As Zatanna's words settled, both Jerome and Arthur visibly shivered.
Despite the Joker's infamous reputation, neither of them had become the people they were destined to be.
In fact, they were even further behind than Batman.
Bruce had already chosen the path of a hero and begun his struggle.
These two, however, were nowhere near their futures. Jerome was still just a teenager, and Arthur was simply a troubled man trying to care for his still healthy mother. Their transformations were still far away.
Arthur stared at the semi automatic pistol swaying in Axel's hand, his face filled with quiet despair.
He had been right.
He was finished.
Jerome, meanwhile, instinctively licked his lips before taking a slow breath.
For a brief moment, he actually wanted to snatch the pistol and press it against his own temple.
But he quickly suppressed the impulse.
It was a semi automatic pistol.
If it had been a revolver, he might actually have gambled with his life.
If Axel had handed them a proper revolver and challenged them to Russian roulette, Jerome would have gladly shown off his madness for even the slightest advantage, whether it was reputation, pride, or simply proving himself.
But this?
This was suicide.
He was crazy, not stupid.
He had no intention of dying in such a meaningless way.
As a result, the two future Jokers who were destined to throw Gotham into chaos both backed down.
Jerome's confident grin instantly became flattering.
"Boss Axel, I've actually been learning animal training from Zatanna."
"I've already started getting familiar with the pandas at the manor and I'm helping train the polar bear family."
"I'm only thirteen. My future isn't set in stone."
"Maybe after trying a few different careers, I'll realize being the Joker isn't the best path."
"Why don't you let Arthur try the gun instead?"
"He really wants to be a Joker."
"Who knows, maybe the pistol will jam."
"W, wait... I... Hahahahaha... a semi automatic pistol... Hahahahahaha!"
Arthur desperately tried to explain himself, but his laughter overwhelmed every word.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.
He was doomed.
It was too late.
Would anyone even believe he was ill anymore?
The man standing before him was an absolute madman.
The first time they met, Axel had casually tossed him a phone during a robbery, and that single act had allowed Arthur and his mother to eat for an entire week.
After that, everything escalated.
Within less than a month, Axel had shaken Gotham to its foundations, destroyed Wayne Tower, and wiped out nearly every major crime boss and corrupt elite in the city.
Even if Arthur wasn't mocking him intentionally, would someone like Axel care whether his behavior came from illness?
That thought only made Arthur cry harder.
His expression became even more hopeless.
Watching Arthur's rapidly shifting emotions, Axel couldn't help smiling.
Until now, Arthur had shown none of the qualities associated with the Joker.
He had looked like an ordinary working man, timid, humble, and beaten down by life.
Yet the moment he completely surrendered to despair, something changed.
A hint of madness.
A trace of hysteria.
The darkness buried deep inside him quietly surfaced.
Axel narrowed his eyes with interest.
As expected.
Even among the many versions of the Joker, Arthur possessed remarkable potential.
Putting away the pistol, Axel chuckled.
"Haha, I got you."
"What are you so scared of?"
"Did you seriously think I'd make you play Russian roulette with a semi automatic pistol?"
"That thing wouldn't even work."
"Arthur."
"Jerome."
"You two are good young men from Gotham."
"You know what's most valuable in this era?"
"Talent."
"Even if your talents aren't useful to me, if Zatanna believes in you, then work hard for her."
"Gotham's stage belongs to your circus now."
"Train well."
"Learn everything you can."
"I expect your future performances won't disappoint me."
As he finished speaking, Axel casually patted Arthur on the shoulder.
Arthur's legs immediately went weak.
He nearly collapsed on the spot.
Afterward, Axel reached over and ruffled Jerome's hair.
The young man stiffened so badly that every hair on his body seemed ready to stand on end.
Looking at the pair, Axel quietly shook his head.
What a shame.
They were still far too inexperienced.
There wasn't even any excitement in killing them.
To be honest, the moment Axel recognized them, he had genuinely considered eliminating them immediately.
But after thinking it over, he changed his mind.
Someone as overwhelmingly powerful as him naturally suppressed people like the Joker before they could become threats.
In the DC Universe, the Joker was legendary.
But every Joker began by manipulating people.
Psychological warfare.
Fear.
Chaos.
Those tricks meant nothing to Axel.
His abilities naturally crushed that style of opponent.
If someone like the Batman Who Laughs had appeared before him, combining Batman's brilliance with the Joker's insanity, Axel might have considered him dangerous.
But a Joker who hadn't even begun his journey?
No matter how many schemes they devised, Axel could simply grab them and end everything by force.
There was no reason for him to fear them.
He released Jerome and waved toward Zatanna.
"Once your circus is ready, hold the first performance here at the manor."
"I don't know what everyone else can do yet."
"But these two have plenty of potential."
"Keep training them."
"And unless it's something important, don't bother me."
"I'm going to sleep."
"You know Selina."
"She keeps me busy every night."
"Haha."
Laughing loudly, Axel headed back toward the manor.
Watching him leave, Tony swallowed nervously before turning to Lex.
"Is Axel always this confident?"
"He actually resisted killing them."
"That's the Joker."
"And not one Joker."
"Two."
"At least two."
Lex looked at him with complete confusion.
"Tony..."
"Are you feeling alright?"
"Why would Axel see two ordinary people as a threat?"
"Besides, Axel doesn't enjoy killing civilians."
"And even if he did, why would he fear two clowns?"
"There are enough clowns sitting in Congress already."
"Compared to the ones in the White House, what are two circus performers?"
"Enough."
Tony interrupted him with a sigh.
"I understand now."
"You people really haven't read your own comics."
After thinking for a moment, Tony continued,
"I originally planned to start building the automated armor production system tonight."
"But I've changed my mind."
"I don't want to end up like you."
Looking around, he lowered his voice.
"Bruce."
"Lend me a car."
"It's only ten at night."
"I should still be able to find a comic shop."
"I need to read every DC comic I can get my hands on."
"I'm honestly worried I've already overlooked people and events that should have been taken much more seriously."
With that, Tony headed toward the nearest vehicle parked outside the manor.
It happened to be Floyd's Rolls Royce.
Watching him leave, Lex, Bruce, and Clark exchanged puzzled looks.
After a moment, Clark asked,
"So... Joker is really that important in our world?"
"He has to be."
Lex nodded seriously.
"Otherwise Tony wouldn't react like this."
Bruce frowned thoughtfully.
"Maybe I should buy some comics tomorrow."
"Better yet..."
"Maybe I should simply acquire the comic company in Tony's world."
Suddenly, his eyes lit up.
"That's it."
"I should have thought of this long ago."
"If our world truly originated from comics, then the first thing we should have done was take control of the company that created us."
"We need to determine whether our creators can influence our world through new stories."
"If they can, they need to be under our control before someone else uses them against us."
Lex immediately shook his head.
"Bruce."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"If things were really that simple, Axel wouldn't be so unconcerned."
"He may not enjoy complicated theories like you do, but he's not stupid."
"You surpass him in physics."
"That much is obvious."
"But if your idea actually worked, Axel would have considered it long ago."
"As for whether we're still fictional..."
Lex smiled faintly.
"The moment we became aware of ourselves, we stopped being mere characters in a story."
Clark nodded.
"I agree."
"I don't believe ordinary comic book characters can freely travel across different universes."
"Or visit video game worlds."
"The moment we stepped beyond our original universe, we became something entirely different."
"I doubt we'll find answers in the offices that published DC Comics."
"But..."
"We really should read them."
"I'm especially curious about what makes the Joker so terrifying."
As he spoke, Clark glanced toward Arthur and Jerome.
Feeling the strange attention from the three men, Arthur nervously followed Zatanna away.
Once the pair disappeared, Bruce looked at the others.
"Tony won't be back for at least an hour."
"The armor project can wait."
Clark nodded.
"We have plenty of time."
"We can start after he returns."
Soon, the three arrived before Ciri.
Lex smiled politely.
"Miss Ciri."
"Would you mind sensing our previous destination and sending us back there?"
Ciri blinked.
"Huh?"
"Didn't you just come back?"
Although confused, she didn't consider it a difficult request.
Without asking further questions, she simply nodded.
"I don't know what you're planning."
"But I don't mind taking you there."
"Axel isn't exactly patient."
"If you asked him to send you again right after coming back, he'd probably think you'd lost your minds."
"My portals aren't as precise as his, though."
"If I send you somewhere slightly different, don't blame me."
"Take my hand."
As she spoke, Ciri grabbed Clark's hand.
Clark reached back and pulled Bruce and Lex with him.
Blue light erupted around them.
The Conjunction of the Spheres carried all four away.
Not long afterward, inside a closed comic book store in New York, Clark suddenly exclaimed,
"Bruce!"
"Look at this!"
"You and Selina are actually engaged in this comic!"
Bruce rolled his eyes.
"Seriously?"
"Can't you read something useful?"
"Selina and I would never work out."
"I already have Rachel."
"It's just a comic."
Lex smirked.
"He's right."
"Why don't you read something about the Joker instead?"
Clark glanced at Lex's comic.
"You aren't reading about the Joker either."
The comic in Lex's hands featured Superman on the cover.
Although its details differed from reality, Clark recognized himself immediately.
Lex laughed.
"Clark."
"Do you know what I just discovered?"
"You have two sons."
"So humans and Kryptonians really are genetically compatible."
"They even inherited your abilities."
"If you were human, I'd abandon my dream of elevating humanity through technology."
"I'd just tell you to have as many children as possible."
"A few dozen generations later, humanity's bloodline might evolve naturally."
He paused before looking around the comic shop.
"But this is strange."
"Why can't I find any comics about Axel?"