Chapter 3

When silence returned, a shadow emerged from the darkness on the edge of the roof—a man in unusual attire.

The black armor on his body blended seamlessly with the night. The texture didn't look like metal. His chest bore a bat emblem, and he wore a helmet shaped like a bat. Beneath the helmet, his eyes were cold and unyielding.

A wide black cloak wrapped around him, resembling a bat with folded wings, hidden in the shadows.

He had quietly arrived when John Blake rescued Dick Grayson, and John's reckless actions had piqued his curiosity.

John's technique was amateurish, his movements clumsy, relying solely on sheer ruthlessness and his superpowers to defeat the five attackers.

When did Gotham start seeing mutants? But he had more pressing matters to attend to tonight.

After a moment's hesitation, he made his decision and leaped off the tall building, letting the night breeze billow his cloak.

Just before hitting the ground, the black cloak unfurled, resembling dragon wings in the wind, like a real bat instilling fear.

Gotham Pier, involving a significant drug deal, was the largest criminal operation carried out by the Falcone gang in the past month.

Seven years ago, Gotham City's biggest gang leader had threatened him with a gun, marking a turning point in his life. Now he had returned, determined to save the city from its descent into chaos.

Falcone!! You will pay for your actions.

When the gunfire at the pier ceased, the Gotham police arrived late.

The city was so perilous that while the police used semi-automatic weapons to maintain order, criminals were already arming themselves with fully automatic weapons.

Lacking firepower, the police couldn't stop the crime; it was better to wait for the shootout to end and then clean up the mess.

But tonight's outcome was unexpected for everyone. When Commissioner Gordon and his team arrived at the scene, all the criminals were already tied up, and a few unfortunate ones hadn't regained consciousness.

Most shockingly, Falcone, Gotham's biggest gang leader, was tied to a searchlight. The light cast a huge bat symbol into the night sky.

It was the first time the bat symbol appeared in Gotham's sky, and no one knew what it meant.

Falcone, now regaining his senses, raged and struggled, his demeanor far from that of a feared mob boss.

Commissioner Gordon ignored him, turning his attention to an open container. He picked out a box from a pile of stuffed bears, gently brushing it with his hand.

God, if all this is drug X, how much did Falcone transport? Even a year of shooting wouldn't justify such a crime.

But if there was a prosecutor brave enough to charge Falcone, the old mob boss would have to go to prison.

Gordon didn't expect to take him down all at once, but at least Gotham would enjoy some peace for a while.

As he continued to survey the scene, a breathless officer ran up. "Commissioner Gordon, Officer Dick Grayson was seriously injured in a mob attack two hours ago. He's being treated at Wayne Hospital."

"What! Dick?" Gordon's face changed at the news. He valued the young, capable, and responsible officer, planning to groom him as his right hand. But he couldn't leave the scene now; the police station was compromised and only he could handle it: "Seal the scene and notify the prosecutor immediately!"

"Dick, you must be safe," Gordon thought anxiously as he continued his work.

Wayne Hospital, a landmark in Gotham, was built by the Wayne family. Bruce Wayne's father, who was tragically killed, had dedicated much of his life to it.

Dick was out of danger, wheeled out of the emergency room by doctors. The poor guy was beaten badly, with four broken ribs, needing at least a month of rest.

Dick opened his eyes and saw John Blake sitting by the bed, eating an apple, looking carefree.

This guy's appearance was really good—handsome, angular features, and a constant smile. If he hadn't just seen John take out his wallet, Dick would have thought he was just a regular, sunny guy.

"Man, you're awake. How are you feeling?" John greeted Dick and shook the wallet in his hand. "Don't expect me to pay for your medical bills. It's all spent on you anyway. I'm using your money first."

Looking at John's shameless grin, Dick sighed and said weakly, "Thanks, friend. If it weren't for you, I might have met my end by now."

Dick didn't say more. Before losing consciousness, he vaguely saw John taking down five men to save him. This life-saving debt couldn't be repaid with a simple thank you.

John was about to speak when a notification sounded in his mind.

"Congratulations, host, for receiving Robin's gratitude. You've gained 200 power of faith and 40 potential points to distribute freely."

This battered guy was Robin, Batman's sidekick. It seemed Robin hadn't met Batman yet. Whether by luck or Gotham's poor security, John had saved a notable figure on his first outing.

He also discovered how to gain the power of faith.

John happily added 30 points to strength, 10 points to speed, and immediately felt a surge of power.

Before he could revel in it, the door opened, and a woman in a black trench coat strode in. With a single brown ponytail, black leather boots, and stockings, she looked both smart and beautiful.

"Mr. Dick Grayson? Nice to meet you. I'm Rachel Dawes, the assistant prosecutor. I'm here to investigate your attack. Sir, could you please step out for a moment? Thank you."

Rachel introduced herself and politely asked John to leave.

Is this Batman's confidant?

John smiled and walked out the door. "My name is John Blake, Ms. Rachel. I'll leave you to it."

Sitting in the corridor, John listened to Rachel and Robin's conversation through the door, deep in thought.

The original storyline was vast and inconsistent due to many screenwriters. John hadn't seen much of it before, but he knew about Batman—he was too famous not to.

Now, with no overwhelming power, it was safest to stay close to the protagonist and develop carefully in the current situation.