Born Free

In the shopping district, Heino eagerly led Downton to the doors of the Dior boutique and pushed them open.

Seeing that the store was already completely empty, Heino immediately transformed into a saleswoman and led Downton to the coat section.

In just a few minutes, she had picked out an outfit, then grabbed Downton by the arm.

"This one will definitely work. Come on, let's go change!"

"We?"

After grinning, Downton tried to send Heino away.

Considering how diligently the girl had helped him, he no longer wanted to keep holding her hostage.

Although he had not gotten any more money from Heino, three thousand dollars in cash was enough to find a decent hotel.

As for tomorrow, he would find tomorrow's lucky target tomorrow. There were so many rich people in Gotham—was he really afraid he would not find one?

Yet even when Downton secretly released Heino, she showed no awareness whatsoever that she had regained her freedom.

"Of course we're going into the fitting room together. Otherwise, the police will turn the fitting room with only you in it into Swiss cheese!

"You're a robber, Downton. Can't you be a little more careful?

"Come on, follow me. Put on the outfit I picked for you first, then come with me to check out LV. I want to change up my style too, maybe get something that matches you a little!"

As she spoke, Downton was practically dragged into the fitting room by Heino instead. Then she crouched down in front of him.

Outside the Dior boutique in the distance, Mayor Don Mitchell, who had rushed over in an emergency, pointed at the store with a bewildered expression.

"They just swaggered in there to change clothes?"

After saying that, Mayor Mitchell looked at Gordon with a bitter smile.

"Gordon, letting a robber hold Councilwoman Lawrence's daughter hostage for an entire hour is already humiliating enough for both the Gotham Police Department and City Hall!

"And look at them—they're even chatting and laughing. What are Gotham's citizens supposed to think when they see this on television?

"Believe me, tomorrow's papers will say that the Gotham Police Department and City Hall dragged their feet so long that the robber and hostage practically developed feelings for each other, and we still failed to resolve this damned kidnapping!

"Do you understand, Gordon? I'm not even angry about your inaction right now, because Councilwoman Lawrence's spouse is the Deputy Secretary of Defense at the Department of Defense.

"If I were in your position, I would not dare let snipers fire casually either. No one wants to bear the consequences of accidentally shooting the daughter of a councilwoman and the Deputy Secretary of Defense!

"I only want to know why you allowed this situation to blow up in the first place. Who reported it initially? Why was a case like this not handled discreetly by every possible means, to the point that even reporters followed it here?

"I even saw reporters from Metropolis. Did they come here by boat?"

As his words fell, Mitchell helplessly folded his arms.

Before he could let out a frustrated sigh, he saw cameras turning toward him, so he had no choice but to keep wearing a grave expression.

Listening to the mayor, Gordon helplessly tightened his grip on his gun.

"Mr. Mayor, this robber named Downton has been extremely high-profile. Not only did he take Miss Lawrence hostage on the street, he also caused a traffic jam on the way here and fired several shots during it.

"Miss Lawrence is rather well known in Gotham. Quite a few paparazzi recognize her car and license plate, so the reporters learned about this before we did."

After speaking, Gordon gave the mayor a helpless look.

Seeing Gordon's helplessness, Mayor Mitchell found himself in a difficult position as well. After a brief bitter smile, he roared loudly at the cameras gradually closing in on him.

"No matter what methods you use, I must see Miss Lawrence safely returned to her parents' arms!

"Gotham should not be such a chaotic city, and a kidnapping like this should never happen to a poor girl who is only nineteen years old!"

Listening to Mayor Mitchell's righteous speech on television, the bald owner of Gunfire Feast could not help spitting.

"Mitchell probably will not be mayor for much longer. Since becoming mayor, he has completely lost the sharp tongue he had during the campaign. Maybe he does not have the money to hire his old campaign team anymore?

"He just keeps repeating the same pointless clichés. If he does not step down, who will? I certainly will not vote for him again.

"But this Downton..."

The bald owner recalled Downton's black suit, riddled with bullet holes.

When that suit had appeared in his store, it had clearly been perfectly clean.

Combined with the gunshots and explosions that had come from near the Iceberg Lounge not long ago...

Had that kid really gone to the Iceberg Lounge and caused a scene?

If that was true, and he had still come out alive before continuing on to kidnap a councilwoman's daughter, then...

The bald owner suddenly felt at a loss. Had he really helped his son get demoted from boss to employee by this living nightmare?

At the same time, at the Iceberg Lounge he had mentioned, Selina burst out laughing as she watched the farce on television.

"He killed Sabatino right in front of Falcone, then immediately went off to kidnap the daughter of a Gotham councilwoman and the Deputy Secretary of Defense.

"Liv, are you sure someone like that is a good client of yours? I always feel like he'll lead you straight to hell."

As she spoke, Selina turned toward Liv, only to see intense admiration in Liv's eyes.

Seeing the hungry look Liv gave Downton, Selina grew jealous. She moved closer to Liv and wrapped her arms tightly around Liv's waist.

"What, you can get captivated by a man too?"

"What a beautiful talent. That's the ability to ignore death itself. Why shouldn't I be captivated!

"So what if he killed Sabatino? So what if he kidnapped a councilwoman's daughter?

"Once this Wraith returns from death again and again, is there anything in this world he can't accomplish?

"Selina, believe me, I've found the most worthwhile super-client to cultivate!

"As far as I'm concerned, he practically shines!"

"Bullshit!"

Hearing the way Liv praised Downton, Selina felt so jealous she could barely stand it. When had her little Liv ever praised a man like this?

"Since you like him so much, keep watching your shining light. I'm going home to feed my cats."

Selina patted her backside and left, but Liv hurriedly grabbed her hand.

"Don't be as temperamental as a cat, Selina. Stay with me a little longer. I still want to hear you talk about how Downton killed Sabatino!

"Please, darling."

"Why beg me? Go beg your shining light. He explained it in more detail than I did."

Selina chuckled, slapped Liv's hand away, and walked out.

Watching Selina's retreating figure, Liv could not help raising her hand, but she only grasped half a wisp of shadow.

"Selina!"

Panicking, Liv hurriedly said,

"I just received word that Falcone arranged for Victor to bring Sofia back to Gotham.

"She's completely incompatible with you. That bitch will kill you. Don't go back to the apartment you share for a while—stay here with me. Please!"

"Why beg me? Go beg your shining light. After all, Sofia rushed back here to marry him.

"Sofia, you—you're all pitiful women twisted into grotesque shapes by him.

"But I'm different, Liv. No one can catch me, and no one can control me.

"Sofia Falcone, is it? Let her come at me if she wants.

"I'm Selina Kyle. I was born free~"

Competition during a new book's release period is fierce. If the results are even slightly poor, it can spiral downward quickly, and the book can easily flop.

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 it gain another follow-up read.

Half-Dead has previously completed high-quality novels of two million and three million words. As long as this book's results are decent, I will write millions of words for it to please everyone.

I hope everyone can lend a hand. Half-Dead offers his deepest thanks.