Let Go of That Innocent Joker

Gotham City!

Tonight's wind was as clamorous as ever, and the night sky was blanketed in dark clouds as usual!

A burly figure shrouded in a black cloak stood atop a towering Gothic building, looking down at the city below—brightly lit on the surface, yet filthy and corrupt beneath.

Buttercup's moon hung hazily behind him, stretching his shadow infinitely into the darkness. Against that backdrop, he stood motionless like a statue, leaving only those cold eyes beneath his mask.

Batman—Bruce Wayne! Gotham's hero, the Dark Knight who struck terror into countless criminals!

Mr. Wayne spent his days as a playboy CEO fooling around with women, then transformed into a giant bat at night to fight crime. His body was worn out, and all he wanted was to go home and get a good night's sleep. Even Batman, for all his abilities, was still flesh and blood. He needed rest too.

Just as Batman took a step toward home, he pulled it back. For the past two days, he had been restless, constantly feeling that something major was about to happen. He had worked overtime for several days in a row, patrolling and investigating, yet found nothing. That only made him more uneasy.

Batman swept his gaze over the city below. Several police cars sped past in pursuit of a biker gang. He watched it all coldly before finally shifting his attention to Gotham's outskirts.

"Perhaps the source of my unease is there... Arkham!"

Batman was a man of action and never procrastinated. He returned to the Batcave, restocked his gear, and drove toward Arkham. The Batmobile roared down the road as he used every spare second to run through possible emergencies in his mind, arranging plans from Plan A all the way to Plan Z!

In the barren mountains outside