle East. At that time, you and Joshua will be in full charge of the company.”

“The Middle East? Your business scope is quite broad,” Wang Baixi’s tone suddenly became very cautious. “But why are you suddenly bringing this up? Could it also be related to your plans?”

Is he going to mediate the Middle East conflict, or is he going to soak in the Pool of Lazarus again? (In Hush 2, Talia did indeed have Batman soak in the Pool of Lazarus, a true "Rise, my love!")

Batman did not answer.

"Could it be... that you want to resurrect Jason Todd?" Wang Baixi said the name directly.

Silence fell again in the soundproof room. Batman stood motionless, his mask concealing all expression, and even his lips and chin, which were not covered, refused to reveal a trace.

that's enough.

"I can go with you."

"For your safety, I don't recommend it."

"Come on, even without Batman, Gotham isn't necessarily any safer." Wang Baixi chuckled twice.

"That's settled then. Follow my instructions." Batman said nothing more, turned around, pushed open the door to the soundproof room, and walked back towards the main conference area.

Wang Baixi watched the cloaked figure disappear at the end of the corridor, his mind churning with thoughts.

Ugh, that damn patriarch.

That said, Jason Todd doesn't need to be resurrected! Fate will intervene on its own!

However, based on his understanding of the comics, he couldn't be sure whether Jason had already been resurrected at this point.

If he has already been resurrected, then Batman will not only have made a wasted trip, but may also face an awkward situation of fatherly love and filial piety.

On another note, is he keeping the Joker around so that Jason can take revenge himself?

Just as he was lost in thought, the door to the soundproof room was pushed open again.

Dick Grayson walked in. "Wang, Batman seems a bit off. What were you two talking about?"

"We didn't talk about anything, just about Mr. Freeze," Wang Baixi said casually. "So, Dick, what do you want from me?"

“Hmm…” Before stating his thoughts, Dick chose to lay the groundwork a little, “I’m not planning to go with you guys tonight. Bruce gave me the day off, and I’m going to see some old friends.”

"People from the circus?"

"Yes, but none of that matters. The most important thing is that I want to hand over the circus to you to manage. I'll talk to them about it when I go there this time."

Wang Baixi was stunned for a moment. "Give it to me? Did I hear that right? You want me to inherit a circus?"

"You dared to take on the Penguin's nightclub, yet you're afraid of a circus?" Dick chuckled and took a step forward. "I believe that under your management, a circus might become a landmark project in the reconstruction of Gotham's culture."

“Alright, since we’ve come this far, I’ll take this hot potato.” Wang Baixi spread his hands, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice. “I already have experience dealing with magicians, clowns, and trapeze artists. You can hand over that circus to me, although I don’t think young people these days would watch that stuff anymore.”

“No matter how well you run it, I won’t blame you.” Dick reached out and patted Wang Baixi on the shoulder, then pulled him closer as he withdrew his hand, asking in a low voice, “By the way, how are things going with you and Zatana?”

"So far, it's not bad."

If only she didn't play pranks on herself every now and then. That damn irony is impossible to defend against. To be blunt, I wish Zatana was as quiet as Cassandra.

That said, this is probably the best way to deal with Zatanna, and Batman certainly knows that too!

"Nothing developed outside of work, right?" Dick asked again.

At this moment, Wang Baixi's face stiffened slightly.

"You're being way too nosy!"

Chapter Seventy-Nine Meeting