Two Shots to the Chest, One to the Head

"You think you see things more clearly than anyone else?"

Hearing Downton's words, Gordon rolled his tongue in his mouth, his Adam's apple bobbing uncontrollably.

He raised his gun at Downton and fired back with a barrage of questions.

"Last night, I spent the entire day at the precinct gathering case files, sorting out every case that might have been connected 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 then robbed an Atlanta Bank.

Right after that, you attacked the Iceberg Lounge, causing chaos that affected hundreds of people and adding over a hundred concrete piers to the sea!

Then you broke both of someone's legs, kidnapped a Gotham councilman and the Deputy Secretary of Defense's daughter, and even threatened General Lane's daughter!

And that wasn't the end. Right after that, you beat up a taxi driver and kidnapped guests at the Kane Hotel!

That was only one day. The moment you woke up on the second day, you caused another stampede at the Kane Hotel, robbed a Porsche Panamera, and crashed into a dealership.

After that, you robbed the gun shop in Little Italy and cleaned it out!

Then you went onto Dimitrov's turf and started killing people, right up until I stood in front of you.

Look at my watch, Downton. It's only fucking nine-thirty in the morning!

In that short amount of time, how many crimes did you commit? You alone raised Gotham's crime rate by three percent over the past day and a half!

And you still dare say you're the clearest-headed person here?

How could you say something so shameless..."

"Wait!"

Downton suddenly cut Gordon off in surprise.

"What did you say? All the cases I committed yesterday only raised Gotham's daily crime rate by three percent?

More than a dozen cases, and they only make up three percent? That's way too Gotham!"

Downton immediately gave Gordon a thumbs-up, his eyes full of admiration.

"With a good man like you serving as Gotham's deputy police commissioner, there are hundreds of violent crimes every day. You really have played a huge role.

And your greatest role was making me sure that good people can't fucking save Gotham!"

As he spoke, Downton patted Gordon on the back with an amused smile.

"Why am I even telling you this? A good person like you can only get in my way.

You should hurry up and find your colleagues. Eat fried chicken, drink beer, and watch me take out Yuri Dimitrov.

You're obviously a softhearted fool, yet you want others to listen to you. Why don't you look at what happened to all the softhearted fools throughout history?

If you want everyone to obey you, then you have to rule them.

Even if a ruler isn't cruel, he still has to make everyone fear him. And fear matters far more than respect!

As for a saint like you, heh.

Saints only deserve to be burned at the stake!"

With that, Downton let go of Gordon and straightened his police uniform collar for him.

Looking at the stunned Gordon, Downton continued.

"If your father weren't Falcone's friend, or if your uncle hadn't been Gotham's district attorney back in the day,

you never would have lived long enough to stand before me and show off your kindness and innocence.

Do you understand, Gordon? In Gotham, only the descendants of powerful people like you have the right to choose to be good.

Because even if the children of the powerful are kind, they can still live well. But if Gotham's lower-class people are kind, they'll only be eaten alive and stripped clean!

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

Downton gently pushed Gordon's head, directing his gaze into the distance.

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

That building was called Wayne Tower. Pointing at it, Downton said to Gordon,

"I see a pack of lions coldly patrolling their territory, while countless hyenas crowd around them, ruthlessly dividing up the cattle and sheep on the plains.

But the cattle and sheep on those plains never seem to grow fewer, because the lions and hyenas put forward role models like you!

As a lion's son, you live happily as a sheep. You even see your choice as a sacrifice, and maybe occasionally move yourself to tears.

But think about it. In any era, those who lead the world are never truth, goodness, and beauty.

Yet truth, goodness, and beauty are the banner every era waves!

Do you think that's a coincidence?

It's merely the shared choice of the lions in every era!"

Having said that, Downton let go of Gordon and waved at the cops in the distance who had been listening intently.

"Don't just stand there listening. Which one of you has cigarettes? Get the fuck over here and light one for me!"

"I do!"

"Have mine!"

"Boss Downton, smoke mine!"

Three or five cops hurriedly pushed through the crowd, surrounding Downton with cigarettes and lighters in hand.

As smoke rose into the air, Downton lightly patted Gordon's arm and smiled.

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

You should just wait and see what I do. As long as I can make the lions of this era put away their claws and fangs, and make the hyenas give up their urge to tear out assholes,

then the cattle and sheep will at least live a little better than before."

Just as Downton said that, a disturbance broke out at the laundry in the distance.

After a series of thunderous explosions and gunfire, Zsasz emerged with black ash dusting his bald head, dragging a burly man behind him.

Seeing Downton surrounded by a large group of cops, Zsasz couldn't help sneering before shouting mockingly,

"See? This is what you get for helping that idiot cop out.

Don't be fooled just because you killed a few people and committed a few crimes. You're not dead yet. As long as you haven't threatened them, they'll still only fear dangerous people like me!

You think you're a good person, Downton? You fucking kicked me twice to help Gordon out, didn't you? But the GCPD loves bullying good people.

I was gone for barely any time, and they already dared to surround you. Don't you feel embarrassed being boxed in by a bunch of Smurfs?"

Though his mouth was full of mockery, Zsasz still raised his gun at Gordon and the others, shaking the barrel to signal them to get the hell away.

As the cops around Downton scattered in panic, Downton turned and looked through the smoke at the disheveled burly man on the ground.

"This is Yuri Dimitrov?" Downton asked.

"That's right."

Zsasz nodded with a grin.

"I didn't expect a boss like him to lead from the front. The moment I charged into the underground passage, I saw this guy yelling and rushing out."

With that, Zsasz raised his gun and made a shooting gesture toward the cops in the distance.

When the cops showed no reaction at all, Zsasz burst into arrogant, satisfied laughter.

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

Grabbing Dimitrov by the collar with his left hand, Downton brought down his right fist with brutal force!

Thud!

Thud!

Punch after punch, until his fist hurt a little, Downton finally drew his pistol.

Bang, bang, bang!

Exactly three shots, the gunfire falling in a steady rhythm.

Two shots to the chest, one to the head.