Barbara and Toyman

The police station gates were closed.

The streetlights and drifting snowflakes were shut out behind the iron gates.

James Gordon's resolute back was shut out with them.

"Sit here."

Under a police officer's direction, Li Zu sat down at a desk.

A file lay on the desk, containing information on Gotham's notorious villains, including Calendar Man, Black Mask, and Bane.

Even "Batman" was on record.

Yet Li Zu, this "newcomer," was known to no one.

Li Zu shifted uneasily, changing positions as he turned his head from left to right, then back to the left.

"Don't worry."

A young-looking police officer approached and set a cup of hot coffee in front of Li Zu. "We'll definitely bring the criminal to justice."

"Thank you~"

Li Zu held the coffee and took a sip. He also suppressed that blunt impulse of his, lest the "bastard" inside him say something like, I prefer milk tea and orange soda. I don't like coffee.

Because of the Blackgate Penitentiary riot and the explosion near Gotham City Hall, Gotham Police Department was severely understaffed.

Aside from Li Zu, there were only three police officers in the lobby, each seated in a different corner. Li Zu sat at the intersection of their lines of sight.

Any unusual movement from him would inevitably draw all three of their attention.

Slurp~

Li Zu took another sip of coffee, his brows knitting into a tight knot.

Finally,

Ten minutes later, he stood up, took out that plastic toy meat saw from his pocket, and walked step by step toward the nearest police officer.

Gotham City Hall,

Before the massive floor-to-ceiling windows,

Batman knocked down the burly man in the black hood with one punch... After taking more than a dozen heavy blows and nearly being lifted up and had his back broken, he seized the chance to counterattack, landing an uppercut on the man's chin and successfully turning the tables.

"Deathstroke isn't here, and neither is that other freak." Batman slowly walked toward Joker. "That only leaves you..."

"HAHAHAHA!!!" Joker interrupted Batman with wild laughter. He raised the controller in his hand and gestured with it. "With just one light press of this thing... boom! The building will become the most dazzling Christmas fireworks!"

Joker suddenly spread his hands wide, his split grin imitating the sound of an explosion.

Batman froze.

He could not be sure whether Joker was telling the truth. A madman's thoughts were impossible to predict.

Of course, it would have been impossible to plant explosives beneath more than a dozen buildings in a single night. But what if Joker had thought of using this method to threaten Batman on the very first day he impersonated Black Mask?

Out of caution, Batman stopped.

But Joker did not stop moving. He extended his index finger and forcefully pressed the button.

"Just like this!" Joker said.

Click. A crisp sound of the button being pressed.

RUMBLE~!!!

From the corner of his eye, Batman saw a skyscraper collapse through the window. A powerful gust of wind swept past, and a blizzard carried away the dust filling the sky.

That building vanished as though it had evaporated from the world.

Even without arriving at the scene, Batman could imagine the horrifying sight... Blood would be flowing like a river there. The stench of blood seemed almost tangible, struggling to escape his imagination and force its way into his nostrils.

The pungent smell of blood made veins bulge across his forehead.

"HAHAHAHAHA, do you like this Christmas gift?" Joker leaned back in his swivel chair, clutching his stomach as he laughed wildly.

He was not laughing because he found Batman's anger over the destroyed building amusing.

Rather, an enraged Batman might break through his own bottom line and kill him with his own hands.

Dragging someone who clung to his principles into the abyss of madness—that was where Joker's joy lay.

Batman was furious, but because Joker held the "Grim Reaper's scythe," he had no choice but to stop.

All he could do was roar:

"JOKER!!"

Li Zu walked up behind the nearest police officer, raising the meat saw over his head, ready to bring it down at any moment.

The other two officers did not notice him. Both were busy with their own work.

But Li Zu did not strike. A few seconds later, he slowly lowered the plastic toy knife.

"Need something?"

The officer in the chair sensed someone standing behind him. When he turned around and saw Li Zu, his gaze curiously fell on the plastic toy knife in Li Zu's hand.

"May I ask... um, where's the restroom?... I might have had too much to drink tonight~" As he spoke, he pressed his legs together as though he truly could not wait any longer.

"Second floor, turn right. Don't wander around," the officer casually instructed, pointing toward the stairs.

"Thank you."

Under the watchful eyes of the three officers, Li Zu openly walked up to the second floor.

The second floor was completely empty.

After circling around and failing to find what he wanted, he went up to the third floor.

Then to the fourth floor.

Li Zu stopped in front of an office door and looked up at the sign.

"Archives."

Li Zu stepped forward, intending to find something "useful" for himself in the archive room.

With the countdown about to end, only Gotham's database could meet his greatest need.

"What are you trying to do?"

Before Li Zu could reach out and push open the door, a voice came from beside him.

A girl in a casual padded jacket stretched out an arm to block the doorway. She warily stared at Li Zu. "This is the archive room. You can't just go in!"

Her eyes examined Li Zu from bottom to top.

He wore a black padded jacket, had an Asian face, and, most conspicuously of all... a bright Santa-red hat.

He looked more like a bizarre version of Santa Claus.

No reindeer, no sack of gifts, and he did not come down a chimney.

Yet he gave off an utterly strange air.

"I'm looking for something. This city is being destroyed, and I think the solution might be in there!" Li Zu pointed at the archive room and asked, "Do you know Batman?"

He decided to borrow the name.

"Batman?" The girl's attitude changed. She excitedly asked, "You mean Batman? Do you know him?"

"We met earlier tonight."

Li Zu had not expected Batman's name to be so useful.

Click~

The door opened.

A massive archive room.

The girl pulled Li Zu inside and turned on a computer.

"What do you need?" she asked expectantly as she sat before the computer.

It was as though she had cast herself as Batman's assistant.

"Gotham's Blackgate Penitentiary was attacked, and a lot of bastards escaped from inside," Li Zu said. "I want you to help me look up information on some supervillains. The more, the better~"

"No problem!"

The girl rapidly hammered away at the keyboard.

"Look at this!"

Li Zu leaned closer and looked through page after page of files.

"Bronze Tiger."

"Copperhead."

"Penguin."

"..."

With every criminal he saw, his exploration progress increased.

World Exploration Progress: 63%, 64%, 65%...

It rose little by little.

It stopped at 68%.

At this point, many of Gotham's "talents" had yet to appear.

"You've been a huge help," Li Zu said generously. Yet another mischievous thought lingered in his mind. If the girl learned that he was a villain who opposed Batman rather than a superhero, how amusing would her expression be?

"Can you tell me your name?" Li Zu asked.

"Barbara Gordon!" Barbara introduced herself, then asked, "And you?"

"Toyman."

Li Zu took out a toy pistol and handed it to Barbara. "Merry Christmas~"