"Unless he has another trick waiting in the wings!" Harley's eyes lit up.
"And what kind of trick do you think it would be?" Raymond asked with a faint smile.
"That I don't know. Sometimes, even I can't predict Puddin's ideas…" Harley admitted with a shake of her head.
Then she noticed how relaxed Raymond looked, not worried at all, and asked curiously: "If that really was Puddin's doing, what do you think he'll try next?"
"If I were him, knowing I can't hurt you with normal attacks, the real point of sending grunts would be to set up for the next step."
Raymond's voice was calm. "So, all we need to do is think about what this ambush actually changed for me—and we'll know his plan."
"…Changing cars?"
With Raymond's hint, Harley instantly caught on. "You mean this vehicle is the problem?"
Beside them, Boomerang—who had been listening casually—suddenly paled.
He leapt up and tried to force open the armored car's rear door—Only to find it wouldn't budge at all!
"Bloody hell, what's going on?!" Boomerang yelled, furious as he realized the door was sealed shut.
El Diablo also sensed something was wrong. He stood, warning the others: "Step back, now!"
Once Boomerang moved behind him, flames burst across El Diablo's body.
His arms flared, shooting twin streams of fire at the rear door of the armored truck.
The metal began to melt under the intense heat…
But instead of an exit, a glowing blue barrier like an electric net appeared beneath the scorched layer.
The flames couldn't pass through at all, trapped completely inside the vehicle.
"Heh, don't bother. Even if your flames were ten times stronger, you'd never break out," came a mocking laugh from the corner of the cabin.
"Puddin'? Is that really you?" Harley instantly recognized the voice of the Joker.
"Kept you waiting, huh?" the Joker chuckled.
"No, no! Not at all!" Harley shook her head quickly.
Raymond, however, spoke calmly: "Do you really think this truck can hold me?"
"Hold you or not, why don't you try and find out?" Joker sneered. "But here's a friendly hint. This truck wasn't originally built for you… but it's perfect for the job."
"I'm guessing your other ability, besides your little trick with clones, is something like turning into an element, isn't it?"
"A normal armored vehicle could never trap you. But this one was designed for people like you. You were too careless, Deadshot…"
Raymond's face stayed neutral. "So you figured it out from the plane surveillance footage? Your eye for detail is impressive, I'll give you that. But there's one thing I don't get."
"Oh?"
"Even if this truck can hold someone like me, it can't be permanent, right? Whatever the principle, it must burn through energy. When that runs out, what then? Starve me to death?"
"And don't forget—Miss Harley here is with me. If your plan is to let me waste away, she'll die long before I do." He glanced at Harley.
Before Joker could reply, El Diablo suddenly stepped forward, seizing Harley by the throat. His voice dripped with anger:
"Let us out right now, or I'll roast her alive!"
Harley clawed at his hand, but she was no match for his strength.
"You can try," Joker replied coldly. "But if you really do it, I'll slaughter every person you've ever known, one by one, in her name… Threats don't work on me."
"Let her go. He means it." Raymond's calm voice stopped Diablo.
"Damn it!" Diablo cursed, but released her.
"Cough… cough…" Harley gasped for air, coughing hard.
Only then did Joker continue: "So eager to know how you'll die, are you?"
"Curiosity is human nature," Raymond said with a smile.
"Fine. The truck can't hold you forever, true. But when its energy drops to half, an auto-detonation program will trigger." Joker's tone was light, casual. "The blast will be strong enough that even if you turn to elements, you'll be obliterated instantly. No chance of survival. Satisfied with that ending?"
Raymond glanced again at Harley. "And what about her?"
"With you as her companion in the grave, I'd say the funeral will be grand enough, wouldn't you, darling?"
Harley giggled madly, "Hehehe! That's my Puddin'! So brilliant as always!"
"You lunatic! He's going to kill you too, and you're still praising him?!" Boomerang roared at her.
But Harley only kept laughing, though her smile looked less natural now.
Raymond stepped close, gently stroking one of her twin ponytails with a sigh.
"It hurts, doesn't it? Don't argue—you can keep laughing. It's fine."
Harley laughed on, but the cracks were showing.
Raymond then turned away from her, addressing Joker again: "So what are you waiting for?"
This time, Joker didn't answer.
Raymond strolled up to the front, tapping on the partition. "I'm talking to you. Say something."
Clack!
A small panel slid open. Through the glowing blue grid, Raymond saw the driver—It was the Joker himself.
"How did you guess?" Joker turned his head, grinning.
"At a moment like this, when you're about to witness the death of someone you consider a worthy rival, there's no way you'd miss the show," Raymond said as if it were obvious.
"You seem to know me well…" Joker's tone carried a trace of surprise.
"More or less," Raymond shrugged. "Since you've already planned my death, then what are you still wai—ah, so this is what you were waiting for."
As he spoke, Deadshot's sub-personality—who had been secretly guarding his family—was suddenly killed without warning and forced to return!
"You felt that, didn't you?"
Seeing Raymond's reaction, Joker's grin widened with manic delight. "So I was right again! That's the real you!"
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