Chapter 616: I, Joker (14)
Chapter 616: I, Joker (14)
As The_Bruce assembled his forces, two figures stealthily arrived several kilometers north of Batmancastle.
This location lay near the ten points of the Bay Area but remained undeveloped. The terrain curved inward, littered with jagged rocks. Behind a cluster of unremarkable boulders deep within, a hidden entrance yawned open.
"Unbelievable... How could they possibly know about this place?" Maya stood at the cave's mouth, her voice tinged with awe. "And this place has clearly been artificially modified..."
"That shouldn't surprise you", Qiao Yi replied. "If Mr. Joker said it existed, then it must. He has no reason to deceive us."
"Then..." Maya hesitated, shining her flashlight beam into the darkness. "We just walk in?"
"Of course", Qiao Yi said, stepping forward.
"You really trust those four... uh... so-called aliens that easily?" Maya shrugged, her tone skeptical. "I thought Qiao Yi.Colin would question everything."
"Hmph... I'm not as brilliant as you make me out to be", Qiao Yi chuckled bitterly. He pulled out a flashlight and switched it on, the beam cutting through the gloom. "To be honest, I don't even know how I got here. Looking back... compared to The_Bruce's cunning, I was a child. My resistance organization was utterly crushed, our base lost, my comrades sacrificed one by one..."
"This isn't your fault", Maya said, activating her own flashlight as they entered the cave.
Qiao Yi sighed, cutting her off. "Let's not dwell on it. Regardless of their true intentions, the four of them are now undeniably at odds with The_Bruce. We have no reason to doubt their stance. Their methods may seem extreme, but in the past hour alone, they've achieved more than our years of effort combined..."
As they spoke, the pair ventured deeper. The cavern expanded into a vast chamber with a vaulted ceiling, armored panels lining the walls. Stone pillars resembling fangs jutted from the ground like ancient teeth.
The initial stretch proved treacherous, the cave floor submerged in water. They edged along narrow ledges until the water level dropped after about a kilometer. Strange artifacts emerged—massive disc-shaped stone carvings and life-sized dinosaur models.
Suddenly, Maya halted, her flashlight beam freezing on a sight ahead. "Good Lord... Look at that!"
Three aging Batman aircraft hung from the ceiling, their wingspan dwarfing the space. Below them stood a row of life-sized Batman models, their dark forms eerily lifelike.
Qiao Yi's breath caught. "I was wrong... I've been wrong all along. So the original 'Batman' truly existed! Bruce Wayne is real!"
"Correct", Feng Bu Jue's voice echoed from behind them. The trio turned to see Ruo Yu and Feng Bu Jue, who had just lowered the elderly Kliber from his shoulder. "This is the original Batcave—the birthplace of legend."
"You dare bring that man here?" Maya's voice hardened. "He's one of The_Bruce's henchmen!"
"Now, now, miss", Kliber drawled, pulling a cigarette from his brown coat. "I'm merely a scientist. Brucemr. is my benefactor—that's all."
"You mean aiding a tyrant's cruelty", Qiao Yi spat.
Kliber chuckled, exhaling a plume of smoke. "Idealism doesn't suit you, Colinmr. You have potential, but you're still unrefined." He flicked ash onto the stone floor. "My employer, however, could devour someone like you whole."
"Enough of these pointless jabs, doctor", Feng Bu Jue said, nudging Kliber forward. "Remember—you're our hostage."
"Of course, Jokermr." Kliber ambled ahead, then glanced back. "Actually, I've been curious... I performed your facial reconstructions myself. Your neural chips were flawless." He paused. "Yet I don't recall turning you four into superhumans capable of defying heaven and earth."
"Use that brilliant mind of yours to speculate", Feng Bu Jue replied with a laugh.
"I already have", Kliber said, passing Qiao Yi to take the lead. "Initially, I considered acquired savant syndrome from surgical trauma. But four simultaneous cases? Statistically impossible. Then I wondered if Bruce had secretly experimented on you..." He turned toward Feng Bu Jue. "But when you dragged him from that plane, his shock seemed genuine. So that theory collapses too."
"We're aliens controlling these humans' bodies", Feng Bu Jue said with a grin. "How's that for an answer?"
Kliber pondered for a few seconds, then chuckled. "Now that's interesting."
"Hey! What exactly are you planning to do with him?" Qiao Yi asked, his voice rising as he followed Feng Bu Jue and Ruo Yu.
"Calm down", Feng Bu Jue spread his hands, turning with a smirk. "Doctor Kliber discovered this place long before us."
"What?" Qiao Yi and Maya exclaimed in unison.
"Indeed", Kliber said. "Even when The_Bruce first seized power, I'd already found this Batcave. Bruce Wayne built an incredible base—permanent, hidden entrances, and signal-shielded. I decided to keep it as my final refuge."
"So you never told The_Bruce about this Batcave?" Qiao Yi pressed.
"Naturally", Kliber replied. "In fact, I went to great lengths to conceal its existence."
"Hmph. Expected", Feng Bu Jue interjected. "This Batcave connects to Wayne Manor's energy well. Batmancastle was built atop the original manor's foundation. Only you, with your technical expertise, could mask its presence."
(End of Chapter)
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