Batman Appears

Although Dilos had crafted a skull mask, he had no interest in making a Shinigami robe. Compared to the latter, he preferred more modern attire.

Beyond his outfit, he also made some small gadgets better suited for his own use. However, because the items were delicate and complex, he still needed to perform intricate and time-consuming modifications with knives and needles after printing them with his 3D printer. Yet, he hadn't lived this way for more than a few days before his attention was captured by a news report on the television.

"Criminal or Vigilante?"

A large, black bat symbol was printed on the screen.

"Gotham City mob boss Carmine Falcone and others were apprehended by police during an illegal transaction at the docks. One of the mob boss's henchmen claimed that a giant humanoid bat attacked and subdued them."

"Multiple criminal hideouts across Gotham City have been dismantled. Numerous criminals were beaten until their bones fractured and were sent to the hospital. One of the hospitalized criminals confessed to the police that the one who attacked them was a monster wearing a bat costume."

"Within two months, the crime rate in Gotham City has dropped by a significant 30 percent. Many citizens have seen this person dressed in a bat costume acting as a vigilante, and they have dubbed him Batman."

The beautiful news anchor, dressed in a low-cut top, reported the things Batman had done over the past two months one by one. Then, the camera turned to some Gotham citizens being interviewed by reporters.

Citizen A: "Honestly, I really like this vigilante. I used to be afraid to walk at night, but now, at least I have the courage to walk the streets in the dark."

Citizen B: "That guy is just a deranged freak! We want a society ruled by law, not some criminal who takes the law into his own hands! Look at those people he sent to the hospital! Many of them have been left crippled!"

Citizen C: "A man in a bat suit? Wow~, so hot..."

Citizen D: "I think Batman is the superhero we've been waiting for. It's been so many years; finally, after Captain America, another superhero has appeared. Just thinking about it makes me excited!"

"Those are the thoughts of Gotham citizens—a mix of praise and criticism. Next, let's hear what the Gotham Police Commissioner has to say." The beautiful anchor spoke, and the camera shifted to the Gotham City Police Commissioner.

The Gotham City Police Commissioner was a middle-aged man with dark skin wearing a blue suit. Due to his long tenure in a high-ranking position, he possessed an air of natural authority that didn't require anger to be intimidating.

"Although the news says that so many crimes in Gotham City have been stopped by Batman, I must say that we live in a society governed by law, and we absolutely will not allow such criminal acts of vigilantism to continue. Therefore, in the coming days, we will be hunting down Batman. Finally, I ask all citizens to trust in the execution capabilities of our police department to ensure safety..."

Dilos had no interest in hearing the rest. He pressed the remote with a hint of disgust and turned off the TV.

"Appearances can be truly deceiving. This Commissioner looks like a decent man, but in reality, he's just a lapdog for those gangs."

A mocking smirk tugged at the corners of Dilos's mouth: "When the law cannot protect life, life has no obligation to obey the law."

His statement wasn't without merit. Honestly, Gotham City was famous across the United States as a den of thieves. During the decade he lived in Smallville, he could basically see reports of crimes in Gotham City in the newspapers from time to time. Despite having a level of technology and law enforcement resources no worse than cities like New York, it remained the place with the highest crime rate in the country.

Anyone could see that it was because law enforcement agencies like the Gotham police were derelict in their duties. Given Gotham's resources, if they really wanted to deal with those gangs, they would have done so long ago. In that case, crime reports wouldn't be so frequent. In the current Gotham, law enforcement agencies were inactive, and criminals ran rampant. Countless people suffered because of this, and they were powerless to resist such harm. Consequently, in this process, some chose to fall into depravity, while others, even if they yearned for the light in their hearts, chose to turn a blind eye...

Such contradictions were bound to lead to trouble sooner or later.

As for what kind of scene would unfold when that happened, Dilos could only describe it with one word: "Mosaic." Especially with Batman appearing out of nowhere at this time, acting as a vigilante day and night in Gotham. While this behavior brought hope to those who craved the light, it also caused massive losses to those criminals.

Under these circumstances, the conflict between the two factions was bound to erupt violently in a short period. Dilos was certain that it wouldn't be long—at most half a year—before Gotham City became very, very "lively."

"It seems I must hurry. I have a feeling the sky in this world is about to change." With the appearance of Batman, the sense of crisis in Dilos's heart grew stronger. This subconsciously made him accelerate the progress of modifying his gadgets and begin drafting detailed plans for the future...

"Damn it!"

In the chairman's office of the Fisk Enterprises building, Kingpin slammed his cane onto the floor.

Crack.

With a crisp sound, the tile floor beneath his feet developed a web-like crack over ten centimeters in diameter.

"First the X-Men, then S.H.I.E.L.D., then Daredevil, and now Batman!" Kingpin rarely showed such an expression of hatred.

"Especially that last one! Who the hell is that goddamn bastard? He actually wiped out twenty of my strongholds!"

Even though Kingpin was the most powerful crime lord in the United States and one of the wealthiest men in the country, losing twenty strongholds in a short time was still no small matter. Especially since the people under his employ who were caught by the police were not only difficult to bail out, but their capture also caused significant losses to his business!

Train, standing next to Kingpin, didn't dare to speak. He could only silently lower his head and watch his boss vent his anger. Based on his past experience, if he were to step forward and speak at this moment, he would definitely be beaten to death by his boss as a way to vent his frustration.

Train was very familiar with his boss's abilities and temperament. Don't let Kingpin's somewhat obese appearance fool you; those were actually highly developed muscles! The latter spent a fortune every day working out and engaging in high-intensity combat with top-tier boxers and wrestlers.

Actually, that wasn't the main issue. The key was that beneath Kingpin's seemingly serious face lay a pathological, bloodthirsty heart.

Train had once witnessed with his own eyes what Kingpin did when he was in a bad mood. At the time, a clueless idiot had approached him to ask a question while he was in a foul mood. The next moment, Kingpin had flashed a hand out like lightning and gripped the man's throat. In just an instant, Train heard a crack, and the unlucky fellow was sent to hell.

And that unlucky fellow had been Train's previous superior.

Kingpin was a tyrant; that was the evaluation held by everyone who worked under him. So, no one dared to resist him. Those who had resisted were long dead, and they had died in a very miserable fashion.

"Train."

Hearing Kingpin call his name, Train's heart skipped a beat. Suppressing the panic in his heart, he cautiously walked over to his boss. Then, Kingpin's voice reached his ears.

"I've changed my mind. That plan will be implemented in three days!"

Train suddenly looked up at Kingpin, his mouth opening as if to say something. But under Kingpin's icy gaze, he lowered his head again.

"As you wish."