章節 221: CHAPTER 218
[Vicki Vale's POV]
Vicki Vale stepped out of the elevator, her heels clicking against the tiled floor of the bustling Gotham City Gazette newsroom. She was dressed in a sleek black pantsuit, her auburn hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, exuding an air of determination despite the frustration simmering beneath the surface. The newsroom was a hive of activity, reporters typing furiously on their keyboards, phones ringing off the hook, and the constant murmur of conversations filling the air.
As she made her way through the maze of cubicles, Vicki flung her handbag onto her desk with a frustrated sigh. The recent happenings in Gotham City had left her with a sense of unease; there were rumors of a new criminal organization on the rise, but no solid leads to follow. She had spent countless hours chasing dead ends, trying to piece together a story worth reporting.
"Good morning, Miss Vale," Chad greeted her with a warm smile, holding out a steaming cup of coffee. Chad was the eager intern, always willing to lend a hand and soak up knowledge from the seasoned reporters. He had a youthful enthusiasm that was infectious, even on the dreariest of days.
"Thanks, Chad," Vicki said, taking the coffee gratefully. She could use the caffeine boost to kickstart her day. She powered up her computer, the screen flickering to life with a series of news alerts and unfinished drafts scattered across her desktop.
Chad leaned against the edge of her desk, his brown eyes filled with curiosity. "You look like you've got a storm brewing in your head, Miss Vale. Anything I can help with?"
Miss Vale glanced up, her expression a blend of amusement and skepticism. "Oh, I highly doubt that, Chad. Unless you can magically conjure up a juicy story or enlighten me on what the hell has been going down in Gotham City's underbelly lately."
Chad's smirk widened into a knowing grin. "No, I can't," he replied with a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes.
Rolling her eyes, Miss Vale dismissed him. "Well, then, if you'd excuse me, I have actual work to do." Her fingers danced across the keyboard as she delved into her latest investigation.
But Chad wasn't ready to give up just yet. "Oh, how about that incident everyone's buzzing about? The one about the terrorism attack that led to the tragic deaths of a few officers?"
Miss Vale paused, her interest piqued. "You mean the one where that hot guy with the marshmallow-white hair was supposedly taken into custody on suspicion of conspiring with metahuman terrorists? Tom Hendricks, wasn't it?"
Chad nodded eagerly. "Yes, that's the one. There's a whole lot more to that case than meets the eye. Maybe it's worth a shot digging into that."
With a thoughtful nod, Miss Vale considered his suggestion. "You know what, Chad? You might just have a point. It's better to chase a story with some substance than to stress over ones with no credible sources."
Just then her phone's screen lit up and the an unknown number displayed across the screen. "Vicki Vale here." She said the moment she picked up the phone and pressed it against her right ear.
"I have sensitive information that I'm willing to share with you." The voice said from the other side of the phone, as if the universe had somehow given an answer to her prayers.
"Who's this? And what makes you think I would buy this crap?" She replied, trying not to sound too desperate but deep down she really wanted to know what the information was and the person's identity.
She waited for an answer but instead, the line was immediately cut. After a couple of seconds, she was called by an another unknown line.
"Okay, I get that you don't want me asking much questions. But I assume you want to share this information with me so it's conveyed to the public."
"Meet at the west wing of the building's parking lot by midnight." He instructed, ignoring her as he continued. "It's a little something you wouldn't want to sleep on."
"I can't just go meet up with some random dude who calls me over the phone with an unregistered line." She replied, trying her best to hide her desperation. "At least give me a name." She added.
Once again the line was cut off and she got called with another unknown number. "The name's Red Hood." The only words the voice said over the phone before hanging up.
Her interest grew a thousand folds upon hearing that name, Red Hood. "Red Hood huh, this could be my chance to get an exclusive interview with him." She muttered, then looked at the watch on her wrist to check the time.
The news of a vigilante who went by the name Red Hood had gone viral all over Gotham City, since he made an appearance a couple of months ago, criminal activities had greatly dropped.
He was more feared by criminals than they do Batman because of his gruesome way of dealing with them and also because he was always ready to send a criminal to the hospital bed without any form hesitation. Of course there are some who were against his grisly methods of doing things but there are others who see him as the kind of vigilante Gotham City really needed.
Vicki checked the time every now and then all through the day, itching to meet Red Hood and hungry for whatever information he had for her.
…
The clock struck midnight, and Miss Vale sat poised in her car, the anticipation palpable in the air. She checked her watch one last time before stepping out into the deserted parking lot, her handbag clutched tightly.
"Right on time," she remarked coolly, her gaze fixated on the figure of the Red Hood, dressed in his bikers jacket and red helmet that added an aura of mystery to his presence.
The Red Hood descended from above, his movements silent despite the heavy boots he wore. Miss Vale raised an eyebrow at the stealthy approach but remained composed as she addressed him. "What is it you have for me?" she inquired, her tone laced with authority, a subtle attempt to assert control.
Red Hood's response was swift and firm. "You don't get to speak to me that way," he reprimanded, his voice carrying a hint of menace. "Get this clear, I want your help, I don't need you," he added, his words dripping with intimidation.
Unfazed, Miss Vale couldn't resist a quip. "You sound different from Batman, more rudeness to your tone," She remarked, although he chose to ignore her jest, his focus solely on the matter at hand.
"As you know," he began, getting straight to business, "Black Mask and several other crime lords in Gotham City's underworld have met their demise, with no trace of the perpetrators."
Miss Vale nodded, acknowledging the decrease in crime. "Yes, crime has greatly subsided over the past few months, almost like someone was low-key cleaning up the city." She replied.
She made a subtle movement toward her purse, intending to retrieve her recorder, but Red Hood's warning halted her. "Reach for your recorder, and this meeting ends," he warned, his tone brooking no argument.
"Understood," Miss Vale acquiesced, retracting her hand. "Tell me what I need to know."
Red Hood's next question was cryptic yet revealing. "Can you guess who's responsible for the decline in crime and terrorism?" he challenged, a glint of challenge in his eyes.
"What's this, some kind of Q&A?" Miss Vale pondered for a moment before responding. "It began with the public execution of the Joker by Ace the Tyrant," she mused aloud, her eyes narrowing as she observed the distinctive red helmet of the Red Hood. "And you of course, the wild vigilante who's ready and willing to kill criminals on the spot and without a moment hesitations. An interview with you would be headline-worthy."
"Ace the Tyrant leads a team of outcasts of which I am part of, and we are also part of the reason why the police have less work on their hands lately."
"I have to admit, I didn't see that one coming. And what's the name of this group?" Vicki asked, expecting some kind of cringed out name but was left speechless for a while when he uttered the words, "The Outlaws."
"Cool name, but as long as you guys are considered wanted by the police of which I'm sure you all are, then you're just a bunch of criminals playing Robin Hood."
"Here's a flash drive which contains detailed information regarding the Incident with Black Mask, and a few other crime lords who refused to abide to our terms and continue to cause harm to the city."
"Wow!!" She exclaimed, realizing it was much deeper than she had thought.
==========
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章節 222: CHAPTER 219
Vicki's curiosity burned bright as she delved deeper into the exchange with the enigmatic Red Hood. "Why are you suddenly sharing this information?" she probed, her journalistic instincts driving her to uncover the motives behind his revelations.
Red Hood's response was calculated, hinting at a looming threat. "When you share the information on that drive with the police, they'll understand the gravity of the incident and the impending conflict between the terrorists involved and the Outlaws, potentially turning Gotham into a battleground," he explained, his words carrying a sense of caution. "We believe there would probably be more attacks, and the police won't be able to fight them off and would just add up to the pile of bodies which would be left at the aftermath."
"The police might receive emergency calls to evacuate a certain area when next they attack, because an uncontained fight between both factions has the possibility to level the affected area." He said that with Tom in mind, knowing how over powered he was, and there was a higher possibility of more metahuman mercenaries going after him.
Intrigued by the cryptic warnings, Vicki pressed further. "You know something about the incident?" she inquired eagerly, hanging on every word as she absorbed the juicy details. "And what about Mr. Hendricks? Is he guilty?"
The Red Hood maintained his enigmatic demeanor. "I can only share so much," he replied, his eyes scanning their surroundings subtly, a testament to his vigilance. "As for Hendricks, that's for the police to determine."
Sensing his imminent departure, Vicki seized the moment. "Why remain in the shadows if you're fighting for the just?" she questioned, her curiosity driving her to understand the motivations of these rogue fellows.
"Some of us believe in order," Red Hood began, his voice carrying a weight of conviction. "But there are those amongst us who cling to selfish convictions and perpetuate crime."
As the conversation neared its end, Red Hood imparted a final piece of information. "In that drive you would find the location of Two Face's hideout where the police would find his lifeless body, along with those of his men."
"Any tip on the reason he's dead?" She asked.
"His demise was necessary to maintain peace in Gotham's underbelly. Like I said, everything they would need to know regarding his activities are in that drive which also contains illegal activities of some other crime lords of this city. Study the information within, get your story and hand it over to the police so they are publicly persecuted.
With a flicker of the lights, Red Hood vanished, leaving Vicki with a river of information and a newfound determination to uncover the truth behind the scenes of Gotham City.
…
[Leonard Snart's POV]
Seated at my favourite bar in Gotham City, I leaned upon the counter as I moved my glass of whiskey in circular motion, gazing into my glass as the sound of the rotating ice cubes filled the empty bar.
"Normal people do their drinking in the evenings, but you decide to hit the bar this early in the morning." Lee the Asian bar owner who was also an acquaintance of mine, said as he cleaned up the bar in preparations for today's business.
"It's five o'clock somewhere right?" I said with a slight shrug of my shoulder as I continued. "Besides, he's quite busy at night."
"I know you wouldn't be at a bar this early in the morning unless you needed to, it's just surprising having a customer this time of the morning."
"We could have met somewhere else but I preferred talking over a drink and at a bar with a room upstairs where I could sleep of the alcohol if I end up more tipsy than intended."
"This friend of yours, hope he isn't the trouble making type like the last friend you brought in here. I can't have a fight breaking out at my bar which could lead to destruction of my bottles and furniture, that's why I have a strict 'No Fighting' policy." He emphasized.
"Relax Lee, my friend isn't like Mick who's a short tempered pyro-junkie. He's more on the cool side." As I tried convincing him that Jason was nothing like Mick, the little bastard walked in. "Speak of the devil." I muttered as Jason walked towards the bar counter, while Lee just placed a glass with ice cubes in it, before pouring the whiskey to a third of the glass as Jason took his seat.
"Do we really have to meet up at a bar?" Jason asked, while Lee just gave me a sarcastic look before proceeding to his previous activity of cleaning the bar.
"I could really use a drink after my encounter with The Flash last night, back at Central City." I said to him before taking a long sip from my glass.
"I hope you don't expect a prison break from us when you get caught and thrown in some high grade security jail."
"You don't have to worry about that Jase, no prison could ever hold me for too long." I remarked, talking from both facts and experience.
"Whatever." Jase shrugged it off, then took a sip from the drink in front of him.
"Do we know who place a bounty for Tom's head?" I asked, still finding it hard to believe someone actually wants the kid dead.
"Unfortunately we have nothing, the only lead is being tortured by Deathstroke." He replied.
"Hopefully he breaks her very soon, or else we are back to square one." I replied.
"Aside from him being a total pain in the ass, I can't ignore or downplay his skills. He would break her and get her to talk soon enough." Jase seemed so sure that it almost sounded like he was talking from experience, probably from his time as Batman's sidekick.
"So tell me, how'd it go last night?"
"According to the list of instructions he left behind through Gwen. I contacted the reporter and gave her some information which would draw the attention of both Batman and the police, making them prioritize their investigation into the Outlaws which are a bunch of rogues, over some imaginary person with no actual proof of his existence.
"Yeah, giving the credit of his work to the Outlaws. That's one way to push us into the spot light while Ghost remains in the shadows, even from the Bat."
"I still don't get why he would want to get arrested for a crime that would publicize him, when he has tried so hard to separate every persona of his, keeping his private life as the peaceful and effortless life he said he's always wanted." Jason questioned unsure of what Tom hoped to benefit from this scandal.
"It's near impossible to guess what mischievous plans goes through his head, but think of it this way. If a bounty had been placed on him and a number of top class mercenaries are after him, he probably saw no reason to keep a low profile anymore but seize the opportunity to act on the next phase of his plan." I explained to the best of my knowledge of how Tom thinks in these kinds of situations, having hopped on a couple of heists with him, I'd say our conning nature probably rubbed off on us both.
Gulping down the remaining drink in his glass, he put it down then asked, "His plan? I've been meaning to ask but kept overlooking it whenever he mentioned something like that."
"Maybe you should ask sometime, kid." I advised, signalling for a refill. "What exactly is he after? He has the money, he's very influential in Gotham's underbelly. What could he really be after?"
"To understand that, you first have to ask yourself these questions one after the other…" I paused half way through the sentence, turned to look him in the eye as I continued. "What is the one thing everyman chase all through their life and without it the world wouldn't go round?"
"Money of course." He answered.
"But when a person achieves all the riches of this world, what's next, what sets him apart from the masses, apart from his wealth?" I asked another as I watched him think on it, mumbling a few things to himself.
"What comes alongside wealth and the riches of this world?" I asked, giving him some clue to the answer.
"Having that much dough would eventually lead to complete freedom and absolute free will. Which in turn leads to power." He answered.
"There's your answer." I took a few more sips from my whiskey to give him time to digest the lesson before I continue. "The reason crime lords are so obsessed with making money and doing whatever it took to get to the top, no matter how inhumane it might be. Is because of the power that comes along with it."
"The influence over things depends on how wealthy and how well connected they are." Jason replied. "Now you're catching on."
"In all actuality, men do not seek wealth, but the power that comes with it. It's actually either they really crave for the power that comes with it, or they are heavily drunk on power they've already attained."
"If everyman craves power, then you're saying Tom wants the same?" He asked, still unsure of the conclusion.
"Not just power, absolute power." I emphasized. "Think about it, he already had power and influence in the underworld, attaining a high status in society would give him societal value. Attaining both would have him completely unstoppable. He could influence the underworld according to how he sees fit, then again he could influence the verdict of a mass murderer into one he pleases. See where am getting at?"
"That actually explains why he intends to move to Metropolis, and it also explains why he got himself arrested. Almost making his debut and introducing himself to the world through the media."
"Something tells me he might eventually buy the media at a certain point in time, because those who control the media, controls the world." Having debunking and explaining it all to the best I could, we continued with our drinks as we chatted on.
==========
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