Chapter Summaries

Newly arrived in Gotham, Zuo Ci used a trap hidden in his pocket to incapacitate a robber, then discovered his Novelty Goods System and considered how to earn its currency. Batman found the bizarre aftermath and began tracking the unidentified third person.

• Zuo Ci fell into Gotham after falling through a stolen manhole cover and was robbed by Jack.
• When Jack reached into Zuo Ci's jacket pocket, a mousetrap-and-stun-device contraption clamped onto his fingers and shocked him.
• Zuo Ci checked his Novelty Goods System and realized that completing commissions could earn him valuable points despite having no money.
• Batman arrived at the scene and found Jack still convulsing beside a naked, blackened man.
• Batman noticed a third person's footprints, and Alfred began comparing them.

Zuo Ci struggled to find shelter in Gotham, then made money by baiting and defeating street robbers while Batman secretly watched him. Batman confronted him after hearing him mention the Joker, and Zuo Ci introduced himself as a mysterious merchant newly arrived in Gotham.

• Zuo Ci found Jack had no money and complained that his system would not help him find a place to stay.
• Zuo Ci kept his Glock 17 and electric rat, then paid the system to charge the rat.
• Zuo Ci lured and defeated five more robbers, earning less than a thousand dollars in total.
• Batman watched Zuo Ci and became suspicious of his behavior and his knowledge of the Joker.
• Batman confronted Zuo Ci and demanded answers, and Zuo Ci said he was a mysterious merchant newly arrived in Gotham.

Zuo Ci introduced himself to Batman as a mysterious merchant, shared strange information about Gotham and the Joker, and sold Batman a magical coffee bean for $10,000. After Batman vanished with an unconscious criminal, Zuo Ci realized he had lost his Electric Rat, while Alfred tested the coffee bean in the Batcave and Batman drank it.

• Zuo Ci told Batman that Gotham was steeped in supernatural forces and revealed that the Joker was connected to the Lazarus Pit, Dionysium, and the Three Jokers theory.
• Batman considered taking Zuo Ci in for interrogation but decided to build trust instead.
• Zuo Ci sold Batman a single-use coffee bean that eliminated fatigue for twenty-four hours, and Batman paid him $10,000.
• Batman caught the bean and vanished with the unconscious criminal, while Zuo Ci realized his Electric Rat was missing.
• Alfred tested the bean in the Batcave, confirmed it was harmless, and Batman drank the coffee made from it.

Batman used Zuo Ci’s coffee to fight crime through the night, while Zuo Ci spent the morning in Gotham buying supplies and securing a legal identity. As Zuo Ci waited inside Gotham Bank, clown-masked robbers crashed a school bus through its doors and took control of the room.

• Batman cleared a scrapyard drug deal and set a new crime-fighting record with help from Zuo Ci’s coffee beans.
• Zuo Ci left his motel and confronted a thug who had followed him, using Lucy’s Lipstick Taser to incapacitate him.
• Zuo Ci robbed the unconscious thug of his belongings, bought breakfast, and headed to Gotham Bank to withdraw money.
• Zuo Ci bought a legal citizen identity from the system, leaving himself with seven thousand dollars.
• A yellow school bus crashed through Gotham Bank’s glass doors, and clown-masked robbers ordered everyone to get down.

Zuo Ci received a mission to stop the Joker’s bank robbery without anyone dying, so he called for Batman and stayed hidden. When Batman failed to appear, Zuo Ci used a projection drone to distract the Joker while preparing his real plan.

• Zuo Ci found the Joker and his gang robbing the bank, then received a mission requiring him to stop them without any deaths.
• Zuo Ci called Batman for help and hid behind the counter, expecting him to handle the Joker.
• The bank manager charged out with a shotgun, killed one robber, and was shot by the Joker; he kept taunting the Joker and was shot in the legs.
• The Joker Gang loaded the stolen cash onto a school bus while the Joker waited for Batman, but a hooded wizard-like figure appeared instead.
• The Joker shot at the figure without harming it, and Zuo Ci revealed that it was a projection from Mysterio's Projection Drone as he began his real plan.

Zuo Ci used a multifunction flashlight to incapacitate the Joker Gang and helped keep the wounded manager alive until Batman arrived. Batman revealed that the Joker was missing, leaving Zuo Ci without his expected mission reward.

• Zuo Ci used the flashlight’s light, sound, and pepper spray functions to incapacitate the Joker and his gang.
• Zuo Ci dismissed the hologram, changed into a cheap wizard costume, and treated the wounded manager with a bandage.
• Batman arrived after defusing bombs on school buses and went to arrest the Joker.
• Zuo Ci asked the system for his mission reward, but it said the mission was not complete.
• Batman removed the purple-suited figure’s mask and revealed that the Joker was not there.

Batman, Gordon, and Zuo Ci discussed Gotham’s wanted fugitive Batman and the mayor while Batman cracked a phone recovered from a rescued bus driver. The phone revealed a single message naming Harvey Dent.

• Batman removed the Joker Gang members’ masks and confirmed that the Joker was not among the robbers, while Zuo Ci realized the mission had not specified where to stop them.
• Batman took Zuo Ci to meet Gordon on the roof of Gotham Bank, where Gordon explained that the mayor had declared Batman a criminal.
• Zuo Ci suggested framing the mayor and offered Gordon a book called the Classic of Framing, prompting Gordon to question Batman’s choice of friends.
• Gordon gave Batman a blood-covered phone recovered from a rescued bus driver, and Batman began cracking it.
• Zuo Ci sold Gordon instant coffee that quickly restored his alertness, while Batman noted Zuo Ci’s range of products.
• Batman’s computer finished cracking the phone and revealed one message: “Harvey Dent.”

Batman and Zuo Ci raced to save Harvey Dent from Joker, while Zuo Ci secured Batman’s money for his healing. They arrived at the Red Dragon Restaurant as Joker prepared to torment Harvey, who was hanging upside down and trying to stall him.

• Gordon realized Harvey was in danger at the Red Dragon Restaurant and sent his officers while Batman went to find him.
• Zuo Ci persuaded Batman to take him along, saying he could save Harvey, and reflected on Harvey’s possible transformation into Two-Face.
• Zuo Ci told Batman that saving people cost money and received a card with a hundred thousand dollars on it.
• Joker held the wealthy diners hostage at the Red Dragon Restaurant and waited for Harvey to arrive.
• Harvey, hanging upside down from a chandelier, taunted Joker to distract him and buy Batman and Gordon time.

Joker forced Harvey to choose between Gilda and a little girl before Batman intervened, but Joker soon discovered Batman was a hologram. Zuo Ci used a drone and Pumpkin Shields to stop Joker’s attacks, then confronted him at the Red Dragon Restaurant.

• Joker threatened Harvey and made him choose which of his bound captives, Gilda or a little girl, would be spared.
• Batman struck Joker before Harvey could answer, but Joker dodged Batman’s attacks and stabbed through what turned out to be a hologram.
• Zuo Ci, watching from the Red Dragon Restaurant entrance, used a modified Mysterio drone to project Batman and delay Joker.
• Joker threw grenades into the crowd, and Zuo Ci covered them with Pumpkin Shields, containing the explosion from the one real grenade.
• Joker noticed Zuo Ci and greeted him with a trick-or-treat joke, and Zuo Ci offered him bat candy.

Zuo Ci helped Batman stop Joker’s attack at the Red Dragon Restaurant, then joined Batman, Harvey, and Gordon on a rooftop to discuss why Joker had targeted Harvey. When Harvey asked Zuo Ci to use magic to find the answer, Zuo Ci agreed, but warned that the attempt would cost money.

• Joker dodged Zuo Ci’s flashlight and drone attacks, but Zuo Ci ran for the exit, leaving Batman to confront him.
• Harvey freed himself, helped Gilda, and Batman beat Joker unconscious while Zuo Ci watched and recorded the fight.
• Zuo Ci offered to buy Joker’s laughing gas bombs, but Batman refused to give them to him.
• Harvey and Gordon asked why Joker had targeted Harvey, and Batman looked to Zuo Ci for an explanation.
• Zuo Ci agreed to try magic to discover Joker’s motive, but said he would charge a fee.

Zuo Ci used a divination crystal ball to discover that the Court of Owls was connected to the Joker’s attack on Harvey Dent, then explained the secret organization and its assassins to Batman, Gordon, and Harvey. He did not know the exact nature of the connection and hesitated to investigate further until Batman offered more money.

• Zuo Ci produced a one-time divination crystal ball and asked why the Joker had gone after Harvey Dent.
• The crystal ball showed an owl-like mask, and Zuo Ci identified the Court of Owls.
• Zuo Ci explained that the Court of Owls was a secretive group of old aristocratic families that had controlled Gotham and commanded immortal assassins called Talon.
• Zuo Ci said the Court had lost much of its influence but warned Batman that Talon remained dangerous.
• Batman asked how the Joker was connected to the Court, but Zuo Ci refused to investigate because it could draw them into greater danger.
• Batman offered more money, and Zuo Ci began to reconsider.

After refusing Batman’s request to investigate threats beyond his abilities, Zuo Ci used his earnings to open a general store in Gotham. He finished setting it up and opened for business just as someone arrived.

• Zuo Ci refused to investigate the Court of Owls and Joker further, and Batman left with the Joker and the Joker Gas Bombs.
• Gordon and Harvey watched Zuo Ci leave the rooftop by the stairs, then agreed to pay him for short flights through the sky.
• Zuo Ci used money he had earned from Batman to have the system acquire and renovate a shop.
• Zuo Ci stocked the shop with self-restocking shelves and machines, then hung the sign reading "Old Dad's General Store."
• A customer arrived and asked if the store was open.

Zuo Ci survived a hectic first day running his Gotham shop, earning a large profit while fending off robbers and other troublemakers. After closing, he was confronted by Jefferson of the Falcone Family, who demanded that Zuo Ci pay a visit to the “Godfather.”

• An elderly robber entered Zuo Ci’s shop, but Zuo Ci dealt with him by asking whether he had ever tried breakdancing.
• Zuo Ci’s grand-opening sale drew a steady stream of customers, and he worked until 10:30 at night.
• Zuo Ci checked his accounts and learned that the shop had made $13,752.99 in net profit and taken in $38,742.39 in robbery proceeds.
• Zuo Ci decided he needed to hire shop assistants after a long day dealing with customers, thieves, scammers, and armed robbers.
• Jefferson introduced himself as a member of the Falcone Family and told Zuo Ci that opening a shop in Gotham without visiting the “Godfather” was rude.

Zuo Ci beat Jefferson and demanded that the Falcone gang pay him monthly protection money, prompting Falcone to plan to recruit him rather than kill him. Just as Falcone’s men began plotting how to bring Zuo Ci in, grenades were thrown into the gang’s parlor.

• Zuo Ci handed Jefferson a note demanding thirty thousand dollars in monthly protection money, then punched him out of the shop and burned his tongue with a cigar.
• Jefferson returned to Falcone and reported what Zuo Ci had done, while Falcone angrily smashed a bottle of wine.
• Falcone stopped Lucas from attacking Zuo Ci and explained that he wanted to tame the proud man and recruit him to strengthen the Falcone family.
• Mark volunteered to bring Zuo Ci in and considered using his family as leverage.
• As Falcone stood to leave, the parlor windows shattered and several armed grenades flew inside.

Zuo Ci threatened Gotham’s mafia bosses with a pepper-filled grenade demonstration and gave them three days to pay him, while Batman observed and weighed how to handle him. Batman later admitted he still could not classify Zuo Ci and planned to gather more intelligence.

• Zuo Ci startled Falcone and the other mafia bosses with grenades that released black pepper, then warned them to pay within three days.
• At Old Dad's General Store, Zuo Ci told Batman he wanted the mafia alive to collect protection money and would use armed self-defense if they retaliated.
• Batman explained that beating the mob bosses and sending them to prison would not solve the problem without evidence or changes to Gotham’s underlying conditions.
• Zuo Ci discovered Batman’s apparent visit had actually been a modified drone operated by Alfred, while Batman continued fighting criminals elsewhere.
• Batman told Alfred that Zuo Ci’s morality and motives were difficult to categorize and that he needed to intensify intelligence gathering.

After the Falcone Family put a million-dollar bounty on Zuo Ci, Batman visited his shop and bought magical gardening supplies. A disguised Deathstroke later shot Zuo Ci, but Zuo Ci survived and tried to hire him to kill the Falcone Family; their bargain ended in a simultaneous shootout.

• The Falcone Family blamed Zuo Ci for its losses and placed a million-dollar bounty on him, while Batman warned him that bounty hunters were visiting his shop.
• Zuo Ci sold Batman ten magical flowerpots and gardening supplies, then continued to fend off would-be attackers as business slowed.
• A man disguised as Batman shot Zuo Ci in the head and threw linked grenades into the shop, but Zuo Ci survived and confronted him as Deathstroke.
• Zuo Ci offered Deathstroke two million dollars to target the Falcone Family, and Deathstroke accepted a deal for one million per target.
• Zuo Ci and Deathstroke fired at each other as soon as they reached their agreement.

Zuo Ci used a disguised drone and an array of unusual weapons to fight Deathstroke, eventually freezing him and shooting him in the heart. Batman arrived after Zuo Ci declared the fight over.

• Deathstroke and Zuo Ci dodged each other’s shots, then Zuo Ci used a staff concealing a bomb to blast Deathstroke.
• Deathstroke emerged from the explosion, exposed Zuo Ci’s drone disguise, and shot Zuo Ci in the shoulder.
• Zuo Ci used invisible armor to withstand the shot and fired tracking bullets at Deathstroke, who shot them down.
• Zuo Ci used the tracking bullets to distract Deathstroke while activating an Ice Shroom that froze him.
• Zuo Ci shot the immobilized Deathstroke in the heart, then Batman arrived and asked whether Zuo Ci had killed him.

Zuo Ci convinced Batman that Deathstroke was alive, then used a Gentle Bullet to make him surrender peacefully. He went after Carmine Falcone to retaliate for the bounty and left the mob boss bound and terrified in his own bedroom.

• Batman questioned Zuo Ci about killing Deathstroke, but Zuo Ci pointed out that Deathstroke was alive and unharmed.
• After the Ice Shroom’s effect wore off, Deathstroke became remorseful and asked Batman to arrest him because Zuo Ci had hit him with a Gentle Bullet.
• Zuo Ci invited Batman and Deathstroke to help him settle the score with the Falcone Family.
• Zuo Ci broke into Carmine Falcone’s villa at midnight, bound and gagged him, and confronted him about placing a bounty.
• Zuo Ci showed Falcone his caged Labrador Retriever and threatened to record and distribute footage of Falcone with the dog.

Zuo Ci forced Falcone to agree to pay him five million dollars in cash each month, then left him bound with an open dog cage. The next day, Falcone ordered his officers to arrange the payments and learned that Lucas was missing after Zuo Ci had visited him.

• Zuo Ci terrorized Falcone with his Labrador until Falcone agreed to pay five million dollars in cash every month.
• Zuo Ci left Falcone tied up with the dog cage open, and Falcone spent the night begging Batman and the police for help.
• Falcone's servants found him the next day and rescued him, but he insisted on meeting with his senior officers before going to the hospital.
• Falcone told the officers about Zuo Ci's demand, and Mark accepted responsibility for arranging the monthly payments.
• Falcone asked why Lucas was absent, and an officer explained that Lucas liked keeping horses, prompting Falcone to wish him well.

Zuo Ci offered Gordon, Harvey, and Batman incriminating tapes to help them weaken Gotham’s mafia families while positioning himself to acquire businesses after the gangs fell. He gave Batman the uncut recording and hinted that he had uncovered something else Batman would need.

• Zuo Ci showed Gordon, Harvey, and Batman edited footage of the Falcone Family’s leaders, leaving Gordon and Harvey horrified.
• Zuo Ci explained that he wanted to help the police fight Gotham’s mafia, and Batman realized tapes from both the Falcone and Maroni families could help provoke a conflict between them.
• Zuo Ci gave the tapes to the group for free in exchange for a chance to join future raids and benefit from the fallout.
• Zuo Ci left the police department with Batman and handed him the sole uncut version of the recording, explaining that only two copies existed.
• Batman questioned Zuo Ci’s motives, and Zuo Ci admitted he hoped to take over businesses left behind after the mafia fell.
• Zuo Ci told Batman he had recently found something useful for him.