Captain

Bai Lang stepped on the gas and drove the police car straight down the road.

The police car sped along, and in less than ten minutes, Bai Lang had brought Ryan back from the Iceberg Lounge to Gotham City Police Headquarters.

"Bai Lang!"

As soon as he entered the station, Director Gordon strode over to him.

Perhaps because of yesterday's case, he had dark circles that nearly covered his entire eye sockets. His brown hair, streaked with gray, hung over his forehead.

He looked utterly exhausted. It seemed the recent string of major cases had worn him down, both physically and mentally.

"Every officer promoted to captain gets a brief promotion ceremony. We also need to hold a small press conference to announce to the whole city that Gotham Headquarters has a few more captains."

As he spoke, he led Bai Lang toward the auditorium where the press conference would be held.

Ryan stayed behind them, watching the two men from the rear with envy in his eyes.

When they arrived at the auditorium, the dozen or so reporters Gordon had invited were already waiting eagerly.

Three middle-aged men stood onstage as well. They appeared to be the other officers being promoted to captain.

The ceremony wasn't originally scheduled for that day, but since Bai Lang had agreed, Gordon had simply set it for today.

Bai Lang stood among the others as Gordon pinned the badge representing his new rank to his chest.

After a brief oath, the four of them were ready to head out and investigate the case.

The media rushed to report on Gotham's four newly promoted captains, proclaiming that a new order was coming to the city's public safety.

By the time everything was finished, it was three in the afternoon. After eating, Bai Lang didn't wait for Gordon to assign officers to his team. He was ready to drive Ryan to the Iceberg Lounge.

Earlier, they'd said he had no authority to investigate the case. Now that he'd been promoted to captain, he wanted to see whether they could still stop him!

Just then, a voice from nearby interrupted Bai Lang's thoughts.

"You're still going to the Iceberg Lounge to investigate the 'Laughing Man' case?"

At the entrance to the temporary headquarters, Bai Lang turned around and saw two white officers, Hunter and White, standing behind him.

"We can't just let the criminal roam free, can we?" Bai Lang replied, looking them over.

Seeing that the two were still heading out to investigate, Hunter couldn't help asking,

"Didn't you run into Joker this morning, or get thrown out by those three captains, Ollie and the others?"

"We got thrown out. So what?" Bai Lang raised an eyebrow and asked him in return.

"You two officers got thrown out this morning, and you're still going back this afternoon? Aren't you worried those three captains will make things difficult for you?"

A hint of timidity crossed White's face, as if he'd been reminded of something he'd rather forget.

Hunter nodded in agreement. Clearly, the two of them had been out investigating the case that morning and had no idea Bai Lang had been promoted to captain.

"Who says I'm still an officer?" Bai Lang shook his head, then got into the police car with Ryan.

Hunter watched the car drive away, turning over Bai Lang's words in his mind.

"What did he mean by that?"

"If he's not an officer, did he get promoted to captain?"

"How could that be?" White scoffed beside him. "His name wasn't even on the list they released."

But when the two turned around, they saw Bai Lang taking his oath on the television screen above the lobby, with Director Gordon pinning a captain's badge to his chest.

"Was that Bai Lang just now?" Hunter looked at the scene on the screen, then turned to look in the direction the police car had gone.

"Y-yeah, I think so..." White looked as if he were questioning reality. Bai Lang had only been on the force for three years. How could he possibly be a captain already?

How was that possible?

And yet it was true. News of Bai Lang becoming a captain was being reported all over Gotham.

The police car raced down the road and soon arrived at the Iceberg Lounge.

Second floor of the Iceberg Lounge.

The spacious, well-lit hall had a floor of polished marble that reflected the soft light.

A massive crystal chandelier hung in the center of the room, above a circle of elegant leather sofas.

A few low coffee tables stood around the sofas, holding exquisite porcelain tea sets and platters of fruit.

The Penguin, Oswald, was currently discussing matters with three captains.

"The three of you have worked with us for a long time. I hope you'll take care of things regarding the young officer who died at our lounge."

"That's only right," replied the portly Black officer, sitting on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other.

"Officers, you can't go in there!"

A panicked voice suddenly came from outside.

The Penguin, Oswald, frowned and looked toward the door.

The door slowly opened, revealing two figures: Bai Lang and Ryan.

"Officers, I believe I made myself very clear. You're not authorized to investigate this case."

Ollie, the portly captain, immediately stood up, his face full of reproach.

"We're getting detailed information from Oswald about Joker's whereabouts. If you delay the investigation, will the two of you take responsibility?!"

The other two captains and six officers beside him also looked annoyed.

"Why wouldn't we be authorized?"

Bai Lang walked forward slowly, expressionless as he surveyed the officers around him.

Seeing that Bai Lang, a mere junior officer, still dared to talk back, the Black captain Ollie scoffed.

"Heh. Didn't I make it clear this morning? This case is extremely dangerous. Unless you're a captain or working under one, officers aren't allowed to investigate the 'Laughing Man' case on their own!"

"Who says I'm not a captain?" Bai Lang asked in return.

"You—!" The other White captain was about to reprimand him, but then saw the captain's badge on the chest of Bai Lang's black uniform and promptly shut his mouth.

The Penguin, Oswald, had already noticed that the badge on Bai Lang's chest was the same kind worn by Ollie and the others: a captain's badge.

So he said nothing.

"Can I investigate this case now?" Bai Lang stepped up to Ollie and looked down at him.

Ollie stared at him, his dark, weathered face turning almost red.

But he couldn't say a word.

"Captains, now that we're all equals, there's no need for so much hostility," Oswald said, stepping in to smooth things over.

Bai Lang turned to look at him. As expected of the Penguin.

In most universes, it was ultimately the Penguin who ruled Gotham, because he was a politician who changed the city at its very roots.

Bai Lang sat down on the sofa, which sank beneath him.

"Where did the people who died in the abandoned factory often go?"

Joker's actions were usually illogical, but he would never pick his test subjects carelessly.

So they must have had something in common. Maybe they frequented the same place, or shared some particular trait.

"They once went camping together near the Gotham Reservoir."

Well, looks like he still had to go to the reservoir.

Bai Lang asked a few more questions, but there was a lot even the Penguin didn't know.

When it became clear that the Penguin couldn't provide any more leads, Bai Lang stood up and left with Ryan.

The Penguin's gang also secretly engaged in criminal activities.

They had also bought off many government officials and police officers.

If Bai Lang exposed their crimes ahead of time, he might earn a decent number of Ability Points.

After Bai Lang and Ryan left, Ollie the Black captain snorted.

"He's just become a captain, and he's already acting like he owns the place. If he ever becomes a police chief, will he even bother to respect the commissioner?!"

"Take it easy, Captain Ollie. It's normal for young people to be hotheaded."

"If something were to happen while he was investigating the case—if he were to die in some unfortunate accident, well, that would be a real loss of a brilliant talent."

Oswald spoke from beside him.

Hearing the implication in Oswald's words, the anger on Ollie's face instantly turned into a sinister smile.