Ch: 48 [Infiltration pt2]

    As Batman hung from the ceiling, he observed the thugs'' patrol, their footsteps echoing softly along the corridor. As they approached his hidden location, his eyes focused under the mask, studying their motions. His strong sense of observation enabled him to predict their movements, cautiously plotting his approach.

    He waited for the precise moment when the thugs passed beneath him. The tension in the air was obvious as their whispered talk resonated faintly along the corridor. His concentration sharpened as he braced himself for quick action.

    Batman silently dropped down as the last thug walked exactly beneath him. His gloved hand came out and quickly wrapped around the thug''s mouth, muffling any impending outburst. He executed a rapid and efficient takedown with measured accuracy, knocking the thug unconscious in seconds. He hid the body beneath the stairwell.

    ''Some must be left alive to spread the fear...''

    The sudden absence of their buddy, however, did not go unnoticed by the surviving goons. They came to a standstill, exchanging puzzled looks, their hands immediately reaching for their rifles. The dimly lighted corridor became tense, the air thick with tension.

    "Hey! Where is Nick?" One of the thugs raised his submachine gun. "Something weird is going on... Spread out and search every corner."

    ''Good, scatter out. I will pick all ten of you one by one,'' Bruce thought.

    The first thug, armed with a custom-made golden gun, was too preoccupied with finding his missing partner. Batman appeared silently behind him, splitting his throat with the sharp blades on his gauntlet.

    ''Nice gun you got there,'' He took the golden gun. ''Sadly, you won''t need them.''

    The second thug, distracted by his companion''s sudden collapse, turned to investigate, only to meet the same fate. A batarang flew toward him, destroying his flashlight, followed by a swift kick that incapacitated him. A quick jab in his throat was enough to put him down.

    He moved along the corridors like a shadow. His visor displays all of the surviving goons on the ground.

    A third thug, wielding a crowbar, patrolled the darkened hallway, his grip tight on the weapon. Batman observed his movements, calculating the precise moment to strike. With a silent glide, he closed the distance and jammed his batarang in his throat. He dragged the bodies behind the stairs.

    The fourth thug was equipped with a stun baton, scanning the area with cautious steps. Out of nowhere, a grappling hook flew toward his ankle, yanking him off balance. Before he could react, Batman descended upon him, delivering a swift blow to the back of his head. The thug crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

    Meanwhile, the fifth thug, armed with a shotgun, patrolled the perimeter, his eyes darting nervously in the dark.

    "Jack, Vic, Nico... Where the hell are you guys?" He yelled in fear. His flashlight fell on the floor. The bright red pool of blood before his eyes made him yelp in shock, "Boys... Here... Quick. Regroup..."

    The remaining six thugs regrouped, their voices tense and fearful in the dimly lit corridor. Their whispered exchanges were frantic, a mix of confusion and alarm evident in their hurried tones.

    "Did you see that? Someone''s taking us out!"

    "Screw this, we need to stick together!"

    Batman kicked the door open and entered the room. Penguin was sitting on the sofa puffing a fat cigar and holding a glass of whisky. His right shoulder was bandaged.

    "The infamous Devil Bat... To think you are still alive after all these years... Guess the Black Mask got on your nerves, huh?" Penguin spoke without turning his head towards Batman, who was standing behind him.

    He puffed his cigar and continued, "You know what? I helped those bastards, and they tried to get rid of me... How about I help you and you mumm... Probably turn a blind eye to me, yeah? Deal?"

    Batman walked past Penguin and sat on the sofa across from him, "Talk," His voice was deep and distorted.

    Penguin smirked and continued, "That guy likes to do things personally, especially when it comes to his secret mission. Even I don''t know what it is... But what I know is that he plans to blow up Gotham and then Metropolis using some nuke or bombs..." He chuckled, "...Sounds crazy, right? Haha... That psycho..."

    "Location," Batman asked, his gaze fixed intently on the fat crook.

    Penguin put the glass on the table and took out a small piece of paper, "This is the location of his warehouse where he stores his stuff... Don''t expect to find any bombs, though. He has already planted them, God knows where..." He laughed again, "...And that''s all I know, Devil Bat. Take it or leave it..." He leaned back and puffed his cigar again. "Other than helping them cross the border, I haven''t done anything illegal in the last ten years. That fucking Thomas Wayne..."

    "Jarvis. Search the surveillance in that area. Give me something concrete to go on," He ordered Jarvis through the earpiece.

    Penguin raised his eyebrow in surprise, "What? You are now calling your helper by his name in front of me? Don''t worry, I know how to keep a secret or two. I won''t open my mouth."

    [Target located. Sir, I have located Black Mask. He is still in the warehouse,] Jarvis responded.

    Batman stood up, "Yeah, you won''t." He took out a handgun, he had taken from one of the goons earlier and shot Penguin in the head twice. Blood splattered on the sofa and carpet as his lifeless body slumped forward. "Because dead men don''t talk, and I am not Devil Bat." He emptied the clip.

    He left the mansion, ignoring the commotion caused by the shooting.

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