msmithbooks Chapter 172, Section 69: Relocating to Wayne Manor!
Chapter 172, Section 69: Relocating to Wayne Manor!
Chapter 172, Section 69: Relocating to Wayne Manor! (Three-in-one, massive information, revealing most of the foreshadowing)
The enemy had taken a stroll through the headquarters. Although Thomas's intention was to provoke, he did not cause any substantial damage. Nevertheless, Qin Wei still considered moving.
"So where can we go?"
The group squatted in the center of the bunker, deep in thought, before Royce spoke first.
Just like when Qin Wei first met him, the old man was squatting on the ground smoking, scratching his head from time to time.
He never imagined that one day he would lose his last foothold in Gotham, a city that embraces everything.
Unlike Maroney, this time the group is facing a force that is not centered around any particular person, but rather a condensation of corrupt rules and capitalist hegemony, bringing with it the stench of Gotham's decay that has lingered for centuries.
It is invisible and intangible, yet its power extends to every corner of Gotham.
Even before it had fully made its move, everyone was already scrambling to escape like rats in the street.
This feeling of having power but nowhere to use it is particularly frustrating.
Reuss's words were like a stone thrown into a bottomless abyss, producing no response whatsoever.
"Shall we go?"
After an unknown amount of time, Selena broke the silence.
Her suggestion drew a glare from Harvey Dent.
"Then I'd rather die!"
"Agreed. I can't abandon the East District. It was only with great difficulty that it was liberated from the Romans." Jason clenched his fist.
He returned to the eastern district late at night a few days ago. The area, now free from Roman control, is better than before, but rampant drug use remains a problem.
The residents of the East District had become accustomed to this cheap and efficient form of entertainment, which was their only means of relieving their suffering. Even without the Roman Empire as a sales channel, there would always be people risking being caught by the Red Hood gang to smuggle it in from outside the city.
The supply and demand relationship is what it is; it cannot be prohibited at its root.
"Wei, what do you think?"
Selena looked at Qin Wei; she didn't care about anyone else's opinions.
"We can go to New York, or Washington, or even the metropolitan area next door. We have some savings, we can—"
"there is none left."
Qin Wei interrupted the girl's beautiful reverie: "The bank cards have long been frozen, both the main card and those cards opened using fake identities."
"And now the inheritance process with Oswald is also stalled. If it weren't for the millions of dollars in cash still in Maroni's mansion, we probably wouldn't even be able to afford to eat."
"Money can be earned again."
"But I'm not resigned to it."
Qin Wei looked up.
He was still clutching the bat mask tightly in his hand.
Judging from the current situation, the owl already knew where this group was hiding, but it remained silent, perhaps because it had some ulterior motive, or perhaps it was enjoying the thrill of the hunt.
The enemy displayed an air of absolute confidence, and it was precisely this air that disgusted Qin Wei.
He bit his nails as he revealed his final plan.
"Leave all your electronic devices behind. Tonight we're moving to Wayne Manor. We need a base away from court surveillance, and there's nowhere better."
Before leaving, Qin Wei packed his things and went to Selena's room.
As soon as he entered the room, he was drawn to the brand-new bat armor on the bed.
It was still modified from a Kevlar bodysuit, but unlike the previous crude version, this set of equipment actually looked quite decent thanks to the skillful sewing of Selena.
The black bat logo on his chest, the metal arm guards with barbs, and the bat headgear made from Jason's carbon fiber mask.
The only thing that surprised Qin Wei was that the girl had kept the cloak.
"Didn't we say we didn't need a cloak?"
"This isn't just a simple cloak; it's made of high-tenacity nylon fabric used for gliders, with retractable support frames sewn along the edges," Selena explained, grabbing Qin Wei's hand to let him feel it for himself.
"Feel here. There's a small motor hidden here, which can be controlled by the belt. Press it and the support will open up. It might save your life if you fall from a height."
"Maybe?" Qin Wei said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Because it's my first time doing this, and I don't have anyone to be my guinea pig."
"Thank you. If I survive, I'll definitely give you a five-star review." Qin Wei quickly stripped himself naked.
I tried on the gear while standing in the full-length mirror.
The equipment fit him better than he had imagined. Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure in the mirror, Qin Wei felt a strange sense of unreality.
When did I start to become like this?
Selena also took off her coat and put on a cat-ear headgear, and came to Qin Wei's side amidst the clattering of her little leather boots.
"Look at these two freaks in the mirror."
She reached out and lifted a corner of the mask, then stood on tiptoe and placed a light kiss on Qin Wei's lips.
The group gathered in the bunker's main hall. The menacing Red Hood, the strangely-looking Harvey, and the two freaks in black suits, all fully prepared, made Royce and the Drake family seem completely out of place.
"Did I come at the wrong time?" the old man couldn't help but mutter.
"No, you've come at the perfect time!"
With a wicked grin, Qin Wei pulled Royce into his arms. At this moment, with his left arm still around Catwoman, he had truly achieved the feat of being able to charm both men and women, making him a true winner in life.
Qin Wei ultimately failed to wait for Chato Santana. The book contained the base's address, but with everyone's evacuation tonight...
Chato has no chance of finding them again.
The group left in a minibus at the bunker's exit. After crossing the Three Gates Bridge, they transferred to a pre-prepared pickup truck in the bushes on the outskirts of the city and finally arrived safely outside the abandoned Wayne Manor.
It was no different from when Qin Wei came half a year ago; if there was one difference, it was the tranquility.
Without the chirping of insects on summer nights, Wayne Manor resembled a rotting, skeletal beast, exuding an unsettling aura under the hazy glow of the pickup truck headlights.
"What are they trying to do? Kill me to cover their tracks?"
Jack murmured in fear as he held Janet, who was curled up in his arms, tighter. Although Tim had been trying to persuade his parents, it was clear that the minds of adults with fixed values were not so easy to change.
Qin Wei ripped off the rusty iron chain from the gate and led everyone into the manor.
After passing through the overgrown courtyard, Qin Wei arrived at the entrance of Wayne Castle. Just as he was about to break down the door, it creaked open from the inside, revealing that someone actually lived there!
"This is illegal intrusion!"
Wearing his pajamas, Thomas Jr. expressed his anger with a fierce opening line.
The Drake family screamed in shock, and the others trembled with fright.
Only Qin Wei, hidden behind the mask, symbolically raised an eyebrow. He had guessed that the other party might be hiding in Wayne Manor, but he never expected to run into him tonight.
"It's just that the younger brother brought his friends home to stay overnight. The older brother doesn't need to overreact like that."
"You're not my brother!"
"We share similar blood, and there's no point in denying that."
Qin Wei didn't stand on ceremony and pushed Thomas aside.
The latter wanted to retaliate, but his expression softened slightly when he saw Jason Todd in the crowd.
Although the Night Owl approached and instructed Jason with a clear purpose—to strengthen Qin Wei's side so that it would be able to attract the attention of the Court of Owls.
But this doesn't mean he dislikes Jason as his protégé.
With no friends and no family, Jason was perhaps the first person to get so close to him.
"Master."
Jason nodded in greeting as he passed by Thomas.
"snort!"
Isaiah Thomas responded with a straight face, but a subtle smile played at the corners of his lips.
"Also, the first floor is for your use only. You are strictly forbidden from stepping onto the second floor! Finally, no lights are allowed in the castle, and no electronic devices are permitted. If I find out, I will not hesitate to rip off that guy's head."
After the door closed, Thomas, who had been reciting a long list of rules in the darkness, seemed to be possessed by a dormitory supervisor. Then, he left a long, echoing snort in the middle of the empty hall and went upstairs.
"While what he said makes sense, what I want to say is that this guy was born and spent his entire life in a sanatorium, so don't treat him like the master of this place."
Seeing the atmosphere was too silent, Qin Wei tried to tell a harsh, lame joke.
Isaiah Thomas's angry response immediately rang out from upstairs:
"You too, you damned clone!"
After assigning rooms to everyone, Qin Wei politely declined Selena's offer to share a room with him.
Wayne Manor is not safe. If the Claws launch a surprise attack in the dead of night, having an extra person to protect in the room will greatly reduce Qin Wei's combat effectiveness.
After distributing the toiletries, Qin Wei gave Royce a final reminder to keep an eye on the Drake family, then took Catwoman's motorcycle keys and left.
Although he no longer needed to go to great lengths to find Thomas Jr., he still had to go out and scout out the terrain of Blackgate Prison to prepare for a prison break. Unfortunately, the Batmobile had exploded and crashed into the sea, leaving him with only a Ducati Diavel as his means of transportation.
I dragged the motorcycle out of the pickup truck's trunk, straddled it, turned the key and started the engine; the 4V engine emitted a continuous, heavy panting sound in the darkness.
Just as I was about to twist the throttle and set off, I heard Thomas's voice from above.
Where are you going?
Looking up, Qin Wei saw Night Owl crouching on the wall, his night clothes gleaming with a cold, metallic sheen in the afterglow of the headlights. This outfit clearly featured high technology; Qin Wei's only advantage was probably that it was "hand-sewn by his girlfriend."
"What brings you here?"
"Give me a ride if you can."
As the owl spoke, it turned its head to one side.
He also owned a cool all-terrain armored vehicle before being wanted by the Court of Owls, and now he has to make a request to the guy he hates.
Otherwise, it would be daylight by the time you walked from Wayne Manor to downtown.
"You don't have any transportation? You walked here last time?"
Faced with Qin Wei's pointed question, Night Owl let out a reluctant groan.
"Okay, if you're willing to share some more things I don't know, like your relationship with the Court of Owls, then get in the car."
Night Owl leaped down from the wall, climbed onto the car, and put his arm around Qin Wei's shoulder.
The Great Demon was unleashed, advancing towards Gotham City in the dead of night.
Along the way, Night Owl told Qin Wei about how he had pretended to be brainwashed by owls over the years and how he had taken advantage of the chaos on a snowy night to massacre the "Dissent Tribunal".
Qin Wei listened attentively until Thomas mentioned a name.
Bain.
Especially after hearing that Bane is now involved with the Joker.
The handlebars wobbled, and the two nearly fell flat on their faces.
"Can you really ride a motorcycle?!"
The roar of the owl even drowned out the roar of the engine. They had only gone halfway, and if they crashed the car now, they would have to endure an awkward walking journey under the strange gazes of passersby.
Of course, this is not Qin Wei's fault. Even Bruce himself would be shocked if he came. After all, according to the timeline, it is almost a certainty that Bane will break Batman's spine, especially with the troublesome Joker by his side.
Roar! Qin Wei's back was already throbbing with pain.
"So what brought you to the city this time?" Not wanting to worry about his fate, Qin Wei took the initiative to change the subject.
"I want to sneak back to Wayne Tower."
Night Owl's casual reply was caught by Qin Wei's keen observation: "You want to go back to Wayne Tower? Isn't that one of the court's headquarters? What do you want to find there?"
"For the past few years, they have been drawing my blood every month. I don't know where this blood is used, and my previous position didn't allow me to investigate further, but things are different now."
"The court's roundtable members have an almost morbid obsession with the Wayne family's fresh blood. My foolish brother has no idea that it was the court that provided Hugo Strange with the most advanced cloning technology."
He even fantasized about implanting his own thoughts into a clone—that is, into your body.
"But the court tampered with the machine, and our poor old butler, after exhausting all his resources, ended up with an empty shell without any thought."
"After the experiment failed, Alfred took you away. About two months later, after the court confirmed that you had not inherited Bruce's memories,
"I sent my claws to kidnap you."
"What about Bruce?"
Qin Wei asked the most important question.
"He's dead. He died the moment he transmitted his consciousness to the cloud. I should cry for him, but I can't shed a single tear. He shouldn't have come back to Gotham! It was the best outcome for both of us."
Owl's nose twitched; he hadn't taken his medication for a week since escaping the control of the Court of Owls.
He felt a long-lost emotion nourishing his parched soul. "So how did I finally escape?"
"You? You, trapped in a petri dish, still want to escape? If I hadn't destroyed all the data and broken open the culture chamber to save your life, you would still be soaking in that disgusting lump of snot right now."
"However, I lost control of my strength at the time and stabbed you in the stomach."
The owl suddenly laughed.
"Thank you so much, Onii-chan!" Qin Wei replied sourly. As for the other party's reason that "the force was not well controlled,"
He didn't completely believe it.
"Don't call me brother! I only saved you out of selfishness. With you providing blood, I lose my usefulness. The court has long felt that I'm uncontrollable and has been looking for someone to replace me, which is why I said Bruce shouldn't have returned to Gotham."
"But what really surprised me was you. The clone whose memory implantation failed actually opened its eyes, which made me give up the idea of destroying this body."
"After that, I jumped off the Tower of Venn with you in my arms. When we landed and rolled, we were fighting. I could have grabbed you, but you were too slippery because you were naked, and you got away in the end."
"The good news is that the court didn't hold me accountable because you disappeared, and I was the only one who could provide blood."
Qin Wei sighed deeply. If it weren't for Night Owl's explanation, who would have imagined that such a tortuous and bizarre story had happened before he transmigrated here?
Aside from that, he probably also understood why the court was targeting him.
The Joker was merely an introducer; the Snowy Night Riot only brought him to the forefront. His very existence held immense appeal for the Court of Owls.
Once this matter was clarified, Falcone's position also became much clearer.
In the eyes of the other party, Qin Wei was Bruce Wayne, but the old lion did not inform the court of this information. He even sent a fake Afu to secretly advise Qin Wei to stop.
While the fear that Qin Wei's growing power would affect his own position in Gotham City certainly played a part, it also shows that Falcone and the Court of Owls were not entirely of one mind.
Perhaps this is something Qin Wei could take advantage of.
Having stored this information in his mind, Qin Wei planned to take advantage of this precious opportunity to obtain more useful information from Night Owl.
"Where is Alfred?" Qin Wei asked.
"I don't know where he went. Maybe he escaped, or maybe he was killed by the court. Anyway, I've only seen Butler Pennyworth a few times. Who cares!"
"But I've always been curious, since you didn't inherit Bruce's memories, how do you know who Alfred and the murderer of your parents are?"
Night Owl, as expected of a member of the Wayne family, hit the nail on the head with his words.
If the latter could still be found through investigation, then Ah Fu, who has been missing for so many years, should only exist in the memories of Wayne family members. "Could it be that you really inherited Bruce Night Owl's tone became noticeably fluctuating, and Qin Wei even felt the hand gripping his shoulder gradually tightening its grip.
"I'm just a clone; just stick to your beliefs."
Qin Wei naturally wanted to admit without hesitation that by relying on blood ties, he could immediately gain the full support of a powerful expert with combat strength equal to his own.
But the owl's clear mind made him hesitant; admitting it too readily would backfire.
Let this seed of doubt take root and sprout. As long as Thomas holds this thought in his mind, he will unconsciously lean towards Qin Wei.
After he finished speaking, silence fell between the two of them, but compared to the tense atmosphere before, Qin Wei could feel that the hostility in Night Owl's tone was waning.
"Of course, thank you anyway."
Qin Wei was the first to break the silence.
"When I fell into the sea through the sewers, you were the one who rescued me in your Batplane, right? Oh, wait, maybe 'Night Owl' would be a more fitting name?"
As the fog cleared, he was almost certain that the person who had saved him was this tsundere older brother.
But the owl's answer was unexpected.
"What are you talking about? What sewer?"
Judging from his tone, Thomas didn't seem to be deliberately hiding anything; in fact, he had no need to hide this insignificant matter.
After excluding Isaiah Thomas, the only remaining puppet masters behind the Batmobile are Bruce Wayne himself and Butler.
Regardless of who he was, he secretly kept an eye on Qin Wei's every move.
Qin Wei applied the brakes when they were three blocks away from Wayne Tower.
Amidst a series of sparks from the brake pads, the Great Devil's rear wheels were suspended in the air, and the vehicle twisted 180 degrees with the front wheels as the axis.
Startled, the owl leaped from the back seat, rolling on the ground as it revealed its steel claws.
"Are you crazy, braking like that! I thought there was an enemy!" After scanning his surroundings and confirming that no one was around, Thomas suppressed his murderous intent.
As for Qin Wei, he did this simply because he held a grudge.
Do you really know how to ride a motorcycle?
He still remembered the owl's angry roar; it was from that moment that his stubborn pride began to take root.
It's one thing to say he can't drive.
After all, Qin Wei would never allow anyone to say that he was a bad motorcyclist, because he had never taken a car driving test and had been commuting by motorcycle from college to work. In fact, before he completely degenerated into a lazy dog a few years ago, he had even learned a lot of difficult tricks.
He could jerk his head up, bend his knees, launch himself from a standstill, and make a sudden U-turn – that's why he dared to confidently ask Selena for her car.
"Do you still think I can't ride a bike?"
The man wearing the bat mask shrugged, and one could imagine that Qin Wei's smile behind the mask was even more exaggerated than that of the clown.
The owl sighed and remained silent.
"Speaking of which, why don't we act together?"
Thomas Jr. suddenly made a suggestion.
"You infiltrate Wayne Tower to investigate first, and then I'll go to Blackgate Prison with you. You know, two people working together is always more reliable than one."
Qin Wei fell into thought.
Thomas's words were incredibly tempting. With his help, Qin Wei might be able to skip the conservative approach of scouting the terrain and devising a plan, and instead opt for a violent prison break.
However, the price he paid for this was infiltrating Wein Tower, which was essentially the enemy's stronghold, without any preparation, which was inconsistent with his usual style of planning before acting.
Moreover, he didn't know whether he should trust Isaiah Thomas or Bruce Wayne's brother.
"As long as we get out of there before causing a commotion, trust me, at this point in time, Claws are either asleep in their ice coffins or out on a mission. They might even be looking for us!"
Thomas Jr. took off his mask and looked at Qin Wei with genuine eyes for the first time.
"Think of those arrogant and domineering faces. The court thinks it can manipulate everything, but they never expected to be caught off guard by us tonight. Let us avenge our parents, let us avenge all of Gotham."
Qin Wei began to waver amidst Thomas's powerful and highly persuasive words.
Perhaps this is the charm of the Wayne family men; they're all succubi. Qin Wei never imagined he'd bewitch so many of his subordinates.
One day they too will fall into the trap.
More importantly, he remembered Matchstick Marlon and that bloody bat hood.
Qin Wei never forced Ma Long to die for him, but the heinous arsonist chose a heroic path, perhaps to repay the former's kindness, or perhaps simply to leave a glorious ending to his despicable life.
However, it cannot be denied that Malone bought Qin Wei enough time; otherwise, it's unlikely that William was the only one with a sharp claw who came knocking on the door of the underground amusement park.
A debt of gratitude must be repaid, and a blood debt must be settled. Qin Wei didn't know what reason he had to refuse. "Okay, but I hope to leave them with a little surprise they'll never forget when we leave."
Qin Wei narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them.