“I’m merely a butler of the Wayne family. Even though Master Thomas and Young Master Bruce treat me well, my personal savings would hardly qualify me to book out a high-end Wayne family restaurant, would they?”

  Reid’s expnation was reasonable, and Earle had no choice but to accept it. Indeed, without leveraging the Wayne family’s work, Alfred wouldn’t have the financial means to book su high-eaurant, especially on Christmas Eve.

  Oher hand, if Alfred had been willing to use the Wayne family’s es, Earle’s pn to acquire shares in the family business would likely have succeeded long ago, and they wouldn’t still be iating today.

  “In that case, let’s get straight to the point.” Earle said bluntly, “With all due respect, I have no i in dining in such a noisy pce.”

  His words were direct, and he didn’t even bother to g the exquisite dishes on the table.

  In trast, Reid was thhly enjoying himself. If not for Alfred’s instincts as a professional butler keeping his appetite in check, Reid might have beeed to pick up the steak with his hands and devour it.

  “Well, that’s truly unfortunate.” Reid said with a smile. “Mr. Earle, you’ll miss out on some incredible fvors. After all, the ary skills of this restaurant’s head chef have been personally praised by both Master Thomas and Young Master Bruce. I doubt the delicacies you’ve tasted could match their level of refi.”

  Reid’s words piqued Earle's curiosity. As much as he tried to suppress it, he couldn’t help but wonder what these dishes tasted like.

  “In that case, I’ll give it a try.” Earle said after a moment’s hesitation. “I hope it doesn’t disappoint me.”

  As it turned out, the moment Earle took his first bite, he couldn’t stop himself. All thoughts of the shares he came to discuss vanished as he indulged in the exquisite fvors. It wasn’t until the table was cleared of new dishes that he finally remembered the true purpose of their meeting.

  “Now that the feast is over, Alfred, we get to the main topic? I trust you didn’t invite me here just to toy with me." Earle said, his tone slightly sharp but ced with curiosity.

  “Of course, I would oy with you, Mr. Earle." Reid replied calmly.

  With that, he reached into the briefcase beside him and took out a dot. It was none other than the official proof of the Wayne family’s shares.

  “As you’ve mentioned before.” Reid began, “I ot stand idly by as Wayerprises gradually dees. If going public truly promises t substantial bes to the Wayne family, I am willing to assist. However, I will need you, Mr. Earle, to provide a detailed expnation of Wayerprises's future development pns. Only then I pce my trust in you arust the Wayne family’s shares to your ma.”

  Earle houghtfully. If Alfred had agreed too readily, it might have raised suspis. But now, Alfred’s insisten a thh expnation reassured him. This was the Alfred he remembered—devoted to the Wayne family, determio fight for their best is, even when forced to make promises with reality.

  “I’ve already prepared a detailed development pn for the future.” Earle said fidently. “I’ll have my secretary bring it ht away. In the meantime, may I take a closer look at this share agreement?”

  "Of course, go ahead, Mr. Earle. As for me, I apologize, but I o make a quibsp;trip to the restroom." Reid said, with Alfred’s usual posed tone.

  Earle, now fully engrossed in examining the Wayne family’s share dots, barely aowledged Alfred’s departure. He waved dismissively, signaling Alfred to do as he pleased, and immediately turned his full attention to the papers in his hands.

  As Alfred—or rather, Reid—stepped through the restroom door, the seemingly tranquil atmosphere ihe restaurant was in stark trast to the chaos unfolding oreets of Gotham City.

  "Woohoo! Hit the gas! Lose those pig cops!"

  Two members of the Jang roared through the streets on motorcycles, their engines screaming as they weaved through traffic. With Reid’s signal earlier, they had arrived in the area, and a police cruiser was hot on their heels, refusing to give up the chase.

  As they sped past the restaurant, the two gang members suddenly pulled out two green bottles and hurled them directly at the building.

  The gss bottles shattered through the restaurant windows, crashing onto the floor and breaking apart on impact.

  Instantly, thick green gas erupted from the shattered bottles, spreading rapidly. It was Joker's signature ughing gas—deadly, potent, and cruelly effit.

  In a matter of seds, the entire restaurant was engulfed ioxic mist. No one even had time to scream. Instead, untrolble, maniacal ughter echoed throughout the restaurant as the gas took hold, turning the festive evening into a grotesque nightmare.

  “Hahaha! It’s... hahaha... the Jang! Hahaha! Help me!”

  The chaos erupted so suddenly that no one had time to reao one had expected the Jang to un atta this particur restaurant. Earle could only stand frozen, watg in horror as the toxic ughing gas crept closer, threatening to enter his lungs.

  But at the st moment, the man who would one day bee the Riddler snapped into a. With sharp instincts, he quickly pulled out a handkerchief, pressing it firmly over his own mouth and nose before c Earle’s as well, preventing them from inhaling the gas.

  “Why? Why is the Jang attag here?” Earle stammered, his voice full of fear.

  He knew of the Jang’s infamy all too well. Under normal circumstances, he would never have risked venturing out at night, especially during these turbulent times. The gang’s relentless expansion had plunged Gotham’s nights into chaos, turning the city into a near-living hell. The only reason he risked it tonight was because of the tempting Wayne family shares.

  For a brief moment, Earle wondered if this was Alfred’s doing. Could this attack be Alfred’s doing? Could the butler have orchestrated this mado eliminate him? But he quickly dismissed the thought.

  Alfred wasn’t the type to stoop to subsp;methods. Even if he were willing to hire someoo kill, he would never involve the Jang. That would be madness. After all, hiring the Joker to kill was akin to inviting a hurrie into your home. If the Joker decided to “have some fun” he’d likely kill the t along with everyone else.

  But there was no time to think about it. Earle had to get out of there.

  He clutched the share dots tightly and started moving toward the exit. His survival was the only thing that mattered now.

  As for Alfred? Earle gnced back briefly but then dismissed the thought. Pces attacked by the Jang rarely left survivors. If Alfred didn’t make it, that would only make things easier. Earle would have full trol of Wayerprises.

  “Maybe this works out perfectly.” he muttered as he hurried out.

  Just as he started to act, amidst the ughing gas, a tall, thin figure appeared in front of them.

  Reid, now fully transformed into Joker, looked at Earle, who was trying to escape, and said:

  "Hey there, audience members, you're not cooperating very well. How about this? You hahat handkerchief, and I'll tell you a joke. What do you think?"

  Naturally, such a request was impossible to agree to. Earle and Edward shook their heads furiously, as they simultaneously took a few steps back. But Reid wasn't pnning to let them off so easily. He quickly closed the distanbsp;between them, pulling various ons from his clothes—small knives, pliers, wrenches, guns, grenades, and more.

  Muttering to himself, "No, no, that's too cruel. I o be gentler." the words only further terrified the two men, leaving them in a state of panic.

  In the end, the Joker pulled out a small bottle filled with ughing gas, extending his hand toward them.

  "Don't worry, it’ll be over soon." he said, ready to take the handkerchief from their hands and let them experiehe effects of the ughing gas firsthand.

  But just then, someone else suddenly rushed out of the gas-filled area. With a single kick to Reid’s head, the figure sent him flying. The ughing gas bottle slipped from his grip and crashed to the ground, shattering into pieces.

  "Get out of here, quickly!"

  The person who had interveood in front of Reid and shouted toward Earle and Edward.

  The two men had no objes. They immediately rushed out of the restaurant, sprinting toward their car.

  Meanwhile, Reid slowly began to get up, his eyes widening slightly.

  Having studied the Gotham City database and paying special attention to some well-known characters from the ics, he reized the woman in the evening gown standing before him.

  Sarah Essen Gordon, also Gordon's sed wife.

  At this moment, Reid recalled something.

  In the ics, Gordon's sed wife, Sarah, had been killed by the Joker while attempting to rescue babies kidnapped by the . Now, in a simir situation, Reid, who ying the Joker's role, found himself in flict with Gordon's wife once again.

  'Well... this really is a ce.' he thought to himself.

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