Chapter 44 An Omen

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city…

Inside a laboratory in the Bat-Castle.

At that moment, the screens on the laboratory walls were playing footage of the battle in the police parking lot.

When Ruo Yu's move, [Luoying Sanhua Shan], appeared, disbelief spread across the faces of every viewer. The Robin who was assisting the_Bruce in putting on his armor even stopped what he was doing, staring dumbfounded at the screen as he muttered, "Oh my god… I can’t believe it…"

After the six figures in the footage leaped onto the police station's roof and disappeared from the surveillance cameras' view, Dr. Clipper spoke to Bruce, "Five minutes ago, surveillance cameras near the police parking lot captured this footage. The incident began when… our undercover agent, Mr. Dahl, contacted a nearby patrol unit without authorization, claiming he had created an opportunity to 'annihilate the resistance organization and capture Joey Collins alive.'"

The doctor shrugged. "As a result… in a matter of seconds, our soldiers were killed by an unanalyzable, potent energy." He adjusted his glasses, shaking his head. "Frankly, this is beyond my comprehension; I cannot offer any further explanation."

Gordon, standing nearby, exclaimed, "This is the end… a disaster!" The prophet of the Bat-God was visibly panicked, muttering incoherently, "She… and the Joker, they are devils!"

"Shut your mouth, Gordon," Bruce snapped in a sinister tone. "Even if they can do things that defy reason, it doesn't mean they are supernatural beings." He paused. "They are human, just… different…"

As he spoke, he finished putting on the "combat armor."

"Hmm… feeling…" Bruce murmured after activating the armor's systems, "...somewhat different." His gaze focused on the lens in front of his right eye, where the armor's data was floating.

"I made some improvements," Clipper replied quickly. "It's been too long since you last wore it in actual combat. In that time… every few years, I've taken the opportunity to give it a technological upgrade, to keep it from falling behind the times."

"Good work, Clipper," Bruce nodded. "That's exactly what I wanted." He tried clenching his fist. "Super defense, enhanced strength, and…" His eyes shifted slightly. “…various deadly weapons."

"Heh… heh heh…" Gordon wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, forcing a smile. "In that case… the Joker and Harley Quinn won't be a threat, right?"

Whoosh—

Before the words could fade, a gust of wind rose.

In that instant, the_Bruce, like a black phantom, instantly appeared before Gordon; and grabbed Gordon's collar with one hand, lifting him into the air.

"Uh—no!" The sudden change caused Gordon's expression to twist in horror. For a second or two, he thought Bruce was actually going to kill him.

Fortunately…

"Have a little faith in your god, Gordon." Bruce smiled coldly, slowly lowering Gordon. "I don't care what kind of abilities those four rats scurrying around the city have obtained…" He snorted. "With me prepared, they won't stand a chance."

"That… that's good…" Gordon, back on his feet, breathed a sigh of relief. He suppressed the anger in his heart, straightening his collar. "I knew you were invincible."

"No." The_Bruce immediately rejected the flattery, replying, "As far as I know, there is indeed one person in this city—a very special person—who might be able to defeat me…" As he spoke, he turned around and picked up the cape lying on the table. "Heh… this excites me." A fervent smile spread across his face.

"One or two thugs or lunatics pose no threat to me," Bruce continued. "The man who truly threatens me is Joey Collins."

"That kid from the resistance organization?" Gordon asked, puzzled. "But…" He pointed to the large screen. "The only team he had has already been wiped out by us. Even Dahl, who secretly turned to our side, has been killed by the Joker."

"Numbers have never been the problem," Bruce said. "As long as he has the ability to recruit others and make them fight for him… even if this group dies, there will be another…" He raised his head, exhaling. "I sent Dahl back to his side to keep him under surveillance. I never expected… that bastard would take it upon himself to act without authorization, not only costing the lives of my men but also causing me to completely lose control over Joey."

Clearly, the_Bruce's cunning and wisdom were also quite remarkable. He had already devised a foolproof strategy for dealing with the resistance organization. If he had a weakness, it was his overconfidence in his own strength, as he hadn't encountered a worthy opponent in decades.

"Gordon," Bruce ordered after a few seconds of thought. "Send a squad to wipe out the resistance organization's base in the sewers. Dahl has been exposed; there's no point in keeping that place around."

"Understood." Gordon immediately gestured to a nearby Robin, who nodded in understanding and quickly left.

"Right now…" Bruce continued, "Joey has teamed up with those four strange thugs, and even I don't know how tonight will end… heh… things are getting more interesting…" There was even a hint of anticipation in his voice. "I knew… he wasn't an ordinary person, because he is a true descendant of the Joker."

"How is that possible?" Gordon exclaimed in surprise. "You killed 'them' all in 'that war'!"

"No, Gordon." Bruce flipped his cape and turned to walk towards the exit. "I spared one…"

"He must be crazy…" Gordon took a few steps back, turning his face away and quietly saying to Clipper.

"Heh heh…" Clipper smiled, lighting a cigarette for himself. "Phew—aren't we all, pal?"

As the two spoke, the_Bruce had already stepped out of the laboratory door. He hadn't failed to hear Gordon's words (the combat armor provided super hearing), but he simply didn't care to respond.

At that moment, Bruce's emotions were inexplicably high.

He walked quickly through the castle's corridor, with a hint of excitement.

His blood, dormant for many years, had begun to boil again, and the fear and hesitation he had felt before had long been overcome by his powerful mental strength. What he was thinking about now was a bloody battle to prove to the world—that he was still Gotham's god.

"The Joker, Two-Face, Black Mask, Ra's al Ghul, Bane, Killer Croc…" The_Bruce stopped after walking for a while, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window. He looked at the city's night scene and murmured, "My ancestor, Bruce Wayne, fought those true supervillains for many years. But I… have never had such an opportunity."

He raised his head, gazing up at the night sky.

Multicolored lights streamed in from outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, those countless bat symbols cast by spotlights still slowly swaying in the air. They were the_Bruce's symbol, the symbol of the ruler. It constantly reminded the citizens of Gotham—to have faith in the Bat.

"If God really exists, then I have to thank him—for sending those four people to me." Bruce began to speak to himself. "Performing for that mob of rabble time and time again, accepting the challenges of some scum, has become tedious and sickening to me…" He grinned savagely. "Heh… those four are the challengers I've been waiting for…" He confidently muttered, "I will use your blood to prove—that my power surpasses everything."

Just as this old fellow raised his head forty-five degrees and delivered his chuunibyou declaration…

Suddenly…

A white, extremely bright light appeared in his vision.

"What… is that…" The smile disappeared from Bruce's face. His eyes widened, and his pupils rapidly contracted…

At that moment, a huge beacon lit up in the Gotham night sky. The brightness and scale of this searchlight far exceeded any other lights in the city.

A century ago, the real Commissioner Gordon used this giant searchlight on top of the police station to call for 'that hero.'

And tonight, someone had once again lit this long-sealed light. But… the symbol it cast was not a bat symbol, but a grinning face…

It could be seen that… that "smiley face" climbed all the way to the clouds…

Its light overshadowed all the surrounding bat symbols, like a bright moon, reigning over the sky of Gotham.