Chapter 30: Exploited!

Because just after a week of the auction of the Cat’s Eye Emerald, the mine owner died all of a sudden.

The cause of death was said to be a heart attack caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

No news has been released to cover what happened to the owner’s $20 million inheritance after his death.

All that is known is that the mine owner had a daughter in her twenties, but it appears that some unknown factor caused her to be disinherited.

There is only a very small report that the mine owner’s daughter claimed that her father was not a heavy drinker and did not even drink much in general.

But the mine owner’s sudden death by drunkenness was justified by someone who said that “the shock of bankruptcy can easily change a person”.

Yes, that someone was a lawyer hired by Daggett, and it was this lawyer who was responsible for disinheriting the mine owner’s daughter and for forcing her to take a break from school because she lost her financial resources…

Gotham City, East District, the most chaotic and filthy area of the city, is home to over 90% of Gotham’s poor and homeless.

It is also the birthplace of countless ‘talents’ from Arkham Asylum.

Deep in the ghetto, in one of the most broken huts, Pamela curled in a corner, her hands hugging her knees tightly.

She was afraid to run outside because she was too pretty, and in the chaotic East District, the prettier the woman, the more dangerous it was for her.

The weak wooden door, which creaked with the slightest breeze, gave Pamela no sense of security. She was constantly afraid that the next moment a pack of perverted animals might break in.

”Bang, bang, bang!”

Suddenly there was a knock on the door that made Pamela tremble with fear.

She shivered against the door, expecting to be able to block a possible smash.

”Is that Miss Isley in there, please?”

Pamela didn’t dare answer; although the voice at the door was warm and friendly, that didn’t mean she could open it unsuspectingly.

Because, in addition to the gangsters who might come to the door, Daggett’s people might also arrive.

She had seen enough of those ugly faces already, so she refused to pay any attention to the people at the door.

”I’m not one of Daggett’s men, I’m here to help you.”, Outside the door, Mathison spoke softly. 

And after waiting for a long time, yet still not getting a response from Pamela, he had to renounce the idea of her opening the door.

First, he slipped an envelope into the crack of the door, then he stepped back a little and said, “Miss Isley, I am sorry for what you have been through, so I am here in good faith to return your lost property.”

”If this comes to Daggett’s attention he will surely turn on you again, so get out of Gotham, the envelope contains a ticket to New York in addition to your belongings.”

Hearing these words, Pamela looked puzzled, she could not understand at all what the man outside was saying.

Looking down, she saw that there was a white envelope sticking out from under the door.

Pamela took the envelope in disbelief and opened it, only to see that inside was the Cat’s Eye Emerald that her father had put up for auction!

As the man at the door had said, the envelope contained not only the gem, but a boat ticket to New York, and a thousand dollars in cash – not much, but enough to make Pamela’s eyes go red and cover her mouth.

”Thank you!”

At this point, Pamela couldn’t say anything else but those two words.

Of course, she already knew who the person at the door was, and she was aware of the trends about Phantom Kid stealing the Cat’s Eye Emerald.

”You’re welcome, you can reach the docks directly from here to the south, you don’t have to worry about the road, those punks can’t hurt you.”

”Oh yes, the clothes you’re wearing now should be too old. I’ve brought you a new set of clothes, but there’s no way for you to take a bath though.”

Mathison put the large bag in his hand on the floor and said, “There’s no way to get clothes through the door, and I know you wouldn’t trust a stranger now, so I won’t be in your sight.”

Pamela listened quietly and, after a while, she heard footsteps moving ever further away. And, soon, all sound was lost outside.

After a few more moments she cautiously poked her head out and there was indeed a bag of clothes outside the door and also no one in sight. Even the sounds of the fights and brawls that used to be there every night had disappeared.

Pamela pursed her lips and decided to trust Mathison for once, lifting the bag and going back inside.

”Is this… actually just the right size?”

After changing, Pamela was surprised to find that the clothes fit her quite well.

”Phantom Kid, what an amazing person…”

The ship’s departure was tonight, and there was no time to lose. So, Pamela casually packed up and walked out the door, running towards the docks.

The journey was indeed peaceful.

At first, Pamela was a little worried, but she soon put her mind at ease.

When she reached the dock, Pamela suddenly stopped.

Her face was hesitant and she kept looking around as if she was trying to find someone.

”Miss Isely, are you looking for me?”

Without warning, a warm voice rang out behind Pamela.

The voice had a magical power to soothe the anxiety in one’s heart.

Pamela turned her head back as Phantom Kid crossed her eyes.

Even though she had seen many pictures of Kid, it was the first time she had seen him in person.

For a moment, Pamela was so captivated by the appearance of Phantom Kid that she was mesmerised.

”Ahem, Miss Isely?”, Mathison reminded with a couple of light coughs.

”Ah! I’m sorry, I was so rude.”, Pamela’s face blushed.

”Never mind, Miss Isely, I’m glad you were willing to meet me precisely.”

With a gentle smile, Mathison dropped to the ground one knee, like a gentleman, and slowly took Pamela’s hand.

He, then, gave her a soft kiss on the back of her hand.

”Ki… Mr Kid?”

Pamela blushed as she drew back her small hand with a pounding heart.

At her words, calling him “Mr”, Mathison froze, then came to his senses.

No one knew the thief’s real name, so they had to call him “Kid”, for his first name.

”You risked your life to steal back my father’s relic from Daggett and to help me leave Gotham, I am forever thankful to you!”, Pamela said with a serious blushing look on her face.

It looked like Pamela had thought that Phantom Kid had stolen the gem to bring her justice.

Mathison shied, he hadn’t even known the story behind the jewel when he first stole it, yet, he allowed the wonderful misunderstanding to continue.

”I know that sooner or later I’ll be chased by Daggett if I continue my stay in Gotham, but what can I do when I go to New York?”

”This gem has caused my father’s tragedy, so I don’t want to keep it anymore…”

There was confusion in Pamela’s eyes and that was why she didn’t run to the docks in one breath.

”That’s an easy matter to handle. There’s a man in New York called Tony Stark, take the Cat’s Eye Emerald to him and explain everything, he’ll buy the emerald and won’t do what Daggett did.”

”As for Daggett, you don’t have to worry too much about him.”

Mathison pointed out a clear path for her.

Hearing what Mathison said, Pamela finally put her mind at ease.

”Woo~woo~”

At that moment, the whistle sounded in the direction of the dock, and the cruise ship was set to sail!

”That’s not right, there’s still ten minutes before sailing time, right?”

Pamela panicked, who would have thought that the cruise ship would leave early at this time of year, it would be nice not to be late at the usual time.

”Don’t be afraid, I’ll take you up.”

Mathison gave Pamela a reassuring smile and took her hand and ran to a building nearby.

Going up to the top of the building, Mathison turned his head and asked, “Have you ever experienced what it’s like to fly?”

”Huh?” Pamela was confused.

”Remember to hold me tight!”

Mathison picked up Pamela by the waist and started sprinting in the direction of the dock, ran to the edge of the roof, and leapt off!

”Ah!” Pamela screamed in fright, both eyes squeezed shut and both arms wrapped tightly around Mathison’s neck.

”Haha, Miss Isely, don’t be afraid, we can’t fall.”

Hearing Kid’s teasing, Pamela slowly opened her eyes and then was shocked speechless by the sight before her.

She was actually flying up in the sky herself, with an unobstructed view of Gotham at night, looking down at the people like ants and blurred lights flickering everywhere.

”It’s beautiful …”, Pamela murmured.

”Yeah, it’s beautiful, even Gotham’s nights can be beautiful sometimes.”

Listening to Mathison’s words, Pamela turned her eyes to Phantom Kid’s face, what kind of face was underneath the monocle?

Mathison’s hands were wrapped around her, and, at this point, she could remove Kid’s glasses with just a flick of her hand.

Pamela was curious about Kid’s real face, but she knew it was Mathison’s biggest secret, so she didn’t do it, instead gazing at Mathison’s face with her eyes fascinated.

It just seemed that no woman in the world could resist Kid’s charm.

Unknowingly, Pamela’s face got closer and closer to Mathison’s, only to end up kissing him on the cheek.

”!”

Mathison’s eyes instantly widened, was he… being taken advantage of?