Yes, that place cannot be revealed to them. Barbara might be fine, but the reporter? Absolutely not. Su Ming doesn't mind causing a bit of trouble for Batgirl, but letting villains know her identity is an entirely different matter from just letting the public know.
"So, if I provide another clue, can I avoid being blindfolded?" Vika tried to negotiate.
"No," Su Ming tore the towel into three pieces, covering the eyes of all three. "If you dare to touch it, I'll break your toes."
"But the way you tied it is really uncomfortable, and even if I were to touch it, I'd use my hands—why break my toes?" Vika squird in her seat, clearly uncomfortable.
"Because I feel like it," Su Ming answered her with a defiant tone. "Where's your proof?"
"You won't even let see, so I'm not telling you. Go ahead, kill ," Vika turned her head, stretching her neck toward Su Ming's hand.
"I never said you couldn't see. You just have to wait until we arrive. Besides, the person you want dead will be gone by tomorrow." Su Ming shared his plan, pushing her back into her seat. Cindy was driving wildly, and everything inside the car seed to be vibrating at high frequency.
"Alright, rember what you said, hehe." Vika laughed, feeling like her luck was truly on her side. "I already know who the boss of those black-clad people is."
"Oh?"
Even Cindy was intrigued now. How had so many people missed this, but Vika figured it out? She didn't think the reporter was smarter than her.
But Su Ming knew Vika was just that bizarre. It was as if the heavens themselves favored her. She was lucky enough to not only stumble upon clues but, under the right circumstances, might even end up saving the world from a crisis.
That was how it went in the comics. Her luck was unbelievable. If so thugs tried to harass her, a superhero would conveniently be nearby. If she needed a news story, the clues would practically walk up to her. Even if her boss wanted to reprimand her, so board mber would imdiately step in to support her.
Su Ming decided to bring her along not only to use the TV station but also because of her strange luck. Sotis you really do need a bit of luck to get things done—she made for a handy tool.
But does good luck really count as a superpower?
"Go on, continue," Su Ming gestured for her to speak.
"Ahem, I checked the wounds on the body. The cuts were very distinct, sothing you both must've noticed too, which led to think of ritualistic killings."
Vika cleared her throat, preparing to launch into a lengthy explanation.
Cindy shook her head, lighting up a cigar and blowing a smoke ring, which was quickly blown away by the wind.
"I don't rember any Jack the Ripper types in Gotham."
"Don't rush . I haven't finished," Vika smiled under the towel, revealing only the lower half of her face. She slowly explained, "I don't recall any Jack the Ripper cases in Gotham either. So, if it's not a unique technique, it must be based on so ancient form of torture. Then I rembered where I'd seen a record of such a thod before."
"An ancient punishnt?"
Su Ming crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and thought hard but couldn't recall anything. His mind was flooded with thoughts of ancient Chinese punishnts like quartering and dismbernt.
Cindy seed equally stumped; her expression showed she wasn't sure either. Smoking wasn't helping.
"Hehe, because it was kind of gross, I didn't thoroughly examine the body. But I estimate the weapon was about 60 centiters long with a blade width of 5 centiters, which confird my theory. This is a form of belly-slitting punishnt. I happened to co across this thod while reporting on a ritualistic murder case not too long ago."
Vika directly provided the answer, though the term sounded unfamiliar. Seeing the other three still clueless, she felt a sense of pride. It seed her efforts to beco an outstanding news anchor hadn't been in vain. Her obscure knowledge was finally useful. She continued to explain:
"This was an ancient Roman punishnt. The victim was tied to a post, and a Roman short sword would be used to make them die slowly from blood loss. Now, if you think of Romans in Gotham, who cos to mind?"
"Carmine Falcone?" Su Ming sighed. "If it's him, it makes sense—he's always hated Gordon and the Bat."
"Hated? Gordon tricked him, and Batgirl roasted him under the Bat-Signal like a half-cooked steak. He's wanted them dead for years."
Cindy chid in with a laugh, shaking her head. She had heard about what happened ten years ago. Batman could be downright weird sotis. Torturing soone under the Bat-Signal? What kind of punishnt was that?
But if Falcone was behind all this, things were starting to get complicated. Falcone wasn't just so brainless thug—he had once been the dark emperor of Gotham, a man who had ruled with an iron fist. For a man to rise to such power in this world, he certainly wasn't an idiot.
He wouldn't do anything pointless. The League of Shadows, a centuries-old organization, would undoubtedly recognize the ancient punishnt inflicted on the body as Falcone's signature. It was a ssage: "I killed your people, co after ."
If this had been the Falcone of ten years ago, he would have had the strength to face off against the League. Back then, Gotham was entirely under his control.
But now? What did he have to fight with?
"Could it be a setup? I thought Falcone was locked up in Blackgate Prison," Barbara wanted to check on her computer, but she was still blindfolded.
"Gordon's daughter is so adorably na?ve," Vika teased, reaching out to touch Barbara's face, only for her to dodge. "Falcone was granted dical leave due to a 'sudden illness' two months after being imprisoned. Looks like he's back."
"Yes, no one would fra soone who's been out of the ga for a decade. People have already forgotten about him—only he would bring up old grudges," Cindy agreed. Falcone must have returned. After all, with the clues they had, this was the only logical conclusion.
The rain outside intensified. Cindy had now driven off the ring road, bumping along a muddy path.
The trees lood darkly in the shadows, their leaves making a constant 'pitter-patter' as rain poured down, creating a symphony of sound. Su Ming noticed the occasional fallen tree flashing by, indicating the wind had picked up as well. What had been a heavy downpour was now a full-blown storm.
Su Ming was surprised to learn that Wayne Manor was located in such a remote area. It seed like getting basic utilities like water and electricity here would require special pipelines. And in an ergency, it would take ti to get from here to the city—not convenient at all.
If Bryce lived next to the police station, wouldn't that be more convenient? The Bat-Signal could flash, and she could et Gordon in under two minutes.
As he stared out the window at the plants and darkness, Su Ming let his mind wander, trying not to think too much about the looming threat of the Dark Multiverse. Dwelling on it was like staring at a sword hanging over your head—no good could co from it.
Vika finished sharing her clue and fell quiet, though her ears twitched slightly, as if she were trying to morize the route by sound alone.
But soone without special forces training would never be able to pull that off—it was a waste of effort. Luck wasn't all-powerful.
Su Ming's thoughts returned to Gordon's kidnapping.
If Falcone was baiting the League of Shadows, then he must have prepared thoroughly. The League assassins were still human, highly trained but not invincible. If caught in a heavy-fire ambush, they'd die like anyone else.
Except for their leader, the immortal Ra's al Ghul.
It seed Falcone had rallied a new crew from sowhere and was preparing for war with the League. But as far as Su Ming knew, the two groups had never had any conflicts, let alone a grudge.
The League of Shadows was happy to work for the wealthy if the price was right. So why had this escalated? And what did Gordon have to do with it?
If Falcone wanted revenge, he should be targeting Gordon, Batman, and the Penguin.
Gordon had set up a eting with him, only to find Batgirl waiting to ambush him. After being humiliated by her, the Penguin seized the opportunity to take over his territory, becoming Gotham's dominant force.
Falcone should be hiring the League of Shadows for help, not provoking them.
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