The Joker's Deterrence

Because of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s interference, Bruce didn't wait for the Joker to kill more people before using Harvey Dent to capture him. Instead, a special forces team under S.H.I.E.L.D. took the lead, with the army following, to conduct a large-scale arrest of Gotham City's underground forces, hoping to extract the Joker's whereabouts.

"Bang!"

"Don't move, we are the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, and we suspect you are involved in a national crisis!"

"...Move and I'll shoot whoever moves!"

"Bang bang bang!"

"Damn it, we surrender, we surrender..."

"...Where did the army come from?...Shit, we're just the Mafia, not terrorists, why is the army bothering us..."

"Shut up, speak when it's your turn to speak!"

"Bang bang!"

"Fire in the hold!"

"Dada-da~~"

"Enemy eliminated! Enemy eliminated!"

"Received! Third squad, continue advancing..."

"Move move move!"

"..."

For a time, Gotham City seemed to have entered a state of war, with gunshots and grenades everywhere. Occasionally, the sound of RPG explosions could even be heard, which, on top of the already tense atmosphere caused by the Joker incident, made the residents of Gotham City tremble with fear and also couldn't help but feel a surge of ecstasy.

Is the army here to save us? Did the National Guard engage the terrorists? Why is there so much commotion...

Some brave individuals secretly peeked out, wanting to see what was happening, but were immediately pulled back by their families. The timid ones stayed at home, trembling with fear, and kept calling the government and police stations, cursing them for letting such a thing happen, and asking where the police and army were. What happened to the taxes paid by us taxpayers... This made the already bewildered City Hall and police department even more overwhelmed.

"I'm sorry, we'll send people over to take a look right away..."

"Yes, those are not our police officers... Please rest assured, we will definitely..."

"Ma'am, please calm down, what is it... Shit, your whole family are niggers! Damn it, don't let me find out who you are..."

...,...

Even Aeo raised an eyebrow at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s grand gesture.

"Hmm, violent organizations are indeed direct and to the point. Gangsters, thugs, mob bosses, just take them all down first, and then what evidence is there... Tsk, intelligence agencies are truly efficient..."

"Nick Fury is also ruthless. To win over Bruce Wayne, he even deployed special forces..."

"Tsk, S.H.I.E.L.D..."

On top of a tall building, Aeo blew in the night wind, 'watching' and 'listening' to everything happening on the street, saying admiringly to Eiffel.

"One organization is indeed much more powerful than fighting alone! Even if the Joker is cunning and tricky, and Nick Fury can break through the situation, he can't use any of his abilities..."

"I just don't know if the Joker really only has these underground gangsters as his support, or if there are other masterminds behind him..." Aeo said to the Smart Butler with great interest.

"How about it, have those bosses revealed the Joker's whereabouts..."

The Smart Butler beeped twice and said, "Synchronizing, interrogation reception successful..."

Inside the police station, a group of underground bosses led by Manoni were all arrested by a group of S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers led by Black Widow and Agent Hill, and were locked up individually.

Seeing Don Salvator of the Manoni family still looking indifferent, Hill and Black Widow in the monitoring room reported to Nick Fury: "Report, sir, all underground gang bosses in Gotham City have been apprehended!"

"How about it, do you want to step in, or should our people..." Ignoring the grim-faced mayor of Gotham City and a group of police officials, Nick Fury said to Batman. "We are very professional, when it comes to interrogation..."

Bruce Wayne, dressed as Batman, was also slightly taken aback by S.H.I.E.L.D.'s decisive and ruthless methods. He had just agreed to Nick Fury's 'alliance' suggestion, and then hundreds of soldiers surrounded the residences and activity places of Gotham City's bosses. It could be described as swift and decisive, precise and efficient~

And, by doing this, he avoided using people from Gotham City. One should know that not all, but one-third of the public officials in Gotham City were involved with the gangs...

Looking at the former giants of Gotham City's underworld being brought into the police station like chicks being caught, even the resolute Bruce Wayne couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction and exhilaration. "No, I'll do it," he said.

Nick Fury shrugged indifferently. For him, Hill, and other agents like Black Widow, evidence and human rights were sometimes not as important as you might imagine...

Bruce Wayne first nodded to the mayor, as an apology for the mess Fury and his team had made, and then turned and walked into the interrogation room.

"I want to see the Joker!" Bruce got straight to the point. His cold voice carried a natural dominance and majesty that deeply impressed anyone who heard it.

"Tell me, where can I find him! Now!"

Don Salvator Manoni smiled. "I don't know where you got these soldiers from to arrest us all, but I want to say, Batman, I am not what you think. I am not afraid of you, because I know you are a principled person, and how can a principled person decide a person's fate without any evidence?"

Bruce Wayne was decisively questioned by the gangster boss. Yes, wasn't he always preaching that everyone is equal before the law? Why was he so angry this time? If he couldn't prove his guilt, he should be released, or if he was ultimately proven guilty, it shouldn't be him or anyone from S.H.I.E.L.D. to judge him. After all, this was the judge's power, advocated by the sacred law and the spirit of fair, just, and open legislation. No matter how many reasons others had, they could not judge a person beyond the law. That was immoral and also the root of crime...

Thinking of this, Bruce hesitated. Batman, who didn't want to be like them, said with a feigned ferocity, "But I can make you live in fear for the rest of your life..."

"Fear?" Don Salvator laughed. "Have you seen the Joker? Batman, that is fear! Because he is a person without any principles! No friends, no name, always wearing a terrifying and sinister face, smiling at you, cold and insane..."

"He brings nothing but death!"

Looking at the grim-faced Batman, the gangster boss laughed heartily, "...That is fear, Batman."