Infiltrating the Gotham Police Department

Infiltrating the Gotham Police Department

Clap, clap, clap~

Applause.

Apparently, Joker was the only one clapping. The red paint around his mouth and the white cream smeared on it were particularly glaring.

Black Mask was no longer the wealthy Roman, but an unheard-of green-haired freak.

Like a lunatic who had escaped from an asylum.

The Asian man calling himself Toyman looked much more "calm," but the mad smile at the corner of his mouth made it obvious that he was another lunatic.

Joker stood beside Electrocutor's corpse.

He tucked his pistol back into his coat and stuck out his tongue to lightly lick the cream-covered knife, deliberately cutting his tongue until it bled.

"Hahahahaha!"

Joker laughed even more wildly, making the other two deeply uncomfortable.

"You know what your jobs are, right? Go kill Batman, or get killed by Batman!!" He roared like a starving wolf in the mountains, the healed scar at the corner of his mouth nearly tearing open again.

Firefly hugged his flamethrower and rode the flames through the shattered window, flying into the quiet atmosphere created by snow and Christmas. He was destined to set this night ablaze as well.

"I'm not interested in this toy kid!"

Bane stood up. He was as imposing as a dark mountain, his shadow cast by the lights enveloping Li Zu and Joker.

"But you can't leave!" Bane pointed at Joker, ignoring the knife in his hand and the gun Joker could pull out at any moment.

"Batman's target is you. You stay here... obediently! Be bait! Wait for him!"

A huge hand pressed down on Joker's shoulder. Bane easily lifted him and flung him into a chair.

"Hahahahahaha!!"

Joker did not get angry. He simply sat in the chair and laughed, probably having thought of something amusing again.

Or perhaps he was simply interested in watching Bane fight Batman.

Who wouldn't be interested?

Bane turned his gaze toward Li Zu.

The eyes beneath his mask were like executioner's blades on a battlefield, crashing down upon him head-on.

They were filled with killing intent.

"You definitely won't like a third wheel... I have things to do~"

Li Zu pointed toward the door.

He wisely left beneath Bane's look that said, "I'll deal with the nuisance first."

"Bye-bye, hahahaha~" Joker sat in the chair, laughing at Li Zu.

Bane had trapped him in the chair, but Li Zu knew very well that Joker was only sitting obediently because he found it more entertaining that way.

As for why? Lunatics never needed reasons to act.

"But I need a target."

Li Zu looked at the world exploration progress. It had already reached 62%, and his journey of exploration still had to continue.

He walked out of the "conference room," where the outside was heavily guarded.

The men pacing back and forth belonged to Black Mask and Bane.

When they saw Li Zu approaching, they automatically split into two lines and made way for him.

"Black Mask" had personally led Li Zu into the conference room earlier. They would not pretend not to have seen that.

This freak wearing a Santa hat, carrying a toy gun in one hand and a toy knife in the other, was also one of the "killers"—at least, that was what they guessed.

"So being a villain has perks like this too~"

The thugs who were usually vicious stood obediently to either side to clear his path. One little giant even pressed open the elevator door and respectfully invited Li Zu inside.

Li Zu entered the elevator with satisfaction. Just as the doors were about to close—

His hand shot out and stopped them.

Under the little giant's puzzled gaze, Li Zu tilted his head and leaned out to ask, "Excuse me... how do I get to the Gotham Police Department?"

The full moon.

Falling snow.

Time: 02:04.

A figure in a Santa hat staggered down the sidewalk.

The road was quiet. Aside from the falling snow, only a flock of pigeons flapped overhead.

Explosions erupting everywhere had startled them, leaving them nowhere to land.

Ding~

The red light came on, and Li Zu stopped before the crosswalk to wait quietly.

A two-minute red light.

There were no cars passing by, yet he still obeyed the traffic rules.

Boom!

An explosion rang out.

Li Zu turned his head and watched a twenty-story building just one block away collapse with a thunderous crash.

The building tilted over, and the ground shook violently.

The pressure wave rushed down the street and slammed into Li Zu's back, making his clothes flap wildly.

His red Santa hat was blown away by the dust-filled gale.

Li Zu raised a hand, caught the hat, and pressed it back onto his head. "Joker~"

Before leaving Gotham Municipal Building, he had seen a remote control beside Joker, each one marked with a skull symbol.

Once the wind died down—

And the light turned green, Li Zu finally stepped onto the crosswalk.

Gotham Police Department.

The LED sign flickered constantly, dimming and brightening.

Even from outside the entrance, he could hear the cheering within. They were celebrating Christmas... even though the Blackgate Penitentiary riot had only happened not long ago.

Li Zu pushed open the door.

"What a cheerful atmosphere~"

The merriment behind the door abruptly stopped. The uniformed officers wearing Christmas bows and biting red-and-white candy canes froze, all turning to look at the figure standing in the doorway.

A dark-skinned officer with white teeth walked over. "Need something, my poor yellow-skinned friend?"

Right now, they only wanted to deal with this guy who had interrupted their Christmas as quickly as possible.

"I'm here to report a crime."

Li Zu pointed behind him. "Just one street over from Gotham Municipal Building, the building where I live was blown down by explosives."

"Oh, so it was an explosion. I thought it was fireworks~" a voice piped up from the crowd.

"Then some asshole must be causing trouble again."

"Can't those assholes settle down for Christmas?"

Disgruntled murmurs rose from the officers.

"Blackgate Penitentiary just rioted, and our reinforcements have only just arrived... I just received word that there's been an explosion. An entire building has been blown down."

A voice came from the stairway, drawing everyone's attention. He wore square-framed glasses and had a thick mustache above his lips.

Commissioner James Gordon.

"We must act now. I have reason to believe this is a premeditated terrorist attack!"

Commissioner Gordon swept his gaze over everyone. "The party is over!"

"Yes, sir!!"

The officers began running about in a panic, tossing aside their Christmas decorations and red hats, grabbing guns, and pulling on their thick police coats as they rushed outside.

"Slow down, slow down~"

Li Zu stepped aside to avoid the flood of officers pouring out.

"You may need to stay here a while longer." Commissioner Gordon approached, nodded to the few officers remaining behind, then said to Li Zu, "This night is anything but peaceful, but at least you'll be safer here."

As he spoke, he studied Li Zu's face carefully.

An unfamiliar Asian face.

Gordon was certain he did not know him.

In Gotham City, if someone was not a familiar face, then at least it meant they were unlikely to pose much of a threat.

"Yes, sir!" Li Zu nodded. As Gordon walked out through the station doors, he called after him, "Merry Christmas."

"You too."

Gordon adjusted his glasses and left with a forced smile.

(End of chapter)