Gotham Night.
The time finally arrived for the Cobblepot Family's private banquet.
Today was a big day for Penguin, also known as Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, as he officially returned to the family and took over as Family Head.
In the current complex situation in Gotham City, even a founding family needed a sufficiently wise person at the helm to protect itself and even profit from the Riptide.
The transfer of power between the old and new Cobblepot Family Heads was a major event, so all prominent figures in Gotham City would send important representatives (usually the current Family Head or heir) to attend.
Red Hood removed his mask and, as Jason Todd, infiltrated the banquet. He anticipated that almost everyone inside would die by his hand, so he didn't bother to change his face, choosing instead to show his true identity.
He was attending the banquet as the adopted son of "Little Thomas Wayne."
In the old Western system, if a family could not produce its own heir, then an adopted son would inherit the family's rights.
And it was well-known that Little Thomas Wayne was unmarried and had no illegitimate children, so it was perfectly reasonable for him to arrive with an adopted son.
"I thought you wouldn't attend such an occasion, Thomas."
Someone who knew Little Thomas came forward to chat, and Dick put on a fake smile to greet him.
After these days of experience, he had mastered the advanced conversational skill of lying through his teeth, and he chatted aimlessly with this person he didn't know, since it wasn't his own face he was using anyway.
Jason, on the other hand, coldly observed everyone in the venue. He was assessing the situation with his own eyes, planning his movements later, identifying the best shooting positions, where to retreat from, how to use the terrain to his advantage, and so on.
"Is this your adopted son? He resembles you greatly." The person chatting with Dick suddenly remarked, "You were just like this when you first came here, cold and unwilling to talk to anyone."
"He's just not mature enough yet," Dick could only explain.
"Yes, we were all immature back then. Do you remember? A major event happened a few years ago, right after one of our gatherings."
Dick didn't know what event it was and was about to make an excuse to gloss over it when he saw the person opposite him say, "Do you remember Elliot? That family that was also one of us."
Dick, disguised as Little Thomas, frowned. He truly didn't know about this matter.
"You forgot?" The person asked in surprise, "Wasn't that person 543 your best friend? I heard he greatly admired your father and even changed his name to Thomas, just like you."
Dick immediately turned his head upon hearing this. Thomas of the Elliot family?
That person mysteriously leaned in and whispered, "I heard he killed the rest of his family and took over all of Elliot's assets. He also gave himself a nickname similar to Owlman."
He uttered a name in a low voice: "Hush!"
"Now, let's welcome the Family Head of the Cobblepot Family!"
The master of ceremonies was the Mayor of Gotham City, who had recently been elected and was a stooge supported by the Cobblepot Family.
Amidst the polite applause from those around, an old, frail man in a wheelchair was pushed onto the stage by a large, fat man with a hooked nose.
The old man was the current Family Head of the Cobblepot Family, and the obsequious, hooked-nosed fat man serving him was Penguin, whom Jason had met a few days ago.
The current Penguin completely lacked the composure he had a few days prior, instead acting like a fawning sycophant behind the old man, resembling a pug that had grown fat as a ball.
But Jason knew the man's true nature; he was a cunning and ruthless man, and everything before them was merely a facade he had put on.
And from the looks of it, his disguise was very successful.
Jason observed that the surrounding Cobblepots all looked at the big fat man with expressions of mockery and disdain. Their facial management was so poor that it made the other family members present feel quite odd.
They all knew that today was not only to celebrate Penguin's return to the Cobblepot Family but also to announce the major event of the old Cobblepot handing over the position of Family Head to Penguin.
They were all witnesses to this matter, but it seemed now that the opinions within the Cobblepot Family regarding the succession of the Family Head were not unified.
The opposition was written all over their faces!
How would Penguin manage the family like this? No one would obey him, right?
But at the same time, they also admired Penguin. Surrounded by such discriminatory gazes, he was still able to remain calm and composed, with a smile on his face.
This man was definitely not simple!
All those present were intelligent people, and Penguin's every move was observed by them. Their evaluation of him was much higher than that of the other Cobblepots who only judged by appearance.
It seemed the Cobblepot Family was indeed in decline.
The old Cobblepot was not only frail but even gave off a feeling of being on his last legs. His voice was hoarse and deep, like the old Godfather played by Marlon Brando.
Penguin eagerly bowed his head and held the microphone to him.
"Today... the Cobblepot Family has gathered everyone here, not only to ask you all to bear witness, Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot..."
The old man patted Penguin's hand with his withered palm.
"This young fellow, you all know him. In the past, he was with the Joker Gang, fighting our old enemy with some of his friends..."
"That Owlman!"
Upon saying that name, the old man's body seemed to tremble slightly.
Penguin quickly patted his chest, acting as filial as if he were his own son, but their blood relationship was very distant, a distant relative.
The other Cobblepots around watched Penguin's exaggerated act, each gritting their teeth in hatred but feeling helpless.
They dared not defy the old Cobblepot's decisions, but they shouldn't assume that the position of Family Head was already in Penguin's pocket.
They sneered, thinking that without their cooperation, Penguin would never be able to firmly hold this position!
The Cobblepot Family was not one where merely having an empty title of Family Head meant one could command everyone. No matter how large the family business, it was run by people, and Penguin would understand this.
As for the old Cobblepot's thoughts?
He was almost dead; what could he do?
Moreover, even if he didn't die, having lost the title of Family Head tonight, he would just be a crippled old man waiting to die, no longer a threat.
Therefore, they quietly watched as the old Cobblepot announced Penguin as his successor and handed over the position of Family Head to Penguin.
The handover process went smoothly, with no questioning or anyone stepping forward to object at that moment.
After signing the contract brought by the Cobblepot Family lawyer, the Cobblepot Family officially became Penguin's Cobblepot from this moment on!
"Oswald, I'll leave this to you..." The old Cobblepot only spoke a few words and signed a name, but his eyelids were already drooping, and his energy was even more depleted.
Penguin respectfully escorted him out of the reception hall, then scurried back in with his short legs.
He was not only obese but also very short, with a stubby physique.
Honestly, if Jason hadn't witnessed his demeanor before, he wouldn't have felt any caution towards such an inconspicuous fellow.
Penguin used this to his advantage, successfully misleading everyone.
But when he stood alone on the podium, his demeanor suddenly changed.
From a fawning fat man, he transformed into a powerful figure holding great authority.
This contrast was so strong that the moment he stepped onto the podium, he instantly silenced everyone present.
Penguin pulled a cigar from his pocket, lit it with a match, and then put it in his mouth.
He took a light puff, then exhaled a long breath, and the aroma of the cigar permeated the hall with the smoke.
His first words shocked everyone: "You know what? I originally wanted to say something to you Sons of Bitch, you know, like in the movies."
Upon hearing the profanity, everyone's hearts tightened, not just the members of the Cobblepot Family, but also those from other families.
He shrugged, his chubby fingers flicking the cigar, shaking off the now White ash, and continued, "But now I find that I have nothing to say at all. You've ruled this city for too long, gentlemen."
"Now, it's time to make way!"
As he finished speaking, the doors around the hall were suddenly closed and locked from the outside.
"No way, man, why this routine again?"
Jason noticed that the person who spoke was the talkative young man who had been chattering in front of them earlier. He and Dick still didn't know which family this young man belonged to.
"He's about to make his move," Dick leaned closer to Jason. "I guess closing the doors is a signal for us?"
The people in the hall were startled at first, but then they quickly calmed down. Aside from their female companions who were still in shock, none of the men showed any fear.
"What do you want, Penguin?!"
Before these people could question him, it was the members of the Cobblepot Family who first launched an attack.
They had endured for a long time, and now that they finally saw an opportunity, they naturally seized it to challenge him.
These families gathered here, and they were all important figures. It was obvious that they wouldn't be alone; otherwise, how would their safety be guaranteed?
In fact, each major family had deployed a large number of personnel outside the doors. These people were well-trained mercenaries, and some were private soldiers kept by the families themselves.
They were all heavily armed, and even if Owlman himself came, he wouldn't be able to enter this hall without fighting his way through!
The Cobblepot Family, of course, also had their own forces deployed here, not only to protect themselves but also to ensure the safety of the guests present.
Any one of these people, if they walked out, could make the entire Gotham tremble just by stamping their foot. If anything unexpected happened... wouldn't it benefit the Federal Government? Once they discovered the situation here, they would definitely come in and meddle!
So, even for their own sake, they had to ensure the safety of these guests.
Thus, someone in the Cobblepot Family's camp shouted, "Are you all dead? Why aren't you controlling this madman?!"
"I still prefer the word you usually call me, what was it? Fat Penguin?" Penguin said with a smile.
But the waiters in the hall suddenly dropped their trays and surrounded Penguin.
These people, seemingly waiters, were actually the security forces hidden there, also carrying firearms and ammunition.
Penguin saw them reach into their pockets, ready to pull out their small umbrellas, but just then, the surrounding lights suddenly went out, and the brightly lit hall plunged into darkness.
This was a dinner party, and Gotham City was famously a foggy city; even the Sun was rarely seen, let alone moonlight.
Therefore, all the guests present were instantly deprived of their vision.
The female companions brought in could no longer hold back their screams. In such darkness, they simply couldn't control their fear, and the women's terrified screams rose and fell.
No one knew that in the darkness, two hunters had already donned new gear.
Red Hood held his two large guns in his hands, and the infrared vision of his suit allowed him to clearly see his surroundings.
He saw many men grabbing their female companions, using their bodies as shields in front of them.
So this was the real reason they brought female companions to such private clubs. These people... surely never intended for these women to leave alive, did they?
In fact, these women were just disposable items here. To prevent them from talking too much and leaking important information, someone would dispose of them after the party.
Only a very few would be taken home by men, escaping this calamity.
As for the others... anyway, people went missing for unknown reasons in Gotham every day, and these were just a few slightly prettier women.
Fire burned fiercely in Jason's heart. He aimed his large gun at a man in his sight, and a Fire snake flashed through the air.
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