Chapter 2: Slade's Return
A week had passed since Falcone died and all of his associates were still in deep mourning, especially his daughter Sofia. However, nearly all of his rival competition were rejoicing in his passing such as Penguin and Scarface. At the present time, Sofia was going through some things in her father's office while waiting the arrival of a certain somebody who she had recently been in contact with. Some of her men came into the room unannounced. "What did I say about leaving me alone, boys?", Sofia asked angrily upon being interrupted. "We're sorry to bother you, boss. We were just seeing if there's anything else you need for us to do? Or we were curious about what your plan is to restore your family name in this city.", one of the men said. "If you must know, I intend to carry out my father's dying wishes and take back this city from the costumed plague that has corrupted it and the only way to do that is by rooting out the source.", Sofia said. "Which is Batman?", another guy asked. "Exactly. This city started to become less scared of my family after he came along and stood up to my father. Then not too long after that, more and more psychopaths playing dress-up came along and dragged this city to Hell.", Sofia said. "And how do you plan to do that?", the guy asked. "Technically, I'm not going to do anything. I hired someone to take Batman out for me. Someone who has an unpleasant history with him and wants him gone just as much as I do.", Sofia said. "And who is that?", one of them asked. Before she could answer, she saw who she was expecting coming in right now. "Speak of the devil. Here he is now.", Sofia said. In came a tall man in orange and blue body armor with all kinds of weapons such as swords and guns attached to the armor. He wore a mask with only one eye hole on his right side. Sofia's men were aware that this was none other than Slade Wilson, better known as Deathstroke who is supposedly the world's greatest assassin. Just like Sofia's father he too had a grudge against Batman after he defeated him aboard Penguin's Final Offer ship on Christmas Eve a decade ago. After he was defeated, he was arrested and placed in Blackgate before being released to the custody of Amanda Waller to join the Suicide Squad. Deathstroke looked at the men and gave them a deathly stare that made them slightly tremble in fear. He then looked at Sofia and took off his helmet which showed his gray hair and goatee plus his eyepatch. "Sofia Falcone, I presume?", he asked. "Yes, Mr. Wilson. It's nice to meet you in person.", Sofia said as she extended her hand to him. He bent down and kissed her hand to show her respect. "Please call me Slade.", Slade told her. "Okay, Slade.", she responded. He looked over at her men again and said, "As for you guys, call me Deathstroke.". "Yes, sir. We know who you are. You were hired by Black Mask to kill Batman for the bounty on his head like 10 years ago.", one of them said. "I thought it was Joker who pretended to be Black Mask.", another guy said. "Oh, yeah. You're right.", the first guy said. "Anyway, thank you for coming to Gotham on such short notice. I understand you were in Venezuela when I first got in touch with you.", Sofia said. "That is correct. First of all, I would like to extend my condolences to you on the passing of your father. I never knew him, but from what I've heard, he was a very respected man in this city among the criminal underworld.", Slade told her. "Thank you. I appreciate that. And I understand you yourself want the Bat gone as well?", she asked. "Yes, I do. He is one of the very few individuals who have beaten me and humiliated me. Though I must admit that because of that, he did earn my respect. When a man earns my respect, that means I do not rest. I devote all my energy, everything I have, to killing him!", he said. "That's what I like to hear.", Sofia said. "How much would you be willing to pay? Joker was willing to pay 50 million the last time I was hired to kill Batman. Can you top that?", Slade asked. "I'm willing to pay whatever price you want. What were you thinking?", she asked. "How about 100 million?", he asked setting his price. "Seems fair. After all the trouble that costumed freak has been over the years, I would say he's worth about that much. Deal.", Sofia agreed as she shook his hand. "I can supply you with whatever weapons you need and give you some of my men to assist you.", she said. "There's no need for that, Ms. Falcone. I have all the weapons I need plus all the men I need too. When I was in Venezuela, I was leading and training my own personal militia that are designed to take on the likes of people such as Batman. With my brains and brawn along with the training of my men, Batman won't stand a chance. Believe me, Sofia; your father's dying wish will be granted.", he assured her. "If you can make good on that promise, you'll get every single cent of that 100 million.", Sofia said. Thus was established a bargain that would lead to yet another unpleasant event in Gotham just to go after Batman.