Chương 156: Bruce Wayne
"Tsk, tsk, being cautious is a virtue," Jack remarked, shaking his head. "But I've already figured out who you are."
Bruce maintained a stoic silence, convinced that Jack was bluffing or, at the very least, exaggerating.
"I've never unmasked myself in front of you, nor have I let my accent slip. This is our first encounter. How could you possibly know?" Bruce pondered internally, skepticism etched on his face.
Then, Jack uttered the revelation that left Bruce dumbfounded.
"I had no idea you had a penchant for donning peculiar attire. It's gotten to the point where you wear it not only in broad daylight but on dark and windy nights as well. Gotham City's billionaire, Sir Bruce Wayne," Jack stated casually, taking a leisurely sip of tea. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Bruce's reaction was immediate: "No fucking way "
Stunned, he couldn't fathom how Jack had unveiled his identity. Bruce had assumed that his secret would remain intact, but Jack had just nonchalantly dropped his name, leaving him bewildered.
"He said it as casually as asking if I had breakfast today!" Bruce marveled internally, grappling with the revelation. "How did he know?"
Unable to contain his curiosity, Bruce broke the silence after a couple of seconds. "How did you find out? Is there an issue with my equipment, or is it something else?"
Bruce abandoned any pretense, aware that Jack had the ability to discern the truth simply by stating his name. Now, he sought answers about how Jack had uncovered his closely guarded secret.
As Batman's debut loomed on the horizon, Bruce envisioned a Gotham City where the symbol of the Dark Knight struck fear into the hearts of criminals. Yet, finding out that someone had seen through his plans before they even materialized left him grappling with the magnitude of the situation.
If the plan had been exposed from the start, its execution would have been impossible. Batman's ability to strike fear into the hearts of all gangsters stems from his elusive nature and the secrecy of his identity. This ensures that no one can uncover it, leaving no avenue for revenge. The targets can only wait for Batman to act, remaining passive throughout.
This is Bruce's strategy.
However, if his identity were to be revealed, the entire plan would crumble.
Bruce believes that even with his original identity, he couldn't replicate what Batman does. In his view, gangsters wouldn't fear mere mortals; they need a symbol of immortality to instill fear.
"Your disguise is nearly flawless. As long as you keep that hood on, no one will be able to identify you," remarked Jack as he poured himself another cup of tea. "However, for someone perceptive like me, there's a revealing factor in what you carry."
Jack then began to point out the details of Bruce's outfit, using his skill in deception.
"High-level infantryman Normanx survival suit, double-layer bulletproof fiber, reinforced joints—a set worth three hundred thousand dollars," Jack said, gesturing to Bruce's attire. "Although it's been modified to some extent, I can still recognize it. The only drawback is that it's a bit bulky. Of course, for individuals at your level and mine, this drawback is inconsequential."
"This particular suit," Jack revealed, gesturing to his attire, "was exclusively crafted by the Applied Science Department of Wayne Group. Despite being discontinued due to cost constraints, a few samples made their way to the military and eventually landed in the FBI department."
Bruce, catching the deliberate hint in Jack's words, questioned, "So, you're from the FBI?"
Smiling, Jack corrected, "No, I'm from the IRS, a senior agent. We paid a visit to the FBI for an account check and brought back some souvenirs. This armor happens to be one of them."
Bruce, puzzled, asked, "IRS agent? What brings you here? Checking taxes?"
Jack responded with a smirk, "Ever thought that gains from illegal transactions are also taxed? In a place like Gotham City, with arms smuggling and drug dealing, do you really think they pay taxes?"
Filled with a sense of duty, Jack asserted, "They're tax evaders! In the United States, only death and taxes are eternal. As an IRS agent, I won't let them evade taxes!"
Bruce, bewildered, could only manage a confused response, "What..."
Realizing his point might have been a bit extreme, Jack chuckled, "Well, it makes sense, right?"
Bruce, still processing the revelation, inquired, "So, you've been here for a while just to check the accounts?"
.....
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