From Gotham to Night City, my infamy is known to all.

The car's style perfectly matches his taste; if it wasn't custom-made for him, then another possibility arises—

Could it be that the world Leo lives in is more than sixty years in the future?

Is this the Batmobile left behind by my parallel universe self?

After a thorough examination, he dismissed the guess.

The reason is simple: apart from looking good, this car is very weak in functionality.

Although it uses a lot of impressive-sounding high-tech features, its most important bulletproof and explosion-proof functions are very poor, about the same level as his current Batmobile.

Considering the 60-year technological gap, he didn't think he would have been able to build such a flashy but impractical luxury car back then.

When Leo saw him stop, he used the electronic controller to open the car door.

After Batman sat in the passenger seat, he became very interested in the fully enclosed interior layout.

When faced with the wealthy man's questions, Leo's attitude was completely different. He opened the information he had prepared in advance and introduced the various functions of the car while driving.

The most intuitive and eye-catching feature is the "Crystal Ball Panoramic Imaging" system. With this technology, the external environment is displayed in real time inside the vehicle, which not only fully protects the driver's privacy but also provides passengers with a spectacular travel experience.

"...Of course, more bulletproof steel plates can be added to the outside to further enhance the defensive performance."

Leo knew what Batman cared about most, so he made all the features geared towards combat performance.

To demonstrate the vehicle's superior performance, he started the Krenzikov and drove recklessly through the streets of Gotham, ignoring traffic laws and traffic lights.

Ultimately, he gave the final parameter: 1660 horsepower, 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 1.5 seconds, and a top speed of 598.8 km/h.

It is comparable to a superconducting maglev train.

"If you want to fly a jet plane on flat ground, this car is the one for you! Its built-in navigation system can relieve some of the operational burden, completely freeing your hands at speeds up to 120 kilometers per hour!"

Rising to Fame: Chapter 233 The Establishment of the Botanical Research Institute, the Second Step Towards Success!

From the moment Leo took the car out, Batman saw right through his plan.

They simply want to resell high-tech equipment and make a fortune.

His attitude towards this is—to wholeheartedly agree.

There's no better deal than being able to buy future technology with money!

On the way back, Batman quietly observed him driving the vehicle, trying to gather as much information as possible.

After Leo finished reciting all the parameters of the Sword in the Stone, the outline of Wayne Tower appeared in the distance.

Instead of stopping immediately, he switched to autopilot mode at 40 kilometers per hour, intending to finish discussing business matters first.

"These are the specifications of this car. I'll trade you the latest Batmobile and a complete set of design blueprints. Isn't that a great deal?"

Batman could accept the price, but he was puzzled: "Your technology is more advanced, what do you need the Batmobile blueprints for?"

“In Night City, individuality and fame are sometimes more important than practicality. I plan to set up a production line specifically to produce these vehicles that can switch freely between armored vehicles and motorcycles, as part of our company's public image.”

Batman imagined the streets filled with Batmobiles and felt something was off.

But from a business perspective, this deal is still profitable. By fully understanding the technology contained in this vehicle, his vehicle can undergo a revolutionary upgrade.

“Fine.”

There was no haggling; the transaction was completed simply and easily.

Just as Leo was about to habitually offer a few words of flattery to the client, he heard him continue, "Are your drones and smart guns for sale?"

Before he finished speaking, Leo felt a chill run down his spine. Batman had indeed set his sights on those two items; his eye for talent was truly sharp.

If he were to actually acquire drones and smart weapons, his combat capabilities would increase exponentially, allowing him to easily crush the members of the Batman fan club in the future.

For Leo, this is a question that requires careful consideration.

Just as a national bank uses financial means to control inflation, he also uses technological blockade to control the expansion of Batman's fighting power.

He was already a "Civil War god," with more ways to sabotage his teammates than his enemies. Don't create a super Batman and end up getting himself killed...

Leo's thoughtful expression is actually a plea for help from an external brain.

[Pure White, I think we can sell him the drones. They carry kinetic weapons, and at most, he can steal some magnetic levitation technology and tactical AI systems. Remember to remove your updated AI system and revert to the civilian version you just bought. Forget about the smart weapons; just offer him a rosy picture and have him trade it for Alcohol-2 crops.]

[Yes, making him stronger would help maintain order in Gotham City, but don't overdo it, lest we lose control later.]

After the two reached an agreement, Leo stated the terms of the exchange:

"I can sell you a drone in exchange for a bat-wing suit and the blueprints. Smart weapons are out of the question for now. You should be able to tell that I'm using custom-made firearms; no one else can use them."

Furthermore, our smart firearms require the use of prosthetic bodies. I need to acquire Alcohol-2 crops and establish my own company before I can attempt to obtain detailed information on prosthetic body technology.

Batman thought for a moment and then objected: "The cost of the Batwing is sixty million dollars, plus the blueprints, and replacing it would require two drones."

Leo quickly calculated: the two drones cost a total of 80,000, which could be exchanged for 60 million worth of bat wings and blueprints. Considering that he would need to launch "his own products" when he started the company in the future, this price was acceptable.

“Fine!”

He delivered his lines before Batman could.

In this way, the second transaction was also successfully completed.

The goods we brought this time have basically sold out, leaving only one topic.

"I remember you owe me a favor."

Upon hearing this, Batman looked over.

Leo continued, “I’m a pragmatist, I tend to prioritize efficiency, so I’ll be blunt—now that the Joker is back in Arkham Asylum, the money laundering case will soon be closed thanks to Gordon and Harvey’s efforts. I need you, now, immediately, right now, to get my… oh, I mean our plant research institute moving, to get Poison Ivy up and running as quickly as possible.”

He took out his phone and glanced at the time: "Considering that it's already past 8 p.m., I think starting tomorrow morning is an acceptable solution."

Batman stared at him silently, as if trying to see into his soul.

After a long pause, he nodded slightly: "Okay, I'll clear out a research institute under the Wayne Group tomorrow, recruit suitable researchers, and set up defensive measures. Since you think you can persuade Poison Ivy, then go ahead and give it a try. But I must state in advance that she is being held in Arkham Asylum, so it would be best if you had Alfred accompany you there."

“Okay, I’d also like to visit Arkham Asylum, a famous landmark in Gotham City and home to many talented people.”

Leo recalled the names of numerous infamous supervillains and suddenly realized that there might be other "business opportunities" there.

Batman used his connections to get Poison Ivy to get to work quickly.

In Leo's view, as long as they can get the alcohol-2 crop as soon as possible, it's all worth it.

Having completed all his schedule for the day, he took back control of the vehicle and drove Batman back to Wayne Tower.

The two parted ways on the 43rd floor, and Leo stepped out of the elevator.

As for Batman... haha, he's about to see Rachel's breakup letter, poor guy.

Leo returned to his room with a smug look on his face, only to find that Batman had looted all the medicine from his bedside table.

In return, he left behind more small devices to test the limits of Leo's detection capabilities...

After spending some time removing all of Batman's "gifts," Leo lay in bed and let his friends know he was safe.

Leo: I've got this all sorted out, everything went smoothly!

The message had barely been sent when V replied.

V: That's good. You don't have many combat prosthetics installed right now, so try not to participate in combat.

Leo: This is a special case. I only acted when I was absolutely certain of success!

After the two exchanged a few words, the other members of the team also became more lively.

Jack shared some amusing stories he'd heard from the Life Bar to liven up the atmosphere.

Vera brought good news about the completion of the weapons workshop.

Sasha then launched a barrage of "I admire you so much" at Leo, leaving him completely bewildered.

The crowd stayed until after nine o'clock before leaving one by one.

Leo learned from his friends that they were going to see Old Wei tomorrow to upgrade and add prosthetic bodies, further enhancing their combat power.

After carefully instructing them, Leo felt a sense of urgency—his friends were all getting stronger, but he was standing still, how could that be!

If he had V's fighting prowess, he wouldn't always have to hide indoors and be afraid to go out.

[Pure White, let's plan this out. After we finish up at the research institute, we'll take the opportunity to go to Detroit to scout locations. If we get a chance, we should steal the first Mother Box as soon as possible. With that artifact, we can figure out a way to become the new Cyborg!]

[No problem. Our relationship with Batman has improved now, so we can find an excuse to go on vacation and sneak over there for a look. Currently, I haven't seen any information about superheroes in Detroit online.]

Rising to Fame: Chapter 234 Heading to Gotham City's "Talent Wholesale Center"

After discussing the action plan for the next few days, Leo took out the neural connection device and asked Chunbai to transmit the key points of the knowledge from the class to him.

Neither DC nor 2077 is a safe haven; he must improve himself in every way and be prepared to face all challenges.

He remained immersed in the ocean of knowledge until the clock struck midnight.

*

Sunday, August 19th.

Leo had breakfast with a tycoon after a long absence.

It's clear that he was in a pretty good mood after putting the Joker back in Arkham; his brow had relaxed.

During the meal, he inquired about the situation in Night City and expressed pessimism about the city's security.

“Even in Gotham, gangsters are not so rampant as to block roads and cause damage or openly exchange fire with the police, not to mention that your cybernetic technology is so advanced that any criminal can cause a lot of damage.”

Leo knew he must have read "Dead Man's Lottery" to have this feeling.

"Who can argue with that? We've already entered the cyberpunk era over there—high technology, low living standards. Apart from the lucky few who can find jobs in companies, all ordinary people can be considered bottom-tier, barely surviving under the oppression of large corporations."

That's why I wanted to use my unique 'talent' to do something, both to make money and to try and change the damned state of society.

Bruce sipped his coffee elegantly, his tone surprisingly calm: "That will be difficult. I've done some research on your social structure based on limited information. I've discovered that the government is merely an appendage of corporations, and the so-called nation has long been controlled by multinational corporations, becoming a puppet. If you want to achieve anything, you'll inevitably have to confront them head-on, and the chances of winning... are almost nonexistent."

Leo nodded, but disagreed: "That's true for ordinary people. Even as the 'crown prince' of a large company, the first in line to inherit the throne, it's incredibly difficult to overthrow the entire social system. But I'm different. I can take shortcuts and use the 'power' of this world as leverage to influence the global situation."

Take Alcohol-2 wheat, for example. Other major companies have been researching it for many years, investing massive amounts of manpower and resources, but have been unable to make effective progress. I, however, can try to use 'magic' to bypass the technological blockade, which gives me an opportunity to shake the entire world with minimal effort.

"..."

There was a brief silence at the table.

Bruce readjusted his threat level based on his response and demeanor.

As he predicted, the time traveler would be a huge problem—his own growth and the increase in external resources were too rapid, and he might suddenly get out of control one day and become a "snowball" that could crush the entire world.

However… he couldn’t punish the other person for a mistake they hadn’t yet made, so he could only advise them: “The world is far heavier than you imagine, and a slight misstep can ruthlessly crush everything you cherish. I advise you to have backup plans before you act, so as not to be caught off guard by unexpected situations.”

"I know."

Leo thanked him for his kindness, but his desire for the Mother Box grew even stronger.

The power returns to himself; he single-handedly conquers the world—this is his best contingency plan!

After breakfast, Leo and Alfred prepared to go to Arkham Asylum to hire his chief researcher.

Before setting off, he decided to reveal some information to Batman to prevent their grand plan from going awry: "Bruce, do you remember the 'nursery rhyme' I mentioned last time?"

“An owl?” Bruce frowned slightly. “I did some investigation while I was recovering, but I only found some vague clues.”

"Think of Gordon."

"...Gordon?"

"Gordon is an unlucky police chief because the police department is full of subordinates with different ideas, which means he can only 'fight alone'."

Bruce, being a very intelligent man, understood Leo's implication in an instant—the Court of Owls was hidden within Wayne Enterprises and might even have considerable voting power on the board of directors.

This was in line with his judgment; the resistance, whether overt or covert, indeed came from within the group.

Seeing that he understood, Leo gave him one last piece of information:

"Bruce, do you like horror movies? What if there was a group of terrifying enemies—no, a group of enemies—who had undergone unimaginable human augmentations, were all highly skilled in martial arts, well-trained, and immortal, possessing superhuman strength, enhanced senses, and rapid healing abilities? How would you deal with such enemies?"

As he walked and talked, Leo was already standing next to the elevator when he finished speaking.

Afu hesitated for a moment before quickly catching up.

The two had been gone for quite a while before Bruce blinked, his unfocused eyes snapping open.

Highly skilled in martial arts, well-trained, and tightly organized... the more I hear it, the more it sounds like "League of Shadows".