A few minutes later...
Ruby and Pod-042 finally located the site of the robbery committed by the Joker—a corporate building in downtown Gotham.
[Master, we found him. I'm already marking the location on the GPS,] Ruby said to Arthur.
"Thank you very much," Arthur replied as he turned toward the door.
At the exact moment he placed his hand on the doorknob, the door swung open with a soft thud, revealing Selina, who was carrying paper bags bearing the logo of a local bakery.
She raised an eyebrow with a feline smile.
"And where do you think you're going this early? I brought you breakfast."
Arthur took a deep breath, clearly in a rush.
"Thanks, Selina... but I'll have to pass. I already ate." He looked away. "Besides, something urgent came up. I need to go now."
He took a step forward, trying to move past her.
Selina, however, blocked his path with one of the bags.
"One day, Arthur, you're going to have to learn that some things can't be delayed. Like strawberry pancakes with hot syrup."
Arthur paused for a brief moment.
"I'll come back to eat," he replied with a sigh.
And with that, he walked past her and disappeared down the hallway.
Selina stomped her foot on the floor.
"Tsk! Let's see how long you can keep resisting me, Arthur."
Grumbling, she entered the apartment, opened the bags, and collapsed onto the couch. The three stray cats she had adopted quickly approached, drawn by the smell of food. Selina smiled faintly.
"Well, at least you three know how to appreciate a decent meal."
She took a piece of smoked salmon and divided it between the cats.
"If he doesn't want it, that just means more for me... and for you guys."
---
At the same time...
The Joker had turned the entire building into a circus of horrors.
All the employees had been taken hostage—men, women, and even a few children who had been visiting the building with their parents were now crammed into a dark hall, surrounded by masked criminals. White masks with scarlet smiles and hollow eyes.
Meanwhile, the Joker's insane laughter echoed throughout the building, infernal and unceasing.
He was spinning side to side on a rusty swivel chair, like a child at a deranged party.
"Hahahaha! The Bat must be on his way, I know it! He always comes! Bringing along that dysfunctional little gothic cosplay family of his! Oh, what joy! What a show! A comedy like no other is about to begin!"
Behind him, Bane stood still as a statue—a statue over two meters tall, rippling with explosive muscles. He wore a leather jacket that barely concealed the venom tubes connected to his spine. His glowing red eyes shone with menace.
"He will come... and I'll be waiting to crush him," Bane growled in a deep voice.
"Awww, how sweet! A romantic meeting between brutes," Joker mocked. "But let me add a little flair to the game..."
He stood abruptly and pointed at Firefly and Killer Croc, who were watching from the corners of the room.
"Gentlemen! Go welcome the Bat family with... style. How about an explosive entrance and a bloody second act?"
"With pleasure," Croc growled, cracking his clawed knuckles.
"I'm ready to set this stage on fire," Firefly added, adjusting the flamethrower on his back.
The Joker laughed again, louder than before.
"This game is truly fascinating. Let's see how many acts it lasts!"
---
On a rooftop, two blocks away...
Batman, Robin, and Batgirl observed the building through tactical binoculars. The Gotham sky was a mass of dark clouds, but the tension was even heavier.
"I've confirmed the presence of at least four villains. Firefly, Killer Croc, Bane, and the Joker... This feels like one of those reunions from hell," Robin tried to joke.
Batgirl gave a faint smile at the lame joke.
"Looks like we've got plenty of enemies today. How about one for each of us?" Robin said with a small grin.
Batman, however, went straight to the point:
"You two will rescue the hostages. I'll take care of the four."
Robin frowned.
"You always do this. We've faced these guys before."
"Not like this," Bruce replied without turning. "Don't forget how unstable the Joker is—he's definitely planning something."
Batgirl nodded seriously.
"Rescuing the hostages is our priority, Robin. And the best chance we'll get is when the villains are distracted fighting Batman."
Batman took a step forward.
"Stick to the plan. Now."
With that, he jumped from the rooftop. His cape stiffened mid-air, transforming into a black glider. Like a shadow, he vanished toward the building.
Robin muttered:
"He still doesn't fully trust me..."
"He does. Just... in his own way," Barbara replied. "You care too much about his approval."
"Maybe. But that doesn't mean he's right."
He looked at her for a second.
"Let's go."
Both leapt off the rooftop right after.
---
Inside the building – Hostage Room
The air was heavy and stifling. Thick curtains blocked out the daylight. The lamps flickered. All the hostages were sitting against the walls, eyes wide with fear. A child was quietly sobbing, while her mother tried to calm her down with trembling whispers.
One of the thugs—wearing a Joker mask—twirled a baseball bat between his fingers.
"Hey... isn't it about time we gave the audience some fun?"
"Relax," said another. "The boss said we wait for the right moment... then we have fun."
"Hehehe... I can't wait to see how much blood we can get outta them before they pass out."
Several criminals laughed in unison. Fanatics. Joker's followers. People who killed for fun and laughed afterward. Each of them had that familiar chaotic glint in their eyes that Gotham knew all too well.
Suddenly, all the lights in the room flickered... and then went out completely.
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."