Gotham City.
A waning moon hid behind the night sky, as if unable to bear the darkness and sin of this city after nightfall.
The wail of police sirens echoed everywhere.
Yet the criminals of this city had no fear of the police.
After all, sixty percent of the Gotham Police Department's solved cases were thanks to Batman.
If they truly wanted to deter the evils that emerged at night, they might as well shine the Bat-Signal high in the sky.
After all, the police might not catch you, but Batman certainly could—and he would break two of your ribs to make sure you remembered the lesson.
Of course, today's story was not about Gotham City's public safety or police corruption.
In an abandoned steel mill in Gotham City's eastern outskirts.
Heavy industry, born from the vigorous Industrial Revolution of the nineteenth century and declining with the establishment of the Franklin Hegemony in the new era, could only have its rise and fall witnessed by decaying, abandoned factories.
Inside the Abandoned Factory.
Yellowed, rusted industrial machines were scattered haphazardly throughout the plant.
Weeds grew rampant across the concrete-paved ground.
Two Parademons stood guard at a rusted iron door some distance away.
"Damn it, we're done for! We're done for!"
Inside the building, suppressed, hysterical cries echoed out, faint sobbing woven into an atmosphere called "despair."
"Waaah, I don't want to die, Susan, my love!"
It was a hundred-square-meter metal room. The air carried the stale scent of rust, as pungent as rotten tomatoes.
Men, women, young, and old were all gathered inside.
Every face was filled with terror.
Faced with fear, some people broke down and wept because they were too frightened.
Others had gone numb, standing motionless like clay statues.
At the door farther away.
"Hiss-ha!"
The Parademons, armed