"When did thieves start killing people, too?"
Even with a gun pointed at his head, Bai Lang remained unfazed.
The current inside him was steadily gathering at the spot on his scalp where the gun was aimed. Given a little more time, he could melt the gun with a jolt of electricity.
If Catwoman's clothes weren't made of insulating material, he could even electrocute her.
"Oh? Mr. Detective, you know who I am?" Catwoman Selina Kyle gave Bai Lang a long look.
She knew of Bai Lang. He'd become a captain at such a young age—clearly a man with a bright future.
No wonder Penguin had asked her to bring him in.
Still, she was a little surprised that he knew who she was.
But she revealed no emotion.
"Mr. Detective, please cooperate. Someone just wants to see you."
Bai Lang shook his head, and red current instantly melted the gun.
"Now you're going to cooperate with me."
Catwoman Selina Kyle tossed the gun away, staring at him in shock.
Just now, something strange had happened to the gun in her hand. It had even made her feel a shiver of fear.
It was as though she'd have died on the spot if she hadn't dropped it.
"Captain, you're not being very cooperative!" Catwoman Selina eyed Bai Lang warily. At the same time, she curled her hands into claws and lunged at him with lightning speed.
If her claws caught him, they could tear apart even the hardest head.
But she didn't want to kill him. She only meant to subdue Bai Lang and take him to the Iceberg Lounge.
Yet in Bai Lang's eyes, her movements were unbearably slow.
"Catwoman, you're a thief who's stolen jewelry from dozens of jewelers across Gotham. As a Gotham police officer, I have the right to arrest you."
As he spoke, Bai Lang's arm blurred. He seized Catwoman's wrist and clamped down on her hand like an iron vise.
Looking at her fair skin, Bai Lang grinned, baring his gleaming teeth.
"Heh-heh... If I rape you, you won't be able to say a thing about it afterward!"
At his words, Catwoman Selina's pupils contracted. She suddenly raised her foot, trying to kick Bai Lang in the cramped space of the car.
But Bai Lang caught the opening she'd exposed and lightly punched Catwoman Selina in the stomach.
That single punch doubled Catwoman Selina over.
The force made her eyes widen, and blood vessels even appeared in her eyes.
She couldn't withstand the blow and had completely lost the ability to fight back.
"Sorry, Catwoman Selina. You're under arrest!"
Bai Lang pulled a pair of silver handcuffs from his pocket and snapped them around Catwoman's wrists, then tossed her onto the back seat of the taxi.
The driver had jumped out and fled the moment he saw Bai Lang and Catwoman start fighting.
When he saw her curled up, apparently trying to ease the pain from the punch, he drove off toward the police station at full speed.
After returning to the station and interrogating Catwoman, Bai Lang finally learned why the jewel thief had come looking for him.
It turned out the owner of the Iceberg Lounge, Penguin, had his eye on him.
[Ability Points +4]
A pale-blue notification appeared before Bai Lang's eyes. He knew it was because he'd arrested Catwoman.
But Catwoman was Catwoman. The interrogation had barely ended, and Bai Lang hadn't even had time to warm his seat when he spotted her across the street from the police station. She was already running away.
It looked like she'd escaped.
But that wasn't the point. The point was, why did Penguin want to see him?
Bai Lang couldn't figure it out. He'd had almost no dealings with Penguin, except for the investigation into the Laughing Man case.
Looks like he'd have to visit the Iceberg Lounge tonight.
With that in mind, he headed to Director Gordon's office.
"Director Gordon, you wanted to see me?"
"Captain Bai Lang, have a seat." Jim Gordon pointed to the chair opposite him.
"You're a captain now, so I'm planning to assign a few officers to your team. They'll be able to help with your investigations."
Bai Lang nodded. That was exactly what he needed.
He was going to see Penguin, and having a few more officers along would make things easier.
Why not go as Batman?
Come on, he was a fake Batman. Sure, he'd put on a ridiculously badass act in front of all of Gotham, but he was still a fake.
Besides, his legitimate position as a captain would let him get plenty of information out of Penguin.
There was no need to disguise himself as Batman.
Unless an emergency came up that might put him on the wrong side of the law in America, he'd put on that suit and pin the blame on Batman.
After all, his prospects were bright. He'd have to be an idiot to use his identity as Captain Bai Lang to commit crimes.
He, Bai Lang, was a model citizen!
"Thank you for the promotion, Director." Bai Lang nodded. "Put Ryan under me, then assign me two male and two female officers. That'll do."
A captain could oversee up to fifteen officers, and more if he was put in charge of a major-crimes unit or task force.
But Bai Lang didn't need that many. He already knew the faces of most of Gotham's criminals.
Apart from a few particularly troublesome ones, most of them would be no match for his overwhelming strength.
And now his Current Propulsion had reached 155,000 volts. He was only 45,000 volts away from being able to stop bullets completely.
What criminal in Gotham would be able to stand against him then?
Gordon blinked. Seeing that Bai Lang only wanted a few officers, he couldn't help asking, "Will that be enough? You'll be responsible for a large area. Are five officers really enough?"
"Um, can I ask which area I'll be in charge of?" Bai Lang asked.
It would affect his plans and his ability to earn Ability Points.
"Park Street."
"Park Street?" Bai Lang thought carefully about where Park Street was.
Park Street was in East Gotham. It had another name: Crime Alley.
East Gotham was an underdeveloped area. Its crime rate was lower only than Burnley.
It was full of poverty, crime, and illegal activity. Besides, Catwoman seemed to take a keen interest in protecting the area.
So when Bai Lang heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief.
If he remembered correctly, Batman Bruce Wayne's parents had been shot dead in Crime Alley, right?
He couldn't help thinking of that old Gotham gallows joke.
"What rolls around in an alley and has a few holes in it?"
"A bowling ball? No, of course it's Batman's parents!"
How cruel.
He wondered if he'd earn Ability Points by telling that joke in front of the real Batman, Bruce Wayne.
Should he try it?
"Your term in charge will be three years. If Park Street's crime rate drops significantly during that time, I'll make an exception and bring you back, then promote you to captain."
Before Bai Lang could make up his mind, Director Gordon placed the files of the officers assigned to his team in front of him.
"These are the officers who'll be working under you. If you need more later, you can ask me."
"But don't be like that guy Mark. They're your colleagues and your subordinates, so you have to be responsible for their lives."
Before you continue