Chapter 151: The Big Cat and the Little Cat
Gotham.
In a greenhouse at an unknown location, the fresh scent of flowers filled the enclosed space. The air was moist and warm, and green was the main theme of this domain. Tall, exquisite glass walls surrounded the entire space, and lights shone through the green leaves, illuminating everything.
A woman slowly approached the greenhouse from the main gate. She had short, black hair cut in clean, powerful lines, and a black professional suit tailored to perfection, highlighting the lines of her figure while allowing for agility.
She walked slowly through the greenhouse, a faint sense of unease emanating from the surrounding vegetation.
These were not the kind of plants you would see in just any botanical garden. All sorts of green life grew vibrantly, from the ground to the ceiling, from one side to the other. The trees were twisted and lush, their trunks coiled like giant pythons, stretching out into canopies of dense foliage. Some grew so tall they nearly touched the top of the greenhouse, while others spread across the ground, like a green carpet, giving the illusion of stepping onto a prairie.
Deeper inside, nestled among the plants, was a metal lab bench. It was meticulously arranged, covered with various chemical reagents and glassware. Flickering light filtered through small glass panes in the ceiling, illuminating the orderly arrangement of instruments. The transparent glassware gave off a faint glow, and liquids of various colors shone with a brilliant luster, like gems.
The woman stopped in front of the lab bench, hands on her hips, and muttered, "Great, she's not here. Now where am I supposed to find a plant-obsessed lunatic—Aargh!"
The woman in black was completely unaware of the vine that had silently emerged from the plants behind her. Several vines suddenly wrapped around her ankles, and without another word, hoisted her upside down. Suspended in mid-air, head down and feet up, she was bound by the vines into a classic "Tortoise Shell Binding" pose.
The woman in black struggled with all her might, but the more she struggled, the tighter the vines became, and the tighter they became, the more mortified she felt.
So she simply stopped struggling.
Another figure emerged from the darkness. Skin as white and smooth as snow, eyes alluring to the bone, a head of vibrant red hair, and a truly magnificent décolletage.
It was the person the woman in black had come to find. Pamela Isley, also known as Poison Ivy.
"I thought a bat had flown in, but it's just a little mouse," Poison Ivy said lazily, making a hand gesture that caused the vines to tighten.
"Wait a minute!" A blush appeared on the woman in black's resolute face. "My name is Moxie. My boss greatly admires your abilities and wants to talk to you."
"Is that so? Well, thank you very much," Poison Ivy laughed. "But if he really thinks that, he should have come himself."
"Precisely, which is why I'm here."
A man's voice sounded from the shadows. Both women turned their gazes to see a suit of armor, about three meters tall, emerge from the darkness. It was made of sturdy, smooth green alloy plates, with glowing green patterns inlaid on the armor, spreading like blood vessels across its outer layer.
And atop this suit of armor, a conspicuous bald head poked out.
Lex Luthor.
"Boss!" The woman in black, Moxie, showed a look of pleasant surprise. "You came in person?"
"Of course. I believe this young lady's talents are worth a personal visit." Luthor's armor strode forward, and he smiled. "Although I imagine you already know who I am, allow me to introduce myself.
Lex Luthor, the greatest mind in this world, the most successful entrepreneur on Earth."
"'Former' entrepreneur," Poison Ivy said with a frown. "You're a fugitive now. I watch the news."
"Hmph, that's exactly my point. Those stupid aliens took my things, occupied my territory, and they think they've won. Heh, it's laughable."
"So what does that have to do with me?" Poison Ivy crossed her arms.
Luthor smiled. "I'm working on a plan. Moxie, tell her."
The bodyguard-secretary Moxie, who was currently trying to shift into a less humiliating position within her vine restraints, quickly responded upon hearing her boss's order.
"Yes. The 'Legion of Doom' plan. Its core idea is to gather ambitious individuals with special talents from various regions to form an unstoppable Legion. Members of the Legion will be closely united; if one is in trouble, all will come to their aid. We'll no longer have to worry about harassment from those strangely dressed vigilantes or high-flying aliens."
"Like Batman?" Poison Ivy's eyes lit up.
She had been having a headache over the Bat problem recently, and this proposal sounded somewhat tempting.
But then she frowned again. "But all I want is to return the world to Mother Nature."
"Of course, no problem. The Legion will fully support you."
Luthor smiled and held out his hand. A small test tube, containing a green liquid, popped out from the mecha.
"What's this?" Poison Ivy took it and examined it.
"A welcoming gift," Luthor said with a smile. "I've studied your abilities, and the lab accident that gave them to you. I know you're skilled at controlling men, and plants. But your power isn't limited to that."
"For example, what if there was someone who was both a man and a plant, and just so happened... to also possess power rivaling those aliens?"
Poison Ivy's eyes brightened. "Is there really such a good thing?"
"Of course. I've done special research, and this serum was developed for that very purpose. It can directionally enhance your ability, allowing you to control a specific target. With this, you will be able to command a power far greater than you've ever imagined."
"Interesting... If what you say is true, then I'm in. You're an extraordinary man, Lex Luthor."
Poison Ivy said, giving him a seductive wink.
"Then may I ask, who is in this Legion of Doom right now?"
"Uh..." Lex Luthor's smile stiffened. "There's me."
Poison Ivy was stunned.
"So you say this is a 'Legion,' but it's just you?"
"No, now there are two," Lex Luthor said. "You're one of them."
Poison Ivy: "..."
She suddenly began to wonder if her decision to join had been a bit hasty.
"Um, I'm sorry to interrupt."
The secretary, Moxie, still bound and hanging in mid-air, was now blushing crimson.
"But could you let me down now?"
***
"So, you're saying those were my father's believers?"
On the way back from Central City, Raven asked with a strange expression.
"Yeah," Orin Vale said.
"And they summoned me?"
"Your brother must have pulled some strings, I think," Orin Vale said. "Go consult the Wizard when we get back. Maybe he has a way to teach you how to avoid this kind of summoning ritual next time."
It was strange that she had to go whenever someone performed a summoning. Orin Vale guessed it was partly due to the meddling of her two demon brothers, and partly because Raven was still too green, a novice both as a mage and as the daughter of a demon. Once she became more adept at wielding her abilities, a similar situation shouldn't occur again.
"By the way, sir, I should remind you that there's a trace of a tracker on you," Pal reminded him.
"I discovered it long ago," Orin Vale said with a smile.
Batman's tracker. It seemed the Old Bat was very curious about what Ultraman did when he wasn't on the job.
Of course, if he didn't do things like this, he wouldn't be Batman.
"Someone's tracking you?" Raven looked over.
"Yes, but don't worry, I'll deal with it in a moment."
***
Gotham, a cold, gloomy alley.
The shadows of towering buildings blanketed the street, their outer walls weathered beyond recognition by time and crime. The dilapidated bricks were covered with moss and dust, and the ground, paved with well-worn flagstones, let out dull creaks. Gray mist billowed out from the dark corners, casting a hazy atmosphere that blurred one's vision.
Batman's figure cut through the mist, his steps as silent as a night cat's as he advanced through the alley.
"This place doesn't exactly feel like it's filled with 'Light'. Are you sure this is it, Young Master?" Alfred said through the headset.
"The tracker's location is right here," Batman said in a deep voice. "Don't be deceived by appearances. Any place could..."
He stopped mid-sentence.
He seemed to have sensed a movement.
Batman turned, his hand cautiously gripping a Batarang under his cape, and he crept carefully toward the source of the noise...
"Meow!"
A black cat darted out.
Batman froze.
The scene looked just like a big cat and a small cat staring at each other.
The black cat sized him up, as if to say, *What's wrong with this two-legged creature? Why is he dressed just like me?*
Then, ignoring him, it turned and jumped into a trash can to look for food.
The tracking signal was coming from this cat.
Alfred's voice rang out leisurely.
"What was that you were saying, Young Master?"
(end of chapter)
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