The following evening, before heading to the meeting with the child, Lance sent a message to Gordon at the police station.
He had said he would hand this upright officer a major achievement, and he had no intention of breaking his word.
Perhaps this seemingly insignificant favor would help Director Gordon rise faster.
As for Batman, Lance did not notify him at all.
Because he was certain that the moment Gordon learned of it, Batman would know as well. That man's need for control was every bit as strong as his cunning.
Lance would bet that Gordon's office was filled with miniature listening devices, and that was only because Batman trusted him to some extent.
Sure enough, not long after, Batman received the information as well.
Thus, Gordon and Bruce reached an immediate understanding, and the partnership of Batman and the detective made its first appearance in Gotham's history.
Although Lance believed that the combination of Batman and Gordon would be more than enough to deal with a small-time villain like Maroni, he still took precautions.
Through Number 1, he anonymously informed the leader of the Red Crows Gang under the guise of a concerned citizen under the gang's protection.
The Red Crows Gang, repeatedly robbed by Maroni, was already boiling with anger. After confirming the information, they immediately gathered hundreds of capable men and surrounded Warehouse No. 12.
Later that night, Lance brought Waylana Jones and strode into Warehouse No. 12 as agreed.
Inside, Maroni had been waiting for some time with his men. Boxes of reagents were stacked beside him.
When he saw Lance, Maroni fixed his gaze on him and revealed a cold smile. "You're here."
"Of course. We had an agreement, didn't we?" Lance shrugged.
He behaved as if he were out for a casual walk, completely ignoring the rows of thugs behind Maroni.
Instead of raising Maroni's guard, his composure only widened the man's smile.
"Do you know," Maroni said, "I admire your teacher. I could tell he had no physical training at all, yet he still dared to walk into my territory and convince me with nothing but his mind. Even an opponent would admire that kind of intelligence. But…"
His tone shifted.
"As his student, you fall short. I didn't expect you to be naive enough to believe my words."
How many times had Maroni mentioned Lance's teacher since they met?
Lance had lost count.
But it didn't matter. Maroni would pay for it.
Maroni continued.
"Someone like you wouldn't normally be worth my time, but out of respect for your teacher, I'll personally cut off your head and send it to Knox."
Again.
Maroni clearly believed that Lance and the little monster behind him had no way to resist.
It was a natural assumption. In his view, no one walked away unscathed when faced with a hundred guns.
Just like in those superhero films, as the head of the Maroni Family, a minor villain in this world, once he was certain Lance posed no threat, he began laying out his plans in detail.
He said he had never intended to produce genetic reagents at all. His real goal was the mass production of Fear Toxin, and everything was already prepared.
He claimed to have a good relationship with Gotham's Police Director, who had agreed to help arrange Jonathan Crane's release.
After that, Crane would be transferred to a more secret location under strict supervision. From there, using the factories seized from the Red Crows Gang, along with facilities from Wayne Enterprises that he had secretly taken over, they would mass-produce Fear Toxin.
If everything went smoothly, the entire city of Gotham would soon fall under the shadow of the Maroni Family.
In his arrogance, he laid out every crime in full.
Lance had only just learned about Maroni bribing the Director and seizing Wayne Enterprises' factories.
A miscalculation.
If he had known earlier, he could have sold that information in exchange for a favor from Gordon and Batman.
Although Batman's "favor" was practically useless. He would not turn a blind eye to your crimes just because he owed you one.
More likely, he would simply beat you until you could not move.
In any case, after committing every mistake a movie villain could make, Maroni waved a hand at the thugs behind him, already losing interest.
"Do it."
The response was not gunfire from his own men, but members of the Red Crows Gang rushing in from outside.
They raised their weapons and opened fire, sweeping across Maroni and his men. By then, Lance had already pulled Waylana aside and taken cover in a concealed corner.
The vantage point was excellent. It was a blind spot, yet close enough to watch everything unfold.
Lance showed no fear despite the rain of bullets. Instead, he rested his chin on his hand, observing the battlefield with interest.
Waylana was just as calm. She did not even glance at the fight, her eyes fixed entirely on Lance.
Faced with the sudden attack, Maroni did not sit still and wait to die. Both sides quickly descended into a chaotic firefight.
It had to be said that the Red Crows Gang had learned from their previous losses. The men they brought this time were all capable fighters.
Even so, the Maroni Family's foundation was strong. They did not immediately fall into a disadvantage.
After several intense exchanges, both sides were left sprawled across the ground, groaning in pain.
Maroni leaned against the stacked wooden crates filled with experimental reagents, loudly cursing the Red Crows Gang.
The other side paid him no attention. One of them took fresh ammunition from a subordinate, preparing to finish him off.
Boom!
Just as the situation spiraled further into chaos, Batman finally arrived.
He rolled in through a shattered window and landed squarely between the Red Crows Gang and the Maroni Family.
Batman had expected to walk into a hail of bullets. He had not expected this.
Most of his targets were already on the ground, barely able to move.
The only two leaders still capable of fighting raised their guns and fired at him, but Batman leapt aside and dodged. In the next instant, he moved in, snapping a pair of handcuffs onto Maroni and the Red Crows leader.
Batman stood there, glancing from side to side. Even from behind, his posture carried a trace of confusion.
Moments later, Lance stepped out from his hiding place with Waylana.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
His applause was polite.
"A wonderful performance," he said.
___
Read 12 chapters ahead of WN:
Patreon.com/CorruptElf