"I don't know if you've heard a rumor, but Gotham is also known as 'Dark Valley.' At least in occult circles, that name carries quite a reputation. They say this is where all the darkness in North America—even the whole world—converges, like a swimming pool's drain."
Constantine leaned back on the sofa with narrowed eyes, his tone relaxed and at ease. "This place is actually very suitable for practicing dark magic. Though 'practice' isn't quite accurate. It would be better to say that it naturally lends itself to communicating with demons and making contracts."
"Like a highly conductive material?"
"Something like that, but not exactly. Anyway, in the previous era, people in the know flocked here. But they soon discovered that this wasn't Heaven for magical researchers—it was Hell, because there was an organization here called the Court of Owls."
"I've heard that name before. A bunch of rich people trying to control Gotham from the shadows, and they recently had some very bad luck."
Constantine shook his head. "I don't know what kind of Court of Owls you know, but the one I know is inseparably connected to the occult. They were also known as the Dark Sacrifices."
"There was once a legend that said they could communicate with an ancient dark creature, which granted them incredibly powerful strength without requiring a price. They could use that power to cultivate Assassins or control others."
"How did you learn all this?"
"As I said before, I've always been plagued by the curse of my twin brother. That's why I paid close attention to every scrap of information concerning Ghost Mothers. I knew I would need them sooner or later."
"While wandering through Nottingham, I met an old acquaintance of Grandma Laurenna's. From him, I obtained a notebook belonging to Grandma