In Gotham, where money and power changed hands unchecked and superpowered criminals kept cropping up, Joker was a penniless nobody at the very bottom of the heap. He had neither wealth nor influence to rely on, nor any bizarre superpowers. Even his fighting skills and strength were nothing special to Batman, who stood at the peak of human physical ability.
Yet through his chaotic madness and formidable ability to brainwash others, he had managed to become the uncrowned king of Gotham's dark side-and Batman's most troublesome opponent.
Not even death could make Joker behave.
In a Gotham like this, peace only meant that a greater storm was brewing.
Well, looks like there's work waiting the moment I get back. What a fulfilling life.
When Bruce and the others drove back to Wayne Island, they spotted a powerful motorcycle roaring toward them in the distance, just as expected. It was the eldest son, Richard Grayson, who had rushed back from Blüdhaven upon hearing the news.
He preferred everyone to call him Dick, though.
They met at the entrance to Wayne Manor. Like a little bird returning to its nest, Dick went straight up to Bruce and gave him a huge hug.
"God, you're finally back safe!" Dick's arms tightened around him, his tone light. "Bruce, if you'd stayed away any longer, I really would've started thinking the little mermaid's song had stolen your soul."
"Don't worry. Miaomiao's a good girl."
"Miaomiao?" Dick raised an eyebrow, a brilliant smile spreading across his handsome face. "Sounds like something happened that I don't know about."
Tim spread his hands and shrugged. "Actually, we don't know much more than you do."
"Wow, then it looks like I got back just in time." Dick smiled, then turned to Bruce, his voice dropping a little. "Bruce, on my way back... I ran into Jason..."
Everyone fell silent.
The story between the second Robin, Jason Todd, and Batman, Bruce Wayne, couldn't be explained in a few words. In short, officially, Jason Todd, the Wayne Family's adopted second son, had died in an accident several years ago. Now Gotham's Crime Alley had gained an antihero who had returned from the dead, struck ruthlessly, and risen by preying on other criminals: Red Hood.
Even now, Jason still refused to truly return to Wayne Manor. Whatever Batman did, Red Hood would pop up to make his life a little harder. Yet whenever Batman was in real danger, Red Hood would risk his own life to save him.
The father and son loved each other as fiercely as they fought. Those in the know had gone from watching nervously to sharing an unspoken understanding.
Clearly, Jason had heard that Bruce was back and wanted to see how he was doing, but couldn't swallow his pride. So he had hidden in the shadows, planning to settle for a look from afar, only for Dick to catch him red-handed on his way home.
"Let's go inside first. I baked cookies. We can talk over tea."
Wayne Manor stood on an island in the northern outskirts of Gotham City: Wayne Island.
That was right-the real Wayne Manor was, in fact, an entire island. From anywhere within Wayne Manor, everything in sight was the Wayne Family's private property. Wayne Island lay twelve miles from Gotham City, connected to it by bridges and mountain roads. Vast wooded hills lay to the north, a highway to the west, and seaside cliffs to the east and south. At normal speeds, even driving from Wayne Manor to Gotham City took twenty minutes.
The main building of Wayne Manor, meanwhile, was a magnificent structure surrounded by beautifully trimmed trees and lawns, predominantly Gothic in style, with elements drawn from various Renaissance schools-a...
Castle.
Home again, Bruce looked at the familiar furniture and furnishings and relaxed a little.
Alfred brought everyone black tea and cookies. "Master Bruce, do have some refreshments. You never seem to know how to look after yourself when you're away."
Looking at the little round cookies on the elegant plate, Bruce thought again of the girl who could find such happiness in a grilled fish without any seasoning. He had promised to bring her home for cookies, but now he didn't even know where Miaomiao was.
Before leaving, Miaomiao had only told him to wait for her, then vanished. It was hard for Bruce not to worry, especially when her appearance was so obviously different from an ordinary person's.
But there was no point in saying anything now.
He had been missing for two weeks. There were matters at Wayne Enterprises to handle, intelligence on Gotham's criminals to gather, security at Arkham to tighten, and the police department to get in touch with...
There was so much to do that even the word "rest" seemed like a luxury.
"You've only just returned. You need rest, and we need to hear what happened to you."
With rare firmness, the old butler, Alfred, rejected Bruce's request to go work in the Batcave and pressed a cup of hot tea into his hands.
"It's only a little while. Gotham won't explode. Master Bruce, you could stand to place a little more trust in your children."
Seeing Alfred's resolute gaze, Bruce knew there was no escaping this.
"Well, where should I start?"
Dick suggested, "How about how you fell into the water?"
"Or the Batsuit that was torn to pieces?" Tim yawned again.
"Or that little mermaid?" Damian eagerly joined in.
"All right, to make a long story short." Bruce lifted his teacup. "I met a little mermaid. Just like in the fairy tales, with a human upper body and a fish tail. She was very pretty, a well-behaved girl with East Asian features..."
As Bruce recounted his experience to the others, a blue-violet figure darted beneath the waters of Gotham Bay.
There are so many twists and turns here.
Miaomiao couldn't help grumbling to herself.
The Merfolk were all born singers. Their ethereal, moving voices were more than beautiful art; they also possessed an innate ability to enchant the mind. They could soothe emotions, influence thoughts, and even create illusions.
Miaomiao had used her singing to influence the sailor steering the boat, making him unknowingly veer off course under the cover of the thick fog and guiding them to the island where Bruce was.
Only after watching them take Bruce away in a small boat and contact his family had Miaomiao felt reassured.
She no longer had any of her people here. Bruce had invited her to his home, and Miaomiao, already deeply curious about human society, was naturally delighted to accept.
But both the Elders and Bruce had repeatedly warned her to remain wary of humans on land and never let them discover her merfolk tail. As a well-behaved little merfolk, Miaomiao naturally had to listen.
That meant she couldn't board the boat. She could only swim behind the vessel taking Bruce home, and she couldn't follow too closely, either, lest someone spot her.
Fortunately, the Merfolk grew up in the ocean. Swimming was instinctive to them, as simple as breathing was to humans, so Miaomiao kept up with ease.
Then the boat docked at Gotham's harbor, and Bruce got into a big black box with his family and sped away.
Miaomiao was dumbfounded.
Wait...
Where was that thing going?
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