What Bad Thoughts Can Batman Have 64

## Chapter 64: Choice

“For the Joker, the world is a giant arcade…”

Bane sat at his desk, intently reading the booklet Batman had written for him.

“Life, for the Joker, is nothing more than tokens in an arcade. He still exists simply because he hasn’t found a fun machine yet. When he does, he’ll spend them without hesitation.”

The Muscle Monster carefully picked up his thick fingers and turned to the next page, continuing to read:

“He’s a liar who speaks nothing but falsehoods. So when you face the Joker, always remember: don’t try to understand his actions with conventional thinking.”

“Does the Joker have plans? Although he often claims not to, there’s no doubt he does. He just doesn’t have goals. This makes him more difficult to deal with than ordinary criminals who use plans.”

“I have to admit, the Joker’s self-comparison to a crazy dog chasing a truck is accurate. Typically, plans require a process and a goal. For someone like you, Bane, who enjoys planning, achieving your goals must be your ultimate ideal outcome. A so-called plan is merely a means to that end.”

Bane chuckled softly. He hadn’t noticed, but at that moment, the smile on his face resembled a girl reading a love letter. But in the next instant, the smile transformed into the bloodthirsty excitement of a beast.

Batman was essentially openly provoking him in the booklet: “The Joker is more difficult to deal with,” “ordinary criminals who use plans.”

Even though Bane knew the other’s intention, he was still affected. These emotions, however, were quelled instantly. They couldn’t shake him, nor would they stop him from reading further.

“But for the Joker, the goal isn’t the goal; the execution of the plan is the goal. He enjoys the process of executing a plan; it brings him to a climax.”

“He doesn’t have worldly desires. He doesn’t have a tangible goal in the real sense. Money? Power? He wants nothing. Just like a dog chasing a truck doesn’t actually want to do anything to the truck.”

“If you must say the Joker has a planned goal, then it can only be said that he wants to disprove all rules and order, to prove that chaos and evil are the essence of the world.”

“So, do you understand?”

“He hates and mocks all rules and order. And those rules and order include, but are not limited to, your plans to defeat Batman, Bane.”

“And for the Joker, disrupting others’ plans is almost instinctive. For the Joker, other people’s plans, rules, and even any code, are all rotten jokes…”

Thank you for the reminder.

Bane thought silently:

I understand what kind of guy the Joker is.

Knock, knock, knock!

A knock on the door interrupted Bane’s thoughts. His subordinate, the Troglodyte, entered and reported to him: “Bane, Batman’s suit is ready.”

Bane nodded: “I know.”

He stood up.

The Troglodyte’s lips moved for a moment before he finally said:

“Bane, are we really going to cooperate with the Joker and split the whole city?”

Bane didn’t answer him. He walked straight out of the room. It wasn’t until he disappeared around the corner of the corridor that the Troglodyte heard his voice in the air:

“Who knows?”

…

…

…

Lincoln March, wearing the Court of Owls’ Talon uniform, walked through the gloomy corridor.

The bright moonlight shone through the broken and dirty glass of the window, casting mottled shadows on the creaking wooden floor, reflecting on his silver-white, streamlined armor, making the two large owl eyes on his helmet reflect a blood-red light.

This was an abandoned hospital, built with funds from Martha Wayne and Thomas Wayne. In Gotham, such abandoned hospitals were common.

In that so-called O’Shaughnessy Plan for urban renewal, not only hospitals, but also schools, community colleges, public facilities, were included. They formed a vast network. If fully constructed, it could have changed Gotham’s…

Well, it’s all something that will never be realized. There’s no point in talking about the changes it would have made to Gotham if it had been built.

But since the couple was murdered in Crime Alley decades ago, their investment in urban renewal plans for the city had also come to nothing.

Lincoln March shook his head.

He was now completing the task assigned by the Court, and he shouldn’t be distracted at this time.

But he still couldn’t help but recall what Bruce Wayne had said when they last met:

“You know, Mr. March… Nevermind, I want to call you Lincoln directly. Can I call you that?”

“You know that owls will occupy other birds’ nests?”

“They murder the parents of those ordinary birds, then raise their chicks. When the time is right, they’ll tear out the hearts and livers and eat them.”

“Those foolish little birds, not only do they submit to the owl’s claws, submit to the claws of those who murdered their parents, but they also follow the owl’s orders to murder their brothers—the end result is, of course, both being eaten by the owl as lunch!”

The direction of these words was too obvious. This was not a hint; it was almost a blatant statement. Bruce Wayne must have discovered his identity, and those things he said…

Lincoln March shook his head. Nevermind. Now is not the time to think about this.

He pushed open the door of a room. Outside, it was still dark and gloomy, but inside, the lights were bright.

“Welcome! Welcome! The Talon from the Court of Owls—you’ve chosen a suitable partner!”

Lincoln March narrowed his eyes slightly. In the center of the room, Scarecrow sat in the main seat, his legs spread wide.

And beside him—

Lincoln March’s gaze swept across the room. Killer Croc, Ventriloquist, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy… It was strange. Why would these four unlikely villains be sitting together, seemingly forming a faction.

Mr. Freeze’s position was somewhat special. He was sitting directly beside Scarecrow.

Lincoln’s gaze swept across the room. The room was full of Arkham’s lunatics. He had to admit, Scarecrow was a pretty good leader. After all, not just anyone could gather so many crazy people.

“I told you, choosing me is the right move, Court of Owls. We can divide the city together!”

He casually walked up, holding a glass of champagne: “A powerful organization needs a powerful partnership…”

“I’m just here to inspect, Scarecrow.” Lincoln didn’t hesitate to interrupt him: “You must first prove to the Court that you have the ability to control the entire city. Only then will our cooperation officially begin.”

Although the other was being polite, he didn’t know why, but he felt a strange sense of aversion. He didn’t want to admit it…

In his heart, he was thinking:

With so many villains… can Batman really handle this?

Scarecrow didn’t care about the other’s coolness: “It’s an honor to have you here, Mr. Talon. We’re about to get a new bargaining chip.”

He said: “Oswald just sent word. He’ll send our mayor, Caro, over.”

(End of Chapter)

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