Two Completely Opposite People

Lynn's abilities might have been somewhat lacking when it came to pursuing and killing enemies. After all, plant-based attacks came with many limitations: they feared fire, and there were issues with speed and accuracy.

Otherwise, he would not have been beaten so badly by fewer than ten Talons in the Underground Labyrinth.

If not for his thick equipment, he would definitely have a hole in his kidney right now.

Things like Talons really did not count as particularly formidable combat power.

However, if he used this ability for defense, counterattacks, and protecting others, it was quite useful.

Lynn scattered a huge pile of plant seeds across the Gotham Police Department rooftop. Though a few cabbages and radishes suddenly sprouting among them made things slightly awkward, the poisonous plants and thorny vines that moved like venomous snakes could genuinely hurt people.

The Talons were emotionless killing machines controlled by their "programming." They had no idea how to adapt. Lynn stood beside Gordon on the rooftop as bait, and those idiotic Talons charged desperately toward them through the wildly dancing vines as though they did not value their own lives.

Like using a whip to drive away gnats, Lynn did not care about accuracy at all. He simply launched a full-coverage, indiscriminate barrage.

Even Batman's signal light was smashed by Lynn's vines. Naturally, the Talons suffered the same fate.

They had followed the light here, and just like moths rushing into flames, they ended their final frenzied dance of life.

"Tsk..."

Lynn harvested very few Soul Fragments, which left him quite dissatisfied. Plant seeds cost money too, and this deal had been completely meaningless and worthless.

Still, it was fine. Lynn looked back at the dumbfounded Gordon. At least he had protected his teammate well.

Other than standing with his mouth open for too long and swallowing too much wind, which would probably lead to the regrettable outcome of waking up with diarrhea, Gordon had not suffered a single injury.

"Commissioner Gordon, let's go."

Lynn pointed at the rooftop door, whose bolt was nearly being knocked apart by the officers outside, and patted Gordon on the shoulder. "You'll need to explain what happens next to them properly.

Also..."

Lynn turned around and said without the slightest guilt, "Your rooftop really ought to be repaired and renovated. The floor is practically growing pumpkins... Oh wow, it really did grow a pumpkin!

Whoa, there are tomatoes too! That old man selling tree seeds did not lie to me. There really are fucking surprises!

Hah—eggplant!!"

Given Gordon's prestige within the Gotham Police Department, covering up what had happened on the roof was quite easy.

After all, everyone in the department knew that the rooftop was where Commissioner Gordon met Batman. If something unexpected happened there, it would not be unexpected at all.

The only headache was figuring out how to write the funding request for rooftop repairs.

If Lynn did not speak, he actually looked fairly normal.

Especially after he removed his equipment.

The Talons' attacks had not caused him any serious injuries. Other than several crescent-shaped bruises and some wounds on his finger joints, Lynn looked completely fine.

The Talon attack had been dealt with, but Lynn still could not leave the Gotham Police Department.

Gordon spent half the day answering calls with one hand and making calls with the other. Groups of officers were sent out one after another on assignments. It seemed everyone had work to do, while Lynn could not help with anything at all.

That was Gordon's special request. Earlier, when Lynn had been bored, a car thief involved in a major case had refused to cooperate and would not say anything. Lynn had helped out a little.

After Lynn's help, the car thief became incredibly cooperative. His pants were still wet, yet he did not even ask to change them. He confessed every single thing he had done over the past three days, even including getting up at night to pee.

At the same time, however, the process of Lynn's assistance had mentally harmed the two officers accompanying him. To prevent any more unnecessary casualties in the Gotham Police Department, Gordon specifically asked Lynn to just sit there and, under no circumstances, help out again.

After Gordon had dispatched nearly all of Gotham Police Department's manpower, he finally had some free time.

By then, Lynn had become so bored that he had covered an entire wall with Little Turtle's Adventures. He was just about to draw the ending.

"...And from then on, Little Turtle and the princess lived happily ever after.

The end! Ahahahahaha!"

"Uh... Lynn, if you're really that bored, how about coming to play some chess with me?"

Out of concern for the department walls, concern for Gotham's future, and fear for Lynn's mental state, Gordon could only temporarily put aside his work and the worries filling his mind. He risked his life to keep Lynn company and placate him.

That worked too, Gordon thought. They could communicate more while playing chess, get to know this future partner who had been brought into their camp, and perhaps learn from him about the realm of superpowers that an ordinary person like Gordon could not access.

With someone to help pass the time, Lynn naturally did not refuse.

The two chatted idly as they played three games of chess.

In the first game, Lynn did not win.

In the second game, Gordon did not lose.

In the third game, Lynn called it a draw, but Gordon would not allow it.

Seeing Lynn stubbornly insist that his queen was a constitutional monarchy and therefore ought to be spared, Gordon felt that the night had probably shortened his lifespan.

"Then let's call it a draw after all."

"Fine, fine. We'll just say you won this round. I concede."

"So that means... I won?"

"Heh, your chess skills are terrible. You can't even beat me."

Gordon: "..."

Can't fight him. Can't fight him...

After repeatedly persuading himself in his heart, Gordon finally restrained the urge to lose his temper.

"Lynn, is this how you usually talk to people? Has no one ever... given you any advice or anything?"

Lynn thought for a moment and recalled one of his old university professors. "Yeah. Someone told me that if an argument is involved and you're in the wrong, then you're not qualified to lose your temper. If you're in the right, then there's no need to lose your temper."

"Then you...?"

"Me? I think that if I'm in the right, then I should press the advantage and never let up!"

"And if you're in the wrong?"

"Then I throw a tantrum!"

Gordon: "..."

He was tired. Whatever. Lynn could say whatever he wanted. He was always right. Yeah, yeah, sure.

Leaning back, Gordon let out a low sigh. His heart was tired, his body was tired, and his temples throbbed as though they were about to explode.

Even without counting Lynn's contribution, he had been up all night and was starting to struggle.

"Oh, it's finally dawn."

The faint morning light finally tore through the darkness completely and brought light to Gotham.

"Then I'll be leaving too."

Lynn walked to the window beneath the red glow of the rising sun and pushed it open.

"Lynn, you..."

"Don't worry. Whether it's Batman or owls, the daytime doesn't belong to them. Of course, it doesn't belong to me either.

See you~!"

With a leap, Lynn jumped from the fifteenth floor. After a startled "Fuck!" he barely managed to grab the window with one hand.

"Fuck, I forgot Old Bat took the cloud away!"

After his attempt to look cool failed, Lynn awkwardly climbed back in through the window using both hands and feet. Without blushing or missing a beat, he asked, "Excuse me, where's the elevator?"

Gordon sighed again. "Sigh... I was just about to remind you to take the elevator..."

One cold, obsessive masked man was already difficult enough to deal with, and now there was another unhinged lunatic...

Their personalities and methods were practically complete opposites. How had these two managed to communicate and cooperate?!

"Sigh... Over there."

Gordon felt exhausted. He felt like his heart would never skip a beat again.