Chapter 8 The Press and the Prisoners

Around eight in the evening, the street outside the Gotham Police Department was packed with protesters and reporters.

People held signs and shouted slogans. Many of the signs targeted Commissioner Gordon, with messages like "Gordon Resign," "Gordon Must Go," and others such as "Dereliction of Duty," "Bats Get Out," and "Hang Them All"…

When Gordon appeared on the street, a swarm of reporters surrounded him, thrusting microphones, recorders, cameras, and lights at him, bombarding him with countless sharp questions.

"Rumor has it that fifteen more police officers resigned today. Is that true?"

"How long will it take for street security to return to normal?"

"Who is responsible for the losses from today's bank robbery?"

"How will you explain to the families of the deceased officers how that 'Nameless' person slipped away right under the police's noses?"

"Commissioner, has organized crime infiltrated the police force?"

"Is the police force being threatened by the mob?"

"Shouldn't you consider resigning, Commissioner Gordon?"

In this world, there are many people who think they're clever, who think they're important figures, who think their lives and careers are meaningful.

In reality, it's all bullshit.

In America, most reporters have this tendency to inflate their egos. They think they guide public opinion and change people's destinies. They think they're smarter and more insightful than the average person. They spend their days making irresponsible remarks, using their positions and professional knowledge to distort facts, and seeking higher social status, attention, and profit for themselves.

To that end, they don't hesitate to ruin other people's reputations and lives.

In the eyes of others, these people are self-righteous demons, disgusting. They themselves, however, are smug and oblivious, acting as if they have a great social mission.

But in fact, they are not superior; it's just an illusion. If these people stepped from behind the camera to in front of it, from reporters to the reported, they would immediately realize what they really are.

When their petty power to stir up trouble is taken away, beneath their hypocritical facades, they are just a bunch of agitators. This is a group of people that has existed since the dark ages, depicted in the Bible as one of the harbingers of the end of the world.

From the moment these people impose their views and positions on others, they have forgotten the essence of their profession. When an observer, a recorder, crosses an invisible boundary, they will go further and further, eventually becoming a liar and fabricator who uses any means to grab attention.

Most of Gotham's reporters are like that.

As for the citizens of Gotham, please allow me to quote a passage from Maupassant's *The Horla*—

"The common people are like herds of stupid cattle, sometimes so docile as to be idiotic, sometimes so refractory as to be near revolt. Tell them: 'Rejoice!' and they rejoice. Then tell them: 'Go and fight your neighbor!' and they go and fight. Tell them: 'You must adore the Emperor!' and they adore him. Then tell them: 'You must adore the Republic!' and they adore that also."

"Those who direct the people are equally idiotic, only they do not obey a master but principles; and as principles are necessarily stupid, false, in that they lay down as fixed some things that are always changing in this world, all that we see and hear are but illusions."

Our Commissioner Gordon is precisely that shepherd.

The superheroes of the Shenwang (God Network), too.

They do their best to protect this city, to protect its people and ensure they can live and work in peace. Yet they are constantly questioned and attacked by agitators, and while risking their lives to fight criminals, they often have to compromise.

That's why Feng Bujue mocks them, even feels sorry for them… Compared to the "misery" of the villains, the "misery" of the heroes is more self-inflicted.

"One last question… is Batman really dead?" The question came from a unique, captivating voice.

Gordon turned his head towards the voice and saw a small man in a green suit leaning against the wall at the edge of the crowd, watching him leisurely.

"Riddler…" Gordon muttered.

Unfortunately, as Feng Bujue said, in this place where "the law is spoken," even if you know a supervillain is standing right in front of you, you can't just arrest him.

"Okay, please clear the way, let the vehicle through. This is an important prisoner transport." Gordon stared at the Riddler for a few seconds, then pushed his way out of the journalists' encirclement.

At this moment, a prisoner transport van drove up the street, and several armed police officers quickly jumped out of the vehicle and stood in two rows.

On the other side, two prisoners also walked down the steps of the police station.

Shiva and Qisha were each restrained by two police officers, and their hands and feet were shackled.

About twenty minutes ago, the two had entered the interrogation room at the police station, but before they could even warm their seats, Nightwing, who was interrogating them, suddenly went out to answer a call. They didn't know what Sage had said to him, but the interrogation ended there, followed by this scene…

By now, both players realized… the situation was bad. They had the same thought: knowing that superheroes were monitoring the area, recklessly resisting could lead to being shot on the spot. It was better to wait and see if there would be a chance to escape later.

"Sage, the two from the police station are leaving." Nightwing, standing on the roof of the police station, kept his eyes on the movements below and communicated with the Batcave, "I'm worried they'll try to escape halfway. I'm going to follow them. How's it going with Tim?"

"Not good… lost contact about fifteen minutes ago, right around the time he said the explosion would occur," Sage replied. "Damian is closest to him and is already on his way. He took the Batmobile, so if something happens to Tim, there's emergency life support equipment in the car."

A hint of worry flashed across Nightwing's resolute face beneath the mask. "I have a bad feeling about this, Barbara. You better call someone else over."

Sage replied, "Alright, I'll contact someone as soon as possible."

"I can't leave my post for the time being. Please let me know as soon as you have any news about Tim, okay?" Nightwing said.

"Be careful too… Dick," Sage said with concern.

…………

At the same time, Gotham City, inside a warehouse.

"Ugh… where am I…" Tim Drake woke up from a brief period of unconsciousness. After his eyes adjusted to the surrounding light, he noticed a figure in a long purple suit standing in front of him, with his back turned.

"Don't be nervous, Tim. While you were unconscious, we moved you here… to a safe place." Feng Bujue replied without turning around, as he was adjusting a video camera.