"Father, why are you suddenly concerned about the Helmet of Fate?"
Batman did not evade the question and stated directly, "Just an hour ago, the Holy Lord kidnapped Superman and demanded the Helmet of Fate as ransom."
"What?! Superman was kidnapped? And they want the Helmet of Fate as ransom? Wait a moment, let me process this."
It wasn't surprising that Damian was taken aback. Even Alfred, the butler standing nearby, was utterly shocked by his master's words.
Superman, a being not exaggeratedly called a god among men, was kidnapped? Was there anyone left in this world who could kidnap Superman?
Damian's first reaction was that his father was joking, but looking at his father's expression, it didn't seem like a joke at all. Sudan Fiction Network.
As a matter of fact, it was true.
Batman remained neutral towards Doctor Fate's search for a host. After all, given his power and ability to descend into the real world, he was indeed very helpful for Earth's safety. However, as dark forces grew more rampant, Nabu's thoughts gradually became extreme.
Initially, the relationship with the host was one of equal cooperation. When the forces of order were threatened, the host only needed to put on the helmet, entrust their body to Nabu, and after Nabu defeated the enemy, he would automatically remove the helmet and return the body to its original owner.
Perhaps it was due to the rise of the so-called dark forces now, or perhaps it had been too long since a suitable host wore the helmet. Nabu's thoughts became increasingly extreme. Especially after a part of the helmet's power was taken by the Holy Lord last time, Nabu became inextricably linked with Zatara, forcibly seizing control of his body and only granting him one hour a month to reunite with his daughter.
Let alone Batman, many members of the Justice League were greatly dissatisfied with Nabu's actions, but they dared not speak out due to his immense magical power.
Since Superman was now captured and the Holy Lord was demanding Nabu's Helmet of Fate as ransom, Batman had no objection to orchestrating a "fighting fire with fire" scenario.
Three days passed like a fleeting white steed, and in the blink of an eye, they were gone.
That evening, Bai Qi arrived at the rooftop of the Empire State Building as promised, awaiting Batman's arrival.
Batman did not keep Bai Qi waiting for long, soon arriving on the rooftop. However, to Bai Qi's slight frown, the other party came alone, and the Helmet of Fate was not with him.
"What do you mean? Are you toying with me?"
Facing Bai Qi's undisguised anger, Batman remained unfazed and said, "You should be well aware that the Helmet of Fate is currently with Zatara, and Nabu has descended into the real world using it. Without Superman, we are no match for him, and three days is too short."
Bai Qi raised an eyebrow and asked, "So, you're here to ask me to extend the deadline?"
"No," Batman shook his head and said, "Nabu's power is too great. Even with more time, we wouldn't be able to take the helmet from Zatara."
"So you came here just to mock me?"
With that said, a hammer formed by telekinesis fell beside Batman's body, creating a hole more than a meter in diameter and stirring up a fierce wind that whipped Batman's cape.
"I have another proposal."
As if he hadn't seen Bai Qi's threat, Batman continued in his usual tone, "My strength is insufficient to deal with Nabu, but I can bring Nabu here. If you truly possess such power, you can take the helmet off Nabu's head yourself."
Upon hearing Batman's proposal, Bai Qi nodded and said, "That works too. However, it seems like I'm at a disadvantage. The helmet was almost within my grasp, and now you're making me put in more effort. And I'm not one to be at a disadvantage. How will you compensate me for this?"
Batman remained silent. After some thought, Bai Qi said, "How about this? To ensure I don't suffer a loss, I need you to do me a favor."
"What favor?"
"It's very simple. You just need to tell me where you learned your talismans magic, who taught you. I only need a name, which should be very easy for you."
Just as Batman was about to speak the name, Bai Qi added, "Don't think about deceiving me. As a demon, I have a thousand ways to tell if you're lying. If you dare to lie, you know the consequences."
At these words, the words that were on the tip of Batman's tongue were swallowed back.
There was no other way. The old gentleman who taught him magic also feared drawing trouble upon himself and had repeatedly warned Batman during his tutelage never to reveal his name.
Batman had agreed at the time, and now he couldn't go back on his word, even if the circumstances were justifiable.
"I'm sorry, I cannot tell you. I promised him that I would never reveal his name."
Bai Qi did not get angry at Batman's answer, as if he had expected it. He retreated and said, "How about this? I won't ask for that person's name anymore. You must still be wearing talismans made by that person, right? Hand over the talismans to me, and we'll call it even."
Faced with Bai Qi's request, Batman did not hesitate. He quickly took out three talismans from his utility belt and handed them to Bai Qi.
Although these talismans were far more powerful and fewer in number than those he made himself, Batman knew he had no other choice. If he refused again, even the most good-tempered person would likely lose their temper.
Upon receiving the talismans, Bai Qi's lips curved slightly. As expected, Batman's knowledge of magic was too shallow. He thought that by not revealing the name, Bai Qi wouldn't be able to find his magic teacher. Little did he know that with these three talismans alone, Bai Qi could still use magic to locate their maker.
Why did Bai Qi place such importance on the teacher who taught Batman magic? Was he afraid that after teaching Batman magic, it would cause him trouble?
There was some truth to that, but it was more about preventing potential problems.
Bai Qi had confirmed that the magic Batman used was the same magic Luope had used in the past. Although it had been modified and abridged over the years, it was largely similar. Therefore, it could be confirmed that the person who taught Batman magic was a descendant of Luope, or at least someone connected to Luope.
The relationship between Luope and the Holy Lord was beyond dispute; it was one of irreconcilable enmity. Even his descendants would likely be anti-Holy Lord.
Since it was known that the person would not be of use to him, coupled with the existing old grudges between their sides, it was natural to suppress them before they gained prominence, even to nip them in the bud.
This was not cruelty, but caution.
The fact that the other party did not let Batman reveal his name showed that they had considered this. However, they were unaware that through tracking the talismans, Bai Qi could still find him.