(Setting: Multi Series-ed.)
Batman hated not knowing what he was dealing with, especially when someone's life was in danger.
"How's the situation? Any news on an antidote?" Commissioner Gordon asked through the communicator of the Bat-Cave.
"We're making progress," Batman bluffed as he looked into a microscope.
The situation was quite dire. Scarecrow had came up with a new Fear Toxin formula and had already infected a few people and policemen before they captured him.
That wasn't unusual for Gotham. The problems began when they realised their usual cure for the Fear Toxin doesn't work. Not only that, they couldn't even identify the formula for the Fear Toxin.
When Batman looked into it, the new Fear Toxin was apparently made from materials and plants that didn't exist for centuries. At first, he would have thought that Poison Ivy had a hand in the incident, but knowing her distate for Scarecrow and his chemical abuse of plant-life, he dismissed that idea.
Back to the current problem, the extremely rare and, frankly, extinct materials made it rather hard to create an antidote for the Fear Toxin. He questioned Scarecrow on where he acquired the materials, but all Scarecrow said was that some merchant sold it to him for a price and refused to add anything to it.
Batman had already called for Oracle, Spoiler, Robin, and Orphan to look for this 'merchant' and any clues on them. He, on the other hand, needed to find a cure or something to help the people infected with the Fear Toxin.
"Well, keep me updated on good news, which is hopefully soon, the health of those people us getting worse by the minute," the concern in Gordon's voice was evident as the call disconnected.
Batman groaned, pulling back from the microscope, he pinched the bridge of his nose to relieved the discomfort he was feeling from looking closely at chemicals and equipment for a good amount of time.
Pushing his chair away, he stepped away from the chemical table and walked to the Bat-Computer, ready to call Oracle and check on the progress of their investigation.
Only to freeze as he reached it. Placed neatly on the keyboard of the Bat-Computer was a card. Cautiously reaching forward, Batman's eyes narrowed as he saw it was a business card.
On it were the words 'The Merchant' written in fancy handwriting and below it was a phone number that looked extremely fake.
Batman knew that this was most likely the same person that sold those ancient materials to Scarecrow. Whoever they were, they were setting Batman up for a meeting, and he knew that.
However, Batman couldn't afford to take his time with this case. The lives of the infected people were in danger, and he couldn't afford to wait for backup.
Checking the Bat-Computer for the cave's security and system firewalls, Batman made sure everything was ready before opening the communicator and dialing the number.
'000-019-0000', with that placed as the calling number, Batman pressed the 'call' button.
Unsurprisingly, he just received a notification that questions if the number is valid. Batman narrowed his eyes, wondering if this was it, and if this 'merchant' is just taunting him.
"Ah, a new costumer?"
The Dark Knight swiftly turned around, throwing a Batarang at the unknown voice that spoke behind him. Shockingly, the Batarang stopped midair before falling harmlessly on the ground, cluttering against the floor.
The unknown person appeared to be an adult man, but that was assumption based on their figure. The man was wearing a brown, oriented suit with a light blue undershirt and a red tie. They had black shoes with matching gloves and an also black top hat. On his shoulders was a short cape meant to compliment the suit with a deeper brown color. Their face was covered with a mask that was made up of two different halves. The right half was a white, comedy drama mask, while the left side was a black, tragedy mask.
Batman couldn't see any part of his body under their uniform. Even the rest of the head which wasn't covered by the mask seemed to be covered with some sort of black body suit that also covered their neck and went into their undershirt.
"Now, now, there's no reason for violence," the man raised his hand and wagged his finger. "I'm not here for any fights."
"Who are you?" Batman demanded, wondering on how this person didn't trigger any alarms.
The only possible conclusion he can come up with was a form of teleportation ability or mystical powers. He really hoped it wasn't the latter. Batman hated magic.
"Well, my name is hard to pronounce in human tongue, so please refer to me as The Merchant," the man introduced himself, giving a graceful bow with one hand extended outwards and another across his stomach.
Batman noted that the man confirmed he was not human. "Are you the same 'merchant' that gave Scarecrow the materials for his new Fear Toxin?"
"While I did make sell products to the man known as Scarecrow, I did not do it for that purpose, or any purpose for that matter," Merchant raised his hand and a cane with a metal orb at the top appeared that he tapped on the ground. "It was simply business."
"It put innocent lives in jeopardy," Batman growled, as Merchant showed little regret for his actions.
"Mr. Batman, what my costumers do with their merchandise after the purchase is not my concern," Merchant shook his head, placing both his hands kn his cane. "I am a merchant. I simply provide the merchandise."
"You still enabled him to do evil," Batman argued back.
"Ah, yes, good and evil," Merchant turned around and began walking, the tapping of his cane echoing through the cave. Reaching the edge of the platform that overlooked the Bat-Cave, he looked around. "I've always been fascinated by these concepts that exist in lower dimensions. The concept of morality, good, evil, sins, and virtues simply do not exist where I'm from. My fascination is what brought me here in the first place. But I had a dilemma. Should I be on the side of good? Or evil? Or should I try both? Then I remembered that I am just an observer, and decided to pick neither and be a truly neutral party," Merchant turned to face Batman again. "I am just a merchant, Mr. Batman. I'm neither good, or evil. I provide the merchandise. What my costumers do as soon as the purchase is done is on them. I simply do not care for what the merchandise is used for, as long as it was purchased rightfully."
Batman resisted the urge to groan. If the merchant wasn't spewing nonsense, that means it just confessed to be a higher dimension being, similar to Bat-Mite, or Mxyzptlk, meaning whatever abilities he had made even less sense than magic.
However, unlike those two, who seem to possess the mentality of harmless pranksters, the Merchant seems to possess the mentality of a strict, cold business man.
As much as it disgusted Batman, he couldn't truly call it 'evil'. Did it go against his own morality and code as the Batman? Absolutely. But, as the president of the Wayne Company, he understood it as a business standard.
"Now, since my card appeared before you, that means you desire something," Merchant raised his cane and twirled it with one hand. "Do you wish to purchase something? Anything at all, and I can provide it for you."
Batman noted the wording of his phrase, and considered how it possibly means that the Merchant didn't intend for the card to appear in front him specifically, and that it appears in front of those who have a desire or need for something.
"I want samples of the plants and materials you provided for Scarecrow, alongside a list of anything currently available during this day that can counter them," Batman decides to see if he can confirm and benefit from the Merchant's mentality.
"Very well, but, such a thing isn't exactly cheap," the Merchant tilted his head.
"Money isn't a problem," Batman refused to put a price on saving lives.
The Merchant began laughing. It was the laugh of someone who heard a good natured joke. "Oh, please, Mr. Batman, we both know that 'value' is objective. Money isn't valuable to you, so why should it be valuable to me?"
"Then what do you use as an exchange?" Batman questioned.
"Anything, really," Merchant shrugged and leaned on his side using his cane. "I can exchange anything as long as it has 'value'. It can be monetary, physical objects, personal abilities, or even concepts. Scarecrow offered me his hideout in exchange for those materials, for example."
Batman frowned. It did made sense to him now how finding Scarecrow was so easy, because he didn't have a hideout to stay in, but if this man was implying that he wanted the Bat-Cave.
"Rest assure, I do not wish for your own base, which is what I assume you're frowning about," Merchant suddenly stated. "My personal rule is that the trades have to be fair and of equal value. Your base of operation's value to you is far greater than the value of the exchange to me, as such I could not ask for it even if I wanted to."
"Then what do you consider of something equal value here?" Batman asked.
The Merchant hummer and turned back to look around the Bat-Cave before raising his hand and pointing at one of his souvenirs, the T-Rex.
"That one," the Merchant stated, looking back at Batman. "That one is valuable enough that you kept it in your personal base for display, but not valuable enough that you're not willing to trade it for the exchange, is it?"
Batman considered the options and the way Merchant has been speaking. To the Merchant, value seems to be determined by the costumer's own standards of it, and it seems to be for the act of the exchange itself rather what is provided.
"Alright, take it," Batman immediately decided. A souvenir, no matter how personal, was worth it for the lives of people.
"And just like this, a deal was made!" Merchant cheered happily while raising his hands.
He snapped his fingers and the T-Rex vanished. In front of Batman appeared a crate with a paper on it. Batman checked the paper and saw it was a recipe for materials that can counter the ones used in the new Fear Toxin. Opening the crate, he found it full of samples from the plants and materials.
"Well, it was a pleasure doing business with you!" Merchant began sinking into the ground. "If you ever wish to do business again, you have my number," he said before vanishing completely.
Batman frowned as silence enveloped the Bat-Cave again. He has what he wanted, and even learned about this 'Merchant', but now they have a possible new threat. He will have to start a file with Oracle, and most likely even warn the rest of the Justice League.
Hearing the elevator of the Bat-Cave, Batman turned to see Alfred walk out with a tray that had food and coffee. Alfred looked at now empty spot where the T-Rex used to be before turning to Batmn.
"Master Bruce, I warned you that if you do not walk that thing regularly, it will run away one day."