## Chapter 12: Tradition
Tim Drake, the third Robin, sat in Batman’s designated seat before the Batcomputer in the Batcave, his face a picture of discontent, shackled and chained, resembling a housewife who had just discovered her husband’s infidelity.
“Alfred, Batman’s been acting strange lately, absolutely, absolutely strange.”
He spoke through gritted teeth, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Ignoring Batman’s orders is almost a traditional skill for every generation of Robin, so I’m sorry, dear Tim, but I’m afraid I have to lock you up.”
Thinking about how he had foolishly extended his arms when Batman had asked, Tim wanted to slap himself twice.
“Ha-ha.”
Alfred brought over a box of pastries. “A little rest is also part of a Robin’s duties. How about some sweets? Do you want toffee or chocolate?”
“I’ll take both!”
Tim mumbled, stuffing the pastries into his mouth. His voice was muffled by the abundance of toffee.
“Uhm… Thanks! But Alfred, seriously, I think something’s wrong with Bruce.”
He swallowed a large mouthful of pastry.
“Maybe it’s mind control, maybe it’s a magical soul swap, maybe it’s another plot from the Mad Hatter—but I’ve been beating him up for two hours and he won’t say anything.
Actually, whoever is currently inhabiting Batman’s body, at least… I think he’s definitely not Bruce.”
The young Robin placed the empty plate on the table, his expression growing serious.
“I have to say, he’s the most talented actor I’ve ever seen. Even Basil Karlo (Clayface’s real name, a villain capable of transforming) would be dumbfounded.”
Tim paused, continuing, “However, even such a talented actor can’t imitate something they don’t understand. His understanding of Batman is flawed—Bruce is human, Alfred.”
“No matter how terrifying Bruce appears to outsiders, he’s still a human being, we all know that he’s just a human being. But he’s playing Batman as a god! A god walking among men!”
“The presence, the demeanor, the most impressive thing is the aura—I’ve seen Bruce angry more than once, but this imposter is a hundred times scarier than the original. I felt my heart stop every time he looked at me!”
He said agitatedly, “I’ve secretly verified his identity using over 40 different methods in the past three days. Iris scan, fingerprint, DNA testing, biological AI logic analysis, gait analysis… but no matter how I verify it, he’s still the same Bruce Wayne!”
He looked seriously at Alfred. “But then? Hiring mercenaries to help him take down those Arkham maniacs, actively leaving Robin behind and acting alone. Of course, ‘leaving Robin behind and acting alone’ is also a common Batman tactic, but this is different.”
His gaze became deep. “And all those retirement ramblings… he’s definitely not Bruce. Maybe we should grab him and interrogate him with crowbars and whips until we figure out where the real Bruce is.”
…
…
…
“That’s terrifying.”
Chen Tao maintained his Bat-like posture of condescending disdain, his heart pounding.
Thankfully, the fake Bat had scared away the real Bane, so that hurdle was overcome.
The situation was as he expected. Bane wasn’t just a brute, but a cunning hunter.
He wouldn’t easily engage Batman in a direct confrontation until he was sure Batman was exhausted. In the original timeline, he waited over three months, letting Batman capture the maniacs he released from Arkham one by one, confirming Batman’s complete exhaustion before sneaking into his home to attack. Such a cautious Bane wouldn’t launch a final showdown here.
Chen Tao still had time—before his facade of strength was completely exposed.
Chen Tao climbed down from the garbage heap and walked towards Deathstroke and the others.
【Warning! Detecting anchored item “Spear Captain’s Broken Spear.”】
【…Anchored item “Live Knot Broken Beloved Lasso.”】
【…Anchored item “Tattoo Man’s Severed Hand.”】
Chen Tao stopped in his tracks, looking at the silver-white text continuously popping up on his retina, lost in thought.
What does this mean, huh? I’m asking you. What does this mean.
Why do I get anchored items when my teammates die?
This is bullshit!
Could I, the Dark Knight, the Cloak Crusader, the Guardian of Gotham, the world’s greatest detective, the legendary Batman, rely on team-killing loot to survive?
Looking at his teammates’ belongings, Chen Tao felt a pang of sadness, an unbidden wave of poetic melancholy washing over him.
No! Absolutely not!
Superheroes have integrity!
I’d rather die than loot from my teammates’ corpses!
“…”
Half a second later, Chen Tao wiped away a tear and looted the items.
Whatever, it’s not like the Justice League doesn’t have a long tradition of Batman beating up his teammates, a few more won’t hurt.
【Spear Captain’s Broken Spear: Gant Braun used it to win multiple gold medals at the Olympics. While she’s headless now, the remaining material is just enough to make a flagpole.】
【”This spear is my wife!”】
Chen Tao realized that Spear Captain not only didn’t have a mansion, but also considered a spear her wife. He should have known. Someone like Spear Captain would never have a wife. DC Universe villains are all a bit mentally unstable.
【Live Knot Broken Beloved Lasso: Christopher Weiss doubted everything, but had unwavering faith in his lasso. During lonely nights, he even used the lasso for… self-indulgence. Every time he tied someone up, his lips would curl into a slight smile, a confident smile appearing on his face.】
【”Oh, ah, oh, oh, oh-woo-woo-woo—The lasso responded to me… I believe in its judgment.”】
This one was a complete psycho.
Chen Tao decided never to hire this kind of pervert again, especially since he wasted himself.
【Tattoo Man’s Severed Hand: John Oaks used to be an ordinary sailor until he went to prison for brawling and met the first Tattoo Man, Abel Tarrant. He still has the anchor tattoo from his days as a sailor on his arm, a reminder of his youth.】
【”It’s slippery, I tell you, the deck is really slippery!”】
【Crisis Energy units converted: 10】
Chen Tao was speechless. Three weaklings, and all they got him was 10 Crisis Energy, combined they were only as much as the Ventriloquist had given him before.
But after all, how is this Crisis Energy calculated? Each of these three could fight the Ventriloquist on equal footing, why is it only so little?
【Warning! All three anchored items in possession have not found a target Batman! You will now be randomly matched with three weak low-level Batmen…】
【Matched: Baby Batman】
【Consume 1 unit of Crisis Energy to synchronize?】
Chen Tao noticed that unlike the previous Bat Monster Car, this time the matched Batman had a small line of silver-white text below:
【A Batman from a dying Dark Multiverse transferred his memory into an infant, thus gaining the infant’s body. Subsequently, due to his heavy head, he fell down the stairs while attempting to walk upright and died.】
【Danger Level: No Rank】
Chen Tao’s face instantly turned dark. What good was a heavy-headed baby, would it use cuteness and whining to get villains to forgive it?
Don’t even think about it!
【Synchronization abandoned, data saved. You can synchronize with this Batman at any time by consuming 1 unit of Crisis Energy.】
【Matching again… success】
【Matched: Bat-Rich】
【A Batman from a Dark Multiverse bought the entire city of Gotham, turning it into his medieval feudal estate, and was then killed by Superman as a villain.】
“…”
Chen Tao was speechless. Superman actually killed people, what a cruel and twisted world?
Not syncing!
【Matching again… success】
【Matched: Mayor Bat】
【A Bruce Wayne from a Dark Multiverse didn’t become Batman, but became the Mayor of Gotham, and was then assassinated, his head hanging from the gargoyle of Wayne Tower to warn people not to mess with the mob.】
“…”
Another useless ability, Chen Tao sighed and turned his attention to the three injured people lying on the ground.
Stare～
(End of Chapter)
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