It didn't take long to gain influence over Gotham's police network.
Thanks to the system integrating the network of L Lawliet into this universe, my reputation already existed before I even made my first call.
Official records listed me as:
The World's Greatest Detective.
A man with a 100% case resolution rate.
A detective capable of solving any investigation he touched.
Naturally, the police were willing to listen.
Commissioner James Gordon had verified several of the investigations I sent him over the past few days. Each one resulted in arrests.
Which meant my credibility was now firmly established.
Perfect.
Because I had decided to begin my real operation.
My target was obvious.
The Joker.
A mass murderer.
A terrorist.
A psychopath responsible for hundreds of deaths across Gotham City.
Normally I only involved myself in crimes that met certain thresholds:
Monetary damage above several million dollars
Or a death toll exceeding five victims
The Joker exceeded those limits by an absurd margin.
Which meant this case was… acceptable.
Three large screens displayed the current situation across Gotham.
Police scanners.
City cameras.
Emergency broadcasts.
The Joker was currently in the middle of another crime spree—robberies, explosions, and hostage situations occurring across multiple districts.
Typical behavior.
Chaotic.
Violent.
But predictable.
I leaned forward slightly, resting my chin on my hand.
After studying every recorded crime committed by The Joker, I had already constructed a detailed psychological model.
The Joker believed he was unpredictable.
In reality, his behavior followed patterns.
Patterns based on attention.
Escalation.
And his obsession with one particular individual.
Batman.
Unfortunately for him…
Batman was not the one hunting him tonight.
I was.
Through my encrypted communication system, my orders were being delivered by one of my agents.
A man holding a laptop connected to my projection system.
My voice passed through several digital filters and a voice changer.
No one would hear my real voice.
No one would see my face.
Exactly how L Lawliet always operated.
The Gotham police command center appeared on my screen.
"Listen carefully," I said calmly.
Dozens of officers turned toward the screen.
Commissioner James Gordon stood at the front of the room.
"Every possible escape route within a four-kilometer radius has been calculated."
A map appeared on their screens.
Red lines highlighted the routes.
"These are the paths the Joker is statistically most likely to use."
I had already taken control of Gotham's entire camera network.
Not through hacking.
Through legal authority granted via my international investigative credentials.
Every traffic camera.
Every security system.
Every surveillance satellite.
All of it fed directly into my analysis software.
"There are nine escape routes," I continued.
"We will block eight."
Gordon frowned slightly.
"And the ninth?"
"The Joker will take it."
Because criminals like him always needed to believe they had an escape.
It was part of the illusion.
Part of the game.
"And when he does," I said calmly, "your tactical teams will be waiting."
The room was silent.
Finally Gordon spoke.
"…You're certain this will work?"
"Yes."
"Probability of capture: 100%."
There was only one complication.
I studied the city map again.
One unpredictable variable.
Batman.
If Batman intervened, the situation could change dramatically.
His investigative ability was impressive.
Almost comparable to my own.
And his interference might disrupt the operation.
Fortunately, the Joker's current location suggested Batman was still several districts away.
Which meant we had time.
Police vehicles began moving into position across the city.
Roadblocks.
Snipers.
Tactical response teams.
All placed exactly where I had instructed.
A perfect net.
The Joker wouldn't even realize he was trapped until it was too late.
I watched the screens quietly.
Then I spoke again.
"There is one final instruction."
All eyes turned toward the monitor.
"If The Joker is captured…"
My voice remained calm.
Emotionless.
"He is to be transferred to a high-security holding facility immediately."
Because unlike Batman, I had no interest in preserving the lives of mass murderers.
Batman's moral code prevented him from killing.
An admirable philosophy.
But an impractical one.
The Joker had escaped prison dozens of times.
Each escape resulted in more deaths.
Logically speaking, the solution was obvious.
Execution.
If the Joker died, countless future victims would survive.
Simple mathematics.
And mathematics never lied.
I watched the screens carefully as the police closed in.
Some officers would likely be injured.
Possibly worse.
An unfortunate but necessary variable.
But in exchange…
Gotham would finally be rid of its most dangerous criminal.
And I would earn my first major reward from the system.
My gaze moved toward the dark skyline of Gotham.
"…Let's see who reaches the Joker first."
Me.
Or Batman.