Chapter 166: Won

"Sometimes you're so focused on the future that you don't realize you're in the middle of what you used to pray for."

- Unknown

...

After a while

"I'm really sorry for bothering you,"

Cassandra hurriedly apologized to Dean before leaving.

"There is no need to be so polite. I didn't blame you, so why feel guilty?"

Dean smiled helplessly.

After their brief conversation earlier, Cassandra had been feeling guilty for mistaking Dean for the Phantom Thief.

Sometimes, Dean wondered if he had given people the impression that he was deceiving them.

After that, the two of them talked for a while about many things, including Barbara's recent health.

In last month's Man-Bat incident, Barbara was attacked by the Man-Bat while investigating a crime scene. She barely escaped, but her arm and leg were fractured, and she had other serious injuries.

And Barbara's injuries were what brought Dean and Cassandra together.

According to what Cassandra heard from the doctor's instructions to Barbara, her recovery was going well, and she was expected to be discharged from the hospital in a week.

This meant that Batgirl was coming back.

At that time, the Gotham Bat Trio would be reunited, Batman, Robin, and Batgirl.

Dean wasn't sure how the Bat Family saw him, but after what he did to Robin and Batgirl and his trick with the Bat-Signal in front of thousands of people, he probably didn't have a good impression.

Even if the Bat Family didn't think Phantom Thief was a very dangerous villain, Dean's taunts probably got their attention.

Dean had to consider the possibility of Batman, Robin, and Batgirl all coming after him.

It was not possible that they would work together to catch Phantom Thief, but he could not afford to be unprepared for this either.

It was always better to be safe than sorry.

He could hope that such a situation wouldn't happen, but he couldn't afford to not be prepared for it.

In short, Cassandra told Dean many things and asked him many questions.

Dean didn't expect Cassandra to give him much important information because most of what they talked about was just small talk.

She was a mute girl, so what could she possibly know?

At this moment, as he watched Cassandra leave, Dean closed the door with a deep gaze.

Returning to the living room, Dean approached the couch where Cassandra had been sitting just moments ago and...

He picked up a strand of hair from it.

...

Evening in Gotham, at the Iceberg Lounge

"So, your investigation shows that Matches Malone hasn't made any suspicious moves these past few days? He hasn't been anywhere or seen anyone?"

Penguin sat at the table and asked without showing any emotion.

Ignatius respectfully nodded and replied, "Yes, boss. I used all the resources and connections I had. In fact, Matches isn't doing anything strange these days."

"At least Matches and the Matches Gang strictly followed the gambling agreement. They didn't try to manipulate the game."

Hearing this, Penguin fell into contemplation.

So that means Matches indeed predicted that Phantom Thief would win and Batman wouldn't intervene.

It's still hard for him to believe this is true.

What reason did Match Malone have to be so sure of this? Does he have sources of information that the Penguin doesn't know about?

Or does he have no reason at all, and it was just luck?

Penguin knows that Matches is a strong leader who knows himself well. Under his leadership, the Matches Gang never took over unnecessary territory or fought with other gangs.

It doesn't seem like the behavior of a compulsive gambler.

Or is it that Matches original intention was to give money to the Penguin, but he didn't expect the Phantom Thief to change the entire game?

The Penguin couldn't figure it out.

Ring Ring! Ring ring!

Just then, the dedicated phone on the Penguin's table started ringing.

He picked it up and frowned.

The screen showed an unknown number in a format that seemed to be from an old public telephone.

The Penguin gestured to Ignatius, who understood immediately and exited the room to wait outside.

Later, Penguin answered the phone.

"Mr. Cobblepot, why did it take you so long to answer?"

A familiar voice came through the phone.

"Matches Malone?"

Penguin immediately recognized the caller from the voice.

"What do you mean by this?"

Penguin asked calmly.

"Oh, nothing. I just got a bit paranoid and didn't want to use my own phone."

Matches answered, but there was no sign of fear in his tone.

"Do you think I won't pay up?"

Penguin's voice rose sharply, "You did win the bet, and I'll transfer thirty million dollars to your account immediately! I wouldn't want people to think Oswald Cobblepot can't afford it!"

"Wait, wait, calm down. I never thought like that, Mr. Cobblepot."

Matches quickly softened his tone.

"How could I even think you were lying? Who in Gotham doesn't know that Mr. Cobblepot is the most trustworthy person? It's just that recently, it seems like someone has been investigating me in secret, and I'm worried it might be GCPD. That's made me more cautious," he explained.

"Also, considering the recent investigation, Mr. Cobblepot, I won't be using my original account for now. Please transfer the thirty million dollars to this xxxxxxx account instead."

Penguin's eyes glinted, and he thought to himself, 'What on earth did Ignatius do? He was discovered while investigating?'

Penguin couldn't believe Matches' worries about the GCPD. He probably just didn't want to expose that layer of window paper.

But this also proves one thing that Matches really didn't meddle outside the scene, or else he wouldn't dare to contact the Penguin directly.

Not to mention wanting to transfer the money to a new account.

"I've noted it down, the money will be in the account tonight."

The Penguin promised calmly.

Despite how he looked, the Penguin was as smart as anyone else. After hearing the account number once, he didn't need to ask again or write it down.

"In that case, I'll wait for your good news, Mr. Cobblepot."

At the same time, Dean hung up the phone in a secluded corner of Gotham while disguising himself as Matches Malone.

When he made a bet with the Penguin, he used Matches identity. Now that he has won the bet, he can't allow Penguin to send the money to the real Matches Malone.

Of course, it wasn't sure if the Penguin even wanted to pay.

But that doesn't matter. Dean didn't need to get thirty million dollars.

Instead, he needed to make the Penguin lose thirty million and possibly start a conflict with Matches Malone.

The account he provided to the Penguin was registered under a fake identity. It would be hard to trace him as long as he didn't withdraw money from the account.

But if there were any cash transactions, even if it was just a cent, it was very likely to be discovered.

On the other side, at the Iceberg Lounge

Shortly after the Penguin hung up the phone, a noise reached his ears.

...

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