(Entry #170)
I had found and talked to Giovanni Zatara. I will not write about that here, though. I will meet Zatara again soon anyway. But more on that later.
I have reason to believe that Minhkhoa Khan is trying to kill me. There have now been three instances of something that is not coincidental happening. The first was in Brazil when Minhkhoa and I were training under Don Miguel. My break lines were cut.
The second time in Mexico, where a mysterious assailant slipped my Psilocybin while I fought jaguars, and the third time in Shanghai, where my rope was mysteriously cut.
I have reason to believe someone is following me, or that Minhkhoa is trying to take revenge. That is also why I am tracking Minhkhoa at the moment. I have laid a false trail that leads to Doctor Daniel Captio. An expert mentalist who was capable of complete conscious control over both his brain and body. Whoever it is, I will find them this way.
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(Entry #173)
Well, I found Minhkhoa. He was wounded and came to Dr Captio to 'warn' me about someone who had attacked him. Something isn't right. Minhkhoa has expressed 'regret' about the death of Luka Jungo ... I don't know what is going on, but someone is clearly pulling strings here, and I don't like it.
I am still waiting for the assailant to come here. I have the entire area under surveillance. I restocked in Mila before coming here.
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(Entry #178)
I found the man who followed Minhkhoa and me across the world. And I must say... I was unhappy, to say the least. But I am happy to know that I was able to notice him and slip away from him multiple times. He is skilled, very skilled and very well trained.
"Bruce Wayne. My name is Harris Zuma. I'm known out in the world as 'The Still'. I've been watching you. With great interest," he said. "The Deamon's Head is offering you and your friend tutelage in the Crystal Hills of Abu Dhabi. And I am here to make sure you arrive there."
"I will go wherever I please. Do not follow me anymore."
"This is not an offer you can refuse."
"And yet I am doing that."
"Then I will have to take you by force."
"I welcome you to try."
.
Harris Zuma and I fought on the cliffside as a storm struck. I liked this challenge. I could tell that he was very experienced and used underhanded tactics. But he never tried to kill me, so his offer must be genuine.
The Still was his nickname because he was so skilled at stealth and observation. He moved silently, and I could appreciate his skill. But that was once again all there was to it. I used him to improve my own stealth, then ended the fight.
Zuma delivered a series of quick punches and strikes that were meant to knock me off my feet. I blocked them all and then grabbed his wrist. In one fluid motion, I pulled him closer and then spun around, breaking his arm with my shoulder. I then kicked his knee, breaking it until the shin was slightly visible.
He won't be walking silently anymore after this, effectively ending the man's assassination career. Don't fuck with me.
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(Entry #188)
People tend to think of Dubai as the heart of the United Arab Emirates, where things happen. But really, Dubai is its New York City, while Abu Dhabi is its Washington. Minhkhoa and I make our masters proud. We use disguises, misdirection, stealth, using the skies as our highways and a little bit of terror to get the information we need: a final destination.
"I don't like this. There's nowhere to hide in the middle of the Rub' Al-Khali," Minhkhoa told me as we drove through the sandy dunes.
"It's not the 'middle.' We're still well within the UAE. Whoever this Ra's Al Ghul guy is, he's spent considerable time paying off emiratis. He's not going to build his Crystal Hilly in Saudi Arabia," I said.
"Hmpf, I suppose so. How is it we've never even heard of him? Some global 'do-gooder'? That man he sent after us, he sure knew who we were..."
"Harris Zuma, AKA the Still. No record of him existing either. He said Al Ghul's disciples were with us in North Korea... so I can only assume they were the assassins that Master Kirigi was paid to train by a mystery benefactor."
"No longer a mystery."
"How can a man want to save the world while also training--"
I didn't get to finish my sentence when our motor block exploded, and we crashed into the sand. It was't a malfunction. It was sabotage. We were sitting ducks, having to make the rest of our way on foot through the dry and hot desert.
It was about forty miles. At a good pace through the sand, we could have done it in ten hours. But we chose to take our time and talk, since it had been a while.
It is so rare in my life, I need to hold on to it for just a moment longer. I'm scared the lightness isn't long for me. I push aside thoughts of Al-Ghul and the road ahead. I even convince myself to forget that Anton is a psychopath who almost murdered a man in cold blood.
This can't last. And I think we both know it.
But we found it the next day. And it was quite magnificent. We made our way up the stairs and arrived at an outer area filled with some kind of equipment. And before we could even reach the doors, hundreds of assassins emerged and surrounded us.
.
This is how the meeting went.
"Gentlemen, there will be no fighting today. I can't afford to lose any of my people."
It was The Still who walked out of the doors and stopped our fight. The assassins got into position beside him after that.
"These two may not look it, but these young men have a fire that could burn the world down."
He turned to us and led the way inside the large constructs, and by the throne, it was magnificent. A mix of modern technology and ancient architecture.
"Welcome to Lazarus."
"This is... how can this exist out here in the desert?" I asked The Still, but someone else answered.
"It exists... because I willed it to exist. Which is something the two of you should understand."
We arrived at a great hall, where a finely dressed man stood surrounded by dozens of assassins. Slightly behind him stood a woman, equally finely dressed, but ready for a fight. Both of them had the presence of two sheathed swords or snakes.
"You've travelled the world, gathering knowledge in the face of great danger. Willing your future into existence," he continued.
"Why are we here?" I asked.
"Ah, the Speed of youth. You have all the time in the world... Mr Wayne, my name is Ra's Al Ghul. And this is my daughter, Talia. You're here because we have similar goals."
He led us further inside the large complex.
"Similar, but not the same. You both wish to stop injustice. To save people. Whereas I... wish to save the world."
He sat down in a comfortable-looking cushion chair, establishing his authority.
"What you saw out there is just the beginning. The Lazarus Cities will be self-sustaining environments that transform how people live on and consume this planet. You've seen the world. You've travelled through it. You know that it's broken.
You wish to stop crime? You need to stop starvation. You need to stop greed.
I have been watching the two of you, and you both need to think bigger. You learned from the greatest in the world, so let me be your final master. My daughter and I will teach you absolute endurance, ancient techniques to heal your body and how you can use both of your talents to create true change."
I thought about it hard and long. But after going through everything in my mind, the answer was obvious.
"I accept," I said.
"Might as well," Minhkhoa said.
"Excellent. We will begin instructing you tomorrow. For now, my dear, would you mind showing these gentlemen their quarters?"
"Hnf."
That's literally what she said, 'hnf', a stern woman, but this should be interesting.
.
(Entry #191)
I don't have much time to write every day. I have to be careful not to let anyone find this diary. I don't want to gather the attention of this Ra's. I don't sense anything good coming from him. He didn't lie when he told us his purpose. I could tell, though, that he wasn't telling us everything. There is more to him than meets the eye, and I am sure that should he find the lab ... well ...
I am being trained from morning till late evening. There is almost no time for myself. Ra's and Talia teach both Minhkhoa and me various fighting and healing techniques. This man is a well of skills. This could come from either a long life or a rich history of this clan. However, he called himself the founder of this 'League'. So he must have a way to stay young.
He seems sane for the most part. So there has to be a way for him to stay young like this. I wonder what, though.
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(Entry #200)
I tried to test Ra's today. I wanted to make him reveal more of himself. I don't trust him, and I thought that confronting him with an attitude would get a rise out of him. But he saw right through me. He is cunning and smarter than you might think. But he won't get anything from me.
We fought using swords, and while I thought I had gotten better thanks to all the training, I still couldn't defeat him, let alone injure him. He outclassed me. He injured me during the fight today and stabbed me with his sword.
Using the training I received from various teachers, such as Master Matsuda and Tsunetomo, I managed to stop the bleeding by controlling my body. Then I used what I learned here to disinfect the wound and stitched it together right on the spot. I have come a long way since the beginning of my training.
.
Talia asked to see me in the evening.
"Let me see the wound."
"Is this why you called me here? Because you're worried about me?" I asked.
"I want to know if we'll be carting you to the crematorium in a week's time. Well... already dispatched with the stitches. Impressive," she said.
...
"I understand why Father chose you," Talia commented.
"Choose me for what? To project manage his environmental cities, to help fund them or to be one of his assassins."
"Such judgment dripping from your voice, considering you travel with a murderer."
"I don't travel with him. If you wish to learn from the best the world has to offer, you will eventually cross paths. It's unavoidable. Deep down, Minhkhoa isn't a bad man. His inability to feel empathy or fear is not his fault."
"You are fascinating. You're focused outward. Your rebellion is tinged with compassion. So many have come to grovel at Father's feet that I believe he welcomes the challenges of the young man who would dare stare him in the eye."
"You're wrong. To rebel means to go against authority. But no one has authority over me," I revealed to her.
"Father doesn't know what's coming, does he?"
She then tried to kiss me, but I refused her advance. I am certain that Ra's wouldn't think twice about using his daughter to his advantage. So giving in is the most dangerous thing I could ever do now.
.
(Entry #201)
I was drugged... Talia drugged me. This is bad. I'll have to take care of that soon. But I can't right now.
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(Entry #205)
Ra's has called for us today. Here's how it went:
"I called for you from around the world. I called for you from over aeons. You want to know why you're here? Not just with me, in this room, but on this earth? I told the truth: to save our planet. Your real question, though, is... why my League of Assassins?
They protect me. When you wish to change the world, the men who control it will do anything to stop that change. Nations have armies. We are a nation. Blood has been shed. Blood may still be shed. Whatever path the two of you think you're on... it is not a peaceful one. It is a forceful one in the service of peace.
You have learned from thieves and killers. Men and women who hide in the mountains and woods. They gave you what you needed, but they are cowards themselves. None of them helped when the world and humanity needed them. But I do.
Recently, my assassin, The Still, failed me, and I sent him away for him to find his replacement. He found you, Bruce and Khan ... So a decision must be made. Bruce defeated The Still, but only after he was weakened by Minhkhoa. You both have the training, you both have the drive, but do you have what it takes ... what is needed?"
I know he was right. What am I trying to do? Am I supposed to go back to Gotham and walk the streets looking for muggers? With everything I've learned? If we make the world a paradise, the Joe Chills of the world won't exist.
This was it. This was what my life had been building towards. And yet...
"I refuse. I have nothing to prove and will not play this game," I said to them. "If you want our help to save the world, just ask."
"Hn. The fascinating hubris of a young man born into wealth. But tell me, Mr Wayne... does your friend feel the same way?"
Khan held his sword to my throat.
"Sorry, Bruce, but this is the future, and I'm going to help, even if I have to put this sword into you."
Khan swung his sword at me, but I dodged it and grabbed the other sword, while spinning on my feet and kicking Khan. I prepare to fight back. This should be easy.
We begin our sword fight, and it is clear that Khan has no chance. I deflect all of his strikes, and he notices that I am not even using my full strength to fight him. He gets enraged and throws away his sword.
"Come! We will finish this fight with our hands!"
I can tell there is something more in his tone. I wasn't sure what it was, but he wanted to tell me something. Khan is not someone who would willingly throw away his sword when I still have mine in my hands.
Our hand-to-hand combat goes even worse for Khan, because I injure him with many strikes. I managed to confirm my suspicion about Khan when I had him in a chokehold.
"...they have missiles ..." he told me, just as he passed out.
"Bruce Wayne is the winner of this bout. Take Khan away from here. I am known as the Demon's Head, and this young man ... doesn't strike me as a Demon's hand. No! You're more than that, Mr Wayne. Going forward, you will be known as the Demon's heart!"