Communication and Report

Lyla looked at Thea, who was speaking confidently, with a hint of curiosity in her eyes. The A.R.G.U.S had been monitoring Gotham and Batman for a long time.

As a billionaire, Batman had always been a target for their secretive government organization. Being a pure Earthling, endowed with intelligence and resources, wealth, and a beneficiary of the current system, he was a natural collaborator for government agencies. His abilities were manifested in his technological weapons, and in daily life, he was just an ordinary person, not uncontrollable like mutants.

Although several experts within the organization were deeply concerned about Batman's mental state, believing that he could snap at any moment, they ultimately left the decision on how to handle him up to others.

Ultimately, after careful consideration, Amanda Waller, as one of the leaders of the organization, decided to maintain contact. When they heard that Batman had disappeared and Gotham was in chaos, they decided to offer some assistance, hoping to lay the groundwork for future cooperation.

As for Killer Croc, he was merely a side note. If they could capture him, they would; if not, it wouldn't affect their overall plans.

However, during the process of understanding Killer Croc's capture, they discovered someone else involved who could be of use - Thea Queen. 

Although she concealed it well, determined individuals could still uncover her origins, especially for a national organization with access to various servers and data. They might not have someone who reached Felicity's level, but hackers slightly less skilled than her could easily be found, capable of effortlessly digging up information that could lead them to Thea's real identity.

The intelligence was summarized and reached Amanda's desk, leaving her momentarily stunned. In this day and age, there was only one billionaire who became a superhero—Batman. She hadn't expected another one to emerge, and a female at that. As a fellow woman, Amanda couldn't help but feel a sense of identification.

She immediately raised the level of the original task and dispatched her assistant Lyla to go to Gotham personally, gather the latest intelligence, and make initial contact.

"Miss Queen, could you take me to see the captured target?" Lyla, who had just taken off her military uniform upon entering the government department, still appeared more stern than gentle. To those who didn't know her, it might seem like she was putting on airs.

"Of course, and you can call me Thea," Thea replied. Actually, taking a look at the target was just an excuse to get rid of the onlookers and find a place where they could talk freely.

Commissioner Gordon, experienced as he is, understood immediately, pulling Barbara, who was still eager to join in, and greeted them before they disappeared.

"Earlier, Commissioner Gordon mentioned that encouraging citizens to join the fight was your idea. What were you thinking? Don't you realize that this will result in many civilian casualties?" Lyla's words were somewhat blunt, even carrying a hint of interrogation.

But Thea understood her military nature. The military emphasized teamwork above all else. Everyone was a participant in war; it wasn't just the generals' business, with the soldiers having no part in it. Heroism is frowned upon in the military. Captain America, despite his formidable strength, was initially relegated to the role of a mascot before embarking on an unauthorized rescue mission. Even after proving his capabilities, he found himself leading only a small team on subsequent missions.

"Sacrifices are inevitable, but the necessary sacrifices will save more lives and restore order to the city sooner. I believe it's worth it," Thea hesitated for a moment before sharing part of her true thoughts. 

Her response didn't surprise Lyla; on the contrary, it was quite in line with her expectations. As a government official, she didn't like superheroes because they often disregarded the government's authority. Some of them were cooperative and could be reasoned with, while the arrogant ones were uncooperative and turned a blind eye.

"What if Batman doesn't agree with this approach when he returns?" Lyla's question was sharper. After all, Thea was an outsider. Anything done in Gotham couldn't avoid Batman's scrutiny. Right now, the cat's away, so the mice can play, but what about when he returns?

Thea hadn't considered this question. Her original intention was to retreat once Batman returned. Besides, does the death toll decrease when Batman is around? The city's policy must change; otherwise, the death toll will remain high.

However, directly stating this would imply that Batman lacks foresight, and Commissioner Gordon is incompetent. Thea preferred to maintain a modest and cautious external image.

"If he sees the results, I don't think he'll oppose it. As long as there are no major issues during this period, the turmoil in the city will be quelled within a month."

As they walked and talked, they occasionally discussed their views on the situation. Lyla was there on a mission, and Thea knew that Lyla would eventually rise to a leadership position in the A.R.G.U.S. Coupled with her relationship with John Diggle and Diggle's close friendship with Oliver, Thea didn't consider Lyla as an outsider.

Through their conversation, they gradually became more familiar with each other. Thea shared a few jokes that fit the local situation, which made Lyla laugh heartily. Lyla also talked about her military life. When she mentioned missiles, Thea listened carefully and felt that dealing with missiles was complicated due to strict military control. Was she destined to remain at the bow and arrow stage?

Before leaving, Lyla expressed her intention to stay in Gotham for a while, hoping for another chance to chat.

As Lyla stepped into her car and settled in, her expression shifted from relaxed to serious as she initiated a remote connection.

"Amanda, preliminary contact with the target is complete, and it's more optimistic than we anticipated."

"Oh, tell me more." Amanda, on the other end of the line, showed a hint of curiosity.

"From our conversation, I can tell she's mature and has strong opinions. What's most interesting is that her stance is somewhat anti-heroic. She opposes individual heroism and instead advocates for the citizens of Gotham to take a stand against the rioters. I've forwarded you the images earlier; Have you seen them? They've already set up barricades in the downtown area."

As Lyla spoke, her serious expression gave way to a playful one. "If Batman comes back, his expression will be priceless when he sees this scene."

Amanda didn't show much reaction, just nodding lightly before changing the subject. "What trapped Killer Croc? Do you know?"

"The accompanying experts say it was liquid nitrogen. I didn't expect her to use that as a weapon. Frankly, our experts are quite impressed." More than impressed, they've already submitted reports to request authorization for field operatives to carry a few canisters each. This substance is environmentally friendly and effective against flesh-and-blood enemies.