Red Hood

Miaomiao could not take another step.

Accustomed to keeping his eyes and ears open at all times, Damian immediately noticed that the footsteps behind him had stopped. He glanced back and saw the longing for the pool filling Little Merfolk's big, dewy eyes.

Damian understood what Miaomiao wanted almost instantly and seized the girl's wrist.

"No! No way! Don't even think about it!"

Getting in on the strength of his face without wearing formal attire was no big deal. But if Little Merfolk dared jump into the pool and swim with the penguins today, tomorrow every major newspaper in Gotham would run the headline "Wayne Family Has a Worthy Successor: Fourth Son Takes After His Father!" They would even slap a huge photo alongside it!

Ha. These were all tricks his father, the great Batman, Bruce Wayne, had used to cultivate his playboy persona. Back then, they had kept all of Gotham talking for days.

After all, to this day, sweetheart Bruce was the only person who would walk into a restaurant with a stunning beauty on each arm just to have them swim in its ornamental fountain.

He, Damian Wayne, followed his father's code of conduct as an example in everything, but absolutely not this!

He was only eleven! He did not want people saying he took after his father for such a ridiculous reason! Aaargh!

Miaomiao pouted miserably. "I really can't? They're all swimming..."

"You can't! NO!"

Damian's tone was firmer than ever before. For a moment, he looked exactly like his father, the Dark Knight.

"All right."

Miaomiao took another look at the penguins happily swimming in the pool, then could only follow Damian with regret.

Given the Wayne Family's status, they normally had a private room of their own at an upscale establishment like the Iceberg Lounge, with top-notch views and service alike. But after that scare, Damian no longer dared sit anywhere with a good view of the penguins and the band. Instead, he asked the waiter greeting them to find a corner with its back to the iceberg pool.

Preferably with a screen between them and it, to make absolutely certain they could not see it.

The waiter did not understand rich people's tastes, but the customer was king. Keeping a smile on his face, he led them to the corner with the worst view of the performances in the entire restaurant and, following the guest's instructions, brought over two tall potted plants to block their line of sight.

With the pool completely hidden from view, Miaomiao sighed and turned her attention to the menu.

Seeing that Little Merfolk seemed to have given up on getting into the water, Damian silently breathed a sigh of relief as well. Social humiliation averted. Perfect!

Now wanting nothing more than to fill his stomach and leave this dangerous place as soon as possible, Damian was no longer in the mood to savor the food or enjoy the performances. He casually ordered a few dishes that were relatively quick to prepare. No matter how good food elsewhere might be, it was only a change of pace. The all-capable Butler Batman, Alfred, was still the best cook.

The food soon arrived, and the delicious dishes immediately captured Miaomiao's attention. She picked up her knife and fork somewhat clumsily and focused all her efforts on the pan-seared salmon on her plate.

Meanwhile, Damian ate quickly while discreetly observing his surroundings and listening for information.

The Iceberg Lounge stood in Gotham City's most prosperous neighborhood, the Diamond District. This was the city's financial center, where every inch of land was worth a fortune. For an upscale establishment catering exclusively to the wealthy and famous to keep thriving here, the owner behind the Iceberg Lounge naturally had to have some ability.

The Penguin, the current head of the Cobblepot Family, Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot.

The Cobblepot Family had declined relative to the other three of the four great families. By the time of Oswald's father, his branch had few members left and mounting debts.

From childhood, Oswald had been short and clumsy, born with a strange nose as pointed and curved as a bird's beak. Mockingly nicknamed "Penguin," he had suffered relentless bullying throughout his childhood, with only birds for company. After his father died of pneumonia brought on by getting caught in the rain, his mother became somewhat hysterical and ordered him to carry an umbrella at all times.

Oswald eventually confronted his own inferiority complex. Calling himself "Penguin," he attempted to revive his family in his own way and become Gotham City's uncrowned king.

Then he opened the Iceberg Lounge.

The Iceberg Lounge offered far more than dining. As a large establishment catering exclusively to "high society," its restaurant was merely a front. The underground casino and gangland deals were the real business.

But Oswald was a very clever and extremely cautious man. When engaging in these clandestine activities, he usually worked through others rather than expose himself. Even if Batman caught him and dumped him at the police station along with the evidence, he could always exploit legal loopholes and find a scapegoat, then swagger back into Gotham in the guise of an innocent businessman.

"Fortunately," among Gotham City's many supervillains, what Oswald the Penguin craved was legitimate status and wealth in Gotham. As a result, most of the time, he could at least be considered a defender of order on the surface. He had even run for mayor of Gotham City once and won considerable support.

That was precisely why Damian dared bring Little Merfolk here for a meal.

Every creature cherished its own nest. Whatever trouble the Penguin stirred up, he would never gamble with his beloved Iceberg Lounge. Their personal safety and the quality of the ingredients were assured.

Of course, picking up a little intelligence along the way would be even better.

But by the time they had finished their meal and Miaomiao was contentedly munching on the last of her dessert, Damian still had not picked up any valuable leads.

What a pity.

Perhaps a god had heard the young master's sigh and decided to grant his wish.

Just as Damian was about to get up and leave, a roar drew closer from the distance. Before anyone could react, a burst of gunfire shattered the Iceberg Lounge's display windows, and a heavy black motorcycle charged straight through. It drifted to a stop sideways in the middle of the lounge's main hall.

Only then did the surrounding crowd seem to realize what had happened. Apart from a few timid people who could not help letting out a couple of screams at first, everyone else covered their heads with both hands and crouched with practiced ease, shrinking as far into the corners as possible. Those with children immediately covered their children's mouths first, lest their frightened cries draw the intruder's attention.

The Iceberg Lounge's guards hurried over with their weapons. The hulking man in front, who looked like a squad leader, still had a cigarette between his lips as he demanded in a muffled voice, "What blind bastard's got the balls to come looking for trouble at the Iceberg Lounge?!"

No sooner had he spoken than he looked as though he had seen a ghost. His gun hand shook uncontrollably, and the cigarette fell from his mouth. He did not even notice it burning his arm.

"R-Red Hood!"