Ada Wong was a mysterious, multifaceted spy from the Resident Evil universe. A legend in the underworld, walking the line between good and evil.
Of course, that was the Ada Wong from the games.
The Ada Wong standing in front of Dante was a federal agent with the World Federal Bureau of Investigation.
And frankly, her presence surprised and delighted Dante.
The surprise? That this world also included the Resident Evil universe. Meaning at any moment, a Tyrant or a Nemesis could leap out of a dark alley like a surprise boss fight.
The delight? Compared to the ridiculous, physics-breaking realities of the Marvel and DC worlds, the Resident Evil universe was basically a tutorial map.
After all, in Raccoon City rules: bullets fix problems.
Need more power? Use more bullets.
"Agent Wong, I've admired your work for a long time."
"Compared to the youngest ace of the General Bureau, I am a bit old," Ada said with a tone that carried just the faintest trace of resentment.
"I was joking!" Dante said quickly, grabbing her extended hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ada."
"Likewise, Agent Dante." Ada gave him a perfectly polite smile—just the right balance of grace and restraint. "Let's head to Gotham City first. I've already submitted the mission report to HQ."
"It's that urgent?"
"Well, we are going to Gotham," Ada said coolly. "Nobody wants to arrive there after sundown. Especially not when we're headed to Arkham Asylum."
Dante scratched his head. Fair enough—she had a point.
More importantly, picking up a patient from Arkham was basically a guaranteed way to run into Bruce Wayne.
Whether as the flamboyant billionaire by day or the pointy-eared trauma ninja by night.
Dante sat back in the lounge of the aircraft, flipping through the documents Ada had prepped in advance.
The stack was massive—like a small hill—and filled with dossiers on various unstable personalities.
Harley Quinn's file was at the top of the pile.
But unlike the generic medical summary Fury had handed him earlier, this was the full biography: everything from her birth time (accurate to the second) to disturbingly detailed trivia like "which finger she uses most to pick her nose."
It really showed off the investigative power of the world's biggest law enforcement organization.
As for the promised "detailed formation process and plan"?
One page.
Not even filled out.
Talk about disappointing.
Fury's urgency was practically dripping off the paper.
What did he mean by "future recruits are up to your discretion"?
And "doesn't matter if they're human or not—just as long as they vaguely resemble a human being"?
Had he been conned?
Was Fury just using the excuse of "build a team" to offload superhero recruiting onto him?
"This aircraft was in full use until the '90s," Ada said as she returned from setting the autopilot. "Once the Helicarrier became operational, this became more of a symbolic craft. Still, it performs well and can handle a heavy load."
She sat next to Dante on the couch. "Looks like you already read the plan Fury left behind."
"Oh, I read it. And I immediately felt like I'd just been hit with a scam call. Can I just arrest him? If Fury joined a telecom fraud ring, he'd rise straight to the top."
Ada chuckled. "That does sound like him. But a vague plan also means more autonomy."
"I get that. If we're seriously recruiting someone from a mental institution, we better have autonomy."
He leaned back. "Still, what really puzzles me isn't the plan. It's why Fury specifically picked Harley Quinn as the first member."
"Technically, I'm the first member," Ada said, biting her bright red lip just enough to make it shimmer. "As for Harley Quinn? The reason's simple: she's one of us."
"One of us?" Dante's interest spiked.
A Gotham City psych ward shrink turned Joker groupie—referred to as "one of us" by a legit WFBI elite?
"To be specific, she almost became one of us. She was enrolled in the Bureau's talent reserve program before she even graduated. She had probationary Agent status."
Ada opened Harley's file with casual familiarity, her fingers brushing lightly against Dante's hand as she flipped the pages.
"She was fast-tracked for high-risk placement. That's how she ended up at Arkham right after graduation."
"I covered all this in the documents. You didn't just skim the intro and the end, did you?"
"…Nonsense! Like I have time to read all of that!"
Still, the idea that Harley Quinn had once been a WFBI probationary agent was absurd.
Even if she never became a full Agent, she would've completed the same training. And with her psych background, it made sense that she'd be placed in Arkham.
But she still fell for the Joker.
Which wasn't a mark against her intelligence.
If anything, it was because she was smart that she was vulnerable to the Joker's uniquely twisted mental influence.
His insanity operated outside the boundaries of known science—almost like psychic contamination. The more intelligent you were, the more you were at risk.
Clearly, Harley Quinn had been very intelligent.
"By the way, has the Bureau already coordinated with Arkham about transferring her?"
After all, Arkham Asylum wasn't a public institution. It was a private prison.
Yes, prison. Functionally, its security was second only to extradimensional prisons like the Phantom Zone—and more secure than Belle Reve, where the Suicide Squad was locked up.
While Amadeus Arkham had founded it, the primary financier today was Bruce Wayne.
"It's all been arranged," Ada said just as the ship's AI projected an incoming video call on the big screen.
"Oh, perfect timing."
"Perfect for what?"
Dante looked up and immediately saw the caller ID.
Bruce Wayne.
"Tsk… Accept the call."
"On it."
Ada tapped the 3D interface, and a deep, velvety voice filled the lounge.
"Hello, Agent Dante Alighieri."
Dante blinked. "Okay, seriously—how does everyone know my name already? Am I famous or something? Am I accidentally a pop star or an internet influencer?"
"I detect quite a bit of sarcasm there," Bruce replied smoothly, "but I'll take it as a compliment."
He nodded toward Dante through the screen. With his square jaw and noble demeanor, he radiated the kind of righteous aura that made you question how anyone ever bought his playboy act.
"Director Fury and I go way back. Wayne Enterprises is one of the General Bureau's private contractors."
Fantastic. Fury's got connections with this guy too?
What's next? Dinner with Lex Luthor?
Poor Tony. This is starting to feel like full-blown NTR.
"If you're such close friends with Fury, then you already know who Harley Quinn is," Dante said, leaning on the armrest, chin propped casually on one hand. "But isn't your interest in her a little… personal?"
"Doctor Harleen Quinzel was once a friend of mine. People like me don't have many real friends—especially not women."
"Then rest assured, this operation will only help her. No harm. You have my word—Agent Dante keeps his promises."
"Then I'll take your word for it," Bruce nodded. "But this particular billionaire has a date tonight, so I won't be able to personally see her off. Make yourselves at home."
"Life's full of regrets, isn't it? Just like how Batman doesn't always catch his prey."
At that, Bruce's expression remained neutral, but his eyes shifted—three parts alert, three parts curious, four parts suspicious.
Dante pretended not to notice the emotion pie chart flashing in the eyes of Gotham's most emotionally repressed billionaire and ended the call with a smirk.
"Well, guess we're not seeing that billionaire tonight."
"True," Ada said with a chuckle. "But that just means we won't be seeing Bruce Wayne."
Because the playboy was busy.
But the Batman?
Sure didn't look like he had a date.
(To be continued.)