Second Assault on Arkham (Part One)

Her smile infected everyone. Barbara and Dick embraced each other, not letting go for a long time. Lyla, too, gazed at the sunrise, perhaps reminded of someone, a sweet smile appearing on her lips.

"Old buddy, have I been wrong all these years?" Bruce approached Gordon and asked in a low voice, his tone a mix of emotions—joy, excitement, frustration, and perhaps even a sense of loss.

This question left the old commissioner unsure of how to respond. However, with his years of experience, he understood the context behind it. He could only offer a vague reply: "Perhaps it's just a matter of perspective. Different people see things differently."

Worried about shattering Bruce's beliefs, Gordon searched his mind for an excuse and added, "She's also young, with ideals and enthusiasm."

"Youth is a wonderful thing." Bruce looked at Thea, who stood gracefully in the distance, facing the sunrise. Despite his vast experience with women, he couldn't help but be captivated by the scene, devoid of romantic feelings but purely appreciative.

Perhaps it truly was a matter of different perspectives. Bruce could only accept this fact, restoring his crumbling faith. Otherwise, with his current mental state, he might spiral into darkness if he suddenly realized that his years of work had been meaningless.

"I owe you an apology. You entrusted your daughter to me, but my focus has always been on Robin. I'll pay more attention to Barbara in the future," Bruce confessed.

As for Gordon, he didn't know whether to thank Bruce or say something else. Selfishly, he just wished for his daughter to live a safe, uneventful life. As a father, he wasn't thrilled about her embarking on this hero's path.

Despite his indulgence in Barbara's previous lack of commitment to her training, now that Bruce had made it clear he would hold his daughter to high standards, Gordon could only smile wryly and agree.

Meanwhile, Barbara and Dick were busy sharing a passionate kiss, completely absorbed in each other. Without paying attention to their affectionate display, Thea walked over to the two older men.

"Uncle Bruce, can we use your wavelength emitter today?" Thea had struggled with what to call him for a while. "Mr." felt too formal, and using his first name seemed too informal. So, she settled for the cutesy "uncle."

This nickname made Bruce feel a bit awkward. The poor guy was only in his early thirties. Was he really that old? He rubbed his cheek. With all the recent stress, his face was covered in stubble, making him look older than he felt. Facing a seventeen-year-old girl, "Uncle" seemed appropriate.

After pondering for a moment, he said, "It should be ready. However, its range is limited. It will only work if the enemy is within a five-hundred-meter radius. Are you planning to attack today?"

"Yes, it's better sooner than later. While Mr. Freeze hasn't fully recovered, it's the perfect time to strike." Thea had already discussed the current situation in Arkham with Bruce yesterday, especially after the involvement of the Court of Owls. The severity of the situation had reached its peak.

Although Bruce wished to wait until he fully recovered before taking action, every minute was precious now. The Court of Owls, composed of Gotham's old aristocracy, was capable of anything. 

Both being smart individuals, they didn't need to exchange words or eye contact. Bruce tacitly agreed to delegate full command to Thea since he couldn't be directly involved. If he were in good health, he would undoubtedly take command. Even Superman wouldn't have anything to say about that in Gotham. However, since he couldn't be on the front lines, he had to entrust Thea with full authority.

By nine o'clock, all the police officers, volunteers, and veterans who had received the call to arms had arrived at the scene. Those who knew each other were surprised by the rare sight of sunlight in Gotham.

Yes, the sun, a common sight elsewhere, was a rarity in Gotham. Even during clear days in the past, it never shone as brightly as it does now. For many who had lived their entire lives in Gotham, waking up to such brightness was a strange experience.

Convenience stores and specialty shops throughout the city sold out of sunglasses. Sunglass manufacturers across America were awakened by calls from their distributors, and they had to work overtime to meet the overwhelming demand. Later, meetings would be held to discuss the implications of this phenomenon—was it related to the North Korean missile crisis or a sudden shift in the Middle East situation?

Bruce wasn't idle this morning, either. He analyzed the Scarecrow's toxin sample that Thea had retrieved last time and prepared a targeted antidote—administering a shot provides immunity to the toxin for twelve hours.

Last time, the situation was complicated by a mix of factors, making it difficult to release the toxin. This time, if the sonic weapon worked, the situation would be completely one-sided. Given the Scarecrow's insanity, he might detonate the toxin directly into the crowd.

However, Bruce didn't have the time to make hundreds of doses of the antidote for the entire operation. Instead, only internal personnel received the shot.

But that didn't mean they'd ignore the righteous officers and citizens. Bruce devised an enhanced detox serum, an 800-milliliter dose, which he handed to Dick. During the battle, it could protect for an hour in the event of an attack when dropped within the crowd.

"Barbara, this time you and Dick will act together. You'll handle the Talons of the Court of Owls, and I'll support you."

It was the same arrangement as last time. With the absence of Azrael and Mr. Freeze, they should have an advantage. However, after Bruce confirmed with Thea, it became clear that the Talons were not individuals but a group, and there could be many of them. Nobody knew how many there were, but if they were all as skilled as last time, even facing three of them together would be challenging for Thea.

"Selina and Miss Pike will serve as the mobile team to handle emergencies. Is everyone ready? Let's go!"

Just before departing, Bruce pulled Thea aside and whispered in Chinese, "Keep an eye on Selina for me. I'm worried about her and Talia..." He couldn't finish his sentence, unsure of how to phrase it. He just felt uneasy at the thought of either woman getting hurt.

At first, upon hearing the familiar yet unfamiliar Chinese, Thea was puzzled. But she quickly realized Lady Shiva must have mentioned the fact that she understood Chinese. Batman knew all the mainstream languages in the world. He not only knew Chinese but also Cantonese. Regarding this, Thea could only nod in acknowledgment.

Chinese was indeed very safe, and Bruce was cautious about others overhearing, as it might lead to misunderstandings. Although his words were vague, Thea understood. He hoped she'd assist Talia during a crisis but didn't want Selina to misinterpret his intentions.