As dawn broke, the muggers in Gotham City were having a miserable time.
Gordon and his partner, Harvey Bullock, were hunting muggers everywhere, trying to find clues related to the murder of the Waynes, leaving every mugger in fear for their own safety.
“Greedy, filthy, brainless brutes.”
Oswald Cobblepot walked through the alley outside the bar, disdainfully evaluating the arrested muggers.
He had always looked down on those who relied on brute force to achieve their goals.
To survive in the underworld, one had to use their brain.
Of course, the main reason was that he was small, frail, and possessed incredibly low combat ability.
“Hey, Penguin.”
Oswald’s expression suddenly turned ugly.
Because of his physical condition, he had been bullied since childhood, making him highly sensitive.
He hated it most when others called him by that humiliating nickname.
Several tall, burly men surrounded him.
Oswald quickly put on a flattering smile.
“Hi, Kenny, is there anything I can help you with?”
As much as he hated it, Oswald was excellent at reading the situation and knowing when to yield.
“Actually, there is, Penguin,” said the speaker, a bearded, slightly sleazy-looking man.
He leaned in closer.
“What time is Fish coming back today?”
“You know I can’t reveal the boss’s whereabouts,” the Penguin replied, shaking his head.
Seeing the burly men close in tighter, he hurriedly added, “But I don’t have any work until four o’clock this afternoon.”
The Penguin was Fish Mooney’s umbrella boy; the implication of him having no work was obvious.
“Good job, Penguin.”
Kenny patted the Penguin’s cheek in satisfaction and then led his men away.
The Penguin’s smile vanished instantly.
His expression changed rapidly as he stared coldly in the direction Kenny and his men had left.
“You lied.”
A voice rang out.
The Penguin quickly masked his expression and turned to look, only to see Rex walking out from a corner.
He had been standing there for a while.
The Penguin was the perfect partner in his mind.
Yes, a partner.
Although he was a villain and known for his ruthlessness, the Penguin was impeccably loyal to his own people.
In this regard, he was much better than a “good guy” like Gordon.
The prerequisite, of course, was that he considered you a friend, not a subordinate.
Rex would frequently travel to other worlds in the future.
If a leader disappeared for long periods, even the largest faction would collapse, especially a leader-centric group like a mob.
Therefore, Rex decided to adopt a model where the Penguin would act as the figurehead while he remained behind the scenes.
Between controlling an entire gang and controlling just the Penguin, Rex felt the latter was much simpler.
This was because the Penguin was currently just a lowly underling, and he had an obvious weakness: his mother.
Furthermore, if the gang ever drew the attention of a police crackdown in the future, the Penguin would be the one to take the fall.
“It’s you, that boxer.”
The Penguin recognized Rex at a glance—he was very well-informed—and immediately relaxed.
“Are you looking to join Fish?
A good idea.
But Fish might not have the time to see you.
Do you catch my drift, sir?”
Assuming Rex was seeking asylum, the Penguin habitually put on airs, waiting for a bribe.
Towards those of lower status than himself, the Penguin always maintained an arrogant attitude.
In his eyes, a hunted boxer belonged solidly at the bottom of the hierarchy.
“I’m not looking for Fish.
In fact, the Maroni family has never been a threat to me.”
Rex knew perfectly well that when dealing with someone like the Penguin, he couldn’t afford to lose the upper hand right from the start.
“Let me introduce myself.
My name is Rex Cross.”
“I came to find you, Oswald.”
“I don’t quite understand your meaning, sir.”
The Penguin grew vigilant, not understanding where a hunted boxer got such audacity.
“They are stealing Fish’s money, aren’t they?” Rex asked, changing the subject but using a tone of absolute certainty.
He recognized that Kenny was the same underling caught stealing money whom Fish Mooney taught a severe lesson during her first appearance in the show.
At that time, Gordon had just come to ask Fish about the Wayne murders and had questioned her.
Therefore, Rex deduced that the Penguin must have been lying.
Seeing Rex so certain, the Penguin no longer played dumb.
“Yes,” the Penguin smiled faintly.
“Kenny takes money from the bar every week.
He thinks no one knows.”
The Penguin shrugged.
“But I know.”
“Fish will be back at two o’clock this afternoon.
Kenny is finished.”
Oswald became increasingly excited as he spoke; he was very much looking forward to seeing that unfold.
Rex wasn’t surprised.
That was just how the Penguin was; if he wanted to exact revenge on someone, he absolutely couldn’t wait until the next day.
Rex applauded in praise.
“Bullies always look down on the weak with arrogance.
But they don’t realize that an elephant hated by ants is equally in danger.”
The Penguin was slightly puzzled, but hearing those words made him feel somewhat validated.
“I admire you, Oswald.”
“Ah…
uh…
thank you.”
Heaven knew that, in all his life, apart from his own mother, this was the first time the Penguin had ever received someone else’s approval.
He didn’t know how to respond, leaving him momentarily incoherent.
He was not yet the future King of Gotham, at most just a mob underling who wanted to replace his boss.
Where would he have ever heard such pleasant words?
“Gotham is about to fall into chaos.
I believe you can see it too.” Rex stepped closer, and Oswald showed no intention of retreating this time.
“Falcone is getting old, and new factions are rising.
Someone will eventually take his place.”
Rex stared into the Penguin’s eyes and could tell he completely agreed.
In the original plot, this was exactly how he seized the opportunity to rise to power.
“So, who will be the ultimate winner?
Who will become the King of Gotham?”
Rex slowly listed the candidates.
“Sal Maroni?”
The Penguin shook his head.
“Fish Mooney?”
The Penguin still shook his head.
Even though Fish was his boss, if she rose to the top, it meant he would forever remain an umbrella boy.
“Or some other minor gang?”
The Penguin disapproved even more.
Seeing this, Rex immediately presented the final option.
“Since anyone is possible, why can’t it be us?”
“Us?”
The Penguin’s heart began to pound.
These words struck a chord deep within him, but in reality, it felt a bit unrealistic.
He had the guts to kill his boss and take over, but King of Gotham?
He hadn’t even dared to think that far yet.
Moreover, he caught the key point in Rex’s words.
“Are you trying to recruit me?” the Penguin offered a half-smile.
Although Rex’s words suited his taste perfectly, he wasn’t someone who changed bosses lightly.
“Not right now.” Rex wasn’t in that much of a hurry.
“I just came to introduce myself.
When you need me, I will come again.”
After saying that, Rex turned and walked away, leaving Oswald standing there in stunned silence.
Rex naturally didn’t think a few words could bring the Penguin under his command, even though the current Penguin didn’t even know how to demand a ransom after kidnapping someone.
It sounded a bit absurd, but to subdue a villain like the Penguin, one had to play the emotional card.
Towards the strong, the Penguin’s attitude was usually to submit first and then consider usurping them later.
But to friends he acknowledged, the Penguin would wear his heart on his sleeve.
In the plot, because Gordon spared his life, the Penguin treated Gordon as his most trusted person besides his mother from then on.
If Gordon could do it, why couldn’t he.
Rex had thought carefully for a long time last night, linking together all the plots he knew to formulate a highly comprehensive plan.
Rex intended to replicate Gordon’s approach: first, sit back and watch the Penguin fall into a desperate situation, and then step out to save him.
When that time came, the Penguin would gravitate towards him of his own accord.