Chapter 445 - | Master Tactician, Surprise Meeting.
Chapter 445 - Master Tactician, Surprise Meeting.
Gotham was a city shrouded by dark clouds all year-round, with towering chimneys emitting fumes and drizzling rain falling.
Beneath the surface of the bustling city were narrow, cramped alleys and filthy gutters. There were street girls scratching their heads and vagabonds with numb expressions.
"If the colourful billboards were added and polluted it with neon lights, it could be a Cyberpunk game map."
Luke clasped his arms over his chest and stood above the clouds.
Such a simple and unique city could be a special attraction in the DC universe.
There were too many places to visit.
For example, Blackgate Penitentiary and Arkham Asylum, which had housed a variety of super-criminals.
Batman's solo series was a classic show, where those dark allies were always perfect for torturing people for information.
There was also the chemical factory where the Joker fell, Poison Ivy's botanical garden, Robin's circus and so on.
If there were an opportunity, Luke would like to arrange a five-day tour of Gotham City to enjoy the city's wonderful scenery.
Of course, he wouldn't recommend ordinary people to do that because it was risky.
In case of bad luck, people may encounter someone with an obsessive-compulsive disorder that would stalk them and force them to guess riddles…
Someone with a disfigured face that would ask them to play a game of chance by flipping a coin…
Of the worst of all, meeting a madman in a purple suit, asking the question, 'Why so serious?'
"Such an interesting place."
Luke collected his scattered thoughts and spread his Super Vision all over the city. He soon found the Flash's location.
In the Flashpoint world, Batman didn't build himself a safe house covered in the lead.
Otherwise, his Super Vision wouldn't be useful.
"Who… beat this guy up?"
Luke raised an eyebrow and seemed a little surprised.
Barry Allen seemed beaten up. His nose was swollen, and the corners of his mouth were cracked. If his girlfriend came over, she wouldn't be able to recognise him for a while.
"Tsk tsk. Dr Wayne was too hard on him."
Luke reacted quickly, somewhat gloating.
After a bit of analysis, he could guess that the person who did it was definitely Batman's father, Thomas Wayne.
After all, Batman, no matter which time and space, was somewhat paranoid.
It was hard for them to trust a stranger, especially a stranger who was full of nonsense.
Boom, boom, boom!
Superman accelerated, simply flashing across half of Gotham to the door of Wayne's Manor.
He chose not to descend from the sky but to walk in from the front door.
An overly high-profile appearance would inevitably cause others to be wary and resentful.
The dark passages and secret rooms in the mansion were completely revealed by Super Vision.
This once again fully demonstrates that the Batman of the Flashpoint world didn't know the existence of Superman.
Even the minimum insurance measures weren't arranged.
…
…
"Barry Allen, you are more delusional than the Joker. As I said, you should be in Arkham Asylum."
Thomas Wayne digested the information that Barry, whose brain was agitated and expression was complicated, had said earlier.
This guy just told him that he was actually a superhero, and he also had a mortal enemy with similar abilities.
The origin of the other party was even more amazing. A future scientist in the 25th century could change history by travelling through time and space at super speed.
"Dr Wayne, I'm not crazy or lying. It's all true."
Barry Allen was holding a ring with a lightning logo, which fell out of his pocket.
There should have been the Flash's uniform inside, but now it was Reverse-Flash's yellow uniform.
This was like silent ridicule, mocking Barry's situation at this time.
He felt that his nemesis was once again stalking him.
"When I was 11 years old, my mother was murdered, and my father was convicted. In order to prove his innocence and catch my mother's killer, I tried my best to study, joined the Central City Police Department and became a forensic examiner."
Barry-Allen clutched the Reverse-Flash's yellow suit and gritted his teeth, "But I never found any clues until I became the Flash. I realised that my life had been chained to an enemy that I didn't even have a grudge against."
"Dr Wayne, that was revenge. Reverse-Flash came from the other end of time and space. He is the murderer who killed my mother!"
"But in this world, my mother is alive and well. There's no doubt that he and I have rewritten history once again."
After initially deciding that Barry was a non-threatening intruder, Batman didn't beat up the other party anymore.
"You said that history had been rewritten. What about Bruce?"
Thomas Wayne was more concerned about the name Barry blurted out when he broke into the Batcave than those strange plans that required imagination to understand.
"I remember you called me Bruce before, right? You know him?"
Barry hesitated for a moment. His broken finger was still in pain.
Considering that he wasn't good at lying and couldn't fool Batman, he truthfully said, "In the world where I live, you and Mrs Wayne were shot instead of him. Bruce became Batman, confronting the criminal forces in Gotham. He's a superhero and the brain of the Justice League."
"So, you mean … Bruce survived?"
The Batman, who had been angry and violent from the beginning, suddenly trembled for a moment.
The only thing that could affect him, except for his crazy wife, was probably his dead son.
"Yes, Dr Wayne. Your son used to be one of my closest friends. We fought side by side against the darkness."
Barry seemed to realise that if he wanted Batman's help, he had to use Bruce to impress him.
Playing the emotional card was the most effective way!
In turn, he was ashamed of such an idea.
It didn't seem like a glorious act to take advantage of a good friend's father.
When he got the answer, Thomas Wayne's tough expression, hidden under his mask, softened.
He saw through Barry's thoughts, but he didn't care.
If this crazy guy was telling the truth, and everything he said was true…
Then, maybe there was a chance! He could still salvage this terrible part of his life!
"Barry Allen, tell me, can you change the world back to its original trajectory? Back to the way it was when … I was dead, and Bruce is still alive!"
Thomas Wayne seriously asked.
He stared into Barry's eyes, trying to gauge if there was any sign of a lie.
"He can do it. He is the only one who can do it."
The laughing magnetic voice suddenly sounded in the Batcave.
From the dark shadows, a tall and sturdy figure emerged.
It was Luke!
"It looks like I need to upgrade the security equipment around here."
Thomas Wayne pretended to be depressed, sighed, and then threw out two bat-darts without even blinking.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sound of the wind, split by the bat-darts, came rushing out.
Their targets were the thigh and shoulder.
It looked like Batman didn't want him dead.
'Playing tactics is such a dirty thought. '
Luke thought silently.
His gaze swept over, and his Heat Vision melted the two bat-darts into a wisp of smoke.
"Superman! Clark! Is that you?"
Barry, who was standing at the side, shouted in surprise.
That tall figure, that iconic heat Vision, made him see Luke as Superman!
…