Chapter 48

Gordon: "Wayne is going to invite the suspect group to Wayne Tower as the CEO of Wayne Enterprises tomorrow, so that's why you're sending someone else to accompany Daly? Excuse, all excuses." —— Unbelievable

Lei Xiaogu: "Why don't you believe it? He is the best person to complete this reconnaissance mission, you can't deny that. Besides, Batman's identity is strictly confidential, and Wayne himself doesn't have superpowers. Sending someone else to replace him will definitely fool Daly."

Gordon: "I don't understand why you insist on having Wayne carry out this mission. Wouldn't it be the same if the Mayor of Gotham City invited them? Who would dare not to go? Not going would be a confession, and it would save you the trouble of investigating."

Lei Xiaogu: "Are you arguing with me? I already said this mission is a covert secret investigation. How can the Mayor of Gotham City be involved? If the city government gets involved, would the investigation still be secret? They would be on guard even if they went."

Gordon: "Do you think the suspect group won't be on guard if Wayne Enterprises' CEO invites them? Who doesn't know the relationship between Wayne Enterprises and the Chinese military and the National Security Agency? They would still be on guard. If you really want to secretly investigate them, I have an idea that will ensure the suspect group doesn't suspect anything."

Lei Xiaogu: "You want to give me advice? Fine, I'm all ears. Let's see what new idea you can come up with for someone who has spent half their life in covert operations." —— Sarcastic

Gordon: "This is a good idea, and you shouldn't dismiss it. You chose Wayne to carry out this mission to avoid alarming them beforehand, looking for someone with a smaller official background. This idea isn't wrong. But you have other suitable candidates, why not send them?"

Lei Xiaogu: "Other suitable candidates? Who?" —— Confused

Gordon: "Your subordinate, the one with the code name 'Penguin' (Penguin), Ma Huateng."

Lei Xiaogu: "Him? You know how I feel about him and you still bring him up, trying to disgust me?" —— Disdainful

I (Voiceover): "Isn't Ma Huateng one of the old scholar's subordinates? Why does he despise him so much?"

Gordon: "How is this disgusting you? Penguin, though not the richest person in Gotham City, is the second richest, the head of the Penguin Empire, and one of the five leading figures in China's internet industry. Why don't you like him? Wouldn't it be appropriate for him to carry out this mission?"

Lei Xiaogu: "He's so focused on making money that he almost forgets his main job (network intelligence collection), and his character..."

Gordon: "Do you think he's not good-looking? Indeed, his appearance isn't as handsome as Li Yanhong, but he can be grouped with Ding San, Zhang Chao, and Yang. Among the five, the ugliest is Ma Yun. When I first saw him, I even sent someone to investigate whether he was an alien spy hiding among humans." —— Interrupting Lei Xiaogu

Lei Xiaogu: "I'm talking about his character, not his appearance!"

Gordon: "What's wrong with his character? If the head of the Penguin Empire personally invites them, would the suspect group not give him face? He has received the Chinese top leaders."

Lei Xiaogu: "That's in China, not abroad. Besides, many of the business groups in the suspect group have their products copied or imitated by the Penguin Empire. Even if Penguin personally invites them, they won't pay attention. Got it? You can keep your good idea to yourself."

Gordon: "Hmph, my good idea failed because you didn't fully trust me and didn't give me all the information. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come up with this bad idea." —— Unconvinced

Lei Xiaogu: "Fine, fine, you have your reasons, right? If you wanted the information, just say so... (to Leila) Give him all the information." —— Understanding Gordon's intention

Leila: "Yes, Father." —— Handing over the collected background information to Gordon

I (Voiceover): "Old man, if you want information from Lei Xiaogu, can't you just ask directly? Why go through all this trouble? Is it so hard for you to ask Lei Xiaogu?"

Gordon: "If you had just handed it over straightforwardly, it would have been done. Instead, you made it mysterious, forcing me to ask... (looking at the information) Hmm? This film crew... Governor Schwarzenegger is coming to Gotham City to shoot on location? He's making a comeback? I didn't hear about this before. I'm his fan, I love action movies."

Lei Xiaogu: "Yes, the crew's public statement is as you said, but there are many suspicious points."

Gordon: "What suspicious points?"

Lei Xiaogu: "The crew was established in 2008, the year of the financial crisis. It had been dormant without any production or star involvement. I suspect it was a script without investment, and the crew was in a semi-dead state (only the screenwriter remained). But it suddenly came back to life today. Not only did it get funding and restart, but it also came to Gotham City in China to shoot on location and got the former famous action star Schwarzenegger to join. Isn't that suspicious?"

Gordon: "What do you mean by 'former famous action star'? He is still a famous action star!" —— Dissatisfied

Lei Xiaogu: "Fine, I won't argue with you. Just tell me your opinion. Do you also find it suspicious?"

Gordon: "From the timing, it is indeed suspicious. But look at these investors (pointing to Lei Xiaogu) who are closely related to Schwarzenegger. This could be a publicity stunt for his comeback."

Lei Xiaogu: "A publicity stunt? Maintaining a mysterious aura, secretly preparing, and then suddenly attacking to attract attention?"

Gordon: "Yes, Schwarzenegger suddenly announcing his comeback and coming to Gotham City in China to shoot on location could be to pique the interest of global fans and attract media attention, a big gimmick."

Lei Xiaogu: "Yes, this washed-up star (seeing Gordon's change in expression) ... no, this veteran of the film and entertainment industry, using such a trick is possible. Your point is to rule out the crew's suspicion?"

Gordon: "No, don't rule it out. I believe there are no coincidences in the world, only inevitabilities. Besides, you and I know that many of the superpowered agents of the Illuminati work in Hollywood, earning a second income. It's not impossible for a few agents to be secretly placed in Schwarzenegger's crew. It's safer to follow your original plan and have Wayne investigate covertly."

I (Voiceover): "The superpowered agents of the Illuminati working in Hollywood and earning a second income? Why does this sound so familiar? Old man, isn't your so-called reform of forming a film crew just a copy of the Illuminati's methods?"

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