"Tsk, tsk, Teacher Fury, you're still so strict."
Harley seemed to be the most relaxed among the group. Lounging at a table, she started chatting with Fury.
"If I were really strict, I wouldn't have let you request a transfer to Arkham Asylum to study the most dangerous lunatics."
"Although, but now I'm officially one of the most dangerous lunatics according to you, Teacher."
"That's fine. People who are too sane couldn't handle this line of work anyway."
Nick Fury waved his hand, ending the topic, then turned his attention to Ethan Hunter: "You did well this time, but didn't you make a bit too much noise?"
"You mean taking out the Joker in one shot, or exposing your secret weapon?" Ethan smiled. "If it's the former, I think I did nothing wrong; if it's the latter, how long do you think Stark can keep a secret? A week? Two weeks?"
"I mean, why did you alert Batman?"
"The Bureau operating on Batman's turf—did you expect him to just hang from the ceiling and do nothing?"
"…In any case, you adapted perfectly to the task I assigned you. Once Harley Quinn completes her psychiatric evaluation and officially joins, you'll have three days off."
Harley frowned slightly at being called "Black Egg."
"I'm just Harley Quinn now. Harleen Quinzel is only a part of me."
"As long as you're happy." Fury nodded, then issued an order: "Agent Adra, take our 'Harley Quinn' to change clothes. That patient uniform from Arkham Asylum doesn't belong on an agent."
"Yes, Director."
Adra nodded and, with a mix of pushing and pulling, guided Harley—who was shouting, "I will never wear a uniform!"—out of the Strategic Analysis Room.
Passing in front of Ethan, it seemed like the two women were subtly sizing each other up.
Adra's fingertips brushed his knuckles, and Harley left Ethan with a parting line that made him shiver all the way down to his tailbone.
"See you later, my pudding."
Damn—it wasn't just her madness that hadn't healed, she'd also transferred her affections!
Though Ethan had already anticipated this when he persuaded Harley Quinn to fire the gun.
After the two left, Ethan wiped his brow and turned to see Fury sighing. He almost laughed.
"What's so funny?"
"Every family has its own troubles. Being a father is not easy."
"You have time to tease your superior, why not give a proper report on the work?"
"Speaking of work, I do need to talk to you." Ethan approached Fury with a grin and spoke in a low voice. "Someone like Stark… you still know him, or rather, how much do you really know?"
Though somewhat impolite, he needed to acquire stronger abilities. Having the Dionysian Factor wasn't enough; he couldn't remain stagnant.
"That's not something a Level 7 agent should know."
"If you really want me to get this done, put aside the Bureau's usual segregated management rules. I'm not here to be your obedient subordinate, and you don't need a rule-following team. Otherwise, your first team member would be a patient from Arkham Asylum?"
"You really were born to do this," Fury nodded. "I'll give you my authorization codes later. For now, you can leave, Agent."
"All right, all right. You just stay here quietly brooding." Halfway out, Ethan turned back and asked, "Harley Quinn… to you, what is she really?"
At his words, Fury's single cold eye snapped toward him, glaring with two clear words:
"Don't ask."
Ethan shrugged and left the Strategic Analysis Room.
After being alone for a long while, Fury muttered to himself:
"Harley Quinn… she is the closest thing to a daughter I've ever had in my life."