"Please stay calm, Agent Ethan Hunter."
"I'm not nervous at all. I just didn't expect the legendary Batman to be standing right in front of me."
Ethan Hunter smirked and adjusted the muzzle of his gun. A simple handgun posed almost no threat to this guy.
"I disagree with the Bureau taking Harley Quinn out of Arkham Asylum," Batman said as he stepped forward. Though he stood before Ethan, his eyes were locked on Harley Quinn. "She's not only the Joker's partner but also the key to finding him.
The only lead we have right now."
Ethan scratched his head. Of course—that was the reason this crazy bastard cared so much…
He never knew if Batman's obsession was with justice or with the Joker himself.
"Your twisted games with the Joker shouldn't drag other people into them," Ethan said firmly, standing his ground. Due to the height difference, he had to tilt his head slightly to meet Batman's only visible chin. "Someone who kills and burns cities wearing Joker makeup and someone who patrols the night in a mask and cape—both are crazy."
"So, you consider law enforcers and so-called superheroes just another type of criminal?" Batman moved slightly back, standing by the doorway. "I won't comment on the Bureau's level."
"Don't use our level as an excuse. I know you're all good people, even heroes," Ethan nodded. "But being a hero doesn't conflict with being insane."
"Alright, can we set aside the moral debate between Bureau agents and the Dark Knight? The main issue here is whether I leave with you, isn't it?"
Harley Quinn, sitting at the edge of the bed with a cup of coffee, likely in her Harleen Quinzel persona at this moment, sipped slowly, amused by the clash of two stubborn men.
"The bottom line is, we're taking Harley Quinn with us," Ethan said, his tone firm, though he was slightly apprehensive. Facing Batman—the DC Universe's de facto patriarch—could always lead to unpredictable complications. "As for the Joker's whereabouts, you can cooperate with the Bureau. After all, the Bureau isn't like those useless government agencies in America."
Ethan's sincerity was clear. For someone like the Joker, there were only two smart approaches:
Keep your distance. The Joker mostly wreaked havoc on Gotham and Batman. Avoid the chaos.
Deploy all resources to help Batman handle this lunatic.
Ethan favored the first. Could his intelligence outmatch the Joker? Probably not. And even if he could, the Joker's chaos factor was astronomical. There might even be multiple Jokers in this world, each with godlike resilience and unpredictable powers.
Plus, Ethan's top priority was completing the Bureau mission—gaining more skills and resources. Ordinary human limits weren't enough.
"And Harley Quinn is also Nick Fury's prized protégé. Given your position, you should know her, both the daytime persona and the current one," Ethan added, leveraging authority and the Bureau hierarchy.
"…Alright, I'll discuss this properly with Fury," Batman said, nodding. Though his face was hidden behind the cowl, Ethan could imagine the expression of someone preparing for reckoning. A silent moment of sympathy for "Black Egg" (Nick Fury) crossed his mind.
"Deputy Director Jack Lawson, what's with today's security? There's barely a tenth of the usual guards," Batman's focus shifted, clearly finding more issues. "Even the overall security systems at Arkham are barely operational."
"Uh, well… that's because—"
The overweight Deputy Director Jack Lawson went pale instantly. Sweat poured down his face as Batman's unflinching stare pinned him, hands trembling as he wiped the oil-slick sweat from his forehead.
Ethan exchanged a glance with Ada Wong. Something was definitely off today. Ever since stepping onto Arkham's grounds, he'd noticed the prison for high-intelligence criminals and dangerous lunatics was… nearly empty. Even the most advanced prisons had backup plans, didn't they? And yet, the only explanation came from this quivering deputy.
Luckily, Ethan wasn't naive.
"Bzzz—"
His personal terminal buzzed. Ethan immediately turned to Ada and activated the screen.
"Sir, Agent Ada Wong, this is Field Support Agent Ingrid Hanigan."
"Agent Hanigan, status report."
"Per your instructions, I investigated Arkham Asylum's recent conditions. I found that Deputy Director Jack Lawson has an overseas account registered under his wife's name with an extra three million dollars. Additionally, his ten-year-old son has been missing for a week without any police report filed."
"Excellent work, Agent Hanigan. Your findings are crucial. I can conclude that Lawson was bribed and that his son is being held as leverage to ensure compliance," Ethan said, glaring at the sweating deputy. "Immediately mobilize Field Support and the Gotham Police Department to locate Lawson's son. He's likely held somewhere in Gotham, and you'll handle the specifics."
"Yes, Sir," Hanigan responded before ending the call—a clear demonstration of efficiency and decisiveness.
Ethan had anticipated some irregularities, and his instincts had been correct…