"Pfft, hahaha!"
The moment Victor finished speaking, Axel, who had been listening outside the door, burst out laughing.
He pushed the door open without hesitation, still laughing loudly.
The reason he rushed in so quickly was simple. He wanted to see Bruce's expression at that exact moment.
Bruce's lips trembled slightly. Clearly irritated, he looked at Axel.
"You finally decided to come back, Wraith."
Axel grinned.
"Oh, my dear Batman, you actually swore. That is truly rare, haha. I'm definitely going to remember the look on your face today. I absolutely love it."
With that, Axel stepped forward and gave Bruce a large, exaggerated hug before casually taking his seat at the head of the table.
Victor snorted at Bruce before stepping closer to Axel.
"Boss," he said quietly. "The Bat and the Owls have been arguing. I tried to mediate, but it doesn't seem like it's working."
"No big deal," Axel said with a wave of his hand, cutting him off.
He turned toward Bruce.
"Batman, the Diamond District is yours. If you have ideas, or if you have the ability to take business from Wayne Enterprises, then do it."
Axel leaned back slightly.
"If you succeed, and your methods make you and your men rich, then there will be no need to advertise it here. Others will follow your example naturally."
After saying that, Axel pointed toward Oswald.
"Oswald, if we could take over the Lego, avocado, and game cartridge businesses, would you be willing to trade away your flour business?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Oswald replied immediately with a nervous laugh.
"The flour business makes quick money, but it's short sighted."
He leaned back in his chair.
"Everyone in our line of work knows that for every ten percent expansion of the flour trade, every other business shrinks by half a percent."
He shook his head.
"If we were not so desperate for cash lately, I wouldn't even touch that business myself."
Oswald sighed.
"We could easily let small gangs handle the distribution and simply collect protection money from them. That alone would still make us plenty."
His tone grew more serious.
"But the problem is money. The nuclear incident nearly drained all our liquid funds. The flour trade still brings in about twenty million Dollars in profit every month."
He paused before continuing.
"Of course, that number is nothing compared to the avocado market."
Oswald turned toward Bruce.
"If Batman can help me secure that market, I will immediately dismantle the flour business and distribute it among smaller gangs."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"After that, Batman can target whoever he wants. We won't interfere with each other's operations."
Oswald shot Bruce a clearly irritated look.
Bruce closed his eyes and exhaled in frustration.
At that moment, Axel suddenly clapped his hands together.
"Perfect," he said cheerfully. "Everyone wins."
He pointed between Victor and Oswald.
"You two should show some respect to Batman. I brought him into the Dead Souls Gang for one reason."
Axel grinned.
"To deal with Wayne Enterprises."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Believe me, if he truly wants to, he can absolutely carve a piece out of Wayne Enterprises' business."
His tone turned playful.
"So if you want to make more money and support more men, you should treat our little money maker properly."
"What?"
Oswald froze in shock.
After a few seconds, he turned toward Bruce with disbelief.
"Are you Thomas Wayne's illegitimate son?"
He tilted his head.
"Or maybe Bruce Wayne's secret son who somehow grew up this fast?"
"Shut up unless you want a beating!"
Before Oswald could continue, Bruce exploded with anger.
In an instant, he rushed forward, grabbed Oswald by the collar, and slammed him against the wall.
Even then, Oswald merely chuckled.
He casually brushed imaginary dust from Bruce's shoulder.
"That was impressive strength," he said lightly. "Boss Bat really is powerful."
He smiled slyly.
"You definitely need to take me along when you make us rich."
Bruce froze.
His anger suddenly had nowhere to go.
Only a few days had passed, yet Gotham's criminal world already felt completely different from the one he remembered.
Just what kind of influence did Axel have?
Frustrated, Bruce released Oswald and stepped back.
He glared sharply at Axel before speaking again.
"Before I deal with Wayne Enterprises, there is something else I must handle."
Victor raised an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
"Arkham Asylum," Bruce said firmly.
"It shelters far too many criminals, and the corrupt psychologists hiding inside must be sent to prison."
Victor frowned.
"Without Arkham's cooperation, our arrested men will only end up in Blackgate Penitentiary."
"That's fine," Axel said calmly.
He looked at Victor.
"Send people to improve the conditions at Blackgate. Also find time to speak with the warden."
Then Axel slapped the table lightly.
"Our main goal is simple."
He smiled.
"We devour Gotham's most prosperous tree, Wayne Enterprises."
His voice grew colder.
"Everything else comes second. Understood?"
Oswald immediately nodded.
"As you wish, Boss."
Victor nodded as well.
"I understand. As long as our Bat friend doesn't create too much trouble, I'll help clean up whatever mess he leaves behind."
He glanced at Bruce with clear annoyance.
Bruce returned the glare without hesitation.
Axel watched the three of them for a moment before clapping lightly.
"Perfect," he said with a grin.
"Watching you three get along so well truly warms my heart."
He tried to hold back his laughter but failed.
"I'm professionally trained, normally I wouldn't laugh."
He burst out laughing again.
"But today is different. This is just too ridiculous."
Still laughing, Axel walked out of the office.
Bruce watched him leave with a heavy snort before quietly following him out.
After the door closed, Oswald shrugged and looked at Victor.
"You see that? The Boss and the Bat clearly have a close relationship. Do you think he might be the Boss's illegitimate son?"
Victor rolled his eyes.
"Don't be ridiculous. The Boss is still young."
He shrugged.
"If anything, the Bat might be his old classmate. Maybe even a distant cousin."
While speaking, Victor rubbed his right shoulder.
The wound there still itched slightly.
He sat down on the nearby sofa and picked up the game controller Axel had left behind earlier.
Just as he started playing comfortably, a burst of fire suddenly flickered in front of him.
Axel reappeared.
"Boss!"
Victor jumped and nearly dropped the controller.
Axel waved casually.
"Relax. Keep playing."
He leaned against the wall.
"Just remember what I'm about to say."
Victor nodded attentively.
Axel thought for a moment.
"Tomorrow morning. Find a reason to gather the key personnel from Gotham City Hall."
He smiled slightly.
"Especially the ones we have leverage over."
Victor's eyes sharpened.
"Of course, Boss. But what are you planning?"
Victor's expression slowly became bloodthirsty.
Axel simply grinned.
"You worked under Carmine for years. You should know about the Court of Owls."
Victor nodded slowly.
Axel's smile widened.
"The most annoying thing about them is how difficult they are to track down."
He shrugged.
"And I have no patience for endless games with hidden enemies."
His eyes turned cold.
"So I will deal with them my way."
Victor waited silently.
Axel looked out the window toward Gotham's heavy clouds.
"If I remove ninety nine percent of Gotham's powerful elites," he said calmly, "then even if the Court of Owls survives, they will not cause trouble for quite some time."
Victor's breathing suddenly quickened.
"I understand, Boss. I will handle it immediately."
His mind was already racing.
"Gotham's Sky Rail recently collapsed. If I announce a business conference in your name to discuss rebuilding it, many of Gotham's elites will attend."
Victor smiled slightly.
"With a project that profitable, at least half of the city's major figures will appear."
Axel nodded.
"Good. I trust you."
He patted Victor's shoulder before disappearing in another flash of fire.
For a moment the room fell silent.
Then Oswald spoke cautiously.
"Victor… is the Boss planning to purge Gotham's political and business elite?"
"Of course," Victor replied with excitement.
"Boss Wraith is far more decisive than Carmine ever was."
He laughed quietly.
"And his power is far greater."
Oswald swallowed nervously before speaking again.
"Then tell me something."
He leaned forward eagerly.
"If Gotham's political system collapses… do you think I could run for mayor?"
Victor stared at him in surprise.
Oswald straightened his collar proudly.
"Maybe the people of Gotham have forgotten," he said firmly. "But I never have."
"My Cobblepot family is one of Gotham's four founding families."
His eyes shone with ambition.
"If I become mayor, I would restore a small piece of my family's lost glory."
He paused.
"And as one of the heirs of the Cobblepot family, I technically qualify to run for mayor anyway."
Victor stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Oswald," he said with amusement.
"Your status as a Cobblepot heir means far less than your status as one of Wraith's subordinates."
He leaned forward with a grin.
"If Boss Wraith wants you to become mayor, then you will become mayor."
Victor tapped the table lightly.
"So instead of asking me, you should go ask the Boss."