Batman Surrenders

Joker's madness in Gotham City has struck fear and panic into even the city's crime bosses.

Batman has finally realized the danger this lunatic poses, just as his butler Alfred had warned him. Not all wrongdoers act out of self-interest; some are pure anarchists who revel in chaos and destruction.

Their goal is to drag the entire world into a chaotic abyss.

Now, the Batman in the video faces a difficult choice. Meanwhile, District Attorney Harvey Dent resorts to extreme measures, attempting to extract more information from one of Joker's captured henchmen.

However, Harvey Dent, the White Knight, has also gained notoriety. Criminals know that dealing with a so-called do-gooder like him isn't that difficult. Even if they're caught, it's just a beating, nothing life-threatening.

That's why crime bosses like Maroni prefer to be interrogated by Batman rather than reveal information about Joker.

A gentleman can be deceived by a show of strength. But Harvey Dent has been pushed to his limits. He draws his revolver and points it at the criminal's forehead.

In the dim light, his face appears partly in light and partly concealed in darkness.

"Do you think I won't kill you?" he repeats with a grim face before suddenly lowering the gun. "No, the decision of whether you live or die is not up to me."

Harvey Dent takes out a coin, making it clear that he intends to decide the criminal's fate with it. If it lands on heads, the criminal lives, and if it's tails, he dies!

From his grim expression, it's evident that Harvey Dent means business. In the anxious and oddly excited eyes of the criminal, Harvey Dent tosses the coin into the air and catches it, revealing its head.

Seeing this, the criminal smiles, but he hears Harvey Dent's cold remark: "One more time."

He instantly breaks down, crying, "I don't know anything, please don't do it!"

"This game isn't up to you, my friend," Harvey Dent says coldly and tosses the silver coin into the air again.

Witnessing this scene, many viewers sigh in response. Previously, when Harvey Dent upheld the law and justice, especially the citizens of Gotham, they were thrilled, considering him the city's White Knight.

Batman's actions can only be considered vigilantism, and the system and mainstream media can't fully endorse him. But Harvey Dent is different. People naturally submit to authority, and top-down reforms gain the approval of elites and the upper-middle class.

However, it seems that this institutional White Knight has also taken a path similar to Batman, who they now call to act in the same way?

No, at least Batman adheres to the principle of not killing, but Harvey Dent is now inclined to take lives.

Harvey Dent remains unmoved by the criminal's cries and tosses the coin into the air again, but this time, it doesn't come down as Batman intervenes, seizing the coin.

"Are you willing to stake a life on this gamble?" Batman says solemnly. "His name is Harvey Thomas, and he suffers from schizophrenia. He used to be a patient in a mental hospital, and Joker specifically recruits people like him for his work. What can you get from his mouth?"

Harvey Dent furrows his brow. "Joker killed Gordon and is now planning to kill Rachel!"

Batman stares at him earnestly. "You symbolize hope and light. I never can. Your resolute stance against criminal organizations is the first beacon of justice in Gotham. If people witness this scene, all your efforts will be in vain. Criminals you captured will be set free, and Jim Gordon's sacrifice will be for nothing."

His reminder is serious and touches upon a crucial point. In fact, right after this video segment, many criminals and those with ill intentions who watched it started making noise. Harvey Dent, as the District Attorney, should not resort to such tactics, undermining the sacred law.

Some confused individuals are easily swayed by such tactics. This essentially points to the distinction between procedural justice and outcome justice.

Batman represents outcome justice where the process doesn't matter much, except for the rule of not killing. However, even that rule can be flexible. Yet, for the common people and the masses, procedural justice is more important because they don't know how that outcome was achieved.

Imagine a world where all laws are based on outcome justice. Scenes like forced confessions would be frequent. If you were picked up by the police one day without having done anything, beaten, and then charged with a serious crime, facing decades in prison, could you accept that?

Therefore, procedural justice is meant to ensure that the interests of the majority of ordinary people are not violated. This is why Batman, despite his efforts to combat crime in Gotham, faces resistance and lack of recognition.

But when you think about it, Gotham has deteriorated to such an extent that it's questionable whether there's any real difference between procedural justice and outcome justice.

The most crucial thing is to see a glimmer of justice. When even the basic conditions can't be met, and people are overly critical, there are other cities with similarly dire safety situations that wish they had a vigilante like Batman to guard their security.

However, Bruce Wayne himself recognizes that the existence of "Batman" might no longer be appropriate. He plans to settle things with Joker.

Harvey Dent will host a press conference tomorrow, where Bruce Wayne will publicly announce that he is Batman and will surrender himself.

"The future of Gotham City is in your hands," Batman says as he returns the lucky coin to Harvey Dent.

Commissioner Gordon watches and frowns. "Is there really no other way? Is Batman truly pushed to this extent by Joker? Bruce, I respect and admire your choice, but in all honesty, if you come forward to surrender, it may reassure some, but it will also anger others. Justice has ultimately been defeated by evil!"

Bruce Wayne hasn't spoken yet, but Peter Parker is somewhat surprised. "It's just a press conference, why would it have such serious consequences?"