There is no Batman in Gotham City comics.

Chapter 26 - A New Comic Book

A week passed peacefully, with two rain showers and overcast skies for the rest of the days. Clothes hung out to dry just wouldn't come out, and the whole house reeked of rancidity.

Qin Wei couldn't help but wonder if sunbathing in Gotham was a violation of divine law.

During this time, Maroni remained even more composed than Qin Wei had imagined. Despite the disappearance of the fake Harvey, he made no mention of it, issuing missions as usual and not reducing his allowance by a single cent.

Meanwhile, a hurricane called "Harvey Dent" is sweeping through the streets and alleys of Gotham.

Gordon called to tell Qin Wei that Harvey had barely slept since taking office a week ago, spending his time collecting information and making personal visits, which had made him and Brock, his two bodyguards, look much more haggard.

This workaholic's achievements are also remarkable. In just one week, he has prosecuted 56 people, involving multiple sectors of Gotham's police, government, and business. Even Police Commissioner Rob is on the list.

"Congratulations, Chief Gordon. It looks like you'll be becoming chief soon."

"How many times do I have to say I'm not the chief... Hmm, do you have some kind of precognitive ability?" Gordon instinctively wanted to correct him, but upon closer inspection, he realized that it was indeed true.

He is the most senior detective in the police department, and he is the most likely candidate to become the police chief after Rob's resignation.

Qin Wei hung up the phone with a smile, but his face immediately fell again.

Despite the huge commotion caused by Harvina, Maronny remained inactive, continuing his casino and drug business as usual, seemingly unaffected.

Qin Wei realized he couldn't understand this old fox.

……

Oswald poured a carton of near-expiry milk onto the oatmeal, stirred it, and ate it with a spoon, smacking his lips as he ate.

"Do you think Maroney is scared? The fake Harvey has been dead for so long and there's still no news."

"He's not so scared as I think he's waiting for the right moment." Qin Wei, wearing a bathrobe, had his left hand in his pocket while his right hand was constantly shaking a frying pan.

A golden, round fried egg rolls around in the pan, the butter at the bottom sizzling.

"Timing? What timing?" Oswald asked.

"I'm not a Gypsy fortune teller, you can't ask me everything."

Qin Wei left half a sentence unsaid. Although he didn't know what Maroni was planning, one thing was certain: the comic was still blank, and the danger was not over.

"Fortune tellers? What are they? You're far superior to those old charlatans rubbing crystal balls in my eyes! With you here, I believe it's only a matter of time before we unify the Gotham underworld. When that time comes, whatever you want, whether it's money or women, I'll give it to you unconditionally."

"Dreaming so early in the morning?"

With a flick of his wrist, Qin Wei sent the fragrant fried egg spinning through the air like a vaulting horse before landing with a thud on Oswald's plate.

"Give me the eggs. What nutrition is there in all this oatmeal and milk stuff?"

"Hey! You bastard, your attitude is getting worse and worse. Don't forget I was protecting you when you first came here... Awooohehehe!"

Oswald smiled and stretched out two fingers to pick up the fried egg on the plate, with the predictable result.

I got the same scream as Tom!

"Alright, I'm not going to argue with you anymore. What's on your agenda this week?" Qin Wei asked.

"Now that you mention it, I do remember. A circus troupe that performs trapeze acts just moved in near the West End. I need to go collect the rent." Oswald sucked on his reddened fingers.

A circus? Or a trapeze artist!

These two keywords reminded Qin Wei of a person: the legendary Robin Dick Grayson.

If it weren't for Dick's suggestive, pert buttocks, Qin Wei wouldn't even remember him. Compared to the distinctive and passionate second-generation Robin, the first-generation Robin was practically just an accessory to Batman.

However, this does not mean that Qin Wei does not value Dick. On the contrary, in his mind, important figures around Batman, such as Robin and Catwoman, should be recruited if possible, and if they cannot be used for his own purposes, he should try not to make enemies.

With this in mind, Qin Wei decided to go and take a look with Oswald.

He went back to his room to change his clothes and unexpectedly found a new comic book in his inner pocket. He looked back several times to make sure the blank book was still lying safely on the bedside table.

"A side quest has been assigned before the main storyline has even started?"

Glancing at the green bodysuit and eyepatch on the comic book cover, he became even more certain of his guess: he would definitely meet Dick on his next journey.

This comic is very thin and provides a very brief account of Robin's origin story.

When the mob's debt collection efforts fail, they secretly murder Dick's parents. Dick wants revenge but is stopped by Batman. He is then recruited by Batman, and the two storm the mob and send the villains to prison.

What a cliché story! But when it's reflected in reality, everything is different. There's no Batman here, no one to stop Dick from taking revenge, and what's even more heartbreaking is that the mob rent collector in the story seems to refer to him and Oswald.

Qin Wei felt quite wronged. Why was he always cannon fodder and extras whenever he appeared? He was either a henchman killed in the casino or a monster used as experience points for the growth of superheroes. When would he be able to have his own story?

Looking back, Qin Wei realized that his thinking had been somewhat unconventional.

Weren't we recruiting? Compared to nobodys, someone like Dick, who has been tested by the plot, is definitely better.

After putting on his coat, Qin Wei decided to go and meet the other party.

The two got into the car and headed towards the old church in the Lower East Side.

Philendia Cathedral was once an iconic building in Old Gotham in the last century, until a fire destroyed its century-old history.

As Gotham's economic center continued to shift northward, the East Side declined due to population migration, and the church ruins were gradually forgotten.

The collapsed Gothic spires, the broken crosses, and the statue of the Virgin Mary constantly cracking in the dust of history, while the ferns growing in the cracks are like poor children playing in front of the church, never seeing the sunlight and never able to grow into towering trees.

A huge, faded red tent was erected in the open space.

"Go away, go play somewhere else!"

Oswald impatiently shooed away the children gathered around the car and went into the tent.

The circus had just moved in yesterday. A man and a woman in tight-fitting clothes were climbing a ladder and tying ropes to both ends of the tent, while two teenagers held the ladder from below.

Judging from their hair color and facial features, they should be a family.

"Sir, the stuntman show doesn't start until tonight..."

John Grayson frowned halfway through his sentence after recognizing the person's attire.

Those wearing black suits in the lower district—you can tell without even thinking which faction they belong to.

"Heh heh heh! So it's the Flying Graysons! I've finally found you! The venue fee is fifty dollars a week, and the fee is ten dollars per person. Are you planning to pay now, or will I beat you until you pay?"

Oswald has already put on brass knuckles.

The two teenagers had no experience dealing with gangsters and retreated repeatedly under Oswald's threats.

Old John leaped from the sky, shielding the children behind him.

"Hey sir! Please calm down. Today is our first day in the East District, and we simply don't have the money to pay the site fee. You'll have to give us a week's grace."

"A week? And then you'll pack your bags and run away on the sixth day!" Oswald sneered, exposing the other party's plan, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists.

This wasn't the first time he'd encountered this circus. Three years ago, when he'd just started out, they'd come to collect rent, and Old John had used the same excuse back then. But what happened? The circus ran away the night before rent was due, and poor Oswald was left hanging by ropes, becoming a human punching bag and getting beaten up by Richie Panton all day.

"But we really don't have any money..."

"Then let me be your punching bag to practice on!"

Seeing that a conflict was about to break out between the two sides, Qin Wei reached out and stopped Oswald.

"Let me give it a try."