Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Gotham City Under the Night
Gotham City was eerily quiet at night, a city filled with darkness and crime, where walking at night was the most dangerous thing to do, for no one knew from where a criminal might emerge.
Some thought Hell's Kitchen was rife with crime, a place where the crime and mortality rates were the highest.
But in comparison to Gotham City, especially under the cover of night, Hell's Kitchen wasn't much to speak of.
Moreover, Hell's Kitchen had undergone significant changes recently. For some unknown reason, the Golden Gang started doing good deeds, fighting crime, and leading people towards Buddhism, leaving some superheroes who operated in Hell's Kitchen baffled, wondering if this was another of the Golden Gang's schemes...
However, the crime rate in Hell's Kitchen did indeed plummet. The Buddhist Golden Gang could not only understand criminals' psychology but also, aside from reforming them, had other means. According to them, it was the wrath of a Buddhist Asura, and with certain scriptures, they could send people to meet the Buddha!
Gotham City was different. Although it wasn't without its superheroes, with the renowned Batman guarding its peace, even his nightly patrols couldn't stop all crimes in Gotham City, with countless people getting hurt or killed under the cover of night.
Especially in recent days, Batman's friend and partner, Commissioner James Gordon, informed Batman that one life after another was lost under the night, never to wake again.
Commissioner Gordon couldn't find any trace of the murderer, as if the killer was a ghost, appearing and disappearing suddenly...
With a thud under the night, Batman pressed a Gotham City gang leader against the wall, his terrifying aura oppressing the gang leader.
"Speak up, what do you know? About the ghost that comes and goes without a trace!" Batman's deep, raspy voice rang out, his costume and aura putting immense pressure on the gang leader.
"I don't know anything! My people have been killed by that ghost too. I want to know who's causing all this trouble, killing so many. It's not just you looking for him; I am too! It's been bad for business lately..."
"A bike theft gang worried about business?" Batman looked down disdainfully at the gang leader.
"Of course, we need business! If there's no one on the streets, who are my boys supposed to rob? We can't rob our own, can we? We haven't had any business for days..." Hearing the question, the gang leader momentarily lost his fear of Batman, retorting loudly, but before he could finish, Batman knocked him unconscious.
"Alfred, analyze the most likely scenario... Is it what I'm thinking?" After knocking the gang leader out, Batman sent him to Commissioner Gordon, then contacted his butler, Alfred, for input.
Batman had a hunch about the so-called ghostly crimes of recent days but wanted to hear Alfred's data analysis.
"Very well, sir." Alfred quickly started pulling up Batman's database for analysis, soon coming back with an answer, "Sir, from what we've seen, this incident resembles the encounter with the League of Shadows, but unlike the organized groups of shadow ninjas, these attackers seem to operate independently and in smaller numbers, suggesting a specific person controlling them from behind."
"In that case, deploy the weapons I've prepared!" Batman nodded, his voice carrying a hint of chill, "Any extranormal force daring to threaten Gotham will cease to exist!"
Under the night, several small machines flew out of the Batcave, their design compact and lightweight, quickly hiding in various corners of Gotham City.
With precision, these hidden machines fired lasers, instantly eliminating the targeted shadow warriors without causing any collateral damage, their targets' endurance calculated meticulously.
However, Batman didn't come upon this information himself; it was deduced from observing Robert handle the shadow ninjas.
With these machines, Batman wouldn't find himself stretched thin, ensuring Gotham City's safety for the night.
Yet, these machines had a weakness: their energy supply. Due to their size and stealth, their energy wasn't abundant, and more than two laser shots would deplete their power.
Thus, these machines were a temporary measure for Batman to maintain Gotham's stability. His real task was finding the mastermind behind the shadow warriors.
"Eh? It seems our little bat came prepared! Did he encounter similar powers before? How else could he handle this so adeptly?" Inside Arkham Asylum, the Joker, caressing the mask on his face, spoke gleefully.
"That's better! It wouldn't be fun if you were too easily overwhelmed..."
"Don't you have a contingency plan? Then let's see if you have enough preparations. After all, the shadow warriors I can dispatch are endless, right? My little Ika?"
"Ugh, I've encountered a monster, boss! When will you come to save me?" Completely suppressed, unable to control the Joker's body or even access the mask's power, Ika sighed in despair.
Ika had never faced a situation like this. Though he had hosts before, they were slowly consumed by his power after wearing the mask. None had, like the Joker, usurped his power and left him utterly defenseless.
Ika even felt the evil in this terrifying individual's heart was more horrifying than his master, Tara, with few in the dark dimension rivaling the Joker's malevolence.
"Eh? Little Ika, you have a boss? That's an unexpected delight! Is your boss's power greater than yours?" The Joker gently stroked the mask on his face, his voice extremely gentle, yet his words sent chills down Ika's consciousness, trembling continuously, only able to hide and not dare answer the Joker's question...
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