"This…"
"No wonder he Batman!"
No one knew how long the silence lasted until a Task Force member swallowed hard and muttered under his breath.
In the pin-drop quiet, his words were like a fuse, igniting a wave of cheers among all the witnesses.
The Task Force members were on the verge of delirium.
Unlike the spectators outside who were simply enjoying the show, the NYPD officers present bore the weight of their duty.
Recently, Batman had repeatedly appeared to save New York from crisis, and while the city residents benefited, it was the NYPD that gained the most.
Batman interventions resolved many crises far beyond the police capabilities.
If Batman had a fanbase, the NYPD itself might hold the majority, with two-thirds of its members as die-hard fans—or even superfans.
Many officers regarded Batman as a role model.
Even their commissioner, George Stacy, was, to some extent, a Batman admirer.
Not far away, the four turtles stood up, unfazed by what had just happened.
They had known the outcome of this battle from the moment Batman contacted them for assistance.
Shredder was formidable, but Batman record spoke for itself.
Even if the four of them couldn't defeat Shredder, there was no way Batman wouldn't take down the Foot Clan leader.
Their only regret was that they hadn't been able to take Shredder down themselves.
Of course, their contributions to the fight weren't insignificant.
Without their efforts to wear him down and damage his armor, even a weakened Shredder wouldn't have been defeated so easily by a single punch from Batman.
After all, Shredder silver samurai armor wasn't ordinary technology.
Still, it was clear that had the fight dragged on, the turtles would have eventually triumphed.
So in their eyes, this was still a victory for them—just indirectly.
Amid the cheers, a figure in the corner frantically pressed the shutter button of his camera, enthusiastically capturing the scene.
Batman had delivered another iconic moment.
Shredder, sent flying by a single punch!
The Foot Clan mastermind, who had caused chaos in New York, was taken down just like Kingpin before him.
Without a doubt, this photo would guarantee The Daily Bugle the top headline tomorrow, overshadowing the waning interest in the Green Goblin incident.
The aftermath of the Green Goblin story had shifted focus to the mystery of his identity and whereabouts, as well as the power struggle within Osborn Corporation.
Rumors swirled that Harry Osborn, just a high school student, was working with company veterans to regain control of Osborn Corporation following Norman Osborn disappearance.
"Osborn Corporation belongs in the hands of an Osborn."
Many online users echoed this sentiment, eagerly anticipating a corporate showdown.
The public curiosity about Osborn Corporation often exceeded that of the media.
But that was a story for another time.
Eddie, oblivious to George plan to invite the turtles to join the NYPD Task Force, was still fretting over tomorrow headline. Would it feature Batman photo, or this groundbreaking revelation about the turtles?
Still hiding in his corner, Eddie quietly snapped more photos.
"It over. I'll be on my way now," Anton said as he withdrew his fist.
Seeing the Task Force members and turtles snap out of their daze, he added with a smile, "Oh, by the way, Eric Sykes is tied up on the helipad. You might want to retrieve him before he hangs there too long."
With that, Anton left the Sykes Building, vanishing into the shadows cast by the sunlight and the city skyscrapers.
The four turtles exchanged glances, then looked at the NYPD officers who were busy handling the aftermath.
Shredder, unconscious with his neck twisted awkwardly, was pulled out of his armor, cuffed, and escorted to a police van.
The four turtles, now free of any responsibilities, prepared to slip away quietly through a hole in the wall.
But as they moved, George voice stopped them.
"Wait!"
George approached the turtles, his tone sincere. "Thank you for what you've done today!"
"It our duty," Leonardo, the team leader, replied calmly before attempting to leave again.
"Wait! I have something else to say!"
Once more, George stopped them.
The turtles turned back, curious about what the NYPD commissioner wanted.
"Well, I have an idea!"
George looked at the turtles and began earnestly,
"Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello… I just asked Batman your names, but that not the point. What I want to say is… I'd like to invite you to join the NYPD Task Force and become part of our team! If you're willing, the NYPD would be honored to have you!"
The turtles froze, stunned by the offer.
In the corner, Eddie, who had been stealthily taking photos, was equally shocked.
And the surrounding Task Force members, though surprised, didn't think George proposal was out of line. Instead, they were visibly excited.
The turtles' abilities had been on full display during the fight.
If they joined the Task Force, missions would be much safer with their help!
Most importantly, the turtles seemed closely connected to Batman. If the NYPD had the turtles, they would also gain an indirect line to Batman.
What could be better than that?
"What?"
Leonardo couldn't help but ask, "What did you just say? Repeat that!"
"I'd like to invite you to join the NYPD Task Force!" George repeated with heartfelt sincerity.
"We're in!"
Michelangelo responded enthusiastically, not bothering to consult his teammates and answering for the whole group.
The other three turtles exchanged glances but didn't voice any objections.
"If we join the Task Force, will the NYPD require us to work in secret?"
Donatello hesitated for a moment, looking uncertain as he posed the question to George. His concern was evident, as if fearing an affirmative answer.
"Not at all!"
George replied firmly. "Batman suggested we reveal your identities to the public. I think it a great idea. After all, if the people of New York know we've gained a few pecial members,' they'll surely look at the NYPD in a new light."
"In that case, we're in!"
With all doubts resolved, the turtles spoke in unison, giving a confident answer.
"By the way, Commissioner George, you don't mind coming with us to meet our teacher, do you?"
Leonardo added suddenly.
"Teacher?"
George remembered the "rat" Batman had mentioned earlier and nodded. "I'll do my best to convince your teacher!"
Eddie, meanwhile, didn't care what they were discussing.
With back-to-back sensational news unfolding before him, he was too busy snapping photos of George and the turtles together, grinning as he captured every moment.