Chapter 6: Batman, Green Arrow
"I request a transfer out of the Snow Mountain base."
"This life is unbearable. There's always something inexplicable mixed into our meals."
"As long as Allen stays in the base, I refuse to stay even a single day longer."
"Leaders, you must give us a solution, or else we'd rather abandon the organization."
...
Talia and Nyssa were surrounded by a group of League of Assassins members, all venting their frustrations about Allen.
That hyperactive lunatic was simply unbearable.
They had to stay on high alert just to eat a meal. Even using the restroom was nerve-wracking. If not for the fact that they couldn't defeat him, they would have ganged up on him long ago and beaten him beyond recognition.
Seeing that the situation was spiraling out of control, Talia quickly tried to calm the crowd. "Everyone, please settle down. We will definitely provide a resolution."
They had no choice but to resolve this matter. The return date of the Demon's Head was uncertain, and if he came back to find the entire base deserted, the consequences would be dire. If blame were assigned, they might even lose their qualifications to inherit the League of Assassins.
By comparison, eliminating Allen was a trivial matter—at most, they'd receive a token reprimand.
Normally rivals, the sisters found rare common ground and formed a temporary alliance.
---
Nightfall.
Inside the base, lights were out for rest.
In the darkness, two figures stealthily approached Allen's room.
They smoothly pushed the door open and tiptoed toward the bed.
Moonlight from the window cast a faint glow, outlining a figure lying beneath the blankets.
"Do it!"
Shing…
Blades were drawn, and under the moonlight, the sword gleamed coldly.
A swift strike sent silver-white flashes through the air, slicing through the bulging blanket, sending goose feathers flying.
The base was situated in the snow-capped mountains, where temperatures remained below freezing year-round. Down-filled blankets were a necessity—without them, one could freeze to death in their sleep.
One slash after another, as if venting all their pent-up frustrations.
They couldn't eat well, couldn't sleep soundly, and even had to be on guard in the restroom—this life was unbearable.
As they kept hacking away, the sisters couldn't help but reveal satisfied yet ruthless smiles.
The overwhelming sense of justice restored, the sheer cathartic relief—almost therapeutic.
But soon, they noticed something was off.
Why was there suddenly another person slashing alongside them?
Wasn't this supposed to be their assassination? Had someone else joined in?
They stopped mid-strike, eyes narrowing at the unexpected figure.
Under the moonlight, they could see his face clearly.
Hiss…
It was Allen!
"Why did you stop?"
Allen asked, confused. "What game are you playing? Can I join?"
Are you insane?
We're here to assassinate you, and you want to join in? Who are we supposed to kill then?!
Nyssa's mouth twitched. "Shouldn't you be sleeping in bed?"
"Who says I have to sleep in a bed?"
Right… There were no rules stating one must sleep in a bed.
Given Allen's abnormal behavior, he was definitely capable of doing something completely irrational.
"Ah~"
Allen suddenly exclaimed. "You two wicked women are here to kill me!"
In the next instant, two sharp blades were already resting against their necks.
Too fast.
So fast that they didn't even have time to react.
Nyssa panicked. "Calm down! We were just joking."
"Allen, we really were just playing!"
Talia hurriedly echoed the sentiment.
A failed sneak attack turning into a counter-kill? If word got out, they'd have no one to blame but themselves. Even the Demon's Head wouldn't avenge them—he'd probably consider it an embarrassment.
While the Lazarus Pit could revive them, the problem was that the Redemption Blade was still lost. If revived without it, they might turn into bloodthirsty, berserk monsters—not the outcome they wanted.
Besides, if they were dead for over twenty-four hours, even the Lazarus Pit couldn't bring them back. Everything had its limits.
"Strip."
Heh heh heh heh…
"…"
Has this idiot finally awakened his primal instincts?
Could he be… harboring ill intentions?
Not long after…
Talia and Nyssa walked out of the room wrapped in blankets, looking both relieved and slightly disappointed.
A lunatic was, after all, a lunatic—there was no way to understand his thought process with normal logic.
Inside the room, Allen was twirling around in a female martial artist's outfit, joyfully dancing.
"Dang-dang-dang-dang, dang-dang-dang-dang, the sun sets in the west, the sky turns dark, ay ay ay…"
What bad intentions could Allen possibly have?
He was simply indulging in his own spiritual world.
---
A helicopter hovered above the snow-capped mountains. Three figures leaped down.
Inside the base, members of the League of Assassins teared up. Finally, the Demon's Head had returned.
This past month had felt like an eternity.
Ra's al Ghul had brought back two young men—the future Batman and Green Arrow. Their arrival was met with a grand welcome from the entire base.
"Father, you've finally returned!"
"Welcome back, Father!"
Nyssa and Talia led the crowd in greeting, their eagerness clear—there was something urgent they needed to report.
However, since it concerned Allen, they hesitated to discuss it in front of him.
"Boss, you're back!"
Allen swung in using a grappling claw, soaring through the air.
The sight made Ra's al Ghul frown. Why is this lunatic still here?
Not only that, he had somehow learned a full set of grappling techniques.
Meanwhile, Bruce and Oliver, still in their youthful prime, had yet to transform into the eccentric, costume-obsessed middle-aged men they would one day become.
They curiously observed Allen's bizarre appearance, puzzled by the oddity of someone referring to the Demon's Head as "boss."
Ra's al Ghul instinctively ignored Allen. He didn't want anything ruining his mood.
"Allen, what's for dinner tonight?"
Nyssa seized the opportunity to send him away, creating a chance to report everything that had happened.
"Don't worry! I've watched the entire Cooking Master Boy series. I can turn even a pile of poop into curry! Just wait and enjoy some authentic Ganges cuisine!"
"Yaha!"
With that, Allen swung back toward the base.
Once they were sure he was out of earshot, Nyssa began recounting their recent hardships.
Ra's al Ghul's expression grew darker with each word. A vein throbbed on his forehead.
The more he listened, the more convinced he became—this lunatic had to go. If he continued to let things slide, the entire Snow Mountain base might end up in ruins.
"The Four-Way Summit is approaching. Allen will represent the League of Assassins. While he's at it, he can retrieve the Redemption Blade from Silent Hill."
Ra's al Ghul, ever the strategist, devised a scheme.
The others immediately grasped his intent.
With Allen's personality, he would surely offend all three factions present. When that happened, the League of Assassins could wash their hands of him, letting those factions deal with him instead.
A truly cunning plan.
The four factions might appear cooperative, but in reality, they viewed each other as rivals. Eventually, conflict was inevitable. Allen was merely a disposable pawn in the grand scheme.
As for the Redemption Blade, Ra's al Ghul didn't mind retrieving it himself later.
"Who's willing to accompany Allen on this trip?"
Everyone instinctively took a step back.
They wanted to be as far away from Allen as possible. Why would they risk their lives accompanying him? If the three factions decided to kill Allen, anyone traveling with him might also get caught in the crossfire.
Bruce and Oliver exchanged wary glances. Somehow, they had been left standing alone in an empty circle, isolated. A sense of foreboding settled over them.
Ra's al Ghul clapped a hand on each of their shoulders, speaking with unwavering conviction.
"I'm glad you two volunteered. I hope you return safely. The organization will not forget your contributions."
Bruce: "…"
Oliver: "…"