Bane tossed the bottle over without a word.
Li Jie caught it with one mechanical tentacle and twisted the cap off with another.
The sewer air was damp and heavy, mixed with rust and the faint stench of blood. Compared to that, the sharp scent of whiskey almost felt refreshing.
"You don't look surprised to see me," Li Jie said, taking a sip.
Bane leaned against the concrete wall, the dim light outlining his massive frame.
"You are not with the girl," Bane said in a low voice. "If you wanted to fight, you would have attacked already."
Li Jie smiled faintly. "Smart."
The mechanical tentacles retracted slowly into his back with soft metallic clicks.
"I'm not here to fight you," he continued. "At least not today."
Bane's eyes narrowed. "Then why are you here?"
"To talk business."
Bane gave a short, humorless chuckle. "You people always say that before violence begins."
Li Jie shrugged. "Fair enough. But I genuinely prefer conversation."
He took another sip and studied Bane carefully.
The bandages beneath Bane's armor were fresh. His breathing, though controlled, was slightly heavier than normal. Bruce Wayne had clearly done more damage than he admitted.
"You fought Wayne recently," Li Jie said casually.
Bane's gaze sharpened. "Yes."
"And?"
"He is different," Bane replied after a pause. "Stronger. Faster. His injuries heal too quickly."
Li Jie nodded. As expected, the Dionysus Factor was working perfectly.
"You're thinking of relocating," Li Jie said.
Bane did not answer, but the silence was confirmation enough.
"The sewers aren't safe anymore. Wayne can find you. So can others."
Li Jie swirled the whiskey in the bottle.
"And if you stay injured like this, the next fight may not go your way."
Bane's grip tightened slightly around his own bottle.
"You came here to threaten me?"
"No," Li Jie replied calmly. "I came to offer you an opportunity."
Bane waited.
"There's a much bigger problem than Wayne," Li Jie said. "A problem that threatens everyone—including you."
Bane's brow furrowed. "Speak clearly."
"Superman."
The name echoed faintly in the sewer tunnel.
Bane's expression did not change, but his attention sharpened.
"I've heard rumors," Bane said slowly. "A god turned monster."
"That's one way to put it."
Li Jie's tone lost its lightness.
"He's no longer a hero. He's a zombie. No control. No mercy. If he decides this city is a target, there won't be anything left for you to rule."
Bane was silent for several seconds.
"You want me to fight him?" he finally asked.
Li Jie laughed softly. "I'm not suicidal. Not even I would suggest a head-on fight."
"Then what?"
"We're preparing something," Li Jie said. "A way to take him down."
Bane's eyes flickered with interest.
"And you need manpower."
"I need someone who understands strategy," Li Jie corrected. "Someone who knows how to fight enemies stronger than himself."
Bane stared at him.
"You want my mind, not my fists."
"Exactly."
The sewer fell quiet again, broken only by distant dripping water.
"You attacked the transport convoy," Li Jie added. "Supplies. Weapons. Ammunition."
Bane did not deny it.
"Work with us," Li Jie continued, "and those supplies become part of a larger operation. You'll have protection. Information. And when this is over…"
He let the sentence hang.
"When this is over?" Bane pressed.
Li Jie took a final sip and lowered the bottle.
"When this is over, the balance of power will shift. Wayne will be busy. The city will be rebuilding."
"And you," Bane said, "will be collecting your reward."
Li Jie smiled.
"Of course."
Bane studied him carefully, weighing every word.
"You are not afraid of me," Bane observed.
Li Jie shrugged. "If I were afraid, I wouldn't have come alone."
A faint smirk touched Bane's lips.
"You are either brave or foolish."
"Both, depending on the day."
Silence stretched between them once more.
Finally, Bane spoke.
"I will not kneel to Wayne."
"I wouldn't ask you to."
"I will not take orders."
"You'll be consulted," Li Jie replied smoothly. "Not commanded."
Bane considered this.
"And if I refuse?"
Li Jie's expression remained calm.
"Then eventually Wayne heals completely. He hunts you again. And next time, he won't stop halfway."
The words were simple, but they carried weight.
Bane knew it.
After a long pause, Bane extended his bottle slightly toward Li Jie.
"This is not an alliance," he said. "It is a temporary alignment of interests."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
The two bottles clinked lightly.
In that damp sewer, beneath a broken city, a fragile cooperation was formed.
—
When Li Jie drove back toward the manor, the coffee Gordon had given him was already cold.
He didn't mind.
His thoughts were elsewhere.
Superman.
The gaseous antitoxin was promising—but that was only part of the equation. Delivering it successfully would require precision. Distraction. Containment.
And backup plans.
Bane's tactical mind would be useful.
Wayne's kryptonite arsenal would be essential.
Alfred's gas would be the key.
Everything was falling into place.
As he approached the gates, Li Jie muttered to himself:
"Step one: kill the strongest being on Earth."
"Step two: bring him back."
He couldn't help but grin.
Simple.
At least, on paper.
In reality?
It would be the most dangerous operation any of them had ever attempted.
And if they failed—
There would be no second chance.
....
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