Chapter 25: Does the Technical Department Actually Hire Lunatics?

"Hello, is this Mr. Ma Zhaodi?"

"Speaking. Who is this?"

"Lucius Fox. You can call me Lucius. I came across a rather unique wheelchair last night, so I wanted to call and ask if you had recently lost an electric wheelchair."

"Ah... yes, that is my wheelchair." Ma Zhaodi replied mechanically, while his mind was reeling.

*Holy hell*, the man on the other end said his name was Lucius Fox. Unless it was a bizarre coincidence of names, this was one of Batman's core technical support pillars.

And he said he found the wheelchair—so where did the mugger go? Furthermore, according to the system's specifications, the wheelchair's modifications didn't utilize any high-end tech or exotic materials; it was a standard, albeit reckless, job. Why would something like that catch his attention?

"Oh, it’s like this: that wheelchair rear-ended my car yesterday. I’ve advised the Gotham City Police Department to keep the incident quiet, and I don't require any compensation from you. However, on a personal level, I am quite interested in some of the components on that chair. Would you mind meeting me to discuss this privately?"

"Er..."

Sensing the hesitation on the other end, Lucius calmly added, "Sir, I am the technical director of Wayne Enterprises. You needn't be overly concerned. I am reaching out simply because I believe there may be potential for us to collaborate on a technical level."

"You’ve already identified my phone number, so you’ve certainly verified my other information as well, haven't you?"

"That is correct. I apologize, but I meant no offense. It was merely a standard information inquiry; we have no intention of infringing upon your privacy."

Clearly, Lucius’s inquiry was a matter of courtesy. If the investigation by Wayne Enterprises were blocked, someone else’s investigation might come knocking instead. While this sounded like paranoia on Ma Zhaodi's part, in Gotham, the probability of such things was never zero.

"I just don't understand why you'd come to me—it certainly can't be because of the wheelchair. Its technology isn't exactly groundbreaking."

"We can discuss that when we meet, Mr. Ma Zhaodi. Today, tomorrow, or the day after, between three and five in the afternoon. Please call this number once you are ready, and I will have someone pick you up."

"What if I don't want to come?"

"I respect your wishes, but I do hope you will come. Communication would be mutually beneficial, and I won't take up too much of your time."

"Is after ten this evening acceptable?"

"I will compensate you for any financial losses during your time off. Please, do make it between three and five."

***

"Fine, fine."

Lucius’s tone was so polite it bordered on being excessively formal. After careful consideration, Ma Zhaodi decided to ask Donald for time off. As for the loss of a few hundred dollars in asset points, he would just have to chalk it up to bad luck.

As a conglomerate with business interests spanning Gotham’s healthcare, food, transportation, and construction sectors, Wayne Enterprises was a corporate titan that even a crime lord like Falcone would never dare to cross directly.

To survive in Gotham, even if one didn't want to cooperate with them, one certainly shouldn't make them an enemy.

So, at three o'clock that afternoon, Ma Zhaodi dialed the number Lucius had left.

Donald was actually quite decent; he didn't even ask why Ma Zhaodi needed the time off, simply granting him the afternoon.

...

At 3:26 PM, Wayne Tower.

"Mr. Ma Zhaodi, let's get straight to the point." The middle-aged Black man in a suit sat across from Ma Zhaodi, gently placing a small bag on the desk. Inside was a fragment of a blue petal.

*What the hell? Where did he get that petal?*

Ma Zhaodi struggled to keep his poker face intact. As far as he could recall, he had only had that flower tea once, and he had chewed up the petals and even the... wait, where was his thermos?

*Oh, crap!* There was a cup holder next to the seat of the modified wheelchair! He had even praised the modification for being thoughtful and practical at the time, and had casually placed the cup inside...

He never imagined that the reason he was being tracked down was because a bit of the tea from his thermos had remained, only to be delivered into Lucius's hands following the car accident.

"This was found on your wheelchair. We are still conducting further analysis, but the preliminary results are already in. Mr. Ma Zhaodi, this plant you brought into Gotham seems quite extraordinary."

Ma Zhaodi’s mind raced. Denying it now would be the worst possible move; his DNA was in the thermos. Better to simply admit it and play the role of an unremarkable passerby.

"I thought you reached out because of the wheelchair."

"That illegally modified wheelchair is also very interesting, Mr. Ma Zhaodi, but I would advise you against using such dangerous transport. However, as I said before, the reason I called you was because of 'the items on the wheelchair.'"

***

"Well, in truth, I only obtained that flower tea after arriving in Gotham. And there wasn't much of it; I only have one bag left—in fact, before yesterday, I had never even tried that kind of tea. I wasn't even aware it had a stimulating effect."

Hearing Ma Zhaodi’s answer, Lucius asked, "Stimulating? Its effect is to stimulate?"

"Yes. I had a cup yesterday at noon, and I couldn't sleep all night. I only managed ten minutes of sleep in the car this afternoon—it feels much more effective than coffee."

So it wasn't a new type of drug, just a natural, long-acting stimulant. This result made Lucius breathe a slight sigh of relief; at least there wouldn't be another item added to Batman's to-do list, which might make his schedule slightly more manageable.

"Interesting. And where did it come from?"

"I picked it up on the train ride to Gotham. I can't even remember where I was passing through at the time. It just drifted in through the window, and I thought they looked nice and smelled pleasant, so I collected them."

"That sounds quite poetic."

"Uh-huh. Anyway, the rest is right here." Ma Zhaodi pulled a small cloth pouch from his pocket, which indeed contained more of the same blue flowers found in the small bag.

"I don't know why you're interested in these flowers, but they aren't of much use to me. If you want them, I'll sell them to you."

"Are you truly unable to narrow down where they might have drifted from?"

"I'm sorry, I wasn't very awake on the train. I spent most of the time sleeping."

"Very well, then. I will pay you a sum of money, or you may choose another form of compensation."

"What kind of compensation?"

"For instance, joining Wayne Enterprises as a member of our technical department."