Chapter 38: Barbara

"No one notices your sadness until it turns into anger, and then you're the bad person."

- Unknown

...

"Don't worry, there aren't many people coming to this library in Gotham, and even fewer people are interested in reading boring books. So it's already good that you didn't mistake me for a suspicious robber."

Dean spoke calmly as he closed the book and put it back on the shelf.

"Besides, I was just planning to leave and get something to eat."

Dean continued, realizing it was already close to 1:30 in the afternoon. So it's not really a regular mealtime.

But Dean ate breakfast quite late, so he wasn't very hungry.

He had been reading for a while and had lost track of time. Dean might have kept reading longer if the librarian girl hadn't spoken up just now.

"Is that so? Well then, I have to recommend the dining area in our library to you. I swear in my father's name that the cheese rolls they sell there are the best in all of Gotham, and the best part is that they are affordable. So, I really suggest you give it a try."

The girl eagerly recommended the library's food to Dean when she heard that he was going to eat.

Dean wondered if the cheese rolls were really that good or if she was just trying to attract customers to the library.

This kind of library shouldn't need help from the government to keep running, right?

But maybe they hired someone else to run the dining area, or they just wanted to make a little extra money.

However, he didn't bother thinking too much about it.

He dismissed these meaningless thoughts, as he wasn't interested in such matters.

"If the police Commissioner's daughter highly recommends the food, then it can't be that bad. In that case, let me go and try it."

Dean said as he got up and headed towards the dining area in the library.

"Wait! What did you say just now?"

The librarian girl hurriedly grabbed Dean and asked in shock.

"Do you know me?"

"No, this is our first meeting."

"Then how do you know my identity?"

The girl looked at Dean suspiciously.

"It's simple. The requirements for hiring librarians at Gotham City Public Library are much higher than in regular libraries, and employees can enjoy government benefits. Unless you have studied library management in college or have parents who are public servants, it's rare for someone to qualify for a formal position here. Additionally, the color of your employee badge is dark blue, which means you have a higher rank than other librarians here.

Dean explained it naturally.

"It is impossible for ordinary people at your age to get this position."

"But what does that have to do with being the police commissioner's daughter? Can't I be the daughter of any government official?"

The girl asked with suspicion.

Dean smiled faintly and replied, "In Gotham, officials are usually... not very clean. Their children would not be interested in a low-paying job like being a librarian, which has many benefits but an extremely low salary. It is even more impossible for them to endure the hardship of practicing martial arts all year round."

"You, on the other hand, have a different background. You have trained in martial arts, maybe judo or karate. This can be seen in the calluses on your hands and the tight muscles on your legs. That type of physique is different from someone who just works out. It's developed from years of hard work and hitting hard objects. It shows that you are very focused and have been practicing for a long time. Unlike those rich second generations who take martial arts classes, they usually do it for fun and wouldn't achieve the same level of body as you."

Dean continued.

Especially in the world of DC comics, if any wealthy or official second-generation member seriously learns martial arts, it's hundred percent sure that they will become a vigilante or superhero.

But there aren't many superheroes, so seeing one is not something you can see every day.

"With the environment in Gotham, it's rare for families to send their daughters to learn combat techniques systematically. Those who are often focused on the political and legal systems, like police officers, lawyers, and judges, have a better understanding of the city's hidden darkness than ordinary people. They are also wealthier than ordinary families, so they would want you to have the power to protect yourself. After all, they can't keep their daughters at home forever."

As the conversation went on, the girl's interest was slowly aroused.

"According to what you said, even if my parents possibly work in the political and legal system, why do you think it's Commissioner Gordon? There are other police officers who have daughters as well."

The girl asked with curiosity.

"Well... that's where my friend comes in. He has a lot of sources of information and once told me about Commissioner Gordon's genius daughter, who graduated from Gotham University with a doctorate in library management at the age of eighteen. It is obvious that it is you."

Dean shrugged, raising an eyebrow.

He wasn't lying; this friend was actually Dick, and they had known each other for many years and often talked about things they knew.

Dick always complained to Dean about the corruption among the city's high-ranking officials, while Dean would reveal some secrets of magic to Dick.

Dick had mentioned Commissioner Gordon's daughter during one of these discussions, but Dean hadn't paid much attention to it, and he didn't know that Barbara was Batgirl.

"..."

The girl fell silent for a moment and said, "So, you actually knew that my father is Jim Gordon, and everything you said earlier was just nonsense?"

Dean smiled slightly and said, "Why call it nonsense? Did I say something wrong?"

"Okay, fine. Your observation skills are amazing. You should become a private detective... I'm Barbara Gordon. May I ask what your name is?"

Barbara introduced herself officially and then asked for Dean's name.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Gordon. I'm Dean Sutton, and this is a little gift for our first meeting."

Dean stretched out his hand and snapped his fingers, and a pink rose appeared out of thin air.

He slightly bowed and handed the flower to Barbara.

"Oh, thank you. You can do magic tricks as well?"

Barbara graciously accepted the rose, slightly surprised.

Conjuring a rose is not a rare technique, it can be considered a basic skill that every magician knows.

But because of this, it is harder to do it, especially in front of an audience with sharp eyes.

Batgirl's eyesight clearly fell into the category of excellent eyesight. Barbara could see through most close-up magic tricks at a glance.

But when Dean conjured the rose just now, Barbara couldn't understand his technique at all.

It's not that she didn't understand, but that she couldn't see it.

Barbara knew the method behind this magic trick, and she could even perform it successfully herself.

But it was basically impossible to do it, to the level that Dean's trick cannot be seen at all.

But Dean doesn't know that Barbara is Batgirl because there are too many Batgirl versions of DC comics, like Betty Kane, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown and more.

"Now that I think about it, I seem to have heard the name Sutton somewhere before... I remember now! You're the famous young prodigy magician!"

Barbara suddenly seemed to recall something.

"Grayson mentioned you before... Wait a minute, you said your friend told you about Commissioner Gordon's daughter? Could it be—"

"Yes, you guessed right. My friend is Dick Grayson,"

Dean admitted it frankly.

...

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