[Comprehensive British and American] Family Matters

Batman knows that tonight will not be peaceful.But when the corner of his eye caught the figure covered in black robe with no skin exposed except for a pair of eyes, his heart still missed a beat.

No, not now.

He doesn't have the energy and time to deal with the League of Assassins now!

Two Talons invaded the Arkham Mental Hospital, and their target was the director of the mental hospital. Even with the assistance of freezing grenades, Batman would have struggled to deal with just one Talon with injuries. To add insult to injury--

"Cough!" One of the sharp claws is a particularly powerful type. He easily grabbed Batman's throat and pressed him to the ground. It's not hard to guess that the Talon enjoys this kind of murderous task.

The other Talon was going to pursue their mission target while Batman was overwhelmed by his companions, but the swarm of bats obscured his view, and even the tiny claws and teeth, which were very soft compared to armor and swords, were outnumbered. The damage done to the claws under the bonus is also considerable.

Bat Bruce was about to order his bat swarm to shift targets to help Batman get out of trouble under Jason's "optimistic Batman" instruction, and the ninjas of the League of Assassins also jumped out of the shadows at this moment.

Contrary to Batman's expectation, the goal of the League of Assassins is not him, but the claws that are planning to strangle him to death.

Facing the samurai sword coming towards his head, Claw had to temporarily let go of Batman and turned to face Cheng Yaojin who killed halfway. The ninjas of the League of Assassins were not like Claw when performing tasks. Talk a lot, say something like: "The court of owls sentences you to death!" or "I really want to hear your dying beg!"

The ninjas—yes, after the first ninja, three or four companions in the same black clothes jumped out of the shadows—without extra words, groups of two or three took turns to entangle the claws , even though the sharp claws have strong recovery ability and amazing individual strength, they were quickly defeated under such a wheel-to-wheel attack and were beheaded by one of the assassins.

If it weren't for the inappropriateness of doing so, Batman really wanted to applaud the ninja and praised: "Look, this is a real professional!"

At this time, the other sharp claw was arched in front of Batman by the swarm of bats. Brucey landed proudly in the middle of the two pointed ears on Batman's head, and the small claws on the wings were just right and left. hold on.

Batman looked at the scene in front of him like a hound retrieving prey during hunting season, except that his hounds were a group of bats... bats?

"I never expected this situation." Batman sighed, ignoring Brucey above his head, subdued the claws according to the original plan, and notified the police to deal with the aftermath.

He still has to rush to Lincoln March's office. Ensuring the survival of those on the hunting list is the most important task at hand.

As soon as the video of Nightwing on the Batmobile came in, the first thing I asked was: "Have you met a ninja?"

"In Arkham, they took out one of the claws." Batman saw Nightwing's disapproving expression as soon as he finished speaking, "meaning... you have more than one claw? My God, you should have Looking for reinforcements!"

"I'm fine, the threat has been lifted." Batman resisted the urge to sigh, and turned the topic to the purpose of Yewing's call, "What's the situation on your side? What did the League of Assassins do?"

"Here's what I don't understand...they didn't do anything but take down Talon." Nightwing shrugged, "At first I thought they were here to make trouble, but now it looks like they really are Came to help. It's really weird."

Just when Batman was about to speak, Red Robin's video appeared below Nightwing's communication screen, reducing Nightwing's window in half to become a three-way call: "Batman, League of Assassins—"

"Wait, are you there too?" Ye Yi's surprised voice was raised a few degrees, "What's going on with them! Is there any 'World Ninja Day' charity event that we haven't paid attention to?"

"I don't know if it's Ninja Day or not, but I don't think they're here to cause trouble." Red Robin's hair was blown in a mess, and he looked like he was squatting on the roof of an apartment building, " The targets I've been assigned have been attacked, and I'm doomed to miss one of them, and then they show up!"

"Let me guess, the ninjas took over one of the targets so you could go rescue the other?" Nightwing's image kept shaking, and he was rushing to the next location.

"Yeah, I can't believe I'm saying this, but they really helped." Red Robin rubbed his nose, which was red from the cold wind, "I subdued the claws that attacked Judge Rhys, for Just to be on the safe side, I went back to confirm that the League of Assassins was not up to any tricks, and it turned out that they really only came to deal with Talon."

Batman listened to the conversation between Red Robin and Nightwing, thinking about various possibilities in his mind.After the battle at the Well of Sin, Rashaw had been moved by Talia to a more secret place to guard him. With Talia's ability, Batman didn't think that such a period of time would be enough for Rashaw to regain his freedom and put his The influence extends to Gotham.

Besides, this was not Rashaw's style at all.

If Lei Xiao Ao Gu wants someone to owe a debt of favor and use it to blackmail the other party, he always generously says that he can help, and uses a semi-forced method to force the other party to accept the favor.

Maybe it's Thalia... no, Batman knows that Talia has been keeping an eye on Gotham, but she's doing it for the kids.If people from the League of Assassins showed up to support Jason or Damian, it could be said that it was Talia's work.A large-scale operation across the city like this?Very un-Talia.

-Jason.

The last possible name flashed through Batman's mind.

He is the only one who can use the Assassins in such a big way. The ancient rule that the eldest son inherits everything is still regarded as the golden rule there. Even Thalia herself did not claim to be the next leader of demons even if she emptied Lei Xiao.

Batman doesn't know whether he should be angry that Jason borrowed the power of the League of Assassins, or should he thank Jason for his decision to save more people, such as the situation Tim just faced, if there is no intervention of the League of Assassins , one of them is probably dead.

"Nightwing, Red Robin, pay attention to the task ahead, there are still many people who need to be rescued." The Batmobile has arrived downstairs in Lincoln March's office, and he must first focus on saving people.

"Don't push yourself too hard, B." Nightwing ended the communication.

Red Robin stared at Batman's tense jaw, and sighed: "Don't think too much, B, I'm pretty sure he knows what he's doing." Apparently Red Robin had also figured out the reason for the assassins to dispatch. Whoever the person is, and has nothing against that person's behavior, "Anyway... uh, stay safe." Red Robin cut off the communication.

Lincoln March's office is on the seventh floor. Batman first climbed up to the sixth floor with a hook gun, and carefully walked up the stairs to the seventh floor to observe the situation at the scene.The corridor was empty, and there were no traces of fighting or struggling.Batman's goal is the innermost room, and the light inside can be seen from under the door.

As soon as Batman entered the office, he was pointed at the muzzle of a black hole. Lincoln March sat behind his desk, holding a large-caliber pistol in his hand, staring at the door with his lips tightly pressed.When he saw that the person who came was the Dark Knight, his tense face was filled with astonishment for a moment.

"Mr. March, I'm here to help you. Your name appears on an assassination list..." Batman explained, but saw Lincoln March's expression of "as expected", "You know .”

"Of course I know." Lincoln put down his weapon and let out a long sigh. "I'm a politician, and I have the most connections. I was probably one of the first few people who heard that the director of the Cultural Affairs Bureau was assassinated. That time with Enta, I don't doubt at all that it was the handiwork of the Court of Owls, and that's what's waiting for them."

Batman looked at Lincoln's weapon and shook his head in disapproval: "It's too risky, the claw is not an ordinary killer, this weapon can't kill them, come with me, I'll take you to a safe place to take refuge."

"Don't worry about me, Batman." Lincoln rejected Batman's offer and took another gun from under the table. "I have friends in the military and I can protect myself. I actually think you should." The man who wants to be in this city is Bruce Wayne, and he's the one that this city can't live without, not me."

He hadn't expected Lincoln to put Bruce Wayne's safety above his own.He always thought that Lincoln March, like other politicians, came for the wealth and influence of the Wayne family. The only difference was that the other party's political ideas were closer to his own.

"Mr. Wayne's safety has been ensured, you don't need to worry." Batman stepped forward, planning to forcefully knock him out if necessary, "It's not safe here, Mr. March, the claws may come anytime. "

In fact, Batman has already begun to worry about where the Talon is hiding in the room. It has been so long since they discovered the assassination list, it makes no sense that the Talon has not attacked the target yet.

The sound of fluttering wings outside the window attracted the attention of Batman and Lincoln. The bats were struggling to float by the window with their heads arched. From time to time, a few bats could not bear the weight on their backs and fell down. Soon another bat will fill its place.

That head was covered by a mask shaped like an owl.

The round goggles reflect the reflections of the two people in the room, the terrified expression of Lincoln March and Batman with a bat on his head.

"It seems that the intruder has been eradicated, good night, Mr. March." The bat on Batman's head spoke, using the same voice as Batman, "Let's go, Batman, it's time to go home. "

Lincoln stared at Brucey as if he had seen a ghost.And Batman nodded at him as if nothing happened, and jumped out of the window.

Talon's head was thrown to Lincoln's feet by the bats, and the unencumbered bats flapped their wings and followed Batman like an extension of his black cloak, and as the last bat disappeared into the shadows around the corner, the bat The roar of the car's engine shook Lincoln's eardrums.

He turned and stared at the remains of Talon, and Lincoln March's expression on the mirror of the owl goggles was not joy of new life, but uncontrollable anger.

"Trash!" The polished leather shoes ruthlessly crushed the goggles.

***

Red Hood was very pleased with Bruce's return, and Batman was already on his way back.

He really should ask Bruce to go out with the old man on night patrols, at least to remind him that it's time for bed, and if he doesn't go to bed, he will be caught by bats!

"Okay, where were we?" Red Hood smacked the head of Talon, who was kneeling in front of him, with the muzzle of his gun.

The target of this sharp claw is freezing people. Red Hood doesn't even know why the court sent the sharp claws that are afraid of low temperature to fight against the target named "Frozen". If this is a Gongdouju, he will think that This sharp claw must have offended the imperial concubine, so it was sent out to perform a mission that must surely die.

Red Hood chased Talon to the most desolate area of ​​Gotham City. Just as he was about to end this meaningless chase, Talon took the initiative to remove the mask in front of him to reveal the pale face underneath, and cupped his hands Handed his weapon to Red Hood.

That's what happened before Bruce's report came.

Now that Red Hood finally had a chance to take a good look at the undead killer in front of him, he was an Asian, with single eyelids and a snub nose, so he was not of the same race as them.Wait, does this mean that the court's power extends abroad?

"My name is Xiao Long." When Sharp Claw opened his mouth, Red Hood realized that this was the first sentence they said to each other when they met, "The court made me into a weapon when I was young, Serve them with my actions and thoughts. Now I finally have a chance to get out of this life."

The red hood looked at the sharp claws that closed their eyes in front of his muzzle, and the blue blood vessels under the pale skin were clearly visible, like several black and blue reptiles crawling all over his face.

"Wait, are you trying to commit suicide now?" Red Hood narrowed his eyes, he is not an angel of death who specializes in helping people out, "Because you don't want to obey the court? Dude, stop playing, you still don't know How did you kill yourself?"

"It's impossible." Xiao Long pulled a wry smile, and he spoke with a heavy accent, "It's hard to kill a sharp claw like us, you can't cut yourself off the head, isnt it? i've seen other talons do that, immobilized before he cut off his neck, the court people didn't let him die, he was a showpiece to teach future talons not to use it Flee by death."

Xiao Long stumbles when he speaks, especially in the ups and downs of his intonation. It sounds like the first generation of immigrants who just came to the United States and spoke unnaturally.

This made Red Hood guess about Xiao Long's background: "How long have you been Claw?"

Faced with this question, Xiao Long blinked in confusion, and finally shook his head: "It's been too long, I don't remember. I still remember that I came on a boat with my father. The audience likes to see how different you Americans are. The same people perform."

It was a time when Asian faces were uncommon, so many years ago.

"Xiao, in fact, you can start over." Red Hood felt a little sympathetic to this sharp claw who wanted to die. He traveled across the ocean to a country he was not familiar with, and was taken away by the people here for his entire life. "You are like this. Go away, go far away, and go where the courts don't control."

Xiao Long looked at the red hood in silence, and suddenly smiled at him: "You are a good man, sir. But no need, I have nowhere to go, I don't know your country, I can't speak your words well, I Looks...thank you, sir, but I hope to be Xiao Long until I die, names are very important to us."

Red Hood didn't want to kill Xiao Long.Even though he knew that under the order of the court, it was impossible for Xiao Long to not have bloody hands, but at this moment, Xiao Long did not look like he was acting to deceive the red hood, he really looked like he had given up all hope and wanted to die .

Even Red Hood had to admit that if he stood in Xiao Long's position, he might feel that death would be easier.

The life of an immigrant in China is not easy, let alone someone like Xiao Long, with the face of a living dead, no relatives and friends, no legal status, what kind of livelihood can he find?It is good to be caught by gangsters or groups worse than courts and used as thugs.

Leaving the court and taking off the claws' equipment, Xiao Long is just another poor man who is destined to be abandoned in the corner of society.

Unless he can find another group of people who can understand him and help him sincerely——

"What if I say you have a place to go?" Red Hood said, bending down and lifting the manhole cover at his feet, "It just might not smell very good, and it's a little damp."

"I don't want to continue..." Xiao Long looked at the Red Hood vigilantly, as if he took this action as a hint that the Red Hood intended to make himself his personal killer.

However, Red Hood just waved his hand lazily: "I have no shortage of killers, and to be honest, my people are much more effective than sneaky owls with sharp claws."

Xiao Long looked at the red hood suspiciously.

"It's up to you, I opened the manhole cover here. If you are interested, go down by yourself, ah... I suggest not to wear that set of equipment, the boss below doesn't like the owl theme very much."

He shot the hook gun and fixed it on the fire escape next to him, and Red Hood climbed up the roof from the fire escape three or two times: "The decision is up to you, if I find out that you have returned to the owl's hand to do your current old job—"

The remaining unfinished content is well understood by both parties.

Xiao Long looked down at the dark sewer entrance, took a deep breath, and peeled off the claw armor bit by bit, leaving only the innermost layer of underwear.

The manhole cover was put back in its original position.

After dawn, the equipment with sharp claws will be picked up by nearby people, disassembled and replaced with green banknotes. No one will pay attention to the loss of a sharp claw and the addition of a homeless person in the sewer.

Red Hood figured his construction plan would have to work overtime to catch up when the dust settled.