You've All Got Your Own Special Skills

"If you put it that way, doesn't that mean..." Harvey's face grew uglier by the second, like a man about to be raped by a bull elephant in heat.

"Yeah." Roland nodded bitterly.

"Maybe we should just run. Falling into the mob's hands would be better than getting fucked by an elephant." Harvey sighed.

"It won't kill us. There's plenty of room in here. Even if it sticks its trunk in, we'll fit." Roland tried to reassure him. "We'll swallow our pride for now. One day, when we catch those mobsters, we'll let them find out what it's like to get rammed by an elephant."

The two stayed inside the elephant, sick with worry. The Falcone family searched the zoo frantically but couldn't find them.

"Where could they possibly be hiding?" The Riddler was baffled. They had searched almost the entire zoo without finding a trace of the Holiday Killer.

"I think I know," Falcone said, his face livid. "They've already left the Gotham City Zoo."

"What, did they grow wings and fly out?" The Riddler didn't believe it.

"Didn't we let a group of people leave earlier?" Falcone said. "Friends of the family, business partners, and Gotham City's elite. If I'm right, the Holiday Killer is probably among them."

"That's it! Of course!" Johnny Vitti nodded. "Brilliant, Uncle."

"Investigate them." Falcone's expression darkened. "I have a feeling the Holiday Killer may be someone close to us."

"Godfather..." Falcone's confidants began to speak, wanting to say something.

Falcone raised a hand to stop them. "No more talk. Go investigate... Leave a few men at the zoo, just in case. Watch for anything unusual."

"Yes, sir."

Roland and Harvey remained hidden in the hot, damp space. No bull elephant had barged in yet, but they were feeling worse by the minute.

"It's been long enough. We should be able to leave now, right?" Harvey was having trouble breathing. "If we stay much longer, I'm going to suffocate."

"Hold on. Let me listen." Roland released Kamaitachi and listened to the sounds around them.

After a while, his face brightened. "All right. Most of the mobsters are gone. Only a few stayed behind. We can avoid them and get out."

"Your hearing's that good?" Harvey asked in surprise.

"Of course." Roland nodded and climbed straight out of the elephant.

Harvey followed. Just as Roland had said, hardly anyone was left outside. He couldn't help admiring Roland's hearing.

"I'll be going, then. See you around." Harvey said goodbye to Roland.

"Hey, wait. We've been through hell together. At least leave me your name and number," Roland called after him. "After coming out of that place together, we're practically brothers in a way."

"...Don't make it sound so intimate." Harvey shrugged. "You're better off not knowing my name. It would bring you trouble. But you can have my number... If you ever need help, call me."

With that, Harvey turned and left.

"What a mysterious guy." Roland shrugged and found an empty route out.

When Roland returned to Church, his underlings stared at him, eyes wide.

"What the hell is all over you?" Jason asked, looking at the foul-smelling slime covering Roland.

"It's... I went and played a little vore game with someone," Roland said offhandedly.

"...What the hell is that?"

"Good kids don't need to know." Roland shrugged. "Anyway, did everyone make it back safely?"

"Everyone's back, but..."

"But what?" Roland had a bad feeling.

"The money didn't make it back safely."

"Who touched my money?" Fury flared in Roland's eyes. He had finally found a chance to make some cash, only to have the Riddler mistake him for the Holiday Killer. He'd been forced to hide inside an elephant for ages, and he still reeked of seafood.

And now they were telling him the money was gone?

"The East End First Street Gang. They blocked the entrance and used the opportunity to extort people," Jason said. "They beat up a few of our guys, too."

Roland looked around and saw that several people were indeed missing. His anger surged.

"Jason, do you know where their hideout is?"

"Right next to Crime Alley in the East End. They call that street First Street," Jason said quickly. "But they've got dozens of men and guns. Even if we show up at their door, what can we do?"

"Boss, how about we piss on their doorstep tonight?"

"We could sneak over and let the air out of their tires!"

"I'll steal a garbage truck and dump its load in front of their door."

The underlings all chimed in with suggestions.

"Stop, stop..." Roland waved them quiet. "I get it. You've all got your own special skills. But there's no need for that. Jason, just take me there. I'll show up at their door and blow them away!"

"You sure?" Jason froze.

"Of course. They're just a bunch of punks. What's there to be unsure about?" Roland lifted his chin. "Or are you scared?"

"I'm not scared!" Jason headed out the door. "Come on. I'll take you to them."

"That's the spirit." Roland followed him.

Gotham City's East End.

It was as chaotic as ever. They entered a dim alley that was enough to turn anyone's stomach.

Bottles, needles, and reeking excrement littered the ground. Here and there, heavily made-up older prostitutes solicited customers by the roadside. Homeless people slept curled up against the walls, while a few addicts crawled through the shadows.

"This place really is..." Roland frowned. "Disgusting."

"That's Gotham City for you." Jason pointed to a building in the distance where the lights were still on. Loud rock music blared from inside. "The First Street Gang is in there."

"Okay. Wait here, and stay safe." Roland pointed at the older women. "Keep yourself under control. Don't let them seduce you."

Jason answered by giving Roland the middle finger.

More than thirty people in there... Roland released Kamaitachi and picked up the sounds inside the building. Then he kicked the door open, tore off its handle, and hurled it through the chandelier.

"Have you people got no consideration? All this racket—how are the neighbors supposed to sleep? Some of us have work tomorrow!"