"There's someone I'd really like to meet, the young man you spoke so highly of. In the twenty first century, talented people are more valuable than ever.
"But more importantly..."
Carmine laughed.
"I'm glad an old man like me still has another chance to return to Gotham."
He firmly shook Axel's hand.
"I accept, Wraith."
"Still, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you for very long."
"My cancer has already metastasized."
"The doctors estimate I have no more than six months left."
"I can probably give you three or four months."
"That should be enough to reorganize Gotham completely."
"I'll establish how the Dead Souls Gang should operate and help shape Gotham's new social order."
"That's probably all I'll have time to accomplish."
Looking at the old Roman whose eyes had regained their purpose, Axel nodded with satisfaction.
"Good."
"With you around, I won't have to worry about the Dead Souls Gang falling apart."
"But what do you mean you'll work for half a year and then leave?"
"Forget it."
"You think you can quit?"
"I'll have Bruce, Lex, and the others devote some time to your condition."
"Cancer is troublesome, but death isn't inevitable."
"If I don't allow you to die, Lucifer won't be seeing you anytime soon."
"If science can't cure you, then we'll use magic."
"Or theology."
"Old man, your life is the salary I'm paying you."
"So don't even think about dying."
As soon as he finished speaking, Axel clapped Carmine on the shoulder.
Before Carmine could respond, the scenery around them shifted.
They vanished from the hospital.
The next instant, they appeared on the manor grounds.
Not far away, several pandas were wrestling with a family of polar bears while Selina desperately tried to separate them.
Carmine stared blankly at the bizarre scene before sighing.
"Your abilities really are convenient."
Axel grinned.
"Right?"
"I like powers that make life easier."
"They're useful whether I'm looking for someone..."
"Or killing someone."
Chuckling, Axel walked toward Selina.
She was gripping a panda by its fur while shouting toward the manor.
"Someone get over here!"
"These bears have gone completely insane!"
"Why did Axel bring home an entire family of polar bears?"
"They're way more aggressive than the pandas!"
"Hurry up!"
"Coming."
Ju Zi Yun jogged over.
Without hesitation, she wrapped both arms around the father polar bear and effortlessly threw him across the field.
He rolled several times before finally stopping.
She then turned toward the enraged panda and raised her fist.
At the last second, she couldn't bring herself to hit it.
Instead, she gently patted its head before turning around and slapping the bewildered mother polar bear across the face.
The female bear blinked in confusion.
Had she really been adopted?
Did her parents somehow get her fur color wrong?
Just then, Axel slipped behind Selina and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"My lady."
"You've recovered pretty quickly."
"Before I left, you refused to get out of bed."
"I've only been gone a short while, and now you're out here running around."
"Were you avoiding me?"
Selina rolled her eyes before kicking him lightly in the shin.
"You're unbelievable."
"Of course I'm avoiding you."
"You know exactly what you're like."
"If I want to keep up with you, I probably need superhuman endurance."
After complaining, she smiled, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him deeply.
As they separated, Selina was about to speak.
Then she noticed Carmine standing nearby.
Her smile disappeared instantly.
Without another word, she shoved Axel aside and stormed toward her father.
"So you actually came back?"
"You really do want to die in Gotham, don't you?"
Carmine smiled faintly.
"Selina..."
"Don't say my name."
"You don't deserve to."
She closed the distance and drove a heavy punch into his still healing face.
Boom.
Carmine was launched backward before crashing onto the ground.
"Hiss..."
"That hurt..."
He rubbed his face.
Blood immediately stained his hand.
Yet instead of becoming angry, he looked at Selina with gentle fatherly affection.
The expression only disgusted her more.
"Stop pretending."
"You hypocrite."
"Get up."
Carmine slowly pushed himself to his feet.
"You're right."
"People have always thought I was a hypocrite."
"I've never cared whether they understood me."
He dusted himself off.
"As for why I'm here..."
"Wraith invited me back."
"My job is to rebuild Gotham's underworld."
"If you dislike me..."
"Then think of me as one of Wraith's employees."
"Or even his servant."
"That's all I am now."
He smiled bitterly.
"Do you remember what I taught you when you were little?"
"Hatred has value."
"But hatred must always yield before greater interests and greater power."
"So respect Wraith's decision."
Having said everything he wanted to say, Carmine looked toward Axel and gestured for him to handle the rest.
Axel nodded before taking Selina's hand.
"This old man is dying."
"Wouldn't it be more satisfying to watch cancer slowly wear him down?"
"You hate him."
"So let him suffer."
"I didn't bring him back so he could die today."
With a grin, Axel gave Selina a playful slap on the hip.
She frowned but eventually nodded.
"I understand."
Without sparing Carmine another glance, she turned and walked back toward the manor.
At that moment, Victor Zsasz jogged over.
"Carmine..."
He paused awkwardly.
"Long time no see."
Carmine smiled warmly.
"Not really."
"But these past two weeks have felt like an entire lifetime."
After exchanging greetings, Carmine looked at Axel.
"Can I start working immediately?"
"I'm honestly excited."
"I never imagined I'd see a Gotham without the Court of Owls."
"I'd like Victor to take me to the Iceberg Lounge."
"I want to see Gotham as it is now."
Axel waved casually.
"Go ahead."
"Do a good job, old friend."
Carmine and Victor left together in a Rolls Royce.
After they departed, Ju Zi Yun walked over expressionlessly.
"Your lady seems very angry."
"She has every reason to be."
Axel shrugged.
"But it won't last forever."
"That old man is still her father."
"When he's truly on his deathbed, she'll have to make her own decision."
Changing the subject, Axel rested an arm across Ju Zi Yun's shoulders.
"So."
"How did you sleep last night?"
"I slept well."
"I didn't even hear you and the ladies making noise."
She looked toward the pandas and polar bears, who were still glaring at one another.
A faint smile finally appeared on her usually emotionless face.
"What exactly is my job now?"
"I'm feeling a little lost."
"Surely I'm not just taking care of animals."
"If that's the case, these aren't nearly dangerous enough."
"If you want me entertained, at least bring in lions or tigers."
Axel laughed.
"I'll expand the animal enclosure later."
"As for now, just stay around the manor."
"If someone needs help, lend them a hand."
"Carmine will soon be reorganizing the Dead Souls Gang."
"When people need eliminating, you'll be perfect for the job."
"And whenever you're free..."
"I'll take you to other worlds."
She blinked.
"Other worlds?"
"Don't worry."
"I was just teasing you."
"Handle things however you think is best."
Ju Zi Yun gave him an indifferent look.
"So you're basically keeping me around."
She smiled faintly before returning to the pandas and polar bears.
Meanwhile, aboard the spacecraft hidden in the forest outside the manor, Bruce, Lex, and Clark emerged.
A few moments later, the three joined Axel outside.
Lex dropped onto a lounge chair and picked up a drink.
After several refreshing gulps, he looked toward Axel.
"Anything else?"
"If not, when are we leaving?"
"Nothing else."
"We're leaving now."
Axel stood immediately, rubbing his hands together with a mischievous grin.
"It's time."
"Let's give Tony Stark the surprise of his life."
"The Gotham F4 has arrived."
Meanwhile, in the Marvel Universe.
Manhattan, New York.
Stark Tower was still undergoing repairs.
Tony Stark stood nearby in a navy pinstripe suit with his arms folded.
Pepper Potts stood beside him.
"Tony..."
"That guy hasn't shown up in over a week."
"What do you think he's doing?"
"Planning something dangerous?"
As she spoke, Pepper instinctively glanced around.
The memory of Axel repeatedly smacking her in front of Tony still haunted her.
She had always dominated their relationship.
Tony adored her.
She loved Tony too.
Even after every one of Tony's wild nights, she had personally thrown countless models and socialites out of his mansion.
Despite everything, she had never considered leaving him.
She also knew Tony still loved her deeply.
But Axel's appearance had changed everything.
Now she genuinely feared that Axel would humiliate her even further until Tony finally gave up on her.
Tony noticed her unease.
Truthfully, he wasn't eager to see Axel again either.
He sighed.
"Who knows where that lunatic disappeared to?"
"I've stopped trying to understand him."
"In such a short time, he kidnapped most of S.H.I.E.L.D., robbed Wakanda of its vibranium, stopped the New York invasion, intercepted a nuclear missile, saved countless people, and killed thousands."
"He acts like both the world's greatest hero and its worst villain."
"The whole world feels uneasy because he's gone."
"But honestly..."
"This has been the most peaceful week I've had in a long time."
"I hope he stays busy with that mountain of vibranium."
"Maybe he'll spend the next few years studying it."
Tony's face filled with envy.
He wanted that vibranium just as badly.
If every Iron Man suit were built from vibranium, he could probably overpower both Hulk and Thor.
After all...
He was Iron Man.
How could he not covet the greatest metal on Earth?
At that very moment, flames suddenly flickered atop an old rooftop elsewhere in New York.
The Gotham F4 had arrived.
Bruce immediately surveyed the surroundings.
Before he could examine the area, his attention settled on a bald woman standing nearby.
She wore pale yellow sorcerer's robes.
Her expression was gentle, and her hands rested behind her back.
Bruce quietly leaned toward Axel.
"Is she waiting for us?"
"Did you contact her beforehand?"
"She looks like she knew we'd appear."
"And who is she?"
"She definitely isn't ordinary."
Axel chuckled.
"Allow me to introduce everyone."
He walked toward the woman and nodded respectfully.
"Sorcerer Supreme Ancient One."
"These are my friends."
"Bruce Wayne."
"Lex Luthor."
"And Clark Kent."
He then turned back toward them.
"And everyone..."
"This elegant, bald big sister is Earth's guardian."
"The second Sorcerer Supreme."
"The Ancient One."
"What?!"
Clark's eyes widened.
He leaned close to Axel and whispered as quietly as possible.
"Axel..."
"Don't mess with me."
"I've read the comics."
"The Ancient One was supposed to be an old man with a beard!"