I Create the League of Heroes in Gotham

After Li Wei told Dr. Hugo about his gains from the Falcone Family that night, he took the elevator out of Indian Hill Hospital and returned to his office.

"Creak creak..."

Back in his office, Li Wei lay down on his worn-out little bed and stared blankly at the ceiling.

He hadn't expected that in just a few days since arriving in Gotham, he had already adapted and even gotten used to life here.

Could it be that he was naturally suited for this city of sin?...

Thinking of this, Li Wei chuckled wryly.

How could that be!

He was a law-abiding citizen; it was just that his adaptability was strong.

It had to be!

Sleep!

He had to get up early tomorrow to prepare for the Arkham restart! Business was finally about to officially open!

Li Wei slept soundly until morning.

However, during this time, many people in Gotham City couldn't sleep all night.

For example, the boss of the Maroni Family – Sal Marroni.

As a force that could rival the Falcone Family, although it was a newer force and its foundation in Gotham was slightly inferior to the Falcone Family.

But not by much.

If the Falcone Family could find Li Wei through subtle clues, the Maroni Family could do the same.

At first, Sal Marroni didn't take Li Wei seriously, thinking it was just a coincidence. He even thought Li Wei looked rather frail and had a very kind face.

There was nothing that could connect him to that mad killer Khada Jhin.

But when he received intelligence from his subordinates that Falcone had personally met Li Wei and personally escorted Li Wei to the entrance of the nightclub.

This made Sal Marroni shift his attention to Li Wei.

Unfortunately, like Falcone, Marroni had no evidence to prove that Li Wei was connected to Khada Jhin.

He didn't even dare to send people to find Li Wei directly like Falcone.

As an old rival, Sal wasn't sure if Li Wei was just a smoke bomb released by Falcone.

If it was just a smoke bomb, he would have wasted his efforts. After the recent commotion caused by Khada Jhin, the Maroni Family was severely weakened, and it was hard to say if someone would take advantage of their vulnerability.

If it wasn't a smoke bomb, and he happened to send people to cause trouble for Li Wei, and Li Wei happened to be related to Khada Jhin, it would be like walking into his own death.

After the live broadcast on television not long ago, he clearly understood the gap in combat power between his subordinates and Khada Jhin. Unless he committed all his manpower, it would be futile!

But...

He couldn't just do nothing!

If he remained inactive, the underworld would think that he, Sal Marroni, was old and had lost his deterrent power. He would be gradually encroached upon by other underworld forces, and it was even possible that before any external attacks, the Maroni Family would collapse from within!

This was how they rose to power and controlled half of Gotham's underworld until now!

This was simply a brilliant scheme by that old fox Falcone!

Sal Marroni felt a splitting headache.

He needed to find an external target to divert internal conflicts!

As he was agonizing over this, his newly promoted second-in-command suddenly approached him with a nervous expression.

"Boss, I just received news that the Falcone Family is gathering people. Look..."

Sal Marroni's heart tightened.

Although the second-in-command didn't say what the Falcone Family was gathering people for, he could guess with his gut that they were likely trying to take advantage of his weakened state to finish him off!

That old fox Falcone was forcing him to make a choice!

Sal Marroni thought of the terror dominated by Khada Jhin and hardened his heart!

"Sam, gather our men now. Let's strike first! Prepare to go to war with the Falcone Family!"

Although the Maroni Family was severely weakened and at a disadvantage against the Falcone Family, compared to facing the terrifying Khada Jhin, there was at least a chance to resist.

If they had to face Khada Jhin, Marroni estimated that his subordinates might flee without a fight, or even betray him and kill him...

"Okay!" The second-in-command also breathed a sigh of relief.

He was fine fighting anyone, as long as he wasn't ordered to lead men to fight Khada Jhin!

He didn't want to repeat the fate of the previous second-in-command!

The gruesome scene of gang members turning into Flesh Lotuses on the live television broadcast still sent shivers down his spine...

Chapter 20: I'm Not Sick, I'm Really Not Sick!

While Gotham's underworld was in turmoil because of Li Wei.

Li Wei was sleeping.

While Dr. Hugo racked his brain, unable to find a substitute material for synthesizing the rage potion.

Li Wei was still asleep.

When the Gotham PD came knocking.

Li Wei… could finally no longer sleep.

Otherwise, the Gotham PD would have really smashed down his door!

"...Knock, knock, knock... Knock, knock, knock..."

When Li Wei was woken by the incessant banging on his door, he sleepily opened the asylum's main entrance.

Two figures in police uniforms stood before him: the partners Gordon and Harvey!

This was Li Wei's first time truly facing the duo face-to-face, rather than separated by a mask.

If the mob could track him down by following clues, the Gotham PD could find him just as easily.

Li Wei wasn't surprised by their arrival; he had even prepared for it.

"Morning, officers," Li Wei yawned lazily. "What brings you two here so early?"

In stark contrast to Li Wei's languor, Gordon and Harvey's eyes were bloodshot, clearly having been awake all night.

Gordon and Harvey exchanged a glance, then looked Li Wei up and down, taking in his pink pig pajamas. Finally, they looked up at the asylum's sign and cautiously asked.

"Good morning, sir. I'm Gordon, and this is my partner, Harvey. Are you President Li Wei?"

They had to be cautious!

The man before them looked to be in his early twenties, wearing pink pig pajamas, and claiming it was morning when it was clearly noon.

And this was Arkham Asylum.

They strongly suspected the man's mental state. Even Gordon, who feared no evil, felt a bit unnerved facing a madman for the first time.

"Yes, I'm Li Wei. What do you need me for?"

Gordon and Harvey exchanged another look. This time, both wore troubled expressions.

How do you investigate a mentally ill person?

"It's like this, Li Wei... President," Gordon finally managed, swallowing hard, "where were you last night between five PM and three AM?"

Li Wei scratched his head, seemingly trying to recall something, then clapped his hands together.

"I remember! I was talking to Little Flower yesterday!"

Little Flower?

Gordon and Harvey's eyes lit up. Khada Jhin dressed so flamboyantly, and given the man's mental state, calling her "Little Flower" was entirely plausible!

"President Li Wei, do you know where Little Flower is?" Gordon continued, his voice gentle, not daring to speak too loudly for fear of agitating Li Wei.

Li Wei nodded. "I do. She's upstairs. Are you looking for Little Flower too? I'll take you up to see her."

Gordon and Harvey nodded quickly and followed Li Wei upstairs.

At the same time, they raised their guard to the highest level. They hadn't expected their investigation to go so smoothly after tracking the lead this far!

The three ascended the stairs to the top-floor office. Gordon and Harvey's attention was now fully focused on the office door, completely oblivious to the eerie atmosphere of the hallway.

As Li Wei's hand reached for the office doorknob, their hands gravitated towards the pistols at their waists.

The tragedy of the Maroni Family last night had proven Khada Jhin's dangerousness.

They had only one chance to strike first.

Once they confirmed Khada Jhin was inside, they had to incapacitate her immediately.

Otherwise, they would be the ones to die!

"Little Flower, you have visitors!" Li Wei suddenly boomed, nearly causing Gordon and Harvey to draw their weapons. "They want to have a chat with you."

This showed the deep impression Khada Jhin had left on them yesterday.

But as they calmed themselves, they realized that the "Little Flower" Li Wei spoke of was actually... a flower?

On the desk sat a potted plant, and Li Wei was standing beside it, introducing himself.

"This is Sheriff Gordon, and this is Sheriff Harvey..."

Gordon: ...

Harvey: ...

"Sheriffs, Little Flower is greeting you. Did you hear?" Li Wei prompted them.

Gordon and Harvey looked at the serious and earnest Li Wei, then forced stiff smiles and nodded at the potted plant on the desk.

"Hello, Little Flower. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Only then did Li Wei nod with satisfaction.

By this point, Gordon and Harvey no longer doubted Li Wei.

As the saying goes, talking to plants doesn't necessarily mean you have a mental problem, but if plants talk back to you, then you definitely have a serious mental issue!

From a psychological standpoint, there was no way Li Wei could be linked to the serial killer Khada Jhin.

Their presence here was merely because Arkham Asylum had taken over the operations of Scott Asylum, and their timing as stakeholders seemed a little too coincidental.

But now, it appeared to be just a coincidence after all.

The only thing that puzzled the two of them was the same question: how did Li Wei, in his current mental state, become the Warden?

"Ahem..." Gordon cleared his throat. "Warden Li Wei, well... since Xiao Hua has seen you, we'll be leaving now. We have other matters to attend to back at the precinct."

"Shall I see you out?" Li Wei made a move to stand up.

"No need to be so formal, we can walk ourselves out..."

Gordon and Harvey quickly refused, practically fleeing as if they would catch something from Li Wei if they stayed any longer.

Li Wei stood by the window, watching the two of them run to the police car and then disappear from view in a flash.

Li Wei smiled and then retracted his gaze.

He moved the pot of flowers from his desk to the windowsill and plopped back down into his chair.

Everything was going according to his plan.

No matter how crazy he was, he wasn't so insane as to believe plants could talk; he hadn't bought Zyra's Hero Template.

It was all an act.

While this method couldn't completely clear him of suspicion regarding Khada Jhin, it could at least fool them for a while.

And with this buffer period, it would be enough!