Starting from scratch, Batman crushed my dream of getting rich

Chapter 199 The Riddler is under attack from both sides
Exquisite and gorgeous candlesticks were lit, fresh and colorful fruit baskets were placed on the table, white gloves used spotless white silk scarves to wipe the sterling silver tableware, soup spoons, meat knives, dining silver forks, and drinking glasses, all looked clean and elegant on the pure white tablecloth, all shining in the light.

"Mr. Wayne, everything is ready."

"Well then, Alfred, please welcome in tonight's guests."

On one side of the long white dining table, a guest had pale skin and was wearing a gorgeous dress that looked quite formal. If it were someone else, it would probably be a special preparation for this banquet hosted by Gotham's richest man, but for this guest, he was just used to dressing like this.

The Penguin, the Ventriloquist, and Mr. Freeze all stood behind him, staring at the four people opposite them vigilantly.

The Riddler was still wearing the open-chested green suit, with a calm smile on his face, in stark contrast to the Joker's world-weary expression with his mouth drooping. Behind him were Crocodile Man, Psycho Biker and Poison Ivy. If a fight really broke out later, he would definitely have the advantage in strength.

It was Two-Face who should have come, but he told the Riddler that he was tired of this kind of upper-class banquet and had long been disgusted with rich people like Bruce Wayne. It would be better to send someone who knew how to save his life and escape, and who could bring him back if he met Batman.

So the Riddler took Ma Zhaodi with him.

Bruce Wayne, dressed in a suit, was sitting in the middle of the dining table, secretly observing the guests on both sides of the long table. Alfred, dressed in a tuxedo, stood behind him with a calm expression.

The first course is an appetizer, a cold dish.

The plate was filled with slices of baguette, presidential butter, and some garnished vegetables. The interweaving of red and green was very beautiful.

However, the Joker didn't even look at the plate, and attacked the Riddler directly without any frame: "You are a piece of shit."

Bruce didn't say anything. He looked at the Riddler, who was slowly spreading butter on his dish and enjoying the appetizer. When he heard what the Joker said, he laughed heartily.

The clown had a gloomy face. He couldn't laugh at this moment and could only look at the Riddler and laugh, which made him even more annoyed.

Ma Zhaodi looked at the butter on the table, curious whether it tasted good.

The second dish is a steaming hot soup.

"Gentlemen, please allow me to interrupt. Although I enjoy the jokes and riddles, we still have a lot of serious business to discuss tonight." Bruce said lightly, holding a spoon: "My city - our city, the city that the Wayne family is willing to die for, Gotham City, is suffering greatly in today's war - just as all of you here are suffering in this war."

"And we gather here today to find a way to end this suffering."

At this time, the third dish was served, which was fish fried until the skin was slightly crispy.

"Edward."

The Joker held a knife and fork and looked at the Riddler across from him: "Have you ever had to chop off a man's head - while he was still alive, I mean?"

"Oh." The Riddler put a piece of golden fish into his mouth and answered with a relaxed expression, "Sometimes, yes."

"Have you ever noticed that a person's last tremor doesn't necessarily mark their last moment of life? After that, after their final struggle, they're still alive, staring at you. And then a while later, I mean, after losing a certain amount of blood, they actually die."

Bruce frowned slightly at this cruel description. He couldn't help but look at the Joker and asked, "Is this a joke?"

"I don't know, is it?"

goo—

The Riddler paused as he was about to speak, and the three of them glanced at the perverted cyclist next to them. The black robe and mask obscured their expressions, but everyone was sure that the voice just now came from this guy.

Noticing that everyone was looking at him, a guilty voice came from beneath his mask. "Sorry, I didn't eat when I got here. You guys continue."

The Riddler sighed.

"Mr. Wayne, the Joker is trying to explain to you that your way of solving problems is ridiculous. According to him, the moment of calm observation after a person stops struggling and before they stop thinking seems to be very meaningful."

"In other words, when faced with the end, people stop fighting and struggling. Whether it's for a certain result, an answer, or a certain goal, it doesn't matter at that moment. In short, he believes that this proves that all answers and results are meaningless, like dreams, like bubbles. In the end, the only thing that is real is the knife and that fatal blow."

The Riddler gave a sarcastic laugh and concluded, "That's a ridiculous view, of course, but he'd probably insist that—that's his view."

After hearing his summary, the clown's face darkened even more. He simply threw the fish knife in his hand away, wanting to immediately prove his point with the Riddler's life.

Of course, it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t die, he just wants to throw it anyway.

The Riddler immediately determined that the flying knife was going to land on his face and calmly stretched out his hand. He was not a purely intellectual criminal who was powerless and could easily catch the knife.

"Be careful, old man!"

Just as he was thinking about how to taunt the clown, a hand clapped out from behind him.

Ding!
puff!
The first sound was the sound of the flying knife being deflected, and the second sound was the sound of the flying knife piercing the shoulder.

"Boss, are you okay?"

The Riddler's expression froze. Now the Joker's knife was stuck in his shoulder, and he could hear his men's concerned greetings in his ears, but he felt attacked from both sides.

What the hell are you filming? If you don't film it, I'll catch it.

Damn, I miscalculated. If a fight really breaks out later, he only has two reliable men under his command, so he may not be the one with the advantage.

At the same time, the crocodile man behind him showed his huge claws and fangs, vines grew around Poison Ivy, and Ma Zhaodi took two steps back and raised his large shield.

Behind the clown opposite, the Penguin raised an umbrella that could fire bullets, Mr. Freeze raised his freezing gun, and the puppet "Scarface" in the ventriloquist's hand raised a pistol.

"I thought this would be a friendly exchange, but in the end it had to be resolved by force!"

"Say your prayers now, bugs!"

Bruce sat quietly in his seat, trying hard to control his expression. He knew that Ma Zhaodi was good at it, but he didn't expect him to be so good at it.

He looked both ways, then said, "Alfred?"

Alfred calmly replied, "I'm here, Master Bruce."

"The fish is beautifully prepared, but it doesn't seem to suit our guests' taste."

"Please stop the bleeding, bandage and apply medicine to Mr. Edward. Mr. Clown, this is my dinner party. I hope you won't do something like this again. It's very rude, very disrespectful."

"Now, let's clean up these things and prepare the next course."

(End of this chapter)