American Comics: The Strongest Villain

"Guess?" Su Sheng tilted his head, a smile playing on his lips.

Talia al Ghul, or Miranda Tate as she was known publicly, stood before him, her expression a blend of fear and defiance. The dramatic change in her demeanor, from feigned calm to sudden distress, was expertly executed. The fear that flashed in her eyes, coupled with the relief and surprise when she recognized him, spoke volumes about her acting skills. It was no wonder she had managed to deceive the likes of Batman.

Her reaction to the question was not what Su Sheng had anticipated. She took a moment to compose herself before answering, "My name is Miranda Tate. I'm an ally of Police Chief James Gordon and Batgirl. Batgirl sought your help to deal with Bane. Haven't you met her?"

"I have," Su Sheng replied, his smile widening. "But she's already gone back."

He moved closer, the smile never leaving his face, and carefully extracted the dagger from her shoulder. The blade was cold and sharp, and as he removed it, Talia flinched, her body trembling slightly.

"Did you agree to help?" she asked nervously.

Her voice betrayed her unease as Su Sheng's cold blade pressed against her shoulder. Despite the pain and fear evident on her face, she remained still, her gaze fixed on him. The dagger slid slowly down her shoulder, and with it, the strap of her blue dress fell away, revealing more of her skin.

"Guess," Su Sheng said, watching her with a gleam of amusement in his eyes. He gave a sudden, sharp tug, and the dress tore easily, falling away to the floor.

Talia's instinct was to cover herself, but the looming presence of the dagger kept her from moving. Her eyes flashed with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, her voice trembling.

Su Sheng stepped back, a thoughtful look crossing his face. He pulled out his camera and began snapping photos of her. The sound of the shutter seemed to heighten her sense of humiliation and rage. Her expression shifted between anger and a chilling resolve.

After taking several pictures, Su Sheng finally put the camera away. "I want the Batmobile," he said, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather.

Talia looked up at him, her eyes narrowing. "You're blackmailing me? The Batmobile is Batman's property, and I don't have access to it."

"Whether you're Miranda Tate or Talia al Ghul, you can get the Batmobile, can't you?" Su Sheng countered. "Get it for me, and I'll hand Barbara Gordon over to Bane. What do you say?"

Talia's eyes widened in shock. How did he know her true identity? This was impossible—no one in Gotham should have been aware of her true self!

"Hey, hey, hey." Su Sheng snapped his fingers in front of her face. "Stop overthinking it."

She knew of Su Sheng's reputation. Despite his dubious character, both James Gordon and Barbara Gordon had pinned their hopes on him, believing him to be Gotham's savior. Although she wasn't sure how he had discovered her identity, it was clear that he had no intention of honoring any promises to Barbara Gordon.

"You didn't agree to cooperate with Batgirl?" Talia asked, her tone sharp, as if confirming her worst fears.

Su Sheng grinned. "No, I promised to deal with Bane."

Her laughter was unrestrained, turning into a mocking tone. "They sought your help to save Gotham, only to be betrayed over a Batmobile. It seems that despair amidst hope is their fate, as well as Gotham's."

"They're planning their move tomorrow," Talia continued, her voice dripping with disdain. "A small-time cop named John Black will attempt to rescue the trapped police force, while James Gordon will lead an assault on City Hall. If you agree, Barbara Gordon will join you to confront Bane. I will act under the guise of dismantling the nuclear reactor. In two hours, I'll have someone deliver the Batmobile to a location a couple of blocks from where you are. You can pick it up then, but you must delete the photos you just took."

"That's not happening," Su Sheng said with a smirk. "These photos are more intriguing to me than the Batmobile. While Batman might not care much about losing his Batmobile, these pictures of his woman are a different story."

Talia's frown deepened. She studied Su Sheng's face, then sighed in resignation. "Fine. If you like them, keep them. It doesn't matter now. I'll deal with you after you're dead."

The coldness in her voice was palpable. As Su Sheng turned to leave, she added, "I'm looking forward to your reaction before you die."

With that, Su Sheng exited the warehouse, leaving Talia to gather her clothes. Despite her attempts to salvage her dignity, the best she could manage were some dirty rags. After sending instructions for the Batmobile to be delivered, she prepared to rejoin Barbara and the others.

Two hours later, Su Sheng located the Batmobile and began his inspection. The vehicle was as impressive as he had hoped—stylish, functional, and equipped with advanced features. It could drive and fly, and even had an autopilot function. Su Sheng spent the remainder of the evening studying the Batmobile before hiding it and returning to Harley Quinn's apartment.