A rights protection group

The two continued onward. Amid the wreckage, Roland found several more survivors, but they were only Mob lackeys, and he got no useful leads out of them.

That might also have had something to do with his relatively gentle methods. Strange as it was, Roland knew perfectly well that Batman was far more brutal when interrogating criminals, yet with Bruce beside him, he always felt a little inhibited.

"You seem nervous," Bruce suddenly remarked.

"Of course. This is the highest-paying job I've ever had," Roland said earnestly.

"...Keep up the good work. I won't stiff you on your wages," Bruce said.

"If you do, I'll form a rights protection group with Poison Ivy, and we'll go after the Wayne Family's businesses together."

"...Don't even joke about that." Bruce pictured Poison Ivy and Roland joining forces, one dealing physical damage and the other magical damage. Just the thought was a headache.

They chatted as they walked, and soon came upon the pieces of the legendary photographer Diane Gilden.

"Damn, she's practically mince. The medical examiner's going to have a hell of a time," Roland marveled.

Bruce crouched, picked something up, and sniffed it. Then he examined it, his brow furrowing.

"Find something?" Roland asked.

"This was an RDX explosion..." Bruce said after a moment's silence.

"That's some famous explosive. They didn't use much, though, or wouldn't the whole building be gone?" Roland felt a belated chill. "I'd better watch it next time. Can't stand this close when I'm watching the show."

"How many people on this floor are still alive?" Bruce asked, standing up.

"Other than the gunmen I knocked out earlier, nobody on this floor is breathing," Roland said.

"Then let's go. I need to look for leads elsewhere," Bruce said.

"Hey, how about taking me along?" Roland hurriedly added. "You know my situation. I've got all those mouths waiting for me to feed them. Let me earn a little extra..."

"...All right," Bruce said after a brief silence.

Roland sent Jason back first, then rode with Batman to Wayne Manor in a luxury car.

"Hello, Father Roland. Master Bruce often speaks of you." While Batman went to get ready, Alfred brought Roland a cup of coffee. "Please, enjoy."

"Thanks." Roland drained the coffee and stood up. Fully equipped, Batman called to him, and the two climbed into the Batmobile and sped away.

"If this one is Robin, isn't he a little old for it...?" Alfred watched them leave, deep in thought.

"Is it all right for Batman to come out in broad daylight?" Roland asked.

"Just because I don't rest at night doesn't mean Batman never comes out during the day," Batman said. "I usually appear at night simply because criminals tend to commit crimes at night."

"So that's it." Roland nodded. "Where are we headed now, then?"

"The Cobblepot Family. I've picked up some leads suggesting Penguin may be smuggling high explosives into Gotham City," Batman explained. "We're going to ask him about it."

"Got it." Roland observed a second of silence for Penguin. God only knew how many more rounds of questioning like this he would face in the future.

"By the way, you should put on a mask to avoid unnecessary trouble," Batman said. "There's a Robin mask to your right."

"I'll pass." Roland shook his head. Robin's mask was just too weird for his tastes. "Do you have a spare Batman mask?"

"Not in the car." Batman shook his head.

"Then..." Roland spotted a party supply store a short distance ahead. "Pull over first. I'll buy a mask there."

Soon, Batman watched Roland climb back into the car dressed as a clown.

"...Tell me, why?" Batman's facial muscles tightened. "Why?"

"Well, they were out of masks, but they had face paint. So I figured... dressing up as a clown was my only option."

"I'd rather you painted your face red and played Guan Yu fighting at Changsha!" The veins on Batman's hands twitched despite himself.

"Come on, it's not that bad..."

Iceberg Lounge

It was not mealtime, and there were few customers inside, but the restaurant staff had not slacked off in the slightest. They remained at their stations, ready to serve.

Just then, the doors suddenly opened, and two uninvited guests barged in.

One wore a skintight bat suit with a bat cape hanging down his back.

The other wore a garish outfit, his face covered in clown makeup.

Everyone present stared blankly at the pair, disbelief in their eyes.

"Where's Cobblepot? I'm here to see him," Batman said evenly, his low voice carrying an inexplicable pressure.

"You're looking for me?" Penguin appeared above them and slowly descended the stairs. "What do you want, bat freak?"

But when he spotted Roland beside Batman, a flicker of surprise crossed his face.

"Is that any way to talk to my boss?" Roland suddenly sprang forward, reaching Penguin in a few strides. He knocked the umbrella from his hand with a downward chop, then clamped a hand around his throat.

"Let Mr. Cobblepot go!" In an instant, dozens of guns swung toward Roland.

"Release me!" Penguin said coldly. "Otherwise, don't expect to leave here alive!"

"Trying to scare me?" Roland said dismissively. "Those guys? They'd all need machine guns to have a chance of taking me down."

"...You really do talk big." Penguin was momentarily stunned.

"Besides, I didn't come alone..."

Batman suddenly moved. With everyone's attention fixed on Roland, he launched his attack.

Batarangs whirled through the air. The gunmen felt a chill across their hands, and then they could no longer hold their weapons.

"Let's find somewhere quiet to talk," Batman said. "Where's your office?"

"Th-this way..." Feeling Roland's grip tighten, Penguin hastily pointed them in the right direction.

"Good. Let's go." The three entered Penguin's office together.

The furnishings were exquisite, exuding an air of luxury and high society that had a country bumpkin like Roland clicking his tongue in wonder.

"What's this?" Roland picked up a penguin brooch.

"A penguin brooch from Mikimoto's Wild and Wonderful collection. Those are baroque pearls," Penguin explained.

I didn't expect this fellow with Batman to be both ignorant and greedy. Could I use that...? Penguin began to scheme.

"Oh, nice. Really pretty." Roland slipped the brooch into his pocket, then picked up a jade penguin. "What's this?"