In the room that used to belong to Alfred in the underground base, it had been temporarily transformed into an alchemy room.
Huge alien distillation tubes and large crucibles were placed in the room, and a device that could stably ignite a fire was lit to boil some foul-smelling drugs.
Mason was busy handling various materials.
Judging from his posture, he was definitely going to create some extremely complex formulas.
Tim Drake quietly pushed open the door, and immediately saw Mason throwing two intertwined leeches into the boiling pot, while roasting some strangely colored herbs in his hand with flames, making them emit a burnt and strange smell.
On Mason's workbench, there were also the shed skin of a brightly colored African snake and a strange horn-shaped object that Charles was grinding with a pestle.
This scene was very similar to the scene of an evil alchemist making medicine in some children's animation, especially the sticky medicinal juice that was constantly being boiled, which now presented a terrifying appearance like mud.
This made the usually rational and wise third-generation Robin, Mr. Tim Drake, swallow his saliva. He now doubted whether the blood tonic he drank earlier was also made using this method.
It was really terrifying.
"Are you here to help or to watch?"
Mason, wearing a medical mask, asked without raising his head. He casually threw the leech, which he had squeezed into a bloody pulp, back into the pot, causing black-purple smoke to rise.
"Um, I just wanted to thank you, Mason."
Tim was startled.
The young man stood at the door, unwilling to come in, but sincerely whispered:
"I heard from Grayson about what happened earlier. If it weren't for your and Charles' intervention, tonight would have been very terrifying.
Those guys were using Barbara to strike a blow to the morale of the Bat Family.
The poor girl was being used."
"Hmm? As one of the best detectives in Gotham City and even the East Coast, do you really think she was just being used?"
Mason glanced at the third-generation Robin and said in a low voice:
"Putting aside the facts, even if the League of Assassins and the resurrected Jason Todd were 99% wrong, do you think Bruce Wayne has no remaining 1% of blame?
Come on.
You just admire him too much, so you overlook the nasty aspects of Batman's character. These problems all started because of him, and those unfulfilled expectations eventually turned into a terrible poison in disappointment.
Harming others and oneself!
I think Barbara and Jason's choices were not wrong.
When I was a child, when I was bullied at school, I would hope that my father would come forward and teach those little bullies a lesson. It's human nature.
But what did Batman do when his own child was bullied, paralyzed, or even killed?
Think about it, Tim.
If you were Jason, I think you would have done even worse.
So stop defending him."
"No, I prefer to call it the price of becoming a hero."
Tim pushed his glasses and said:
"But I'm not here to argue with you, I just want to thank you. Thank you for saving Barbara, thank you for saving the crumbling Bat Family."
"The price? After witnessing everything tonight, are you still willing to pay that price? I think you're just talking nonsense."
Mason sneered and waved his hand:
"Go away, go away, don't disturb me. First it was Afuo, then Grayson, then the crying Gordon, and now you! Damn it, this pot of medicine should have been ready five minutes ago."
Tim silently retreated.
In the alchemy room, only Mason and his temporary assistant, Kite Man, remained. Charles ground the horns of a strange creature while glancing at Mason.
He whispered:
"Is this the daily life of the Bat Family? It's so terrifying. It seems that only such disasters can forge a person's mind to be as strong as steel.
I swear I will never say that Batman is just a lucky guy again.
What happened tonight would drive anyone crazy! But he actually managed to hold on and still intends to continue to provoke the League of Assassins. At least I can't do that."
"You, shut up."
Mason glared at Charles and said:
"All of this was caused by your former boss. That night when Barbara was shot, you were keeping watch outside for him. To be honest, this is the good nature of the Bat Family.
If it were someone else, you would have been shot before you even entered here."
"I didn't know he would go crazy like that."
Kite Man defended himself:
"After I realized that the Joker was a terrible bastard, didn't I immediately distance myself from him?"
"Let's not talk about that anymore. It's not something that brings joy."
The young man took the powdered medicine that Charles had ground and stirred the thick, muddy medicine in the big pot with a silver spoon. He sprinkled the powdered medicine evenly on it when it boiled for the seventh time.
Finally, under Kite Man's gaze, Mason took out a strand of hair that he had just pulled from his head, counted down, and threw these final ingredients into the pot when there were thirty seconds left.
With a bang, the boiling pot emitted scorching bubbles, followed by crackling sounds like firecrackers, and disgusting foam floated up.
But soon, the thick, muddy medicine changed color quickly.
Although the taste was still disgusting, it seemed to be quickly evaporated as if it was being reduced by a strong fire, and then it condensed into droplets of medicine in the large crystal cup on the workbench after being heated for the second time through the distillation tube on top.
After this process of evaporation and condensation ended, a prompt immediately appeared in front of Mason:
Successfully completed an outstanding craftsmanship and excellent quality alchemical compound production, alchemy skill proficiency X10X4=X40 increased.
"Cool."
Mason whistled, representing his joy.
If he remembered correctly, this should be the first time he had produced an "excellent quality" item. It was really a memorable day.
"Pack them up."
Evil Alchemist Mr. Mason took off his medical gloves and mask, and instructed Charles.
Kite Man carefully divided the disgusting and foul-smelling potion into five test tubes and covered them with stoppers, then handed them to Mason.
The latter shook them in his hand, and an information label popped up:
Compound Potion X5
Quality: Excellent Alchemical Creation, Outstanding Craftsmanship
Effect: After drinking, the drinker will transform into "Kite Man" Charles Brown's appearance and completely simulate his physical characteristics. It can exempt most detection magic checks, and the effect lasts for one hour.
Creator: Mason Cooper
Item Description: I know what you're thinking, but don't use it for evil, because DN cannot be imitated! So if you accidentally have a child, it's still yours.
"This item description is really something!"
Mason complained as he put the five potions in his pocket. Fortunately, only he could see this item description, otherwise it would be a big joke.
He walked out of the room with Kite Man.
Charles glanced at Mason and said in a low voice:
"Is this the daily life of the Bat Family? It's so terrifying. It seems that only such disasters can forge a person's mind to be as strong as steel.
I swear I will never say that Batman is just a lucky guy again.
What happened tonight would drive anyone crazy! But he actually managed to hold on and still intends to continue to provoke the League of Assassins. At least I can't do that."
"You, shut up."
Mason glared at Charles and said:
"All of this was caused by your former boss. That night when Barbara was shot, you were keeping watch outside for him. To be honest, this is the good nature of the Bat Family.
If it were someone else, you would have been shot before you even entered here."
"I didn't know he would go crazy like that."
Kite Man defended himself:
"After I realized that the Joker was a terrible bastard, didn't I immediately distance myself from him?"
"Let's not talk about that anymore. It's not something that brings joy."
The young man took the powdered medicine that Charles had ground and stirred the thick, muddy medicine in the big pot with a silver spoon. He sprinkled the powdered medicine evenly on it when it boiled for the seventh time.
Finally, under Kite Man's gaze, Mason took out a strand of hair that he had just pulled from his head, counted down, and threw these final ingredients into the pot when there were thirty seconds left.
With a bang, the boiling pot emitted scorching bubbles, followed by crackling sounds like firecrackers, and disgusting foam floated up.
But soon, the thick, muddy medicine changed color quickly.
Although the taste was still disgusting, it seemed to be quickly evaporated as if it was being reduced by a strong fire, and then it condensed into droplets of medicine in the large crystal cup on the workbench after being heated for the second time through the distillation tube on top.
After this process of evaporation and condensation ended, a prompt immediately appeared in front of Mason:
Successfully completed an outstanding craftsmanship and excellent quality alchemical compound production, alchemy skill proficiency X10X4=X40 increased.
"Cool."
Mason whistled, representing his joy.
If he remembered correctly, this should be the first time he had produced an "excellent quality" item. It was really a memorable day.
Find the original at "pawread.com".
"Pack them up."
Evil Alchemist Mr. Mason took off his medical gloves and mask, and instructed Charles.
Kite Man carefully divided the disgusting and foul-smelling potion into five test tubes and covered them with stoppers, then handed them to Mason.
The latter shook them in his hand, and an information label popped up:
Compound Potion X5
Quality: Excellent Alchemical Creation, Outstanding Craftsmanship
Effect: After drinking, the drinker will transform into "Kite Man" Charles Brown's appearance and completely simulate his physical characteristics. It can exempt most detection magic checks, and the effect lasts for one hour.
Creator: Mason Cooper
Item Description: I know what you're thinking, but don't use it for evil, because DN cannot be imitated! So if you accidentally have a child, it's still yours.
"This item description is really something!"
Mason complained as he put the five potions in his pocket. Fortunately, only he could see this item description, otherwise it would be a big joke.
He walked out of the room with Kite Man.
Charles thought about discussing tactics with Batman and the Bat Family and got a headache. This third-rate villain had been beaten badly by these Bats in the past few years.
According to his own account, he had been beaten into a coma by Batman twice and sent to the intensive care unit by Nightwing three times.
Yes, the master and his Bat pups really didn't kill people.
But when facing evil criminals, it was not uncommon for them to inflict crushing fractures. Did Batman really protect Gotham with love and peace?
And for most criminals, the experience of having their legs or sternum forcibly removed due to severe injuries was enough to make them give up evil.
From the perspective of preventing crime, beating them up was indeed more effective than killing them.
"Master, how does Batman persuade himself to forget those nightmarish experiences?"
On the way to the underground base hall, Kite Man asked in a low voice:
"Does he have a dedicated psychologist, or does he self-regulate?"
"You see, he is a billionaire who doesn't enjoy life, dresses himself up like a bat, and hides in a dark cave monitoring the entire city.
And he often appears in front of bad guys to persuade them to give up crime by sending them to Arkham. He also has some strange adoption fetish.
Including Jason Todd and Barbara Gordon, he has already brought four children into this clearly abnormal career path while they were still minors.
And I'm sure there will be more in the future. For example, he once tried to adopt me..."
Mason quickly spoke, then turned to look at Kite Man.
He said in a tone similar to Charles's:
"This is how a person like him, we generally call them 'madmen', can get along so well with scum like the Joker, right?
They are essentially the same kind of people.
It's just that the symptoms of their madness are slightly different.
Of course, I can answer your question in a more artistic way, like..."
"Cough cough."
Mason coughed twice and put on a pretentious expression of a poetic young man. He said:
"He walked through hell, but didn't receive any healing. Regrets and pain pieced together his broken face. He was shattered time and time again, and then reassembled by blood-stained hands.
Only in this way can he have the heart of a superhero.
And everything he has experienced is the price of becoming a hero."
After he finished speaking, he looked at Charles, waiting for his reaction. Kite Man awkwardly pointed behind Mason and whispered:
"Um, boss, he's behind you."
"Hmm?"
Mason turned around and saw a cold metal mask and a pair of deep eyes.
The stealth technique of the master had truly reached its peak.
"Cough cough, I wasn't talking about you just now."
The young man said in a calm tone:
"I was talking about Green Arrow... Yes, Oliver Queen, a billionaire who dresses up as a green elf and likes to adopt traumatized children to teach them archery."
"You don't have to explain, and you said it well."
The master said in a deep voice:
"After hearing that, even I feel like a madman."
"The potion is ready."
Mason watched as the explanation became unclear and decided not to explain anymore. He took out a compound potion and handed it to Batman, indicating for him to drink it. The master was also decisive. He almost didn't hesitate and drank the potion in the test tube in one gulp.
Then, his face changed, and he turned around and quickly took a few steps to hide in the shadows...
Ugh!
"Uh, I forgot to tell you, even in the realm of foul-smelling potions, the taste of this thing is one of the most disgusting. But its effect is really good."
Mason said softly:
"You will feel intense stomach pain and the urge to go to the bathroom, but hold it in. Then there will be a burning discomfort in your stomach that will spread to all your organs. This is normal.
Generally speaking, after ten seconds, you will feel your whole body melting..."
"Plunk."
The master, clutching his stomach, knelt down weakly, but soon he stood up, leaning against the wall.
In the astonished gaze of Kite Man, he could clearly see that Batman's height had quickly shrunk a few centimeters, and his burly figure had also shrunk, and finally, his stomach...
His eight-pack abs became slightly bloated.
"Take off the mask, Bruce."
Mason took out a small mirror and placed it in front of the master. Batman took off his helmet, revealing a face exactly like Kite Man's.
Even the expressions on their faces were the same.
"How is it? Not bad, right?"
The alchemist laughed and said:
"One bottle lasts for an hour, and I have prepared five bottles for you, enough for you to use until dawn."
"The effect is good, but what's the use of me looking like this?"
The master touched his face and asked.
Mason shrugged and snapped his fingers. Kite Man immediately handed him the invitation message from the "League of Villains" that he had received on his phone.
Batman took a look and immediately narrowed his eyes.
He made a pensive expression that Kite Man could never make.
He understood Mason's plan.
"This won't work!"
The young man pointed to his face and said:
"You have to learn from Charles. You can't show this kind of gloomy contemplation that doesn't belong to third-rate villains. You have to disguise yourself as more frivolous, more exaggerated, and more noobish.
So, the time is left to you and Charles.
We are going to the Batcave and Wayne Tower according to the plan. After we finish, we will go to Arkham and meet you. Try to delay the time and don't act recklessly."
"Ra's al Ghul is there."
Batman said in a deep voice:
"I will resolve everything tonight."
"It's probably not just Ra's al Ghul who is there."
Mason sighed and took out a dozen cursed and enchanted Batarangs tied with black ribbons and handed them to Batman, saying:
"We all know how powerful you are, and you may have been prepared for tonight's situation. Once we recapture the Batcave, your terrible and useful contingency plans can be put into action.
But sometimes, you can't be so autocratic.
Barbara and Jason's affairs should have taught you some lessons. How can the people behind you trust you if you make all the decisions yourself?
Also, if you trust me, I will take care of Barbara's situation afterwards, okay?"
He looked at the silent master and said:
"You know, it's best for you not to intervene in this matter in the short term, and Gordon is my guardian, and Barbara is like my foster sister... Let me be frank.
I can make a potion that can make her stand up again.
But this kind of potion is difficult to make and consumes a lot. I may need to set up a very professional alchemy laboratory to..."
"Whoosh."
A Bat black card flew over and landed in Mason's hand. The master followed Kite Man to the nearby house to "deeply study" the behavior patterns of third-rate villains.
When he closed the door, he used Charles's voice to say in a hoarse voice:
"Make that kind of potion! Mason, don't worry about the cost. I owe her too much."
"You should have said those words to her just now! Barbara doesn't want revenge, and she doesn't want to see the Joker killed by you, Bruce. What she wants is your apology.
But you made her wait for so many years...
When the call for help goes unanswered, it can turn into something terrible. Do you not understand this simple truth that even a 17-year-old like me understands?"
Mason flicked the Bat black card in his hand and complained:
"You always fail to open up to your family, which seriously hinders the love and affection of the Bat Family. Honestly, you should reflect on your past actions."
"Bang."
The door closed.
Mason marveled at how terrifyingly closed off the heart of a man who had suffered severe psychological trauma since childhood due to witnessing a tragedy. It was undoubtedly a disease.
To treat it, one could only start from the source. But what could Mason do?
He wasn't a necromancer from the Legion of Doom who could resurrect Thomas and Martha Wayne from their graves to ease the master's psychological trauma with a display of filial piety.
"Just now, you said something that doesn't sound like it could come from a 17-year-old."
Alfred, the old butler, walked past with a cup of hot coffee and glanced at Mason, saying:
"Are you sure you're only 17 and not 37 or even older?"
"My driver's license says I'm 17."
Mason smiled in the darkness, put away the Bat black card, and turned to walk towards the hall.
The preparation phase was over...
Next, it was time for an exciting counterattack.