Two shots to the chest, one to the head

"Do you think you see things the clearest?"

Listening to Downton, Gordon rolled his tongue in his mouth, his Adam's apple bobbing uncontrollably.

He raised his gun, pointing it at Downton, and retorted in a harsh, rapid-fire burst.

"Last night, I spent the entire day at the precinct digging through case files, sorting out every crime that could possibly be linked to you.

Setting aside the battlefield between the Dimitrov Family and the Sabatino family, you first broke a passerby's leg, then robbed a clothing store, and followed that by robbing an Atlanta Bank.

Immediately after, you attacked the Iceberg Lounge, causing chaos that affected hundreds of people and left over a hundred concrete-filled corpses at the bottom of the harbor!

Next, you broke a man's legs, kidnapped a Gotham councilman and the daughter of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, and while you were at it, threatened General Lane's daughter!

That wasn't the end of it; you went on to beat up a taxi driver and kidnapped the guests at the Kane Hotel!

And that was just one day. The moment you woke up the next day, you caused a stampede at the Kane Hotel, hijacked a Porsche Panamera, and rammed a 4S dealership.

After that, you robbed an arms shop in Little Italy and cleaned it out completely!

Then, you ran onto Dimitrov's turf to commit murder, right up until the moment I stood before you.

Look at your watch, Downton, it's only nine-thirty in the damn morning!

In such a short time, look at how many crimes you've committed; you alone have raised Gotham's crime rate by three percent in just a day and a half!

And with all that, you still have the nerve to say you're the most clear-headed person here?

How can you be so shameless..."

"Wait!"

Suddenly, Downton interrupted Gordon, looking surprised.

"What did you say? My crimes from yesterday only raised Gotham's crime rate by three percent?

Over a dozen cases, and it only accounts for three percent? That is just so damn Gotham, isn't it?"

Downton immediately gave Gordon a thumbs-up, wearing an expression of genuine admiration.

"With a 'good man' like you serving as Gotham's deputy commissioner, there are hundreds of violent crimes every single day. You really are doing a hell of a job.

And your greatest contribution is confirming for me that good men really can't save a damn thing in Gotham!"

With that, Downton gave Gordon a mocking pat on the back.

"Why am I even telling you this? A good man like you is only good for getting in my way.

Go on, get back to your colleagues, eat your fried chicken and drink your beer with them, and watch me take down Yuri Dimitrov.

You're a bleeding heart who wants everyone to listen to you, but why don't you look at the fate of those bleeding hearts throughout history?

If you want people to listen to you, you have to rule over them.

A ruler doesn't have to be cruel, but they must make everyone feel awe, and the 'fear' in that is far more important than the 'respect'!

As for a saint like you, heh.

Saints are only fit to be burned at the stake!"

As he finished speaking, Downton let go of Gordon and straightened the collar of his police uniform.

Watching the stunned Gordon, Downton continued.

"If your father wasn't a close friend of Falcone, or if your uncle wasn't the former District Attorney of Gotham, you wouldn't be alive to stand before me and display your kindness and naivety.

Do you understand, Gordon? In this city of Gotham, only the descendants of the powerful have the luxury of choosing to be 'good men.'

Because even if the children of the elite are kind, they can still live well, but if the people at the bottom of Gotham are kind, they just get chewed up and spat out!

You've always looked at Gotham through your own perspective, but do you know what Gotham looks like in my eyes?"

Downton gently pushed Gordon's head, forcing him to look into the distance.

At the same time, Downton raised his hand and pointed toward the tallest building in Gotham.

That building was Wayne Tower, and Downton pointed at it as he spoke to Gordon.

"I see a pride of lions indifferently patrolling their territory, with countless hyenas swarming around them, ruthlessly devouring the cattle and sheep on the plains.

But the cattle and sheep on these plains never seem to decrease, because the lions and hyenas have put forward role models like you!

As the son of a lion, you live quite comfortably in the guise of a sheep, even viewing your own choices as a sacrifice—you might even occasionally move yourself to tears.

But think about it: in no era has the world been led by 'truth, goodness, and beauty.'

Yet, 'truth, goodness, and beauty' are the banners of every single era!

Do you think that's a coincidence?

It's just the collective choice made by the lions of every age!"

Having said this, Downton released Gordon and beckoned to the group of police officers in the distance who were listening intently.

"Don't just stand there listening, you bastards! Who has a cigarette? Get over here and light one for me!"

"I do!"

"Smoke mine!"

"Boss Downton, smoke mine!"

Three or five police officers hurriedly stepped out from the crowd, clutching cigarettes and lighters as they swarmed around Downton.

As the smoke rose, Downton gently patted Gordon on the arm and smiled.

"I said you couldn't change this world because beasts of burden like you will never make a lion feel fear.

As for you, just wait and see my methods. As long as I can make the lions of this era retract their talons and fangs, and make the hyenas give up their habit of disemboweling, then the cattle and sheep will at least live a little better than before."

Just as Downton finished speaking, a commotion broke out at the laundromat in the distance.

Following a series of violent explosions and gunfire, Zsasz, his bald head dusted with soot, dragged a burly man out.

Seeing Downton surrounded by a large group of police officers, Zsasz couldn't help but sneer, then shouted mockingly.

"Look at that, this is the price you pay for bailing out that idiot cop.

Don't think that just because you've killed a few people and committed a few crimes that you're untouchable; as long as you don't threaten them, they'll always be more afraid of people like me who they find dangerous!

You think you're one of the good guys, Downton? You kicked me twice to help Gordon out, didn't you? But the GCPD loves nothing more than bullying the good guys.

I've only been gone a little while, and they already dare to surround you. Don't you feel ashamed, being circled by this bunch of Smurfs?"

Although he was mocking him, Zsasz still raised his gun toward Gordon and the others, shaking the muzzle to signal them to get lost.

As the police officers around Downton scrambled away in a panic, Downton turned his head and looked through the smoke at the disheveled burly man on the ground.

"Is this Yuri Dimitrov?" Downton asked.

"That's right."

Zsasz grinned and nodded.

"I didn't expect a boss like him to actually lead the charge. I had just broken into the underground passage when I saw this guy charging out, howling like a maniac."

As he finished speaking, Zsasz raised his gun and mimicked firing at the police in the distance.

Watching the police officers remain motionless, Zsasz let out an arrogant and satisfied laugh.

As for Downton, he patted Gordon on the shoulder one last time before walking over to Dimitrov.

Grabbing Dimitrov by the collar with his left hand, Downton slammed his right fist down hard!

Thud!

Thud!

Punch after punch, until his fist began to ache, Downton finally drew his pistol.

Bang, bang, bang!

Exactly three shots, the rhythm of the gunfire precise.

Two to the chest, one to the head.