Jack always seemed like he had not fully woken up, his voice as hoarse as ever but tinged with a distant haziness, not as if he was describing himself, but rather telling a bedtime story.
"This is impossible," Heath Ugly turned particularly grim, he said, "Batman will never be able to save himself."
"That's why I said it's just a dream," Jack smiled and said, "There are always lots of magical things in dreams, what's so impossible about that?"
"You are very special," Main Universe's Joker circled around Jack, he said, "But you look so ordinary, I can't believe you are the Joker corresponding to that Batman, or perhaps there is something else unusual about you?"
"I'm just an ordinary truck driver, what kind of anomalies are you hoping for?" Jack retorted.
Main Universe's Joker felt it was somewhat tricky, even for someone like Nepier, he always had vulnerabilities, because he always wanted to exhibit something, outwardly calm, yet tumultuous on the inside, just like Batman.
Against such opponents, the Jokers were always confident, hadn't he just cooperated with the other two Jokers to destabilize Nepier's mind?
But Jack was different. He seemed not to desire to express anything, nor did he take pride in his unique existence. It was as if he really was ordinary, so ordinary that he did not seem like a madman at all.
He was also well-accepting of his Joker identity, neither deriving excess pride nor complaints from it, unlike other Jokers who always had Batman entwined in their words. When he brought him up, there was no secrecy, just like mentioning a long-lost acquaintance.
Everything was too undramatic, like beneath the calm surface of the water there was an even calmer abyss.
Main Universe's Joker didn't think that throwing a large stone would kick up any splashes—moreover, they didn't even have that large stone right now; Jack had not shown any chink in his armor.
The subtle confrontation hidden beneath the crazed banter continued.
Main Universe's Joker's eyes spun around, looking at Jack he said, "In that dream you mentioned, whose son is Batman? Whose arm? And whose student?"
Just as Jack was about to speak, Main Universe's Joker cut him off and then said, "If it really was just a dream, there's no need to delve into those details."
Jack snorted coldly and said, "He is the son of Thomas and Martha, the arm of Clark and Diana, Shiller's student."
Main Universe's Joker burst out laughing internally but he still asked nonchalantly, "How interesting, did his parents revive from death then?"
"Sort of," Jack sat back down against a big tree, stretched lazily, and nodded, saying, "After a series of very complicated events, his parents were revived."
"His relationships with his friends are not bad either?" Main Universe's Joker seemed to think of something and said, "That is quite rare. Usually, they don't get along well, though they appear to do so, but Batman can never make true friends with anyone."
"No, they have a very wonderful friendship, trust each other, get along harmoniously, and even can stay together every day without getting tired of each other."
"And that professor …" Main Universe's Joker scoffed and said, "I have heard a bit about him. He's also an utter madman. Did Batman really fare better under him than under Hugo?"
"I'm afraid you underestimate his level of madness, much harder than under Hugo. In about a year's time, he spent all his energy trying to graduate from this professor's tutelage. It was very difficult, but he succeeded."
"And you?" Main Universe's Joker finally bared his fangs, he said, "Being so familiar with the process of his self-salvation, you can't possibly be just a bystander, can you?"
"Me?" Jack smiled, sat cross-legged under the tree and said, "What do you think my relationship with him is?"
"Parent, friend, mentor, you have to be one of these, which one do you think you are closer to?" asked Main Universe's Joker.
"Maybe a friend," Jack answered casually, smiling, "Though there is a bit of an age difference, we hit it off right from the first meeting, and the conversation went well afterward."
"Is that all?" Main Universe's Joker pressed on, he said, "Then do you think, compared to Clark, who has a better relationship with him?"
"Of course Clark, they might be the best of friends," Jack looked completely unfazed, even though this statement had all the Jokers turning their heads.
Please, which Joker would think Superman is Batman's best friend?
"Oh, I also forgot to mention another identity, that of an enemy," Main Universe's Joker seemed to remember just then and asked, "Are you two enemies?"
"Didn't I already say we are friends?"
"From the very beginning?"
"There was a period of confrontation, but don't you have that with your friends? Or are you saying you don't have friends at all?"
Main Universe's Joker was choked by this, then he realized, this guy must definitely be that special Batman's Joker, because he always saw the same choked look on Main Universe Batman's face.
"Oh, I also forgot," Jack suddenly fumbled in his jacket pocket, then said, "We indeed have a special relationship."
He took out a piece of paper, waved it in front of Main Universe's Joker and said, "I am his creditor, this is his IOU to me, for a whole 100 dollars."
Main Universe's Joker snatched the IOU but immediately burst into laughter, he said, "You really are good at dreaming! This IOU is signed by Bruce Wayne, but who couldn't sign that name? You must have written it yourself while sleepwalking!"
"You even dream of being Batman's creditor." Phoenix Joker walked over and patted Jack on the shoulder, saying, "I must say, that's a great dream, but even more absurd than the one you described earlier."
Jack glanced at him, and at that moment, the Main Universe's Joker tore the IOU into shreds, opened his mouth wide to show his teeth, turned around, and roared at the others, "Now you all have to listen to me! Otherwise, I'll kill you all!"
Jack just silently opened the communication system.
The Primary Universe Batman watched as Bruce and Night Owl exchanged glances and quietly turned his head away. He didn't know whether he sighed, but Batwoman gave him a somewhat odd look.
To change the subject, the Primary Universe Batman had no choice but to ask, "How are things going with Clark?"
"What Clark? Oh, you mean that big dummy? Not so great," Batwoman said. "He's kind of annoying."
"You must have noticed that he's trying to pursue you."
"Hmph," Batwoman chuckled coldly, looked at the Primary Universe Batman, and said, "If what he's doing can be called pursuing, then what you two are doing is outright a passionate affair."
The Primary Universe Batman was actually at a loss for words.
Batwoman rolled her eyes slightly and said, "I'm not going to attempt to revive Silvius, because I know there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world, and I'm not determined to be infatuated with a dead man, but Clark has no chance."
"Why?"
"Then why haven't you married Superman?"
The Primary Universe Batman opened his mouth, realizing that he had gotten tangled in Batwoman's logic. He found this topic also not very suitable, so he decided to switch it again.
However, at that moment, Bruce let out a scream.
All the nearby Batmen turned their heads to look at him. They seemed to have gotten used to this guy's overreactions, so after a glance, they turned back to their own business,
Right now, most of the Batmen had been dispatched to scout ahead—a decision made by the Primary Universe Batman—because even if you want to build a house, you have to pick a good spot. The cave they were currently in wasn't ideal, because it had no water source and its structure was poor. It was better to find a more spacious place.
So, apart from the squad that went to rescue the most distressed Batman who went to prepare for battle, the other Batmen were on their way to map the area, leaving few behind, including several Batmen who were in more stable mental states.
But after a while, a blue figure appeared in the cave. Molecule Man Owen, the mascot of the market interface, suddenly showed up in the cave. He looked at Bruce and said, "Why did you call me? The system isn't messing up again, is it?"
Before Bruce could answer, Owen started to grumble, "I said we should test it a few more times, and you were all eager to launch. If something goes wrong with the system again, we'll have to compensate, and that stingy boss will be…"
Before he could finish, Bruce interrupted him, saying, "The system isn't the problem. I need you to run an errand for me, to deliver something."
Owen almost jumped in surprise and began to curse loudly, "You called me here just to have me deliver something for you?! Do you have any idea how busy I am right now? I…"
"The system is fine now, but if you don't help me with this delivery, it might not be," Bruce said ominously.
Owen immediately shut up, pursed his lips, and reluctantly extended his hand, saying, "I'll only make one trip for you. Where's the stuff?"
Bruce casually handed over a piece of paper. Owen didn't even look at it and disappeared. The Primary Universe Batman wondered what he was up to, and Batwoman decided to go directly and ask, but she ran into Night Owl blockading her way, and eventually, she had to give up.
Looking at Bruce's sinister gaze, the Primary Universe Batman knew that someone was probably in big trouble.
A blue teleportation portal opened in the treetops, and with a bang, Owen dropped in front of a group of Jokers.
He screamed in fright, then sighed deeply, extended his hand, handed the piece of paper to Jack, and said, "Bruce asked me to give this to you, so don't come looking for me again."
After that, he disappeared with a whoosh. Jack took the paper, folded it neatly, and put it in his pocket.
Then he was stared down by countless gazes.
"Hand it over." The Main Universe's Joker's eyes nearly started glowing green as he ground his teeth and said, "What did he give you?! Hand it over!!!"
Jack seemingly nonchalantly pulled the piece of paper out of his pocket again, slowly stood up, as if he was finally waking up, and held the paper high.
All Joker's gazes were fixed on that thin piece of paper.
Jack seemed to have finally woken up, regained the Joker's energy, raised his hands high, and shouted, "That's right, this is the IOU written to me by Batman—"
"Now, who's the boss?!"
Birds flew startled, and only a high and mad laughter echoed through the valley.
"It's Jack... it's Jack!!!"
"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"