Chapter 24: Bruce Wants to Come Back

”This reward is a lot less useful than last time.”

Mathison was a little disappointed, those shooting techniques in the Wanted Order are actually quite similar to the ones in the Phantom Kid’s repertoire.

His playing cards aren’t worse than those bullet-turning tricks, and way more enjoyable.

The only tactic that works is bullet time.

Although this time slowdown ability has many limitations, it is still a very useful skill

Until Mathison manages to learn time-stop magic, this is just the thing to use as a replacement.

The last fair improvement is that his fighting skills have significantly increased.

The assassin training is not just about playing with guns; close combat is also very much a part of it.

And it’s not just fist-fighting that one learns, but also killing techniques that finish enemies.

After hiding the Cat’s Eye Emerald, Mathison left the stronghold and headed back to his real home.

Of course, there were a lot of costume-changing and route-detouring along the way.

Meanwhile, inside Wayne Manor.

Bruce sat on the sofa in silence, his eyes constantly blinking as if he was struggling with something important.

”Master Wayne, the news broadcast is over, and Phantom Kid has won.”

Alfred reminded.

”I know, Alfred.”

Bruce said with a deep voice.

”Have I become stupid, the teaser letter said an invitation to the wave and I honestly thought it was the ocean’s wave.”

”I can’t believe I overlooked the fact that Gotham Broadcasting also happens to be on Downtown Island. Phantom Kid has won this time.”

”The old me would never have made such a cheap mistake.”

”With all due respect, Master Wayne, the Kid who appeared in the sky in the first place was just a dummy, and even if we had guessed the correct teaser, we wouldn’t have been able to catch him.”

Alfred was very serious, he did not want Bruce to question himself again over this trivial matter.

But at the same time, there was a hint of relief that Bruce might finally go back to the surface and see sunlight… or, to be more accurate, go back to the surface and remain in the darkness.

”No, Alfred, you don’t see the point.”

Bruce shook his head as he stood up on his crutches. His long period of inactivity combined with various injuries leftover from the past had left him with an almost numb right leg.

The whereabouts and degree of his injuries are still unknown, as he was reluctant to go to the hospital to have it checked out.

”Phantom Kid is very different from what we thought he was, he’s not a simple thief.”

Bruce’s words were tinged with vague apprehension.

”Gordon’s no match for him, I think…”

”You think it’s time to bring ‘him’ back?”

Alfred interrupted.

”I’m sorry, Master Wayne, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

”Gotham needs you, but it needs your resources, your contacts, your wisdom, not your life!”

”What Gotham really needs is Bruce Wayne, not Batman!”

Alfred was thrilled, he was now grey-haired. Although he was only a butler, Bruce had been raised by him.

In Bruce’s mind, Alfred had become almost the equivalent of a father.

Similarly, Alfred, who has no wife or children, had long regarded Bruce as the person he cared for most.

”Rachel said she would come back to me the day Gotham no longer needs Batman, but she died…”

”Alfred, you know what Rachel has meant to me. For eight years, Gotham didn’t need Batman, but I’ve also lost the meaning of my life.”

”You can’t always stay in Gotham!”

Alfred suddenly became harsh, which reminded Bruce of the time when Alfred had raised him after his parents’ death.

Alfred was just as harsh then.

”Look at the world and you will find countless good things to do. Do you remember before everything happened, before Batman was born?”

”You left Gotham and disappeared for seven whole years, and I never wanted you to return to Gotham because all you remember of it is pain.”

”Stop it, Alfred!”

Bruce suddenly yelled, regretfully, and then kept silent.

”Make an appointment for me to go to a hospital tomorrow to have my leg checked and see if it can still be cured.”

With those words, Bruce returned to his bedroom with his crutches.

”Which hospital do you want to go to?”

Alfred asked as he looked at Bruce’s back.

”The one I used to go to, of course!”

————

Blackgate Prison, the massive prison that stood on Blackgate Island, had the reputation of being both the hardest prison in the world to break out of and the easiest to break into.

It is a forbidden place in Gotham City, second only to Arkham Asylum.

Today, a new visitor entered the place.

”Serena Kyle, nickname: Catwoman, has committed multiple jewel thefts, has over ten arrests but has successfully escaped each time, her first escape was when she was sixteen years old, an infamous thug.”

”Jim, you’ve given me a big issue today.”

The head of Blackgate Prison frowned.

Gordon, who was escorting Catwoman himself, replied, “But she’s never been to Blackgate, has she?”

”You know, put her in a normal prison and she’d slip away within days, I’d only be comfortable if she was with you, here.”

”But Blackgate Prison never holds female prisoners.”

Gordon calmly said: “The Dante Act stipulates that under special circumstances, male and female prisoners are allowed to live together.”

”Well, well, it’s just a kitty, not one of those weirdos from back in the day, in addition, Blackgate doesn’t release its prisoners.”

”I suggest that she be given a single room.”

”Oh, I understand, after all, the prisoners here are all cruel men.”

”No,” Gordon shook his head, “because she’ll cripple all the other inmates.”

After leaving Blackgate Prison, Gordon didn’t go straight home but drove to the GCPD, not because he liked working late but because the GCPD policeman on duty had called him not long ago to say that Barbara was in the station.

If it hadn’t been for the escort of Catwoman, he would have rushed back to the GCPD.

”Dad!”

As soon as he got back to the police station, Barbara ran over and hugged Gordon. Father and daughter looked at each other without uttering a word.

Seeing that Barbara was safe and sound, Gordon was relieved to know that the previous Barbara he met was a fake, Phantom Kid disguise. If Kid had dared to hurt his daughter, Gordon would have done anything to shoot the bastard.

Fortunately, Kid didn’t hurt Barbara.

The next day, all of Gotham’s major media outlets turned on Phantom Kid like crazy.

Two high-profile crimes in a row, both successfully stealing high-value gems, and a dress that was a total eye-catcher, dominating the front pages of all the news.

”Ah-choo!”

Gotham University, in one of the classrooms, Mathison sneezed, drawing a blank stare from his tablemate Barbara.