I Love Gotham

Li Ang had some good news.

The Iceberg Lounge had finished renovations, and it was time to go back to work.

Having a job was actually good news, but that was the reality for the people of Gotham.

Having work meant being able to survive.

When he got home, he found Kara already waiting obediently inside.

Kara had returned even faster than he had.

"Godfather, can I try out my abilities by myself from now on?"

Kara spoke to Li Ang excitedly.

Li Ang had wanted to say no, but when he saw the eager look in her eyes, he ultimately nodded.

As long as she was happy, that was enough.

"You can, but you have to be careful. No one can see you, and you can't tell anyone..."

Listening to Li Ang, Kara promised, "Don't worry, Godfather. No one can see me!"

She had already forgotten about the plane she had seen earlier.

"So, have you learned how to fly?"

Li Ang asked after speaking.

He had waited there for a long time, but Kara never came back.

And he did not dare stay around that huge crater for too long, so he had simply left.

"No."

Kara answered somewhat awkwardly.

"I feel like I'm still missing something."

But she did not know what she was missing.

Li Ang knew. It was solar energy.

Kara was still young, after all. Kryptonian physiology also had protective mechanisms. Just like superpowers did not all appear at once, they gradually manifested.

Of course, the most important thing was that Gotham had too little sunlight. Though she could still absorb solar radiation, it was slower than in cities with plenty of sunshine.

If she had been in Los Angeles, Kara probably would have already been soaring through the skies.

Crap, was she really going to become the Shame of Krypton?

So Li Ang said, "Kara, remember to get more sunlight from now on."

"I know."

Kara froze for a moment before nodding.

After all, she knew that sunbathing allowed her to gain energy.

Afterward, Li Ang began making dinner.

He was trying to make some simple dishes, and the results were quite good.

After dinner, Li Ang said, "Tomorrow, wait for me to come back. I'll take you to your new school. Get some rest early."

Hearing Li Ang's usual reminders, Kara was no longer impatient. Instead, she nodded obediently.

Walking down the street, Li Ang noticed that public safety in the Diamond District had worsened.

Especially at night, certain remarkably gifted types had appeared, and there were simply too many robberies taking advantage of the darkness.

Before he had even taken two steps, Li Ang ran into someone trying to rob him.

Li Ang was not alarmed. One glance told him these were not Penguin's men.

Because they were not wearing suits and ties.

"Do you have a Criminal License?"

"Huh?"

The stunned robbers exchanged glances.

And this time, Li Ang did not need Frank to save him.

"You can't even commit crimes properly, yet you're trying to rob people."

After saying that, Li Ang immediately used Lightning Jab.

One person was knocked down. The other hurriedly pulled a gun from his clothes, but Li Ang snatched it away.

"Crack!"

With only a little force, the pistol was crushed into a lump like a plastic toy.

"Sleep well."

Li Ang knocked that person unconscious too.

Seeing that Li Ang was not someone to mess with, the other criminals eyeing him greedily quickly chose another target.

At a glance, there did not seem to be a single normal person on the street.

In a place like Gotham, ordinary people did not dare go out at night.

Iceberg Lounge.

Because it had reopened, it was still bustling despite what had happened last time.

But visibly, the security outside the lounge had become much stronger.

Men in suits and ties stood outside one after another, and people had also been stationed upstairs to keep watch.

Ever since his home base had been hit last time, Penguin Cobblepot had become very concerned about his own lair.

Of course, that time had mainly been because Sophia Falcone had reacted too quickly, and he had ultimately failed to kill Alberto Falcone.

He had only taught him a profound lesson.

"Li Ang, we've been waiting for you."

The moment Frank saw Li Ang, he spoke up.

"What is it?"

"Boss Cobblepot called a meeting."

Since that was what he said, it had to be related to the Iceberg Lounge.

When they entered the lounge, the other employees had mostly arrived as well. Most of them wore frightened expressions.

"That damned 'thing' robbed me of twenty bucks!"

"These people have no rules. Right after I got robbed, someone else came to rob me again before I had even gone far!"

"..."

In America, even gangs had rules.

At least on gang territory, robbers generally only robbed someone once. As long as you obediently handed over your money, the people afterward would not make things difficult for you.

So when most people went out at night, they carried several dozen dollars in cash. To some extent, it was a talisman for staying safe.

And on Penguin's turf, as long as employees like them said they worked at the Iceberg Lounge, those criminals with a Criminal License would not rob them.

"Enough. Get ready for work."

Li Ang said this to the bartenders and waitresses, then followed Frank inside.

As they walked down the corridor, Frank said, "Do you remember what I told you the first time?"

"Of course."

Li Ang nodded.

Back then, he had just met Frank and had asked him how to behave at the Iceberg Lounge.

Frank's answer had been simple: working at the Iceberg Lounge, all you had to do was treat yourself like a disabled person.

And not just any disabled person, but severely disabled. You had to treat yourself as blind, deaf, and mute!

Only then could you ensure your own safety.

Li Ang had done the same.

Though Penguin's side was different from the mafia and the Falcone Family, they still had a Code of Silence.

The Code of Silence meant that no matter who you were, you could not inform the police. You had to remain silent. It was sacred and inviolable.

As long as they maintained that, gang members would not involve family members and would only hunt down the person himself.

To Penguin, Alberto Falcone had undoubtedly broken the rules, which was why he had angrily led people there to kill him.

That was also why Li Ang would not inform James Gordon.

At this moment, Frank was undoubtedly reminding him to pretend he saw nothing and heard nothing. Naturally, he should not speak either.

He just had to listen to Penguin.

Someone knocked on the door.

The door opened from inside, and sure enough, a group of big shots in suits and ties were already seated within.

Even Victor Zsasz had gotten used to dressing that way.

If the lighting had not been so dim and they had not been in a secret room, anyone would have thought it was a celebration in the financial world.

Li Ang and Frank sat down separately.

After a while, Penguin Cobblepot slowly emerged from inside.

He wore a black tailcoat and a black top hat. The umbrella in his hand was like a cane, and he waddled as he walked like a penguin.

Very quickly, he set the tone for the meeting.

"I love Gotham. This is my home!"

Penguin Cobblepot slowly said, "My father, my grandfather, my grandfather's grandfather... they all lived here. My ancestors built this city, and I will never allow anyone to destroy it!"