Bam!
A pile of newspaper mixed with rotten leaves was smashed against the glass door by the side of the street, causing it to shake violently. There were even cheers from the crowd, and more things were smashed against the shop.
The staff of the shop cowered behind the door as they looked at the noisy crowd of protesters. They didn't even dare to wash off the stains on the door.
Everyone knew why the crowd was even crazier today. It was because more people had died last night. The Joker was a man of his word. As long as Batman didn't take off his mask, there would be people who would die for him in this city. Anyone who had such a crazy person around them would be terrified to the point of madness.
However, they forgot that Batman had saved two people from the Joker last night.
The whole of Central Gotham was filled with people. Demonstrations were always filled with passion. They waved their arms, raised their crude slogans, and shouted in a way that even they couldn't hear. Their voices didn't gather together to form a louder sound. Instead, they mixed together and became an even louder noise.
It was so annoying.
"Get Batman out here!"
"Why do we have to die for him?!"
"Get him to take off his damn mask!"
"We want to live!"
They crossed the bustling First Avenue, and their final destination was the ground floor of the mayor's office. It was as if they wanted to completely surround the poor building. They roared, and when there were more of them, they started to throw the things in their hands at the police officers guarding the door.
The heavy-duty policemen were wearing masks, so their expressions couldn't be seen. However, under their cold appearance, their thoughts could be sensed … These idiots.
The protesters thought that they were trying to show their power to Mayor Nestor. They were trying to use their voices and actions to get the city hall to come up with a solution. However, the reality was that Mayor Nestor wasn't even in his office.
They were just venting their anger and fear in the air, pretending to be pioneers who were sacrificing themselves for a just cause. Under their righteous appearance, they were cowardly souls who stood together. They were so cowardly that they weren't even willing to take the slightest risk.
The reporters stood outside the agitated crowd, and some of them were even more agitated as they reported on the increasingly violent protests in Gotham City. They could not wait for things to become more chaotic, and for Batman to stand out and beat these people into minced meat.
However, it was not for justice, but for more explosive news.
The politicians used the demonstration to criticize the mayor's policies, the merchants took the opportunity to raise their prices, and even the gangsters who were terrified by the Red Devil walked through the streets.
Everyone here got what they wanted from the parade, except for the citizens who were marching. They didn't even know what they were doing.
This is the herd, which is not good at reasoning, but is eager to act; it is impulsive, impetuous, easily suggestible and credulous; its intelligence is below that of the individual; it is full of primitive violence and blood-lust, and even its moral standard is very low.
Just as Saber said, "Once you blend into the crowd, you will be infected with their actions, habits, and ways of thinking, and you will do some ridiculous things that you don't even know about."
It was like a farce.
"I know there's a mastermind behind all this, but I can't imagine how the situation would deteriorate to this extent in just three days."
Mayor Nestor stood in the police station's office, and in front of him were the chiefs of Gotham's various districts, as well as the seven sergeants from the headquarters. Robin was absent, and the officers looked at the two empty positions from time to time. Gordon and Robert were supposed to be their leaders, but they had died in the line of duty.
Facing the angry mayor, Smith, who Gordon trusted the most, pondered for a moment and said, "Mayor Nestor, this matter is even more complicated.
"Mr. Mayor, this matter is actually more complicated than you think. In the past two days of surveillance, we discovered a large number of gangsters. They even appeared as the backbone of the demonstration. We have reason to suspect that this is a wave against Batman that the Joker dislikes. The purpose is to force him to stand up and reveal his identity."
It was a reasonable reason, and the mayor nodded. He was not an ignorant person, but when it came to his position and power, even the most selfless person would feel anxious. He sat on the chair and played with the cigar cutter in his hand.
"Why didn't you arrest them?"
Smith's expression dimmed.
"We don't have enough manpower. In Gordon … the security of the city has deteriorated again. The officers have been sent to patrol the various districts, and we are worried that once we take action, Joker will use them to his advantage. If there is a large-scale attack, the credibility of the Gotham government will be at its lowest point. You should be able to guess that it will be a real disaster."
Nestor stopped talking, and his expression changed rapidly. In the end, he sighed.
"Look at our citizens. They are as weak as sheep sent to the slaughterhouse without a leader. Did Batman not say anything?"
Smith shook his head.
"No, and I don't think he should stand out, Mayor Nestor. Although his actions are illegal, we can't ignore that in the past year, it is because of him that the order in our city has stabilized. I don't believe that Joker will let us go just because we have handed over Batman. I have encountered too many such villains, and they only know how to take advantage of us. They see our weakness, and they will treat us like meat on a chopping board."
Smith's tone was firm as he looked at the mayor.
"I request for an immediate ban on the broadcast of the clown's threat on all the television channels in Gotham City. This will only cause the citizens who are worried about their safety to panic even more. He is exploiting our fear, Mr. Mayor, he is trying to destroy our will!"
Hearing this request, Mayor Nestor hesitated. After ten seconds, he raised his head and looked at Smith and the others.
"Do you know what this means?"
"Mayor Nestor, we are not lying to the citizens!"
Smith said. "In the past three days, we have lost three brave officers and seven innocent citizens. We have reason to believe that Joker's madness will continue. But if we give in and hand over Batman, we will be handing over the last sword that can protect us to our enemy. Even though I don't want to admit it, the truth is that we can't rely on the police alone to deal with Joker. We can't let him destroy the will of the city anymore."
"Or you can order the National Guard to enter the city to maintain order. This is the best solution I can think of."
"The National Guard?"
Nestor's eyes lit up as he placed the cigar shears on the table. A few minutes later, he spoke.
After a few minutes, he said, "Yes, I authorize you to block any news related to Joker. Also, I will order the National Guard to enter the city, but you have to cooperate well. Don't cause panic among the citizens again. I believe that armed soldiers will bring confidence to the restless citizens. I don't think Joker will be able to deal with them either. Also, let the television stations broadcast the National Guard entering the city live. I believe that will calm the citizens down."
At the same time, on the 25th floor of Wayne Tower, Bruce, Rachel, Alfred, and Lucius were sitting in the living room, watching the demonstration live on Gotham TV. Seeing the slogans, Bruce's eyes dimmed. Rachel held his hand, trying to give him some confidence.
"Now, we have a piece of news! Mayor Nestor signed an order 15 minutes ago. The National Guard will send 500 soldiers into Gotham to maintain order in the city that is getting worse. "
"Phew."
Alfred breathed a sigh of relief and said to the others, "Nestor finally did something he should have done."
"But I doubt that the soldiers will be able to deal with Joker," Lucius said with a frown.
Lucius frowned. "From the current situation, this guy's ability to manipulate people's hearts is top-notch. Look at the chaos he's stirred up. When the people see people being killed every day because of Batman, they naturally feel fear, but they don't realize that the number of people dying every day in Gotham is less than one-fifth of the number from a year ago. They feel like things are getting worse, but in reality, they're getting better."
"We can't ask the citizens to calm down, especially when it concerns everyone. No one knows who will be the next to die. Joker has only grasped the weakness in people's hearts and magnified it. He's like a devil."
Rachel said with hatred. "He's transferring the pressure to Bruce, that bastard!"
"Bruce, what do you think?"
Alfred looked at his young master. As one of the closest people to him, he could vaguely feel the struggle in Bruce's heart. Faced with this problem, Bruce breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at the agitated crowd on the screen and said,
"I originally wanted to encourage the right things, the positive things, not madness, not death!"
He lowered his head tiredly and covered his face. "I screwed up. I even released him personally. Sometimes, I really envy Saber. If only I could be as unprincipled as him, none of this would have happened."
No one spoke. They knew that Bruce had made a decision. For a stubborn person, he would not change his mind easily because of the words of others.
"Rachel, do you still remember what I told you before?"
"This city has its own hero. It's time for Batman to become history. I know what Joker will do. I will wait for him. This time …"
Bruce's face showed a touch of determination. "I won't let him escape again."
He looked at Rachel, stroked her hair, and said gently, "Then, we can continue to live as Bruce Wayne. Harvey will replace me and do what I can't do."
"This will be Batman's last battle. Ducard once taught me that there is a saying in the East, 'Put death on the ground and fight to live.' I know what I should do, and I also know what I really want."
Later, Harvey Dent, who was busy in the prosecutor's office, received a call from an unknown number.
"Who are you?"
The violent riots in the past three days had put the prosecutor's office under a lot of pressure. Harvey Dent was on the side of Batman. As a person who believed in the law and justice, for the first time, he crossed his own line and chose to stand on the side of the city's Robin Hood.
However, he was still in a bad mood. It was not only because of the pressure, but also because Rachel had made it clear that she would marry Bruce soon. Poor Harvey was heartbroken. People who were heartbroken always had a bad temper. He asked loudly.
"How do you know my phone number?"
However, a hoarse and low voice came from the other end. Harvey had heard that voice more than once. He immediately tensed up. He knew that it was Batman.
"You are the symbol of hope. I can never do it!"
"Harvey, you stood up against the criminal syndicate. You are Gotham's first legal ray of hope in decades. You don't need a mask to protect this city. You are more qualified than me to be this city's hero."
"Joker wants me … I will take off my mask and fight him. Harvey, arrange a press conference tomorrow morning."
"What!"
Harvey Dent's voice immediately rang out. He was so agitated and so angry.
"You can't do this! You can't surrender to him! You can't surrender to a piece of trash! You are doing the right thing. You can't just bow your head like this. From the first day I entered the city, I heard how the people of this city praised you. But look at you now. You are actually surrendering! "
"This is not surrendering, Harvey … I just want this dangerous game to end. I will catch him. I swear!"
Bruce said in a low voice. "This will be Batman's last battle. You will be my best assistant. Harvey, don't be impulsive. If anyone sees you like this, if they see you sympathizing with a city ranger who has broken the law, everything will be in vain. All the criminals you have caught will be released … Everything will be meaningless."
"My friend, don't forget Gordon's sacrifice. Take my flag and protect it in your own way. Let the evil be punished and let the good live."
Harvey's expression froze. He did not know what to say. The dream of being a superhero that he had cultivated since he was young seemed to have been shattered at this moment. However, at the same time, another belief was born.
He put down the phone and leaned back in his chair. Although he never smoked, he took out a cigar from the drawer with trembling hands. In the mellow smell, he felt a will called inheritance.
Batman had chosen him. He wanted him to become a hero in Gotham who did not need to wear a mask. He would stand under the light and protect the city with his own strength. He felt the pressure on his shoulders, but was this what he wanted to do?
Prosecutors had to submit to politics. Harvey understood this principle better than anyone else. And what about the next Joker? The light heroes that Gotham needed could not deal with people like Joker. What it needed was a dark legend.
No … Batman should not surrender like this! He could not do this! This world should not be like this!
Harvey Dent put out the cigar in his hand in the ashtray. He would not allow him to surrender so easily! He would not … allow it!
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