A Smart Woman

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The bullet punched through Frank's shoulder.

Pale-faced, he lay on the ground clutching the wound. For the moment, it did not look fatal.

"Good. He is not dead. Otherwise, that really would have been a slap in my face."

Damon did not care how badly Frank was hurt or how much pain he was in. That shot had been aimed at Frank in the first place. If the target had been Damon, his copy ability would have triggered.

His power was not only Infinite Copy and Infinite Stacking.

It came with a warning function too.

Ambushes and assassinations were not something he needed to worry about.

At the gate, three people appeared.

The one in front was striking. She wore a long red dress, had dazzling white hair, and beneath her blunt bangs was an Asian face.

Two people followed behind her. One held a gun. The other carried a black case that looked almost like an instrument case.

"China White!"

Frank, still on the ground, spat her name with hatred. Then he hurriedly spoke to Damon.

"She is with the Triad, the one responsible for drug distribution. I just killed some of her people. She came to kill me."

Frank anxiously reminded Damon of their agreement.

"You promised me. I gave you my daughter, and you keep me alive."

Hearing her father's words, Helena lay there like dead weight, expressionless.

China White gave a disdainful little laugh, then turned to Damon with a respectful, almost ingratiating expression.

"Mr. Keller, hello. I am China White. I came to deliver something to you."

"Bring it over."

At her order, the subordinate carrying the case walked up to Damon and opened it carefully.

Inside were the costume and gear Damon had demanded from Talia al Ghul.

Damon nodded slightly.

The subordinate closed the case, set it beside Damon's foot, and slowly backed away.

"Mr. Keller, may I have a few words with you?" China White asked with a smile.

"Of course."

Damon smiled brightly and looked at the gunman beside her.

"But are you sure what you want to discuss will keep me from killing your shooter?"

China White's expression paused for a fraction of a second before her smile returned.

"I believe so."

Damon looked toward Frank.

"I will talk with her for a minute. You can handle the rest yourself, right?"

Frank nodded blankly, while his mind raced over Damon's identity.

He had assumed Damon was only a man with bizarre powers. But now, even China White of the Triad, someone Frank considered dangerous, treated him with this much courtesy.

Who exactly was he?

And how much power did the person who had ordered China White to deliver something to him possess?

Not far outside the villa, a black Hummer waited.

Two subordinates stood guard outside as Damon and China White got in.

"Speak," Damon said mildly.

China White's accent carried a faint Hong Kong lilt when she began.

"Aside from delivering the item, I received another task. Kill you. The payment was thirty million dollars."

Damon nodded without comment.

If Talia al Ghul had not taken the opportunity to do something, she would not be Talia.

China White turned, took out another case, pushed it toward Damon, and opened it.

Inside were stacks of U.S. dollars.

"The money is here. The broker is dead."

"I hope this is enough to forgive my subordinate's behavior just now."

Damon looked at China White with interest.

"Why do this?"

"Because I know who you are and what you did in Gotham. I do not want to provoke you. If possible, I would like your friendship."

China White explained seriously.

No one was stupid.

The Triad's reach extended across the world. Gathering information was not hard. Damon's actions in Gotham had been officially suppressed, but plenty of people in the streets and underground had heard enough.

China White knew who Bane was.

She knew how strong he had been.

Even if she was confident enough not to fear Bane, she would not provoke a dangerous enemy who had killed him in seconds just for thirty million dollars.

Especially when that enemy was currently in Starling City, on her territory.

Damon patted the case full of cash, then suddenly smiled and pushed it back.

"You kept this money with your own ability. Keep it. I will not bother asking whether you are afraid of retaliation. What happened just now is settled. Do not kill Frank for a while."

"All right."

China White smiled.

"If you ever need anything, the Triad is ready to help."

Damon smiled, got out of the vehicle, and returned to the villa courtyard.

Helena still lay blankly on the ground.

Frank had already sat up and roughly bandaged his wound while making calls to bring in more people.

When Damon came back, Frank lowered the phone and wanted to ask what had happened. But Damon only picked up the case with one hand, grabbed Helena by the hair with the other, and walked toward the villa.

Frank opened his mouth, then said nothing.

In Helena's room, Damon shut the door, let go of Helena, sat by the bed, and opened the case.

Inside were two black costumes made with the same material Batman used. Long tops and pants, gloves, masks, utility belts, everything was there.

There was also a collapsible staff, rope gear, and other standard tools.

Damon inspected everything carefully. After confirming there were no surveillance devices, he got up, went to the wardrobe, found a random bag, and packed the gear away.

"Come back to life."

Damon looked at Helena and chuckled.

"You are not dead. Your secret has not been exposed. And now you have more convenient chances to gather evidence. You should be happy."

"What is the point?"

Helena raised her head and looked at him.

"You will not give me the chance to succeed. You want me to feel as if I am getting closer and closer, while you stand in front of success itself. One step away. For that one step, I will not dare die, and I will not dare give up. I can only endure despair while hope keeps dragging me forward."

"You are cruel."

"I do not mind being tricked," Damon said, "but I also do not want every person I meet to try it once. I still have a reputation, don't I?"

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