The death of Robin

In a secret room in Gotham City's underground tunnels, three people sat around a round table, discussing their act.

"Honestly, Waylon, I'm still not used to working with you," Batman said with a sigh.

"Same here, but I heard I'd get to humiliate you, so I'm pretty interested." Killer Croc glanced at Batman, took out a barbed leather whip, and waved it around. "Anyway, I've got no problem putting on this act to lure Joker in, but why pick me?"

"Because Joker has always looked down on you. Having someone he considers brainless capture me alive will get under his skin more than anything else," Batman said. "And from my perspective, you're friends with Roland, which makes you easier to approach."

Another reason was that Killer Croc really wasn't very intelligent, so Batman didn't have to worry about him plotting some underhanded ambush. That wasn't something he could say aloud, though.

"Tch, that clown..." Killer Croc hated people saying he was stupid, because his IQ really wasn't very high. Those words hit a sore spot.

"All right, let's go over the act." This time, Roland wasn't wearing his priest's robes. He had changed into a vest, jeans, and Martens, with a baseball cap on his head and a thick script in his hand.

"You always seem especially professional when it comes to these strange things," Batman remarked.

"Don't interrupt. First, we'll do this..." Roland opened the script in his hands and spoke with the air of a director.

March 25

Killer Croc invaded Gotham City Television Station and launched a live broadcast with one theme—Batman's public execution at eight that night.

A tall iron scaffold had been erected on the stage. Killer Croc stood on it, holding a blade half as tall as a man.

Batman lay motionless on the execution platform, bound in shackles.

"I have to say, you might actually have some talent as a director." Harvey and Roland quietly watched from the sidelines. They were the director's team, responsible for keeping the entire operation under control.

"Of course." Holding a walkie-talkie, Roland directed several staff members as they set up the venue.

At 7:00 p.m., Killer Croc's live broadcast began.

Before long, some bloodthirsty spectators barged in and sat in the audience, eagerly awaiting Killer Croc's execution of Batman.

"Could these people be Joker's henchmen?" Commissioner Gordon's voice came through.

"Probably not." Roland gripped his walkie-talkie. "They're probably just here for the spectacle, and the worse things get, the happier they are. Gotham City has plenty of people like that... fuck, what's Jason doing here?"

"I think I spotted someone familiar too. Isn't that Robin?" Commissioner Gordon saw Nightwing hiding in a corner, wearing the Original Robin's uniform.

"Didn't he go to Blüdhaven? How could he have gotten here so quickly?" Batman growled into the microphone on his collar.

"It's no big deal. Don't forget, we have contingency plans," Roland said, pressing a button in the director's room.

The chair Jason was sitting on suddenly flipped over, pinning him underneath. A staff member appeared, pulled a sack over him, and carried him away.

As for Dick Grayson, Roland handled him personally, first using Red Letters to immobilize him, then emptying a tranquilizer gun's magazine into him.

"Couldn't you just tell him our plan?" Commissioner Gordon helped Dick Grayson up.

Roland thought for a moment. "That wouldn't be as fun."

"...What did you say?"

"Get one of the guys to take him up there. We'll execute a Robin first to warm up the crowd," Roland instructed. "Use the method I told you about before."

"That bloody? Is it really necessary?"

"How else are we supposed to lure Joker in? This time, we have to make him feel like he's about to be replaced." Roland interlaced his fingers. "Don't worry. I prepared all the props beforehand. It'll look horrifying, but he'll actually be fine."

Two men dragged the unconscious Dick Grayson onto the stage, drawing a chorus of gasps from the audience.

"Ha ha..." Killer Croc gave a strange laugh and spoke into the microphone. "Ladies! Gentlemen! Allow me to introduce our distinguished guest—Batman's trusty sidekick, Robin!"

With that, Killer Croc dragged Batman off the stage and woke Dick Grayson.

"Mmph, mmph..." Dick Grayson struggled, but with his body bound and his mouth gagged, there was nothing he could do.

"Hey, everyone's getting impatient, right? But it's not time to execute Batman yet. What are we going to do...?"

"Why don't we execute a Robin as an appetizer? Hahaha..."

Laughing wildly, Killer Croc picked up a crowbar and slammed it into Dick Grayson.

Dick Grayson was knocked to the ground, with only one thought left in his mind.

Huh? That didn't hurt?

Jason, who had been hauled backstage in a sack, saw this and, for some reason, felt phantom pain all over his body.

A taxi came hurtling toward the station. At the wheel was Joker, dressed in his signature purple suit. He stared fixedly at the television in the car, so furious he nearly ground his teeth to pieces.

On the television, Dick Grayson had been beaten bloody with the crowbar and could no longer even stand. Killer Croc tossed him beside Batman and threw a grenade at them.

Dick Grayson struggled to shield Batman with his body and was engulfed in flames.

Once the fire and smoke cleared, all that remained was Batman, with the Robin Suit draped over him.

Killer Croc brought Batman back onto the execution platform, found a pole, and hung the Robin Suit in front of him. In green paint, he wrote on it: Hahaha, just kidding, Batman.

"How dare he! How dare he!" Joker floored the accelerator, his teeth clattering like a writer whose proudest work had just been plagiarized.

"Damn it, I'll turn him into a crocodile-skin belt!"

The taxi's engine roared as it raced along Gotham City's roads. The surrounding cars swerved out of its way, terrified of being killed in a collision.

7:55 p.m.

Gotham City Television Station

The venue was somewhat noisy, with spectators chattering among themselves. As the execution time approached, anticipation filled the audience.

"Ladies! Gentlemen! Let the countdown begin!" Killer Croc had already raised his blade.

"Why isn't Joker here yet?" Commissioner Gordon asked anxiously. "If he doesn't show up, we can't keep this act going."

"It's fine. Worst case, I'll stage a rescue at the execution ground." Roland rubbed his hands together. "But... Joker really should be coming."

Bang!

A tremendous crash rang out as a car smashed straight through the television station's doors. Sitting inside was a man in a purple suit, with green hair and vivid red lips. He stepped out and waved at Batman. "Surprise! Bats, I'm here to save you!"