Chapter Summaries

Li Wei ordered Ian, Warwick, and Dr. Hugo to create a huge disturbance to divert Gordon’s attention while Gotham’s underworld reshuffled. As Gordon and Harvey were trapped in a massive Maroni assault on the Falcone Family, a mysterious force began slaughtering Maroni’s men nearby.

• Li Wei considered the threat posed by Gordon and Bruce Wayne’s alliance and ordered Ian, Warwick, and Dr. Hugo to make a major commotion without causing too many casualties.
• Maroni launched an all-out attack on the Falcone Family’s strongholds, and Gordon and Harvey were pinned down by the gang’s overwhelming firepower.
• Explosions, screams, poison, and talk of the Gotham Beast erupted among the Maroni gang, abruptly easing the gunfire aimed at Gordon and Harvey.
• Gordon and Harvey used a small mirror to confirm that the Maroni gang was being slaughtered, then cautiously rose to look toward the explosions.

Warwick, Ian, and Dr. Hugo massacred a Maroni Family squad, then spared Gordon and Harvey and left them bewildered about their motives. The trio found the Falcone Family under attack by the Maroni Family, and Warwick appeared on the battlefield as both sides panicked.

• Warwick, Ian, and Dr. Hugo killed the Maroni gangsters with claws, bombs, and poison gas while Gordon and Harvey watched from behind a wall.
• Dr. Hugo stopped Warwick and Ian from attacking Gordon and Harvey, reminding them that Li Wei had ordered them not to cause too many casualties.
• Warwick, Ian, and Dr. Hugo ignored the two officers and left, while Gordon and Harvey wondered if the trio had come to save them before heading back to the police station.
• Warwick used his sense of smell to lead Ian and Dr. Hugo to a battle where the Maroni Family had cornered the Falcone Family inside a restaurant.
• Warwick appeared on the battlefield with a howl, filling both gangs with despair.

Warwick, Ian, and Dr. Hugo joined the Falcone–Maroni gang war and targeted the Maroni Family, causing Li Wei’s Soul Essence to surge. Li Wei accepted the rising death toll and looked forward to spending his newfound earnings.

• Warwick ordered his group to attack the Maroni Family while sparing the Falcone Family, citing Falcone’s donation to the hospital.
• Warwick, Ian, and Dr. Hugo wiped out a Maroni Family squad and headed off to find another fight.
• Li Wei discovered his Soul Essence had jumped to 6749 and used Mass Infatuation’s vision to inspect Gotham.
• Li Wei realized the Maroni Family and Falcone Family were at war, with Warwick, Ian, and Dr. Hugo killing Maroni members and shifting the battle in Falcone’s favor.
• Li Wei decided the casualties were acceptable and expected his Soul Essence to exceed ten thousand by morning.
• Li Wei went back to bed, eager to spend his earnings after waking.

After gaining more than 13,000 Soul Essence from the Maroni Family’s deaths, Li Wei explored the shop and bought three hero templates with infinite growth potential. He left Aurelion Sol out of reach for now and ended the chapter owning seven Hero Templates.

• Li Wei checked his balance and found that he had gained over 11,000 Soul Essence overnight, mostly from the Maroni Family.
• Li Wei saw Warwick back at Arkham Asylum, disguised as an ordinary renovation worker, while Leslie arrived for work.
• Li Wei tried to purchase Aurelion Sol but discovered that he had to unlock every other Hero Template first.
• Li Wei found that the 3150-Soul-Essence templates had unlocked, including Sion, Thresh, and Veigar, whose powers could grow without limit.
• Li Wei bought the Sion, Thresh, and Veigar templates, bringing his total to seven Hero Templates and leaving 3634 Soul Essence.

Li Wei discovered that Hero Template growth talents could strengthen him independently of Soul Essence and ordered Dr. Hugo to buy insects for him to kill. Falcone donated one hundred million dollars to Arkham Asylum, hoping to secure Li Wei’s protection, while Gordon and Harvey were left with Falcone’s warning about Maroni.

• Li Wei confirmed that Sion, Thresh, and Veigar’s growth talents did not conflict with Soul Essence, and decided to build them up by killing insects and absorbing souls.
• Li Wei ordered Dr. Hugo to find as many insects as possible, and Dr. Hugo began negotiating with an agricultural technology company in Metropolis.
• Gordon and Harvey arrived at Arkham Asylum alongside Falcone, who warned Gordon to arrest the wanted Maroni before time ran out.
• Falcone met Li Wei and offered a one-hundred-million-dollar donation, fearing that Arkham Asylum’s fighters could destroy the Falcone Family as they had the Maroni Family.
• Li Wei accepted Falcone’s check and asked whether he had come for anything else.

Falcone sought Li Wei’s approval to take over Gotham’s underworld, but Li Wei refused to interfere and focused instead on expanding his bug supply. Gordon pressed Li Wei about his loyalties, while Dr. Hugo secured thirty million cockroaches and then received another hundred million dollars to buy more.

• Falcone offered Li Wei a hundred-million-dollar donation and asked for his views on Gotham’s underworld; Li Wei said he had no interest in it, and Falcone left believing he could unify the gangs.
• Falcone told Li Wei that Gordon would soon be transferred to Arkham Asylum as a security guard.
• Gordon asked Li Wei whose side he was on, and Li Wei said he was responsible only for his own interests before dismissing Gordon and Harvey.
• Li Wei called Dr. Hugo and learned that he had bought around thirty million cockroaches for five million dollars, with delivery scheduled at Gotham’s docks in three days.
• Li Wei gave Dr. Hugo Falcone’s hundred-million-dollar donation to buy more bugs, leaving Dr. Hugo stunned because the supplier’s cockroach stock was already depleted.

Li Wei considered establishing an insect farm to supply the cockroaches needed for his ongoing enhancements, while Gordon was framed and fired from the Gotham police department. Gordon arranged to seek work at Arkham Asylum, and Li Wei secured approval for his transfer, leaving him ready to begin the Gordon Enhancement Plan.

• Li Wei realized that buying hundreds of millions of cockroaches would not meet his continuing needs, so he added an insect breeding factory to his plans.
• The Police Commissioner fired Gordon over a bullet from his service weapon, admitting that officials had framed him to take the blame for a Maroni Family member’s death.
• Gordon asked to work as a security guard at Arkham Asylum, and Harvey followed him out after warning the Police Commissioner she would regret the decision.
• Gordon told Harvey he suspected Li Wei and Arkham Asylum were not what they seemed and planned to investigate the asylum.
• Li Wei arranged land for the insect farm through Falcone but found that manufacturers could not provide suitable equipment at a price he wanted to pay.
• The mayor asked Li Wei whether to approve Gordon’s transfer, and Li Wei told him to approve it so Gordon could report to Arkham Asylum the next morning.

Li Wei began his plan to bring Gordon back to the Gotham Police Department by challenging him to understand Gotham’s politics, while Gordon settled into Arkham Asylum and grew closer to Dr. Leslie. That night, Cobblepot came to Li Wei asking him not to support Falcone as Cobblepot tried to take over the Falcone Family’s power and become Gotham’s underground king.

• Li Wei welcomed Gordon to Arkham Asylum, told him he would return to the Gotham Police Department, and said he needed to understand that politics was the art of struggle and compromise.
• Gordon began investigating Arkham Asylum but found no secrets, then spent the day becoming familiar with Dr. Leslie and flirting with her.
• Li Wei watched Gordon and believed Leslie’s help would eventually make him understand Gotham’s politics and become enhanced.
• Cobblepot visited Li Wei alone and asked him not to help Falcone while Cobblepot tried to seize the Falcone Family’s power and take Falcone’s place as Gotham’s underground king.

Li Wei agreed to let Cobblepot move against Falcone, hoping Cobblepot’s rise would earn him another Hero Template. The next morning, Li Wei detonated a shipment of cockroaches with a massive bomb, leaving Gotham stunned and the police searching an empty crater.

• Li Wei accepted Cobblepot’s plan to overthrow Falcone and urged him to pursue his ambition to become Gotham’s underground king.
• Cobblepot left Arkham Asylum and told Butch to drive him back so they could prepare to betray and kill Falcone.
• Li Wei went to the docks, collected two containers holding three thousand cockroaches, and had them delivered to a secluded corner of Arkham.
• Li Wei used Jigs’s bomb skill to blow up the containers, creating a huge explosion and mushroom cloud that alarmed Gotham.
• Li Wei fled the scene, and heavily armed Gotham police arrived but found no evidence.

Li Wei sought Bruce Wayne’s cooperation on an insect farm while revealing Gotham’s looming underworld conflict to Gordon. When Gordon tried to warn the police, Li Wei stopped him and urged him to pursue greater influence so he could change the city more broadly.

• Li Wei realized that the souls of thirty million cockroaches had greatly increased his strength, armor, and ability power, and decided to approach Bruce Wayne about an insect farm.
• Li Wei asked Gordon to arrange a meeting with Bruce Wayne, and Gordon agreed while asking about the morning’s explosion.
• Li Wei dismissed the explosion as insignificant and told Gordon that Cobblepot planned to overthrow Falcone.
• Gordon tried to leave to warn Harvey and the police, but Li Wei refused to approve his leave.
• Li Wei argued that Gordon could save more people by rising to a position of power, and Gordon challenged him over whether becoming commissioner was within his control.

Cobblepot seized control of Gotham’s underworld, but Li Wei ordered him to spare Falcone and drive him out of the city. Li Wei then lured Bruce Wayne to Arkham Asylum with a clue about his parents’ murder, and Bruce arrived with Alfred and Selina Kyle.

• Li Wei urged Gordon to accept Cobblepot as Gotham’s next underworld king and arrange a meeting with Bruce Wayne.
• Cobblepot called Li Wei after capturing Falcone, who offered Arkham Asylum five hundred million dollars to save his life.
• Li Wei refused Falcone’s offer but told Cobblepot to let Falcone leave Gotham, and Cobblepot complied.
• Li Wei asked Gordon to tell Bruce Wayne he might learn who killed his parents, prompting Bruce to agree to visit.
• Bruce Wayne arrived at Arkham Asylum with Alfred and Selina Kyle, and Li Wei greeted him in his office.

Li Wei told Bruce Wayne that the Court of Owls had arranged his parents’ deaths, then traded the information for Wayne Enterprises’ help building an insect farm and ownership of Arkham Asylum. Bruce left to investigate the Court, while Li Wei accepted Cobblepot’s promise of a five-hundred-million donation and hinted at a surprise for him.

• Bruce Wayne pressed Li Wei for information about his parents’ deaths, and Li Wei revealed that the Court of Owls had ordered the killing to protect its plans in Gotham.
• Bruce agreed to compensate Li Wei with custom insect-farming equipment and Arkham Asylum, and Li Wei offered to help him once if the Court became too difficult to handle.
• Alfred urged Bruce to leave, and Gordon warned him against further contact with Li Wei as Bruce departed with Selina.
• Gordon returned to Arkham Asylum, conflicted about whether to seek help from Bruce to reclaim his police position.
• Cobblepot told Li Wei that Falcone had left Gotham with Victor and promised to cover Falcone’s five-hundred-million donation.
• Li Wei accepted Cobblepot’s delayed payment and promised him a surprise when he next visited Arkham Asylum.

Li Wei discovered that the Fiddlesticks Hero Template had unlocked a trial requiring Jonathan Crane to spread fear throughout Gotham. Meanwhile, Gordon accepted his situation at Arkham Asylum and began considering how to use his unusual powers, leaving Li Wei eager for a chance to help him return to the police department.

• Cobblepot became Gotham's dominant crime boss and reluctantly agreed to pay Li Wei five hundred million dollars.
• A killer hanged nearly fifty Gotham citizens and cut openings into their bodies, leaving the Police Commissioner desperate for a detective who could solve the case.
• Harvey admitted he could not crack the murders without Gordon, while the Police Commissioner considered bringing Gordon back to the department.
• Leslie comforted Gordon as he described his suspicions about Arkham Asylum and his history with Barbara, then persuaded him to accept his situation and discuss using his powers.
• Li Wei saw that the Fiddlesticks Hero Template now required 4,800 Soul Essence and completion of a trial using Jonathan Crane to spread fear throughout Gotham.

Li Wei discovered that Jonathan Crane was being driven toward becoming Scarecrow by his murderous father, and planned to give Jonathan the Ancient Fear Fiddlesticks Hero Template while using the crimes to restore Gordon’s career. Gordon was recalled to the Gotham Police Department on the condition that he solve the mass hanging case.

• Li Wei searched Gotham, found a police report about victims whose Fear Glands had been removed, and traced the killer to an Arkham district home.
• Li Wei discovered that the killer was Jonathan’s father, who was experimenting on Jonathan to cure their family’s supposed hereditary phobia.
• Li Wei decided to purchase the Ancient Fear Fiddlesticks Hero Template for Jonathan and designed a plan to make Gordon a Gotham hero and replace the Police Commissioner.
• Gordon arrived at Arkham Asylum with Leslie and answered a call from the Police Commissioner, who offered to restore his detective status if he solved the mass hanging case.
• Gordon accepted the condition and said he would return to the Gotham Police Department that day.

Gordon returned to the Gotham City Police Department after the mayor ordered his reinstatement, and Li Wei gave him an address connected to the mass hangings and organ thefts. Li Wei also secured ownership of Arkham Asylum and arranged Leslie’s departure, while Gordon remained unaware that Li Wei had shaped both their paths.

• The mayor ordered the Police Commissioner to reinstate Gordon, and Gordon told Li Wei he was leaving Arkham Asylum.
• Li Wei asked Gordon a dark riddle, then gave him an address and suggested he bring Harvey to investigate the case.
• Li Wei signed Wayne Enterprises’ documents transferring ownership of Arkham Asylum to him.
• Leslie resigned from Arkham Asylum to take a coroner position at the Gotham City Police Department, a move Li Wei had arranged.
• Gordon returned to the police department and was welcomed by its staff, who hoped he could solve the hanging and organ theft case.

Gordon and Harvey found evidence identifying Professor Gidro Klein as the killer who harvested his victims’ Fear Glands, rescued his son Jonathan, and later recovered Gordon’s detective status after Gidro died during an arrest. At Arkham Asylum, Li Wei prepared to bring Jonathan in as a trainee and assigned researchers to complete his Fear Gas, while Harvey asked Gordon to explain his recent experiences.

• Gordon showed Harvey Li Wei’s address, and they found stolen Fear Glands, evidence against Professor Gidro Klein, and his terrified son Jonathan in a locked storage room.
• Gordon and Harvey took Jonathan to the police station, then searched for Gidro; Li Wei watched them and arranged for Arkham Asylum researchers to develop Fear Gas from Gidro’s recorded experiments.
• Gordon and Harvey caught Gidro while he was gathering victims, and Gidro died after accidentally hanging himself during the struggle.
• Leslie began her onboarding at the Gotham Police Department, while Li Wei prepared to receive Jonathan at Arkham Asylum and tasked Dr. Hugo, Warwick, and Ian with completing the Fear Gas.
• The Police Commissioner restored Gordon’s badge, identification, and service pistol, and Harvey asked him to explain what had happened at Arkham Asylum.

Gordon accepted that Jonathan would be sent to Arkham Asylum after learning Leslie had joined the Gotham Police Department as its new forensic examiner. At Arkham, Li Wei bought Fiddlesticks’s Hero Template and tested its frightening abilities, including a powerful crowstorm.

• Gordon told Harvey how Li Wei had helped him and agreed that they should focus on their jobs unless they found evidence against Li Wei.
• Gordon objected to the Police Commissioner’s plan to send Jonathan to Arkham Asylum, but discovered that Leslie was the precinct’s new forensic examiner.
• Leslie defended her medical recommendation and explained that Arkham Asylum was the only institution eligible for City Hall funding, so Gordon agreed to send Jonathan there.
• Li Wei saw Jonathan being brought to Arkham Asylum and spent most of his Soul Essence buying Fiddlesticks’s Hero Template.
• Li Wei gained Fiddlesticks’s abilities, created a lifelike Scarecrow’s Effigy, and tested his skills, including Crowstorm.

Li Wei had Jonathan Klein brought to Arkham Asylum, then rejected Gordon’s demand to keep Jonathan there until the police approved his recovery. Li Wei secretly transferred Jonathan to the underground Indian Hill Hospital and prepared to load the Fiddlesticks Hero Template, declaring that Jonathan would become fear itself.

• Gordon and Harvey delivered the still-unconscious, struggling Jonathan to Arkham Asylum, where Dr. Hugo and Warwick restrained him.
• Gordon warned Li Wei not to use Jonathan for anything beyond treatment and said he would act as Jonathan’s guardian, but Li Wei argued that the police had no authority to keep a noncriminal from leaving once recovered.
• Gordon and Harvey left after Li Wei refused to accept Gordon’s conditions, and Li Wei asked who would pay Jonathan’s treatment fees.
• Li Wei took Jonathan to the underground Indian Hill Hospital, where Dr. Hugo, Warwick, and Ian were waiting for the template ritual.
• Li Wei told Jonathan he would soon have no fear because he was fear itself, then summoned the powerful Fiddlesticks Hero Template sphere.

Li Wei fused the Fiddlesticks Hero Template into Jonathan, curing his fear-induced insanity and transforming him into the Scarecrow. After arranging a legal-looking recovery assessment, Li Wei sent Jonathan to advanced training so he could spread fear more effectively in Gotham.

• Fiddlesticks' orb briefly stirred fear across Gotham, gathering the city's dark haze into a cloud vortex before thunder scattered it.
• Li Wei fused the Fiddlesticks Template into Jonathan, clearing his mind and transforming his body into a scarecrow.
• Jonathan tested his new form and sickle, then eagerly asked Li Wei to let him spread fear in Gotham.
• Li Wei arranged a recorded psychological recovery assessment with Dr. Hugo to prepare for Jonathan's eventual release and avoid trouble with Gordon.
• Dr. Hugo taught Jonathan about fear and how to spread it, while Li Wei left him to train; meanwhile, Bruce Wayne signed a Wayne Enterprises document about custom insect-breeding equipment for Li Wei.

Bruce Wayne agreed to fund custom equipment for Li Wei and continued investigating the Court of Owls, while Cobblepot tried to raise the five hundred million dollars he had promised Arkham Asylum. The chapter left Bruce hosting Alfred’s old comrade Reggie and Cobblepot still far short of the money he needed.

• Bruce told Alfred he had agreed to fund Li Wei’s equipment partly because Arkham Asylum might help if the Court of Owls proved too powerful to confront.
• Alfred answered a knock at Wayne Manor and introduced his Royal Special Forces comrade Reggie, whom Bruce invited to stay the night.
• Cobblepot waited for his mother’s opera performance to end, then ordered Butch’s men to interrogate two punks who had mocked her.
• Cobblepot told Butch to sell the punks’ houses and kept their valuables for Arkham Asylum’s donation, but the money was nowhere near the five hundred million dollars he owed.