"Weeks ago, under Batman's orders, I kidnapped Black Mask and obtained evidence of Penguin Man's frequent illicit dealings with the military."
Shiller's sixth law of fabrication: Never say something that isn't astonishing.
The Penguin Man's eyes bulged as he looked at Peter, with Batman casting a dissatisfied glance at him too.
Peter instantly recovered, stood his ground against the pressure, and continued to speak fluently as though stating facts.
"After I kidnapped Black Mask, I learned from him that Penguin Man had bribed the manager of a certain military warehouse in New Jersey State. This allowed him to acquire large amounts of military equipment at a low price."
"Obviously, the military didn't know about the trades. However, I got the contact information of the manager's immediate supervisor from Black Mask."
Like someone who had just remembered something, Penguin Man stood in place, trembling slightly as his gaze directed towards Batman.
"Scarecrow's act of burying the fear gas couldn't deceive Batman. He let me find some spots where the fear gas was hidden, however, he didn't act immediately because he had a better solution for this calamity."
Scarecrow also opened his eyes wide. He turned to look at Batman, as if realizing something as well.
"Did you bomb Gotham?!"
"Did you anaesthetize the Gothamites?!"
The two shouted these incredulous questions in unison.
Peter simply nodded his head in response.
"First of all, Batman granted me full access to Bat Computer, allowing me to simultaneously use Bat System and Oracle System to hack into almost all electronic devices in Gotham."
"He then found Poison Ivy, who was kidnapped by Scarecrow, and handed her over to me. Under his guidance, Poison Ivy and I arrived at Wayne Tower's Weather Control Center."
"Poison Ivy inputted a specially concocted plant toxin into the control center's main frame which I activated, anesthetizing everyone in Gotham."
Peter turned to the Scarecrow and said: "Fear gas can only stimulate the violent factors within people when they are conscious, leading them to attack indiscriminately and cause enormous chaos."
"All we had to do was to first anesthetize everyone in Gotham, regardless of how much fear gas you exploded, it would have no effect."
The Scarecrow was completely flabbergasted. Like someone who had suddenly awakened, he began screaming while he hit the railings: "Do you even hear the nonsense you're spouting?!"
"In order to prevent the Gothamites from inhaling the fear gas and causing chaos, you attack Gotham with a weather weapon to anaesthetize everyone?!!"
He was yelling at Batman.
Technically, Batman could clear the air, however, he is typically bad at explaining, this applies to the Batman Family members, let alone adversaries.
He continued to look at Peter disapprovingly.
Shiller's seventh law of fabrication: Create your own narrative and let others rant.
So, Peter continued, "But that was actually only the first step of Batman's plan; he knew I was capable of doing so much more."
The expressions on others' faces could collectively be summarized as—an ace?
"A minor detour," Peter added as if he suddenly remembered. "At the onset of the calamity, Batman contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation and informed them about the terrorists who were spreading the gas had been using military vehicles within this city stricken by disaster."
Peter walked over to a side table, picked up a remote, and pressed a button. An image was displayed on the screen, and Penguin Man instantly recognized it as a part of a military vehicle.
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the best candidate to keep the military in check." Peter shrugged, walked over to the front of Penguin Man's cell, and knocked on the bars. "The Federal Bureau of Investigation has already got hold of the unique military vehicle identification. Who do you think, Mr. Oswald, will be found responsible after Amanda Waller reports this to Congress?"
Penguin Man was shocked and opened his mouth wide. He choked out a cough, then rushed to the bars, desperately reaching out in an attempt to grab Peter.
Peter neatly sidestepped him. Penguin Man, filled with sorrow and anger, gripped the bars tightly and yelled at the unmoving Batman beside him.
"Batman, you broke the rules of the game. You can't do this to me. I'll be hunted down by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the military. I'll be hauled off to Florence Prison!"
"Don't you know how ruthless that crazy woman Amanda Waller is?! My enemies won't leave me alone! I'll die in prison! Batman, how could you be so despicable?!"
Batman wanted to say he didn't do it, but the stark contrast between Penguin Man's current pale demeanor and his smug look at the Mayor's banquet was so pleasing to Batman that he observed it for a second longer than intended, causing him to miss the prime opportunity for a retort.
"Oh, I've forgotten." Peter continued. "Batman has long been dissatisfied with the corrupt officials in the military and even having the Federal Bureau of Investigation annoy them in Congress won't assuage his anger."
"So he also contacted the military and informed them that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had already obtained the evidence of their crimes. Can you guess what the military, given prior warning that trouble is brewing, would do?"
Penguin Man was completely frozen in place.
"Yes, a missile was launched, but Batman had long prepared an anti-missile system—not exactly an anti-missile system per se—but he set up missile decoys around the long-vacated Wayne Manor."
Penguin Man's round face had gone pale to the point that it could be described as completely white. Screaming in terror, he staggered back a few steps, shaking his head. "You're crazy, Batman. You're crazy!"
"The American military openly bombs Bruce Wayne's home! Do you realize this could start a world war?!"
Just as Batman was about to speak, he was cut off by Peter. He had been supposed to control the narrative for too many years, and as a result, the lead-in to his response was too long and was successfully intercepted by Peter.
"Of course, it's not as serious as that. You know that Bruce Wayne is a businessman, so perhaps he would choose to cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and confront the military in Congress."
"Where are they spending the military funds they receive every year? Buying equipment low to sell to terrorists and a bunch of missiles to bomb the world's wealthiest man."
"But perhaps Wayne could also choose to ally with the military. Where did the Federal Bureau of Investigation use all their generous subsidies? They sat idly by while the city was in crisis, and yet were quick to forge evidence to frame their colleagues."
"Despicable! Batman, you're a lowly villain!" The Penguin was grinding his teeth, although he couldn't directly name Batman as Bruce Wayne, he still furiously said, "Isn't it enough for Wayne Enterprises to seize all the legitimate businesses?! You can't undermine my deal with them!"
"This is my business! Batman! Mine!!"
The Penguin's eyes burned bright red, he dared not imagine what a sunny and cheerful fat man he would be if he managed to seize the reins from both sides.
Peter was still fanning the flames.
"No, no, no, business does not involve personal feelings. Mr. Penguin, Batman certainly predicted that you would employ all sorts of methods to sabotage Wayne Enterprises' next strategic move, so..."
Peter waved his hand in front of the Penguin, then he pointed at his own chest.
The Penguin suddenly looked like a choked chicken, and cold sweat dampened his back again.
"Wayne Enterprises can't get involved in black-market business; they are a legitimate enterprise, aren't they, Mr. Oswald?"
The Penguin was stunned for a moment, swallowed, then looked tentatively towards Batman, uncertain if Peter's words meant what he thought they did.
Now Batman held the whip hand over both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the military; the Penguin could imagine that both sides would do whatever it took to earn Batman's support.
Of course, everyone knew Batman was Bruce Wayne. This was taken for granted in their current conversation, Batman included.
The means by which the military and Federal Bureau would vie for Batman's support would certainly not be overt. A nod was as good as a wink.
But then Peter said that Wayne Enterprises couldn't get involved in black-market business, implying that they did not aim to personally participate in shadowy financial transactions.
Consequently, it was well known that the most common strategy of the shadow government that controlled America was to wear a black glove on the left hand and a white one on the right.
"No, no, no, no way..."
The Penguin looked at Batman incredulously, unsure whether he had just received a job offer from Batman.
Had this blockhead finally caught on?
Had he finally tired of playing in his baby playground and decided to take some adult measures to save Gotham?
The Penguin immediately switched to professional mode, adhering to a strict code of silence.
He couldn't afford to offend Batman, or the shadowy powers behind America.
Besides, the Penguin started to calculate inwardly, this was a great piece of business; how much profit could be skimmed from playing the role of Wayne Enterprises' black glove?
What about those two capsules in his lungs?
No problem. If this deal could be made, you could stuff two pounds of them in there. All hail the glorious return of the great Emperor Bruce Wayne to his loyal Gotham.
"What riddles are you two playing at?" the Scarecrow snapped impatiently. "I just want to know what the hell is going on!"
The Penguin immediately stepped sideways, looking at the chemistry professor who lacked any business sense with disdain, distancing himself through his attitude to avoid appearing unprofessional.
"Oh, and you, Mr. Scarecrow, you don't think that Mr. Arkham Knight is sincerely trying to help you, do you?"
Peter turned to the Scarecrow and said, "Can you guess how Batman located your position so quickly and relentlessly pursued you?"
The Scarecrow was stunned.
He then turned to Jason with an angry glare, rushed to the side of the cage and banged on the bars, "You're in league with him! You damned..."
Before the Scarecrow could finish his curse, Peter interrupted him and said, "Of course, he didn't know it, because Batman's method of locating you was a bit novel."
Jason watched Peter motionlessly.
Peter covered his mouth with his hand and coughed gently twice.
Jason heard a voice in his mind.
"Hello, human, I am the Godtar Red Bee from Klinter Star, you can call me the symbiont, I think you've heard my voice before, haven't you?"
Jason staggered backwards into a corner of the wall. He looked around in disbelief, not knowing what was talking to him.
Wait a second. This voice, wasn't it familiar?
Who had said to him before "You forgot"?
"Yes, I am the parasitic species, currently inside your body. I have reviewed your memories. I was the one who operated your communication device to call Batman after you passed out."
Jason was dumbfounded.
As he recovered his senses, he fixed his gaze on Batman, drew a deep breath, and roared with a hint of horror in his voice.
"Batman!!!!!!!!"