The Dollmaker

Although Second Generation Joker was sweating a little, he had already had the Dollmaker stitch on a face for him.

At that moment, he was wearing someone else's face.

Even though the detective was certain he was the Joker, so many people were looking at a face that was completely different from the Joker's. None of them would believe he really was the Joker.

Besides, the Dollmaker had already lured Batman to Mercy Hospital. There was no way he could get into trouble right now.

Thinking this, he turned around, revealing a face wrapped in gauze.

His face was covered with yellowed skin, as if it had been smoked. His eyes were completely different from the Joker's, too, brimming with innocence.

"Mr. Detective, what are you talking about?" Second Generation Joker said, pretending to be a little afraid.

The media were sorely disappointed when they saw his appearance.

Detective Bullock continued to shout at him.

"Shit! Detective Bai Lang! He's not the Joker. Put down your gun!"

"Detective Bai Lang, how could this possibly be the Joker?" Charlotte, the reporter, asked in confusion.

"He looks more like a poor soul who's been disfigured than a perverted psychopath."

But Bai Lang didn't answer her question.

His instincts kept telling him that the man was the Joker!

He kept his gun aimed at the man opposite him, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile.

"That face isn't yours, Joker. I've figured you out!"

As he spoke, he pulled the trigger again and again, shooting at the places around the Joker where he was about to dodge.

Bang! Bang! Bang!!

When Second Generation Joker saw Bai Lang empty his magazine without hesitation, the loud gunshots made him burst into laughter.

"Hehehehe... Hahahahahaha..."

"How interesting! This is just too interesting!!"

As he laughed, he twisted his body, dodging the bullets fired from Bai Lang's pistol.

Even so, one bullet struck his arm, and blood spurted out.

At that moment, the Joker's hat slipped off his head, revealing green hair.

His face wasn't the Joker's, but his familiar, maniacal laughter and green hair startled everyone present.

They had wondered if Bai Lang had simply misjudged him. Now they realized that Bai Lang had been right: this man was the Joker!

Detective Bullock, who had been shouting at him moments earlier, was instantly stunned.

That wasn't the Joker's face... How...

Could Bai Lang be right?

He glanced at Bai Lang and felt that the other man seemed to be sneering at him. The media nearby also seemed to be looking at him with disdain.

As if they were saying, "Who would've thought Detective Bullock wasn't as capable as some young guy..."

His face flushed red, then turned pale.

Once everyone realized that the man really was the Joker, their faces filled with shock.

Everyone had thought he was just an ordinary person, but Detective Bai Lang had remained certain that he was the Joker.

Many reporters took a long look at Bai Lang before starting to write their stories.

Some even tried to get the officers nearby to tell them about Bai Lang's past so they could write an article about him.

Laughing wildly, Second Generation Joker hurried toward the inside of the police station.

Bullock was about to chase after him with his gun, but Bai Lang stopped him.

"Detective Bullock, don't chase him yet!"

"Why, Detective Bai Lang?" Detective Bullock asked, his pudgy face full of confusion.

"The air is filled with the poisonous green gas the Joker left behind..."

Bai Lang pointed toward the entrance to the police station as he explained.

Only then did Bullock narrow his eyes and look carefully toward the entrance. He spotted the strange green gas.

"You saved my life, Bai Lang."

"I'm sorry. I sincerely apologize for shouting at you earlier..."

He turned around to thank Bai Lang, but the other man was already nowhere to be seen.

Meanwhile, the media quickly reported what had just happened.

"Write this down! Rising star at the police station, Detective Bai Lang, sees through the Joker's scheme..."

[Ability Points: 10 (Gained whenever an impact on the world causes a ripple)]

Bai Lang looked at the pale blue panel in front of him.

"After what just happened, I've reached 10 Ability Points. I wonder how many I'd get if I rescue Director Gordon before Batman does."

He was on his way to Gotham Mercy Hospital.

As for Second Generation Joker, who had run into the police station, he left him to Detective Bullock and the other officers.

As long as Second Generation Joker didn't cause too much trouble and just kept bouncing around Gotham, he'd be a pretty good source of Ability Points every so often.

The abandoned Gotham Mercy Hospital.

A dank, cramped room reeked of blood.

Inside a narrow cage, Director Gordon, with brown hair, looked deathly pale.

"Doctor, are we going to perform the doll surgery on him now?"

A shrill female voice suddenly rang out in the room.

"Not yet. Before we take his life, he has to save one. That's the law of balance in all things."

Another voice answered, a hoarse, deep voice belonging to a middle-aged man.

"Then how about I rape him a few times first?" the shrill female voice continued.

"..." The man fell silent.

Cold sweat covered Director Gordon's forehead as he huddled inside the cramped cage, gripping the bars tightly.

"I have to perform a perfect operation. A very important person has the same blood type as him and urgently needs his liver."

The Dollmaker pulled on his surgical gloves, his tone cruel.

"So you'd better not rape him. When Batman shows up, you can rape him instead."

His face was covered in scars and stitches, and his skin was a patchwork of different colors.

The skin around his left eye was black, the skin around his right eye was yellow, and the skin around his mouth was white.

Not a single patch of skin on his face belonged to him.

He stared at Gordon, weak inside the cage, his expression dark.

"Trash like you killed my father and ruined my life..."

Director Gordon gripped the iron bars tightly, glaring at the man before him.

"You lunatic! My men will bring you to justice!"

The Dollmaker sneered. "You mean those people at the police station? The Joker's already gone to deal with them!"

Gordon's heart sank at his words.

This new Joker was even crazier than the previous one!

Could the officers at the police station really handle him?

He wondered whether young Olivia had managed to get the message to Batman.

All of Gordon's hopes now rested on Batman.

The Dollmaker and the woman dressed like a nurse released Gordon from the cage.

Gordon tried to struggle, but he couldn't move a muscle, as if he'd been given some kind of anesthetic.

Then the Dollmaker tied him to a bed, restraining his arms and legs.

"All right. Now that we have our hostage, it's time for our hero, Batman, to make his entrance."

The Dollmaker checked the time, a cruel expression on his face.

Then they left the room. Before long, faint sounds of commotion came from outside.

As Gordon tried desperately to free his wrists from the straps, a figure suddenly appeared before him.

He was six foot six, with a muscular build and a handsome Asian face.

It was Bai Lang.

"Director Gordon, looks like I'm late. They've already taken one of your kidneys."

As he spoke, Bai Lang untied the straps binding Gordon's arms and legs.

His eyes swept around the room. Several bodies lay motionless on the beds nearby.

But when his gaze landed on one of them, Bai Lang froze.

One of the corpse's hands had been cut off. The other was enormous, like a purple radish.

Looking at the man's face, it was clear: this was the old man who sold Mexican burritos, the one Bai Lang had run into every day.

He hadn't expected the man to die here.

An indescribable feeling rose in his heart. It was an awful feeling.

Gordon asked in confusion, "Bai Lang, I'm so glad you came to save me, but what do you mean, they took one of my kidneys?"

"And how did you know I was at Mercy Hospital?"

Bai Lang came back to himself, finished untying Gordon, and helped him up.

"I saw the Joker outside the police station. As for why I came here, you'll have to ask Batman."

Director Gordon nodded weakly.

[Ability Points +5]

Bai Lang glanced at the pale blue notification that appeared, then led Gordon out of the room where he'd been held.

As soon as they emerged, they saw Batman—Bruce Wayne—standing in the hall in a suit of armor unlike his usual one.

He was showing off his might. Batman was pummeling the woman doll, the Dollmaker's henchmen, and several marionette Jokers controlled by the Dollmaker all at once.

Batman, Bruce Wayne, swung a punch and sent three marionette Joker dolls flying dozens of yards.

Then he moved, and the powered armor immediately gave him a tremendous burst of speed.

His figure blurred into a streak as he charged toward the woman doll.

"No, Batman's too powerful! This isn't how strong he used to be. Could the rumors really be true?!"

Watching Batman, Bruce Wayne, charge through the room as if no one could stop him, the Dollmaker shuddered.

Before this, the first Joker had prepared a nuclear bomb to destroy Gotham and released footage of Batman.

But many people hadn't believed Batman could be that powerful.

After all, they'd fought Batman for a long time. He was resourceful, but he was still only human!

How could he suddenly become superhuman?

It wasn't as if he'd had an affair with Superman.

The Dollmaker's face turned grim. He turned and made for the exit through a nearby corridor.

Smack!

Suddenly, his back seemed to bump into something.

A bone-chilling sensation shot from his back straight to his head.

Cold, hard, straight...

It seemed to be... a gun!!