As he spoke, Tony couldn't help swallowing hard.
Originally, he and Bruce had deployed nearly eighty intelligent battle suits. Their efficiency in riot control and suppression far surpassed anything Tony could accomplish alone.
At the same time, under Tony's direction, JARVIS had established a coordinated network with Captain America and the other Avengers. That was one of the main reasons Tony had been willing to come to Gotham with Axel and the others. Everything he had left behind in New York was already operating more efficiently than if he had stayed there himself.
Besides, Tony certainly hadn't crossed into another universe for a vacation while America was being torn apart by Hydra.
The real reason was much simpler.
After manufacturing more than eighty suits, nearly all of Stark Industries' stockpile of specialized armor materials had been exhausted.
At this point in time, Tony did not yet possess the enormous reserves he would accumulate years later. Even producing over eighty suits had already required an extraordinary investment.
To make matters worse, Hydra's ongoing uprising had crippled America's logistics network. Tony's new material orders couldn't even reach him.
Without a functioning nationwide supply chain, New York alone couldn't provide enough advanced materials for his next objective, overwhelming Hydra through sheer numbers of automated battle suits.
When Lex and Bruce learned of his predicament, they immediately offered their support, the first major assistance Tony had received since joining the Human Federation.
Both were willing to share their own stockpiles, and thanks to the Federation's greater resources, they had enough materials to manufacture well over a hundred additional suits.
More importantly, although the DC Universe had recently endured the Washington disaster and the Slaanesh Collapse, its logistics infrastructure remained largely intact.
As long as Tony and Bruce built an automated armor production platform here, new battle suits would soon roll off the assembly line.
That was why Tony had come to Gotham.
Partly to enjoy what he believed would be a peaceful evening, and partly to use the suits produced by Bruce and Lex to crush Hydra back in the Marvel Universe.
Once the rebellion ended, Tony's wealth would allow him to continue expanding production.
As for his earlier promise to Bruce and Lex about destroying the battle suits after the crisis, he hadn't truly made up his mind. That decision could wait until everything was over.
In short, Tony had come to Gotham hoping this peaceful city would help save his own world.
Instead...
Tony simply couldn't believe it.
How could a Gotham with two Jokers possibly be peaceful?
It wasn't that he was overly sensitive.
The Joker was simply one of the most dangerous people in the DC Universe.
Watching the two Jokers practicing bottle juggling and animal training in the distance, Tony's hands began to tremble.
Bruce noticed his expression and quietly asked,
"What's wrong with them?"
"They're just clowns."
Bruce looked confused.
"I know having several clowns around Wayne Manor is a little unusual, but I haven't had the chance to tell you yet. Zatanna wants to build a proper circus for the Human Federation. Besides being an incredibly powerful magician, she's completely serious about it."
Lex looked toward Axel before speaking.
"Axel, if I remember correctly, didn't Zatanna recently mention looking for suitable clowns? Every circus needs acrobats, animal trainers, clowns, and magicians."
"It seems she's found them."
Lex waved toward Zatanna.
Earlier, Zatanna had been watching the younger Joker train a giant panda.
After observing Jerome's interaction with the animal, she said gently,
"Jerome, getting a giant panda to perform isn't what makes someone a skilled animal trainer."
"These pandas that Axel found were raised in captivity. They've already been desensitized to humans and are naturally gentle."
"You're still very young, and you never had a significant role in your previous circus. I brought you here because you needed a fresh start after escaping the terrible family you told me about."
"To be honest, you don't yet have the qualities of an outstanding clown. Arthur may be shy, but he has much more experience than you."
"As for animal training, I'm glad you're willing to learn, but I'd rather you begin with the polar bears Axel found in the Arctic."
"Working with pandas will only teach you how to be a zookeeper."
"The polar bears are different. The adult bears are still dangerous, but Valstrax's presence keeps them surprisingly restrained, making them perfect for building your courage."
"The cubs can also become your first true animal companions."
"Once you've mastered that, I'll get you lions, tigers, leopards, and other dangerous animals."
"And remember, my circus has one advantage no other circus can match."
"Our greatest animal trainers don't work with lions."
"They work with dragons."
"Maybe someday you'll become the second dragon trainer after Axel, someone capable of earning Valstrax's trust."
She smiled and patted Jerome on the shoulder.
Jerome, who looked no older than fourteen, nodded firmly.
"I'll do it, Miss. Anything that takes courage is exactly what I want. I'll prove it to you."
"That's the spirit. Keep working hard. Maybe in a year or two you'll be performing in my circus."
After encouraging Jerome, Zatanna turned toward the older Joker.
Arthur was diligently practicing bottle juggling.
She watched him for a moment.
"As for you, Arthur..."
"I'm here, Boss!"
Arthur instantly snapped to attention.
His sudden movement ruined his rhythm.
Every bottle came crashing down, striking his shoulders, arms, and head.
His oversized clown shoes and baggy costume made recovering impossible.
He stumbled awkwardly before falling flat onto the ground.
Bang.
When the last bottle landed on the back of his head, Zatanna couldn't help laughing.
Arthur clumsily got back to his feet.
Still smiling, Zatanna said,
"That was genuinely funny."
"But I'd rather laugh because of your performance than because of your mistakes."
"Accidents are part of being a clown, but real mistakes can also ruin a performance."
"Y, yes... I'm sorry... I..."
Arthur lowered his head.
The confidence he had managed to build disappeared almost instantly.
Seeing him standing there like a wounded puppy, Zatanna softened her voice.
"Don't be nervous, Arthur."
"You have excellent fundamentals. Your technique is already better than most professional clowns."
"You have the potential to become America's greatest clown."
"You just need to relax."
"And smile more."
"Y, yes... I... haha..."
"Hahahahahahahaha!"
Arthur suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Even as he clutched his stomach and covered his mouth, the sharp laughter continued escaping.
Zatanna frowned.
"Arthur."
She deliberately adopted the stern tone her father used whenever he lectured her.
"When I said smile more, I didn't mean... this."
"This laugh is honestly a little unsettling."
"I know... hahaha... I know..."
Arthur bent over as the laughter refused to stop.
Tears formed in his eyes.
He looked at Zatanna with an expression caught somewhere between crying and laughing.
For twenty-seven years, every time this happened, people responded with disgust, ridicule, anger, or fear.
He had become accustomed to that life.
But this time was different.
After witnessing Zatanna's abilities in Gotham, he desperately wanted this opportunity.
This job might finally give both him and his mother a stable life.
Yet fate remained cruel.
The more nervous he became, the harder it was to stop laughing.
Every important turning point in his life became another disaster because of it.
So although Zatanna hadn't said anything else, Arthur's eyes had already filled with despair.
He was certain he would be fired again.
Behind Zatanna, Jerome quietly curled his lips into a strange smile.
So Arthur was supposedly more qualified?
Maybe he was older.
But that didn't make him better.
Compared with training animals...
Jerome still wanted to become the Joker.
Keep falling apart, Arthur.
Lose control.
Go completely insane.
Meanwhile, Zatanna tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Are you... under a curse?"
"Or is this some kind of psychological condition?"
She folded her arms while resting one hand against her chin.
"If it's a curse, that's easy."
"I can remove it."
"So can Enchantress or Wonder Woman."
"If none of us can, Constantine definitely can."
"He's an absolute bastard, but he's one of the best occult experts alive."
"If it's magic, we'll solve it."
"What worries me is if it's simply a mental illness."
"That would be much harder."
"Gotham's best psychiatrist and the director of Arkham Asylum were killed by Axel a long time ago."
"And the remaining doctors at Arkham were later murdered by Harley."
Just then, Lex returned and waved toward her.
Seeing Axel and the others, Zatanna's face brightened.
"Perfect."
"The boss is back."
"Come on."
"Let's ask Axel."
"Maybe he'll know how to help."
"Your laugh is far too creepy."
"I need circus clowns."
"Not horror clowns from It."
"Don't worry."
"Axel's actually very approachable."
She grabbed Arthur's and Jerome's sleeves and led them toward Axel.
Meanwhile...
Watching Zatanna approach with the two familiar faces, Axel's eyes widened.
"Holy hell."
"Something's gone horribly wrong."
"There are Jokers living in my house."
"What exactly has Zatanna been doing?"
"And what is wrong with Gotham?"
"She randomly finds two clowns and somehow ends up recruiting two genuine Jokers?"
"What about the ones she didn't find?"
"Are there a third and fourth Joker hiding somewhere?"
"Is the whole city holding a Joker convention?"
"The industry's having a networking event?"
Axel clicked his tongue.
Seeing Jerome and Arthur standing together created an incredibly unsettling picture.
Jerome already carried the same dangerous charisma as his television counterpart despite his age.
Arthur, with his gaunt frame and disturbing laughter, was equally unmistakable.
Gotham truly lived up to its reputation.
Thankfully, Zatanna had found them before life took them down an even darker path.
Otherwise, Axel genuinely wondered how long either of them would have survived.
While Axel was lost in thought, Zatanna arrived with both men.
"Arthur, Jerome."
"Say hello to Axel."
"Axel... hahaha... Boss... hahaha..."
Arthur obediently greeted him.
Unfortunately, he looked even more desperate than before.
He no longer thought he was about to lose his job.
He thought he was about to die.
Standing beside him, Jerome smiled brightly before giving Axel a respectful bow.
"Hello, Boss."
"I'm Jerome."
"I'll become the greatest Joker in Zatanna's Magic Circus someday."
Jerome looked at Axel with complete confidence.
Axel casually pulled a pistol from his pocket and weighed it in his hand while looking at the two of them.
"Zatanna."
"Why bring them to me?"
"To decide which one is the better Joker?"
"That's easy."
"Hand them a revolver and let them play Russian roulette."
"It'll settle the question."
"Huh?"
Zatanna blinked in confusion.
"Russian roulette?"
She stared at the pistol in Axel's hand.
"Can you even play Russian roulette with a semi automatic pistol?"
===
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