The God of Man

Li Ang was very alert now. At the sound, he got up.

He went to the window and immediately spotted a Bat-dart lodged there.

"Batman."

Li Ang's heart tightened, though he wasn't particularly surprised.

Ever since his fight with Batman, he'd known Batman would keep an eye on him.

As someone with a "persecution complex," Batman would've been strange not to investigate Li Ang.

He just hadn't expected Batman to come so quickly.

Had Batman found out about what happened today already?

There was only one question now.

Just how much did Batman know?

Li Ang listened carefully and realized that Kara had gone quiet in the next room.

She was probably asleep.

Then Li Ang opened the window and took the fire escape up to the rooftop.

Gotham's nights were still a little chilly. The cold wind swept over him, seeming to seep into his bones.

But he didn't see anyone on the rooftop.

Just then, the sound of a cloak flapping came from behind him.

He turned around, and sure enough, Batman stood before him, radiating Money Power from head to toe.

"What is it?"

Li Ang asked.

Batman clearly hadn't come to fight.

Soon, Batman's deep, calm voice rang out, carrying an unmistakable note of authority. "Take her out of Gotham. I'll give you both new identities, so no one can ever trace you again."

His tone sounded like an order, and it rubbed Li Ang the wrong way.

We were all born to parents, so what gave you the right to order me around?

Li Ang immediately laughed. "Leave Gotham? Where would we go? How would we survive?"

"Go to Metropolis. With your abilities, finding a better job than the one at the Iceberg Lounge won't be difficult. She'll also get a better education there."

Batman spoke in a low voice, watching Li Ang with eyes that seemed able to see straight through his soul.

Thinking of how he'd washed dishes at a Chinese restaurant, then spent over a month working as a bartender at the Iceberg Lounge, scraping by on one or two thousand dollars a month, Li Ang felt his anger rise.

Did Batman have any idea how important this bar manager job was to him and Kara?

In America, people without an identity or a place to live could easily end up with nothing but the streets, with no chance of ever getting back on their feet.

Now that he'd finally found a decent job and was about to get a new identity, how could he give it all up just because Batman told him to?

Would going to Metropolis really get him a better job?

Fun fact: Metropolis and Los Angeles were the two American cities with the most homeless people.

"Not everyone's born with a fortune."

Li Ang looked at Batman. "We're not leaving. I just want her to have a stable life."

"There's no such thing as stability in Gotham," Batman replied gravely.

So he knew it himself.

"You staying away would be the best guarantee of stability!"

Batman didn't respond to Li Ang's words.

"With her abilities, if people find out about her, they'll reject her and treat her like a monster. Someone will kill her!"

Batman's lowered voice was frightening, but it only made Li Ang furious.

Clearly, Batman knew a lot—he might even know that Kara was an alien.

But so what?

Everyone seemed to be rejecting Kara because of what had happened today. More than one person had already told him that Kara didn't belong in Gotham.

But, really, where did she belong?

As her "father," Li Ang was filled with resentment. Anyone who treated his goddaughter that way was his enemy.

"So that's why you want her to leave Gotham?"

Li Ang said angrily, "If that's really the case, then there's no difference between somewhere else and Gotham."

"Humans are foolish and ignorant. Even if what you say happens, even if people reject her and treat her like a monster, it'll only be because they're afraid of her, afraid of her power!"

"But they'll never be able to kill her!"

As he said this, Li Ang calmed down.

He looked at Batman expressionlessly. "She won't be a monster. She'll become their god!"

Thank you, Batman!

Batman paused at his words and gave Li Ang a long look, realizing Li Ang had made up his mind.

Li Ang didn't linger either. He headed straight downstairs.

When he looked back, Batman had already disappeared.

"Mr. Li Ang, Kara doesn't meet our school's admission standards. I hope you can find a better school..."

Li Ang hung up before the caller could finish.

It seemed there wouldn't be any good news today.

Of course, he wasn't about to sit around and do nothing. He'd called the schools himself.

But unfortunately, without an identity or connections, none of them would agree to enroll Kara.

Even getting into college in America required recommendation letters. Connections were a very important part of the process.

And it was even more true at a time like this.

Unless Li Ang used Money Power to force open a path, begging until he was blue in the face wouldn't help.

He sat on the sofa, holding his phone and staring at the number on the screen.

He hadn't called James Gordon yet. If there was any news, Gordon would call him himself.

Clearly, things hadn't gone well.

Although James Gordon was the commissioner of the Gotham Police Department, he was far more upright than his predecessor and never took bribes. That made some things harder to resolve.

Should he really call Sophia Falcone?

But how was that any different from calling Penguin?

Those two Gotham big shots could certainly handle this with ease. They had people and power.

But if he asked them for help, things would be difficult for him from then on.

"Godfather, maybe we should forget it. These books are easy anyway. I can study on my own."

Kara came over and wrapped her arms around her godfather.

"This isn't about studying on your own."

Li Ang forced a smile. "The school environment and social connections are important in America."

"Don't worry. I'll figure it out."

At his words, Kara hugged him tightly, overcome with guilt.

If she hadn't been so reckless, she wouldn't have been expelled for revealing her abilities.

Still... she didn't regret it. She just thought she needed to be more careful. And saving people had felt pretty good.

Just then, Li Ang's phone rang.

It was an unknown number.

Li Ang hesitated, then answered. If it was a scam call, he'd hang up.

"Is this Mr. Li Ang?"

A middle-aged woman's voice came through.

"Hello, yes. Who is this?"

"I'm Principal Connie from Louis Memorial Middle School. Do you have a daughter?"

"Yes."

Li Ang was a little confused, but answered anyway.

Could this be a scam call?

Then the caller said, "Here's the situation: you're in luck. Wayne Enterprises is currently holding a scholarship charity event to help children with excellent grades who can't attend school for various reasons. I looked into it, and your daughter has excellent grades. Would you be interested in enrolling her at Louis Memorial Middle School?"

Li Ang really wanted to refuse just to prove a point, but when he saw Kara's hopeful expression beside him, he immediately smiled. "Of course. We'd be delighted."