Chapter 975: High Tower Battle (Nine) (Patreon)

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When Batman went to get his meal, he kept an eye on where Alfred was sitting, hoping his butler would catch his glance. However, within the Manor, Alfred, who usually cared for him meticulously, now seemed to not recognize him at all. He was chatting away with Demon while eating.

Several burly old miners were also sitting with the foreman, chatting enthusiastically. Before long, Schiller and the foreman he had known before joined them. With seven or eight Demons and two humans at the table, it became quite lively.

There was nothing particularly special about the food in the bowls. It seemed like boiled vines with two strange pieces of roasted Beast meat. The taste wasn't great, but it was edible. Batman shoveled his food while keeping an eye on the activity over there.

With a clang, the utensils were placed on the table. Batman turned his head and saw Merkel, who was also staring straight at him. Before he could speak, Merkel sighed and said, "I've been mining all morning and completely missed how Mr. Pennyworth managed to get mixed up with them. Mr. Wayne, did you see it?"

"Call me Batman." Turning his head, Batman glanced around and lowered his voice slightly before saying, "How did you and Alfred end up here? What about Zatanna?"

"Miss Zatanna opened the portal, and then, um, she collapsed due to exhaustion. Mr. Alfred took her to rest upstairs in the Manor. The two of us came through the portal and ended up here."

"Weren't you captured by that large sandworm?" Batman asked.

Merkel shook his head. "The spot where we landed, not far from here, was in an underground cave. Seeing signs of activity, Alfred led me over."

"Were you looking for me and Schiller?"

"It seemed like it at first, but then Alfred seemed to have other things in mind, so we decided to stay here."

Just as Merkel said this, he noticed a dark tentacle reaching towards him. Before he could stand up, Batman turned his head and said, "Hexagon, I was just looking for you."

Hexagon slowly moved over. In better light, he appeared like a mass of black vines bunched up into a ball. He didn't quite resemble a Demon monster; rather, he looked more like an intelligent plant. Catching Batman's eye, Hexagon lowered his gaze and inspected himself before saying, "What's so surprising? Shadow monsters like me, awakened shadow vines, are common in mines. Oh, right, you're new to hell, probably didn't know..."

Hexagon grabbed a chair with his tentacle and sat down. Then, he tossed a piece of meat into his mouth with another tentacle. Batman couldn't see where his mouth was exactly, but the meat disappeared into the center of the tentacle mass.

"Is he your friend?" Hexagon turned his eye towards Merkel, who still looked wary of the monster. Batman nodded, then glanced at Hexagon's tentacle, asking, "Is your injury better?"

"Your healing magic is really effective. The wound doesn't hurt anymore, but..." Hexagon waved his tentacle, then sighed. "Forget it."

Batman wanted to ask more, but at that moment, he noticed Alfred leaving the table opposite them. After a while, Schiller followed suit. They were probably going to have a secret meeting.

Both Batman and Merkel stood up, intending to follow, but the group of foremen had finished their meal and redirected their attention towards them. Knowing they couldn't act rashly, Batman and Merkel sat back down and resumed eating.

After lunchtime ended, as they returned to work in the mine, Schiller slowed down and approached Batman. He left with a simple message: "Midnight, gather at the abandoned mine halfway up the mountain."

They worked for another afternoon. This time, Batman started to slack off, but he didn't steal minerals from other Demons. Instead, he piled the heavy rocks and soil fragments into the bottom of the basket.

Schiller was in charge of transporting the mine carts, but his attention was elsewhere. Batman carried a basket full of minerals, appearing to have a good harvest, while the bottom of the cart was filled with soil fragments.

Schiller glanced at the dirt in the cart and raised an eyebrow at Batman. He muttered softly, "Too bad you've already graduated, otherwise, I'd really consider giving you an extra two points."

Batman shook his head as he walked away. "If I hadn't graduated, you'd definitely deduct two points from me."

At midnight, Batman quietly moved aside the grass mat and began examining the crack in the wall. He suspected it might be a trap set by the Demons, so he proceeded cautiously.

He first cleared away the rubble with his hands, feeling the airflow inside. Then he held the torch down to look into the crack and indeed saw a passage.

Judging by the direction and strength of the airflow, there had to be an exit on the other side, and the path wasn't rugged. There was no cover-up at the exit.

This indicated that the exit was likely naturally concealed, hence didn't need extra items to cover it up, resulting in such strong airflow.

Using his fingers covered in gauntlets, Batman dug open the crack a bit, held the torch inside, and indeed saw the exit of the passage leading to the opposite mountainside.

Recalling the full view of the mine he had seen before, Batman calculated the distance of the passage and found that the exit should be right behind the right side of the fortress on the mountainside, near the foot of the mountain.

It was relatively exposed, but almost no one went there, and the opposite smaller mountain was quite far away, separated by the erupting Cigarette road. Guards couldn't possibly see any activity here.

After realizing this, Batman began to dig. The previous miner who dug out this passage seemed to have done it for convenience, as the entrance was loosely covered. With a few gentle digs, Batman opened most of it.

After crawling into the passage, Batman covered the entrance with soil and then pulled over a grass mat to conceal the hole.

After he left, several black tentacles reached over, cleaned up the loose soil from the excavation, and silently retreated.

Emerging from the hole at the foot of the mountain, Batman found a rugged but hidden path and started to ascend halfway up the mountain. Just as he entered the abandoned mine, he found Schiller already waiting there.

Just as Batman was about to step forward to say something, Alfred led Merkel into the room, carrying two torches. Merkel secured the torches, bringing a hint of light into the dark abandoned mine.

Seeing everyone assembled, Batman cleared his throat, but no one paid attention to him. Schiller stood up first, walked over, and shook hands with Alfred, saying, "Hello, comrade."

Alfred took off his hat and also addressed Schiller, "Hello, comrade. I am Bieg, the operational officer of the First Bureau of the Soviet Union's State Security Committee, conveying greetings from Moscow."

Merkel also stepped forward, shook hands with Schiller again, and said, "I am Oliver, a special recruitment officer of the Fifth Bureau of the Soviet Union's State Security Committee."

Schiller nodded, glanced at both of them, and then said, "Due to the need for confidentiality, I cannot disclose my true name and rank at the moment. But please believe that we are all fighting for the cause of communism."

"Yes, Comrade Vasiliyevich, Moscow has sent a telegram, highly praising your revolutionary work in Central America," Alfred said solemnly, placing his hat on the desk. They both sat down at the table, and Alfred continued, "Comrade Vasiliyevich, Moscow expresses affirmation and praise for your achievements in Central America."

"In his handwritten letter, he referred to you as the eternal friend of the Mexican people and the banner of revival in the Americas."

However, Schiller shook his head. "We all know that there is no such thing as a savior. The revolution is inevitable and spontaneous, and it does not require a glorious and great leader. This is the will of the Mexican people, the will of the land of the Americas..."

"On that land, filled with countless evils, the Mexican people have been silent for too long. Therefore, they only need a small spark to ignite the entire land of Central America. They just need someone to guide them on the right path, not a leader. That is why I did not step forward."

"In any case, Comrade Schiller, you have accomplished unprecedented feats, injecting fresh blood into the heart of Moscow from far away," Alfred said sternly.

But Schiller shook his head again. "The cause of communism has no so-called heart. Here, every comrade, every idealist, every person who has walked or is walking on this road, is an indispensable lifeblood."

Batman observed as Alfred's furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and Schiller continued, "Comrade Alfred, I know that at one point, you had doubts about certain aspects of this road. But that is perfectly normal."

"We are exploring this road, and there will always be periods of confusion, differing opinions, and branching paths. But if we don't take a step forward, we will remain stagnant."

"You don't have to feel disappointed because of the mistakes of some people. Instead, feeling lost and uncertain due to differing opinions is a sign that you are still loyal to the initial ideals."

"Please believe that the bloodlines that continue to surge forward have never stopped advancing."

"Perhaps the most fervent heart that once beat has grown old, just like the people of that era—some waver, some age."

"But there will still be new blood joining, a young and vibrant heart beating on new lands."

Schiller's tone always remained calm, as if stating a fact. But Batman had never seen such a moved expression on Alfred's face. He even saw his old butler becoming teary-eyed.

Batman had never witnessed such passionate emotions from this old man. He was always mild and gentle, like an old tree reaching the end of its life, gnarled and twisted, with each vein telling a story.

But today, Batman saw new vitality on the branches of this old tree. It was as if the blood, suppressed and hidden within the aging trunk for layers upon layers of years, surged up again.

Alfred stood up, shook hands with Schiller once more, and they fell silent, saying nothing.

Yet Batman clearly saw that with just an eye contact, they spoke of the tumultuous waves of the world and the ups and downs of life over decades.

Between their souls, there was a power that Batman couldn't comprehend, which made them shine brighter and more vigorous than the red sun on the horizon, even amidst hell and surrounded by Demons.

Merkel seemed to be moved by this power too. He remained silent with Batman, and after a long silence in the abandoned mine, Schiller and Alfred spoke together and then fell silent together.

"You go ahead," Schiller gestured, but Alfred shook his head and said, "No, you go ahead. I believe your rank should be higher than mine, and your achievements stronger."

Without hesitation, Schiller nodded, stood up, and said, "Now, with the three of us, we can establish a temporary command headquarters. Let me briefly explain the spirit of this operation."

"The land of hell, weathered for millennia, the people of hell, enduring hardship, the Demon lords, are like a mountain pressing down on ordinary people in hell."

"And we, as the oppressed, the long-oppressed but resilient, and with a spirit of resistance, must fight the stubborn old forces to the end!"

Schiller stood up, looking at the smoke rising outside the abandoned cave, his voice echoing between the mountains:

"All the oppressed mortals of hell, all the underworld races who have been bullied and exploited, all the Demons who have suffered injustice, will unite to make the land of hell, dare to change for a new heaven!"

[Read at www.patreon.com/shanefreak, and thanks for the invaluable support!]

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Next Chapter>>Chapter 976: The Battle for the High Tower (Part Ten)