At the Wayne Family estate outside the city, Bruce sat silently on the sofa.
His loyal Old Butler brought him coffee, along with sugar and salt. After setting them down, he smiled at the young master he had served for over twenty years. "What's wrong, sir? Weren't you out on a date with Miss Natasha? Why did you come back looking so down? Didn't your charm and status work this time? Did Miss Natasha turn you down?"
Few people knew the truth, but how could Alfred, who had served the Wayne Family his whole life, not know? Behind his public image as an arrogant playboy, his young master was Gotham City's underground ruler—a dark hero determined to wipe out crime and punish every lawbreaker. That was right: Bruce Wayne, billionaire and playboy, was the Criminal's Nemesis, the vigilante Batman who had recently become the talk of Gotham City.
Wayne Enterprises had announced that the last member of the Wayne Family had begun traveling the world at the age of fifteen. The favored son of fortune had vanished from the public eye for a full decade. But when he returned, having mastered his skills and ready to make his mark, he discovered that ordinary criminals were no longer the world's biggest threat. High-tech crime and international terrorists had taken their place. Street fights and drug dealing were child's play compared to terror attacks involving grenade launchers, rockets, and suicide bombings. So, after he drove Gotham City's traditional underworld into hiding, Bruce was left at a loss, unsure whether he should keep being Batman.
And then there was tonight's prima ballerina from the Ballet Troupe. If what she said was true—that a country relied on one person, an unofficial police officer, to protect public safety and people's lives and property—then did such a nation even deserve to exist?
When had the Great American Federation fallen so far that not one person in its government, police force, or courts could step up to govern, eliminate crime, fight corruption, and revive the economy? Where had the enthusiasm and inspiration gone—the spirit that had sent the entire nation rushing to enlist during World War II and liberate all of humanity, or so the USA believed? In just a few short decades, the once-proud banner of democracy and land of freedom had sunk into a laughingstock, derided across the world as hypocritical, ineffective, and a den of darkness.
Whose fault was it all? How could he save this country...? Bruce sank into a torment of self-doubt and clashing worldviews. One moment, he was reliving the hardships and brutal training he had endured over the past ten years; the next, he heard his mentor's demonic whispers: This world must be cleansed. Shadow Warrior... Then he seemed to be back at the moment his parents were shot, when he could only weep helplessly. That feeling was beyond words.
Regret, helplessness, anger—every kind of dark emotion flooded Batman's heart. At last, the young superhero broke down. With a furious shout, he swept the loyal Old Butler's steaming coffee off the table.
"I've had enough! Shut up! All of you, shut up!"
"Sir, what's wrong?" Alfred was startled.
He had thought his young master—the Wayne Family's only heir, now the master of the house—was simply upset about being rejected by a woman. But seeing him drenched in sweat, the old man knew he had been wrong. Alarmed, he asked, "Should I call a doctor?"
Bruce came to his senses a little. Gasping for breath, he forced a smile. "No, Alfred. I'm just... just a little tired. You know, I haven't been sleeping well lately..."
Alfred looked at his young master, who stubbornly refused to show weakness, and sighed. "Then how about I draw you a bath, and you get some rest? There shouldn't be anything at the company that needs your attention today. Not a thing..."
"You promise?"
"I promise!"
"..." Bruce Wayne finally gave a satisfied smile. "Then I'll go lie down for a while."
"Yes, sir. Rest is exactly what you need right now."
As he rose and reached the doorway, Bruce Wayne paused and looked back. "Thank you, Alfred."
"You're welcome, my master." The old man finally smiled.
...,...
But the next day, as the mayor held an award ceremony for Jim Gordon—the former Gotham City police detective who had spent decades tirelessly fighting crime and was a true protector of the people—and appointed him police commissioner, a gang of criminals and terrorists attacked Wayne Plaza in Gotham City.
"Congratulations, Director Gordon! Wahahaha!" In front of thousands of civilians, a military policeman with scars slashed across his face raised his gun and fired at the mayor.
Jim Gordon was caught off guard, but he reacted quickly enough to step in front of the bullet.
"Detective Gordon!" The mayor and Harvey, who had attended the ceremony, hurried over to check his injuries. But it was too late...
Meanwhile, the hideous, deranged fake cop laughed loudly. "Scream! Go wild! This is real hell!"
"Bang!" At last, one of the police officers reacted and opened fire.
"Don't shoot! Don't shoot! There are too many civilians here..."
In response, the fearless terrorists didn't run. They stayed where they were and traded fire with hundreds of police officers.
"Damn it, I've been hit! I've been hit..."
"Somebody, get over here! I've got someone hurt..."
The scene descended into utter chaos. Meanwhile, the culprit slipped away unnoticed, making his escape amid the confusion with perfect composure.
"Wooo-ooo!" Police sirens rang out across Gotham City.
"Heh heh, this is only the beginning, Batman~" The scarred man grinned from the shadows as he watched a black armored monstrosity race to the scene.
...,...
At noon, the television station broadcast a video message from the terrorists.
"Hey! I mean, uh, good afternoon. I'm just sending this message to say that, yes, I was behind the shooting at Wayne Plaza this morning! Stir up a little trouble, disrupt the old order, and everything turns chaotic~" The Joker laughed maniacally on screen, then abruptly returned to an eerie calm. "And I'm the face of chaos. You know what's good about chaos? It brings fairness."
With a martyr's sacred expression, the criminal looked all the more shocking. "And fairness is exactly what our country lacks!" he said with a light laugh. But in the next instant, his face twisted into a snarl. "Batman, I'm not saying this for anyone else. I'm saying it for you. How about it? People are born foolish and mad. All it takes is a little push, and this civilized society is as fragile as a child's glass marble. Crack—and it shatters!"
"And spare me your talk of honor and morality. You're not one of them! You'll never fit in, no matter what you do. To them, you're just another freak, same as me. They need you now. Once they don't, they'll turn around and push you out. Look at their moral codes, their laws and regulations: they're nothing but a cruel joke. The moment danger comes, they show their true colors. They only get along when times are peaceful. I'll prove to you that when crisis hits, these so-called civilized people will tear each other apart."
"Now, I'm announcing this: for every day Batman refuses to take off that ridiculous mask, I'll kill one person! Maybe two? Hmm, how about ten? Yes, ten!"
His contempt for human life made him all the more terrifying, because no one could possibly know what he would do next.
"Hey, darling, for every day you refuse to show the public your hypocritical true face, I'll kill ten people—until you bow your head! Wahahaha..."
"Beep."
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