Gotham's King!

"All right, see you in a bit."

Downton patted Oswald on the shoulder, then stepped forward and pushed open the doors.

After walking inside, he nodded to Victor and Falcone, who had both turned to look at him.

"Hello, I'm Downton. Looks like you've been waiting here for quite a while.

Sorry about that. I took some time to eat an outrageously overpriced steak, so I got held up."

Downton exchanged pleasantries with the two of them, then naturally sat down on the sofa opposite Falcone.

Crossing one leg over the other, he drew his pistol and waved its muzzle toward Victor, who stood beside Falcone.

"Though this is our first meeting, I figure the one sitting must be Falcone. As for you, standing there—you must be Sabatino, right?"

"No."

Although he did not understand why Downton had mistaken him for Sabatino, Victor still answered.

"I'm Victor Zsasz. I thought you people would know about me, but apparently, I'm still just an insignificant nobody in your eyes!"

Victor revealed a cruel smirk. He did not like being underestimated.

Seeing Victor's smile, Downton shrugged.

"You fucking smile like you're about to eat a kid. Better keep that cold face of yours.

And Falcone, right? Since Sabatino isn't here, what the hell are we even talking about?"

As his words fell, Downton played with the Desert Eagle in his hand and looked at Falcone with an amused gaze.

Though Victor had only said one sentence, Downton had already realized that they seemed to have gotten something wrong!

If Falcone truly had all the information on him, then he should have known that Downton had not existed on Earth before today.

And he was just himself. He had never been one of the "you people" they kept talking about!

So...

Downton could not help but speculate.

What did they think he was that made them decide to negotiate with him?

What did they think the "you people" behind him were?

While Downton was thinking, Falcone could not help furrowing his brow as well.

Naturally, Falcone had thought of what Downton had thought of. Downton had noticed that they had gotten something wrong, and Falcone had also noticed that Downton was vastly different from the Talon and Court of Owls he had imagined!

Secondhand information passed along by an intermediary was ultimately never as clear as meeting face-to-face. A single brief encounter was enough to give people like Downton and Falcone plenty to consider.

Still, even with doubts in his heart, Falcone waved at Victor.

"Since Mr. Downton wants to see Sabatino, have him come over as well. I'm becoming curious about everything."

"Understood."

Victor nodded, then left the room with footsteps so quiet they were nearly inaudible.

Falcone had kept Victor behind earlier because he was worried that the Talon he had imagined might not play by the rules.

But though his contact with Downton had been brief, he had already determined that he himself was not Downton's target.

Then what had Downton's purpose been in attacking the Iceberg Lounge? Was it Sabatino?

What exactly had Sabatino done behind his back?

Without betraying a hint of emotion, Falcone examined every detail of Downton. His gaze traveled from Downton's filthy leather shoes all the way to his pupils.

The instant he met Downton's eyes for the first time, Falcone was finally taken aback.

For a moment, he felt as though he were looking into a mirror!

That look in his eyes... it really resembled his younger self!

When his younger self had resolved to make something of himself and begun fighting desperately for power and status, his eyes had become just like Downton's.

So the young man sitting before him was one who had already made his preparations!

Just as Falcone was sighing inwardly, Downton suddenly waved at Victor, who was about to leave.

"Wait, Victor. Bring me some food and drinks while you're at it!

You invited me here for a meeting but didn't even prepare any alcohol. You hosts are being a little rude, aren't you?"

After speaking, Downton looked at Falcone with an amused expression.

Falcone, in turn, nodded at the slightly stunned Victor.

Having received his boss's order, Victor understood and left the room.

Once only the two of them remained in the private room, Falcone finally began exchanging pleasantries.

"Before I saw you, I thought you were one of a group of old friends I had met years ago.

But now I understand. I was frightened by the shadows of the past in my heart.

I should thank you. If you had not appeared, I truly would not have realized that.

Fear seems so far away from me. Whenever I think I no longer fear anything, I need someone like you to remind me. It helps me understand myself more clearly."

Hearing that, Downton nodded knowingly.

"So you really did get it wrong. I was wondering what felt off. Your subordinate Victor actually called me 'you people.'

I've never cared about the fact that I'm alone. Where would I get a 'we' behind me? One person like me is enough in this world.

If another me ever showed up, I'd be the first one to kill him!

Just like the way your gaze at me keeps growing deeper and more dangerous—you saw something in my eyes, didn't you? Our eyes are alike, right?"

At that, Downton smiled and clapped his hands.

"Before meeting you, I wondered what kind of person Falcone would be.

They say you're Gotham's godfather, but as far as I'm concerned, the place you're in is far more dangerous than a godfather's world. After all, this is Gotham!

And that really is the case. You're much more dangerous than any godfather. If I were still yesterday's me, I'd at least keep out of your way.

Because the me who still valued his life would not want to get close to danger, and you—at least right now—are one of Gotham's greatest dangers."

"Oh?"

Hearing Downton's assessment, Falcone smiled faintly and gently rubbed his ring.

"Only one of them? Then I would like to know who else ranks among the others in your mind."

"Who else could there be? They're all your old friends. The League of Assassins, the Court of Owls—Gotham has far too many dangers."

Faced with Falcone's question, Downton listed them with a chuckle.

At that, Falcone's expression became rather remarkable.

"That is indeed true. You know more than I expected. I had thought... you were merely a young man who happened to possess extraordinary talent and had prepared himself because of it."

"Yeah, even you think this is extraordinary talent.

But do you know, Falcone, that this extraordinary talent of mine—the inability to die—has one small but exceptionally important prerequisite?"

As he answered Falcone, Downton's expression grew serious.

He lightly tapped the tabletop with the Desert Eagle, then continued in a low voice.

"I'll give you a chance. You can guess that prerequisite. Consider it a test of the understanding between us."

"Is that so? Then it is an opportunity, is it not? So while I may not be your target, I could become your target at any moment. You are disregarding me.

But you are not wrong. The ability to never die is indeed enviable. If I possessed an ability like yours, I believe I could become the sovereign of the entire world."

"Cut the crap. Sovereign of the whole world, my ass!

Old Carl, you may know how deep Gotham's waters run, but you clearly don't know how deep this world's waters run.

Hurry up and guess the riddle. The depths of this world aren't for an old man like you to look into!"

Downton interrupted Falcone and urged him on.

Faced with Downton's prompting, Falcone nodded and answered softly.

"Not a riddle, but a prerequisite. Then I understand.

Only someone who has truly died once can know whether he can be reborn!"

At that, Falcone sighed melancholy.

"Even though you no longer fear death, how could I not understand?

The feeling of standing on the edge of death for the first time, even... the feeling of walking straight toward death for the first time, must have been unbearable, must it not?"

As he spoke, Falcone rubbed his brow.

"So you came here to kill Sabatino because he made you witness your first death, correct?

That truly is an irreconcilable hatred, and you are indeed a troublesome fellow.

According to what I heard from the GCPD, you do not only resurrect after dying. Even when you were merely arrested, you disappeared once before you had died.

So at the very least, your ability means you cannot be captured, and you cannot be killed.

I do not know whether there is more to it, but those two factors alone are troublesome enough.

Considering that you are wiser and more rational than I expected, yet remain as fearless as a brute, it is obvious that your abilities do not stop there. Your confidence is far too great.

This really is a major problem. It seems I cannot protect Sabatino, but his death would cost me face."

At that point, Falcone finally revealed a dangerous expression.

"Downton, you should understand me. At my current height, face is substance.

Once I am provoked and fail to respond, every beast lurking in Gotham will dream of tearing a piece of flesh from me.

If I were still young, I would not mind taking half a step back for you and cleansing Gotham all over again.

But I am old. The aging me may not truly be able to withstand the challenges of all Gotham.

So even though I see my younger self in you, can our situation still only end in a fight to the death?"

As his words fell, Falcone's expression was no longer dangerous, but filled with regret.

Across from him, Downton nodded lightly, then spread his hands with equal regret.

"That's right, Falcone, but that's perfectly normal.

Don't put on such a regretful, merciful act. At your level, you've already seen countless challengers like me.

As horribly as those challengers died is how horribly I should have died. You only look like this because I'm far more troublesome than the challengers you faced in the past.

What you regret is that you can't kill me, not that you can't bear to kill me!

As for me, since my first death happened in Gotham, then of course I have to savor everything Gotham has to offer. That is the connection between Gotham and me.

If Gotham were a woman, then I'd want to be her only man. So we are destined to fight to the death, Falcone!"

The competition during a new book's release period is fierce. If its performance is even slightly poor, it can spiral downward fast and easily fail.

If you have even a little interest in this book, then even if you plan to let chapters pile up, please quickly flip to the last page and help this book gain a follow-up read.

Half-Dead has completed quality works of two million and three million words before. As long as this book performs reasonably well, I will write millions of words of it to entertain everyone.

I hope everyone will lend a hand. Half-Dead is immensely grateful.