Villains' Bar

Gotham's streets were lively at night, crowded with people. The Upper West Side was still considered decent.

Close to the sea and the docks, its industry and commerce were thriving, far better than the northern Arkham District and the Upper East Side.

But the route Gordon took them on was a little roundabout. After passing through the brightly lit entertainment district, they reached some dimly lit neighborhoods.

Women in heavy makeup stood on both sides of the street, dressed in revealing clothes. There were also pimps squatting against the walls, hand-rolled cigarettes dangling from their mouths.

At the sight of them, Miao Mu nearly laughed. Gordon really had taken a shortcut—this was a Latino neighborhood.

The areas near the seaside docks were mostly inhabited by immigrants. The largest was the Little Asia community centered around Chinatown.

When they saw them, the streetwalkers by the roadside began to stir as well. Night had just fallen, and it had rained a while ago.

The customers looking for pleasure had not come rushing over yet, but now someone had delivered himself right to their door.

Of course, they had to make the first move!

One streetwalker with curled hair swayed her anything-but-slender waist, her elephantine legs squeezed tight by stockings. With an eager smile forced onto her face, she teetered over in high heels.

She headed straight for Miao Mu.

The others had already been picked out. Only... Chief Gordon had no takers. His grim, stern face was simply too intimidating.

He looked like a cop coming to make an arrest. One glance at him made people feel as though the bills for their fines were still trembling.

Milo, a young man fresh out of the gate, looked like an obvious virgin. He was dressed neatly in a dark red jacket, like a student—which meant he had money!

But Miao Mu was even more conspicuous. He was the only one wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt, his muscular arms fully exposed.

Usually, his police uniform hid it, but once revealed, he was the kind of man who looked good dressed and was all muscle undressed.

One look was enough to tell how strong he was. His muscles were not exaggeratedly bulky, but lean and powerful, as if every gap between his bones was packed with muscle.

Before the streetwalker could approach, Miao Mu pulled out both his pants pockets, leaving them dangling like pig ears.

They were completely empty. Forget money—there was not even a loose thread inside.

The streetwalker, who had been smiling brightly a moment ago, brushed right past Miao Mu. Was this a joke? He had no money and still wanted something for free?

Did he think he was Bruce Wayne?

Fuming, the streetwalker spat by the roadside, cursed him as a poor bastard under her breath, and leaned back against the street to wait for customers.

Miao Mu did not care in the slightest. No matter how desperate he was, he could not possibly charge at a walrus of a streetwalker!

That was no longer a matter of bizarre tastes... it was horrifying.

Still, looking at this street, Miao Mu recalled something amusing. Master Bruce Wayne had strolled these... streets too.

He had gone out in disguise and been propositioned by streetwalkers and escorts. Then, the next day, someone saw his photograph in the newspaper...

Ah! Master Bruce Wayne had come here too!

To this day, some streetwalkers still fantasized about a fierce collision in bed with Gotham City's richest man.

Although Bruce had only been scouting the area in preparation for becoming Batman... who knew?

Miao Mu could not help chuckling, just as Milo came running out from the right, looking somewhat bedraggled.

"This place..." Milo wiped lipstick off his face. An escort had grabbed hold of him, and he had needed to hand over two bills to break free.

The moment he pulled out money, he became a prince on a white horse in that escort's eyes.

"Brother Gordon, how come no one picked you?" Miao Mu teased narrowly, a grin on his face.

Gordon coughed awkwardly. Men remained boys who refused to admit defeat until the day they died—unless they changed the subject.

"We're almost there. Don't mess around in this place."

As he spoke, Gordon pointed ahead. After they passed a building, they saw the legendary Villains' Bar.

It was an abandoned cargo ship stranded on the seaside rocks and converted into a bar. Dazzling colored lights flashed, while pillar-like beams of white light swept through the sky.

Even from far away, they could hear deafening cheers, music, and excited screams.

It was incredibly lively. The only way in or out was a boardwalk ahead of them. Steep reefs lined both sides, and behind it lay the churning sea.

The tide was out now, exposing the black reefs. Under the moonlight, the remaining seawater gleamed with silvery ripples.

"This place is... easy to defend, hard to attack."

Miao Mu raised a hand to shield his eyes and habitually surveyed the surroundings. If they had come here to arrest someone,

they would need at least two helicopters, along with support at sea.

"In Gotham, there are always lawless places beyond our control," Gordon said heavily.

After saying that, he started walking forward. Miao Mu waited a moment before following, with Milo close beside him.

At the entrance to Villains' Bar, they could see the gleaming neon sign—a pirate skull.

A burly man stood at the door, wearing a black athletic tank top and jeans. He stood there like a pillar, his broad pectorals seemingly capable of crushing apples.

His eyes glared outward, and he carried himself as if he wanted to devour someone.

A strange customer approached the bar. He wore an electrician's uniform and had a fish tail clamped between his teeth.

"Hold it! Tell me, how bad are you?" The burly doorman stretched out an arm to stop him and asked with a glare.

"How bad am I? I came from Arkham Asylum. A men-tal pa-tient. My attending doctor is..."

"Please!" The burly doorman immediately stepped aside. The two doors behind him opened, revealing a dazzling, decadent world within.

The doorman respectfully ushered the man inside, while also reaching out to grab a teenager trying to sneak past.

He seized the boy by the hair and lifted him straight up. The boy whose hair was being yanked cried out in pain.

Grabbing the doorman's wrist with both hands, he kicked at him. "Let me go! I'm the worst! I want to go in too!"

"Get lost!" The burly doorman threw him aside and warned, "Pah! Come back again, and I'll toss you into the water to feed the fish!"

Gordon came over along the wooden boardwalk, glanced at the kid, and reached out to pull him up.

But the stubborn teenager dodged him.

"Hey, see how bad I am?"

Miao Mu's flippant voice rang out. He swaggered over, scooped up the teenager, set him behind himself, and said coldly,

"This isn't a place for children. Get lost."

Miao Mu kicked him in the backside, then walked forward. Looking at the burly doorman, a provocative smile spread across Miao Mu's face.

The doorman had plenty of experience with people looking for trouble. He clenched his fist and was about to throw a punch.

Then, in the next second,

Miao Mu lashed out with a kick—a low blow. He held back just enough not to leave the burly doorman permanently crippled.

But that agony was simply unbearable for any man.

With a bizarre howl, the burly doorman clutched his crotch and dropped to his knees. Miao Mu walked over and gave him a wicked grin.

"Can I go in now?"

The burly doorman's face flushed red. In the end, he forced out a single word.

"Yes."

Miao Mu nodded and smiled at Gordon and the others. "All right, you two get in free."

"Oh, and say thank you." Miao Mu turned back and added.

The doorman's already red face turned purple, but when he saw Miao Mu clench his fist,

"Thank you..."