Chapter 14: Two Faces

“Who exactly are we waiting for here?” The young man guarding the souvenir stall, overcome with boredom, started a conversation.

“Don’t ask. Just follow the orders from above,” replied an older man. “Danilo, don’t be so curious.”

“Cousin Simon, I just don’t understand what we’re doing here…” Danilo frowned. “We were told to wait here, but apart from a few kids who tried to come near earlier, no one else has shown up.”

“Why do you need to know so much?” Simon scolded. “Do you know why the Godfather only told me the details of the mission? Because he’s afraid the three of you might slip up and ruin the plan.”

The other three exchanged awkward smiles and said nothing.

Simon lectured them for a while longer before suddenly noticing a priest approaching. The priest immediately asked, “How much are you selling those little seal badges for?”

“We’re not selling. Move along,” Danilo snapped, still simmering from the earlier reprimand.

“Oh, really? If you’re not selling, then move aside so I can do business,” Roland said, clearly irritated by Danilo’s attitude, his tone sharp.

“Get lost,” Danilo shot back curtly.

Without another word, Roland stomped on Danilo’s foot and then struck him on the chin with a fierce palm, knocking him unconscious.

“He’s here to cause trouble!” The others hadn’t reacted in time before Danilo was down.

When they reached for their guns, Roland was already upon them.

Elbow strike, knee jab, iron mountain lock.

With just a few moves, Roland took all three down.

“What, want to try me too?” Roland challenged the only one left standing, who flipped him off.

“Tch, still defiant,” Roland said, smashing a fist into his head, putting him out cold.

“Boss, you really took them all out…” The underlings weren’t surprised; this was the way business was fought over in Gotham City.

“Enough talk. Set up the stall quickly,” Roland ordered, tossing the four unconscious men into a nearby flowerbed and covering them with grass.

“Yes, boss.” The underlings pushed away the cart left behind and arranged their souvenirs.

“Wait, what’s in this cart?” Roland paused, hearing the clinking of liquid inside, but the items on top were all plush toys, badges, and postcards—something felt off.

Pulling the cart open, he found rows of test tubes filled with green liquid and a device that looked like a water gun.

“What’s this?” Roland picked up a test tube and examined it.

There were no labels, but it clearly wasn’t something good.

“Could this be some kind of biochemical weapon?” Roland thought uneasily. He fetched a bucket of water from the restroom and splashed it on Simon’s face, waking him.

“Tell me, what is this?” Roland grabbed Simon by the collar.

“…Ice cream ingredients,” Simon muttered.

“Do I look like a fool to you?”

“Yes.”

Roland flicked the test tube away with his thumb. “You don’t want to try it, do you?”

“Suit yourself.” Simon fell silent.

“Such a tough guy. Don’t blame me for being ruthless,” Roland said, pressing the test tube against Simon’s face again. Within half a minute, Simon fainted once more.

“An anesthetic?” Roland was stunned. He had expected a terrorist attack, but this potent sedative and the cart’s space just big enough to hold an adult suggested something else—human trafficking, perhaps?

With that thought, Roland immediately called Chief Gordon.

“Hello, Officer, I want to report a crime.”

Ignoring Roland’s odd formality, Gordon asked, “What’s the matter?”

“I witnessed a Dark Organization’s crime scene at Gotham Zoo, and I’ve already subdued them. You need to come quickly.”

“What a coincidence…” Gordon was driving and approaching the zoo’s ticket booth. “I’m on my way. Be careful—watch your back for any accomplices lurking nearby.”

“Got it.”

After hanging up, Gordon glanced at his wife in the passenger seat, guilt flickering in his eyes.

“Go handle your business, Chief Gordon,” Barbara said coldly.

“…Sorry.” Gordon parked the car, changed into his police uniform and gear from the trunk, and hurried into Gotham Zoo.

A few minutes later.

“I have to tell you, one vigilante in Gotham is already more than enough trouble. If there’s a second one, I’m really done for.” Gordon rubbed his aching temples as he looked down at the four unconscious men in black.

“Well, what do you think I meant by subdue?” Roland shrugged. “I didn’t hit them much—only stopped when they couldn’t fight back.”

“…Alright, at least you didn’t beat them until their balls swelled like tomatoes like last time.” Gordon massaged his temples. “If I’m not mistaken, they’re all from American-Italian crime families, but I can’t tell which one.”

“Do they deal in human trafficking too?”

“Don’t know, but if they do, it wouldn’t be surprising,” Gordon said. “I’m taking them in. You stay out of it. Gotham’s crime families are tough, especially the Falcone family…”

“I know exactly what I’m dealing with,” Roland nodded.

“Don’t take my words lightly,” Gordon warned. “Even if you’re not afraid, what about your family?”

“My family here is as numerous as Batman’s,” Roland replied.

“…Then forget I said anything.” Gordon called for a police car to take the four away and prepared to leave himself.

Looking back at where he parked, Barbara was already gone. Gordon gave a wry smile in the empty passenger seat.

Shaking his head, he walked toward the police car, lost in thought, when he suddenly bumped into someone.

“Sorry… Harvey, what are you doing here?” Gordon fell to the ground, looking up to see a familiar face.

Harvey gave him a cold glance and silently walked on.

“Wrong person… Sorry.” Gordon shook his head. The man looked like Harvey but carried a completely different aura.

No one ever mentioned Harvey having a twin… Could this be a long-lost brother? Gordon’s mind ran wild with speculation.