Gordon's Heart Skipped a Beat

"You assigned Clayface and Killer Croc to yourselves. You really do take care of your own," Jude teased inside the Batmobile.

Jude had reason to say that. While most of Batman's enemies were ordinary people, that was not always the case.

Every so often, there were superpowered villains, such as the Clayface and Killer Croc they were about to face.

Killer Croc was relatively manageable. He merely possessed extraordinary physical abilities and an incredible healing factor, similar to Captain America after receiving the Super Soldier Serum.

Clayface was different. He possessed multiple abilities, including shapeshifting, corrosion, and imitation. Ordinary blades, guns, clubs, and bullets were ineffective against him. To deal with him, they would need special methods.

Soon, the two arrived at Ruili Cosmetics Company, located in a remote area west of Gotham. The police had already surrounded the place.

Seeing the Batmobile arrive, Commissioner Gordon hurriedly pushed through the crowd and ran over.

"It's great that you're here, Batman."

Then Jude stepped out of the front passenger seat. Gordon had assumed it would be Robin and froze for a moment.

Then he found Jude familiar and pointed at him. "It's you..."

Bruce quickly tugged at his arm. "He's here to help. Let's deal with the crisis in front of us first."

Commissioner Gordon could only give up on arresting him for now. He shot Jude a glare and said, "I'll be watching you!"

Jude smiled without a care. "All right, Commissioner. Instead of wasting time watching me, why don't you tell us what's happening inside so we can make a plan?"

Gordon said nothing further and turned the conversation back to the case.

"More than half an hour ago, Clayface and Killer Croc attacked this place and took a large number of hostages. We just asked them for their demands, but received no response."

"I also tried leading a team in, but the moment we entered the company building, they threw a hostage out the window. Killer Croc warned us not to make any moves."

Bruce frowned. "They took hostages but made no demands. That isn't their style."

"Exactly. Killer Croc especially. He has always robbed and killed for money. His motive this time is very strange."

Jude asked, "How many men did those two bring?"

"Just the two of them. Not a single subordinate."

Just then, a gruff voice rang out from inside the building. "Batman, you finally came. You showed up much later than I expected this time."

Bruce knew that voice well. It was Clayface. He shouted, "Basil Karlo, I'm here. State your purpose."

"Hahaha, purpose? My purpose is to kill you. Now enter the building, but remember, only you are allowed inside. Anyone who dares follow you in—one extra person means one dead hostage. Do you understand?"

"Fine. I'll go in alone. You'd better follow the rules too."

As Bruce spoke, he opened the armor on his wrist, revealing a miniature computer hidden inside.

Butler Alfred had already taken control of all the surveillance cameras within Ruili Cosmetics Company when they set out. Everything had been transmitted to Batman's miniature computer.

With the press of a button, a holographic image immediately projected from the miniature computer's screen. A group of men and women sat on the floor with their hands and feet bound and their mouths gagged. Killer Croc was sitting on a stool beside them, drinking.

Then the view pulled back and shifted, transforming from two-dimensional footage into a three-dimensional projection. The room where the hostages and Killer Croc were located was also mapped out.

"Commissioner Gordon, do you see it?"

Gordon nodded. "The warehouse in the inner corridor on the seventh floor. I've got it. I'll deploy snipers immediately. If you can't subdue him, I'll try to take him out."

Bruce upheld a no-killing rule, but dozens of lives were at stake now. Besides, he could not openly interfere with the police operation when they were carrying out their duties.

"I'll do my best to stop that."

After saying that, Bruce strode into the Ruili Cosmetics Company building.

Commissioner Gordon relayed the information and immediately arranged for snipers to find the best positions. At the same time, he watched the building entrance with a solemn expression.

Suddenly, he seemed to remember something and turned to Jude. "What are you supposed to do? Batman wouldn't bring along someone useless."

"Of course I'm going in too, so we can end this mess quickly."

"No. Didn't you hear what they said? The hostages will be killed."

"That's simple. We just have to make sure they can't see me."

Jude activated his belt, and his entire body vanished on the spot, entering an invisible state.

Gordon's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly asked, "Where are you?"

"Right beside you, Commissioner. Next, I'll deal with Killer Croc. Bruce might have a harder time against Clayface, so I suggest you get a fire truck here immediately. Also, have your men ready to go in and rescue the hostages at any time."

Hearing Jude call out Bruce's name, Commissioner Gordon's expression changed drastically. He asked in a low voice, "How do you know?"

"Of course he told me himself. Don't be so tense. I told you, I'm not a bad guy."

Jude walked to the side of the building, activated the Gravity Boots, and began walking straight up the wall one step at a time.

Meanwhile, after entering the building, Bruce carefully examined the holographic projection once more, but still could not find Clayface. Alfred's voice sounded in his ear as well.

"My apologies, sir, but I can't find him. Clayface must have already merged with the building. He could be hiding anywhere now. You must be careful."

Bruce said nothing and headed up the stairs toward the seventh floor.

However, when he reached the turn on the third floor, the wall beside him suddenly trembled, and a mud-like spear abruptly shot out.

Bruce was on high alert and immediately leaped aside.

But the ground where he landed suddenly turned into sludge as well, instantly swallowing his lower legs.

Bruce hurriedly fired his grappling hook, wrapping it around the stair railing on the sixth floor, then used the pull to yank himself out of the mud pit.

Yet in the brief moment of contact, the portion of his suit covered by the sludge had already suffered severe corrosion and peeled away.

Bruce stared fixedly at the puddle of mud. The sludge then burst after him, transforming into a long strip of mud that reached the sixth floor even faster than he did and instantly formed into a yellow humanoid figure.

"Hahaha... Batman, long time no see!"

As Clayface spoke, one of his arms transformed into a blade and slashed fiercely at the grappling line. Its powerful corrosive properties immediately severed the rope.

Jude made his way up to the seventh floor step by step and reached the warehouse holding the hostages. It was a windowless room, with Killer Croc inside. He had very little time—perhaps only a few seconds.

Taking out the Freeze Gun, Jude drew a deep breath and decisively pulled the trigger.

Please hit me with your votes as hard as you like. I'll gladly take it.