First Day at Work, Administrative Leave

"Why didn't you say so sooner?"

Du Mu shrugged, looking utterly innocent, making it clear he wasn't taking the blame.

He couldn't read minds. Harvey had only shot him a look—how was he supposed to know whether that meant retreat or open fire?

"I... you..."

Harvey was so angry he could barely speak.

He had spent so many years at the Gotham Police Department and seen all kinds of people, but never a rookie this reckless.

On his very first day, he had shot and killed a gang boss.

And the man had been a trusted lieutenant of the supervillain Black Mask.

Across all of Gotham City, Basso was someone important. Both the underworld and respectable society had to show him some respect.

After all, offending him meant offending Black Mask behind him.

Yet Du Mu hadn't hesitated in the slightest before raising his gun and sending him on his way with one shot.

Even Commissioner Gordon wasn't as badass as you!

Basso's suited bodyguards were equally dumbfounded on the spot.

Their boss was just... gone?

It took them several full seconds to recover. They exchanged looks and reached for the guns at their waists, planning to avenge their boss.

Du Mu caught their movements from the corner of his eye and smoothly swung his gun toward them, aiming directly at them.

"Don't move. Drop your weapons, or I'll shoot."

The moment he finished speaking, the suited men froze. Almost simultaneously, they threw their guns to the ground, clasped their hands over their heads, and lay down in neat rows. The entire sequence was completed in one fluid motion, as if they feared being one second too slow would earn them a bullet.

Against any other cop—even an old hand like Harvey—they would have dared to bet that the other