On the dark rooftop of the building across from the Black Wolf Gang's headquarters, two figures crouched in the shadows.
"Uh, Big Daddy, she seems to have seen us," a little girl with a purple wig, black leather jacket, and a long black trench coat whispered, her voice filled with a mix of awe and disbelief.
Beside her stood a tall man dressed in a costume strikingly similar to Batman's. A sniper rifle rested in his hands, and his expression mirrored her shock.
They had been preparing to dismantle the Black Wolf Gang tonight. All the planning, all the set-up—and in the end, it was all for nothing. The Goddess of Judgment had arrived first.
Big Daddy let out a sigh. "Looks like our trip was a waste."
The little girl, her eyes sharp beneath her purple wig, scanned the surrounding alleys and streets. She could spot them easily now—watchers hidden in the shadows of alleyways, inside parked cars, behind cracked windows. Spies. Sent by various gangs entrenched in Hell's Kitchen, undoubtedly terrified by tonight's events.
"Seems like a lot of guilty consciences around here," she said casually.
The purpose of these spies was clear. If the Goddess of Judgment chose to start a full-scale purge, these gangsters wanted to know early and get out of Dodge.
To frighten an entire criminal underworld with your presence alone—it was something most people could only dream of. But for the little girl, who had endured brutal training and countless battles from a young age, it was something to aspire to.
"I wish I could team up with the Goddess of Judgment. That would be so cool," she said, almost dreamily.
Big Daddy chuckled softly, casting a side glance at his daughter. She was practically sparkling with excitement, like a fan meeting their idol.
He understood, though. Her upbringing had been anything but normal. Raised under the harsh law of the jungle, she had learned to be ruthless to enemies and show no mercy to evil. And the Goddess of Judgment embodied those very ideals—powerful, cold, merciless against those who deserved it.
Why did so many in this country admire serial killers or become fanatical fans of brutal criminals? The psychological principle was the same.
And truth be told, if he had been a little younger and less burdened by revenge, Big Daddy himself might have idolized her too.
"Such a young girl, being a superhero," he muttered as he packed up their gear.
Just as they turned to leave, a calm voice floated toward them through the night air.
"Such a young girl to be a superhero?"
Instantly, both Big Daddy and the little girl froze.
Shock gripped their hearts.
Someone had approached them—and they hadn't noticed.
Without thinking, the little girl drew the Katana strapped across her back, while Big Daddy swiftly pulled a Glock 17 from the holster on his thigh, turning sharply to face the intruder.
Bathed in the soft moonlight, the figure before them came into focus.
The Goddess of Judgment.
Every muscle in Big Daddy's body tensed. The first instinct was to run—not out of cowardice, but pure survival instinct. Against someone like her, there was no guarantee of victory. Would she consider them threats? Criminals?
However, the calm demeanor she exuded, the casual tone of her voice—it didn't feel hostile.
Slowly, the little girl sheathed her Katana, wide-eyed with admiration.
"I bought it! I can't believe it's really you! Goddess of Judgment, you're so cool—you killed that monster on the Manhattan Bridge! It was amazing!"
Her voice, youthful and crisp, shattered the tense atmosphere.
Big Daddy, sensing no immediate danger, cautiously lowered his weapon too. He knew that even his sniper rifle wouldn't have made a difference against someone like her.
Bella studied them, her gaze softening slightly under the mask.
She found the pair intriguing. The homemade "superhero" costumes, the youthful energy, the boldness. Especially the little girl—reminding her somewhat of herself at a younger age.
"Judging from your outfits," Bella said lightly, "were the Black Wolf Gang your target tonight?"
"Yes~~" the little girl chirped, nodding enthusiastically.
Big Daddy offered a sheepish shrug. "Things have been strange in Brooklyn lately. Some dangerous new faces have popped up. We had a few bad brushes and decided to lay low for a bit—but money's tight."
Bella's eyebrows rose slightly in interest.
She had heard similar reports. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s surveillance network had picked up whispers of new, powerful individuals moving into Brooklyn. Not many of them, but each one posed a serious threat. Their affiliations remained unclear.
Since Bella mostly operated within Manhattan, she had little reason to intervene. The occasional thug wasn't worth her time, and she certainly wasn't going to chase after every two-bit newcomer.
Nodding thoughtfully, she gave the father and daughter a measured look.
"You two should be careful," she advised. "Your identities are already known to a powerful criminal organization. If you cross certain lines, they won't hesitate to come after you."
With that brief warning, she turned to leave.
But before she could move away, the little girl blurted out, "Sister Judgment, how can we contact you in the future?!"
Bella turned back, surprised.
The little girl's face was bright, hopeful—like a kitten gazing up at its owner, eyes wide and pleading.
For a moment, Bella was reminded of the chubby little stray cat she'd taken in back at home.
After a moment of consideration, she relented.
"Memorize this URL," Bella said, reciting a short, encrypted web address.
The little girl nodded eagerly, mouthing the characters to herself to make sure she wouldn't forget.
"You can leave a message there if you need to," Bella added. "Someone will get it to me."
The little girl practically vibrated with excitement.
"Thank you!" she squealed, her voice echoing faintly into the night.
Big Daddy placed a hand gently on her shoulder, smiling beneath his mask. Tonight hadn't gone according to plan—but perhaps, in a strange way, it had gone even better.
Bella offered one final nod before stepping back into the darkness, her figure vanishing into the night like a wisp of smoke.
The father and daughter stood in silence for a long moment, the weight of the encounter settling over them.
For them, this night was one they would never forget.
___________________________________
Get membership in patreon to read more chapters
Extra chapters available in patreon
patreon.com/Dragonscribe31