Half a year passed quickly.
Gotham was still Gotham, with a massive number of criminals.
However, overall, the crime rate had indeed dropped significantly.
Of course, this wasn't due to the Penguin's crime licenses, but the joint efforts of Batman leading the Robins and Gordon leading the Police department.
Especially since there were quite a few Robins now.
Fang Yuan had also become quite familiar with the two Robins, Dick and Jason.
Both teenagers had black hair and blue eyes; no wonder people always said the second Robin was a copy of the first.
The biggest difference between them was that Dick's personality was much gentler, giving off a 'little Sun' vibe like Superman, while Jason, though only 7 or 8 years old, was clearly much more violent and aggressive in his speech and actions than Dick.
Part of this was due to Jason's natural temperament.
He came from the lowest depths of Gotham. While Dick at least came from a famous circus and never lacked for food or drink, Jason's family environment meant he had been exposed to many of Gotham's dark sides from a young age, fostering a personality that loathed evil with a passion.
There was also the influence of Thomas Wayne, the old Batman.
That's right, Thomas Wayne was still in this World.
Because Fang Yuan now possessed the [World Controller Aura (S-Rank)], once his reputation reached 100 in a World, he could freely decide the time of his next entry.
His reputation in the Flash's World had undoubtedly reached 100, so every time he set the time for his next return to the Flash's World to be just one second later.
This way, whenever the Speed Force maintaining Thomas's presence in this Universe was about to dissipate, he would take Thomas back to find Little Flash for a recharge. So this time, Thomas likely wouldn't return for good until Fang Yuan himself left.
Jason loved pestering Thomas, asking him to tell stories about how he had slaughtered his way to making Gotham the safest city in the World.
The more he heard, the more he yearned for it, wishing he could put on a uniform immediately and gun down all of Gotham's Gangs and criminals.
The outside World said Bruce Wayne was the Son of Gotham, but Fang Yuan felt that Jason Todd could also be called a Son of Gotham.
The difference was that Bruce was the collection of Gotham's most glamorous aspects, while Jason Todd represented Gotham's most unsightly side.
But what they had in common was that, despite their diametrically opposed backgrounds, both had developed the ideology of pursuing justice.
Or rather, they could actually be called Gotham's Fortune.
Both were very polite.
Because Arthur would run over on weekends, they would both obediently follow Arthur around, chasing after Fang Yuan and calling him 'Uncle Fang.'
Both Dick and Jason welcomed Arthur's arrival. Because Jason was relatively precocious, their mental ages weren't far apart, and the three of them soon became good buddies.
However, Alfred spent all day worrying that Dick, and especially Jason, would secretly drink Wayne Manor's wine just like Arthur.
Dick's skills were very good, and he had already begun following Batman on night patrols. Jason was still young and needed training, and Arthur joined him.
Although Arthur's physical fitness far exceeded that of the rest of the Bat Family, his previous training under Vulko had mostly focused on developing underwater abilities. To be a Robin, he still needed training in other skills.
Their mentors were also incredibly prestigious: two Batmans, plus Fang Yuan, the Black King, would occasionally teach them new things. This version of Robin's combat power was bound to be stronger than any other version.
Of course, besides paying attention to the Robins, Fang Yuan was also secretly watching his target.
Joe Cole.
Over the past half-year, Joe had finally let go of his inner anxiety and began to diligently study acting. With the continuous stream of film roles provided by Vought, his public reputation was indeed gradually improving.
But in all things, one fears comparison.
"Yo, yo, yo, isn't this our young rising star Joe, who's been debuted for two years now?"
As he walked through Vought's residential floor, another familiar wave of mockery rang out, much to Joe's annoyance.
He didn't need to turn around to know who was speaking.
"Boris, are you that idle?" he replied, simply frowning.
Logically, as Joe's reputation improved and with Fang Yuan's previous instructions, no one inside Vought dared to ridicule him to his face anymore.
But Boris was different.
Because he was currently the number one star of Vought Corporation.
This position originally belonged to Kevin, but after Kevin was killed by the Joker, the resources fell into Boris's lap.
"Of course not. I'm on my way to Philadelphia to shoot a movie. Lead role, big production!"
Boris quickened his pace to walk behind Joe and then bumped into him, causing him to stumble.
"Keep acting in your supporting roles, 'top star'!" Boris shook his head. "With Vought's resources, they still can't find a crew willing to let you be the lead."
"How embarrassing!"
Boris left.
But Joe Cole remained frozen in place.
He felt extremely powerless and extremely enraged.
He had clearly worked so hard; why did he still have to endure Boris's malice?
"Acting?" Joe suddenly realized he seemed to have entered a misunderstanding.
Does being a big star really require acting skills?
"Hehehe, Boris relies entirely on a body of muscle. Where are his acting skills?"
The reason he was so popular was simply that he always played the 'muscle man' archetype.
Thus, Joe understood a truth—the right role is more important than acting skills.
But... what was the right role for him?
The Joker's whispers suddenly echoed in Joe's heart.
"Life is the truest, grandest stage!
"Hahahahaha!"
The Joker's frenzied appearance became clearer and clearer in Joe's mind, and with it, Joe's gaze became increasingly determined.
"The future me will definitely be perfect for me!"
He knew what role he should play now.
But before that, he had one more thing to do.
Joe stared in the direction Boris had left, his lips curling into a wide grin.
"Let's take this as the audition performance."
"Philadelphia?"
"Haha? Hahahahaha!"
Two days later, a major event occurred at Vought Corporation. Their top actor, Boris, accidentally fell from a height while filming, resulting in permanent disability in both legs. He would likely be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
"Get out! All of you, get out!"
In the hospital, the conscious Boris drove away all his friends and family, locking himself alone in his private room.
"Wooo wooo!"
"Heh heh heh!"
"Wooo wooo!"
"Hahaha!"
Boris wept incessantly in his frustration, but he constantly felt that laughter was mixed into his crying.
"Who's there?" He felt a strange sense of panic. "Who's there!"
"Ta-da!"
A man wearing a purple suit, with a head of green hair and ridiculous makeup on his face, suddenly jumped out.
"Surprise!"
Boris was startled: "You... you're that murderer!"
When the Gotham Police Department released the photo of Kevin's killer, he had seen it; the person in front of him was very similar.
Wait... you're not him!" Boris suddenly realized. "You're Joe Cole?"
"Oh dear, I've been recognized."
Joe looked annoyed, an unsatisfied smile appearing on his face: "It seems the makeup technique still needs some adjustment."
"What are you doing here? To mock me?" Boris was furious.
Joe chuckled: "No, I'm here to see my masterpiece—do you like the gift I gave you?"
"What?"
Boris was beyond shocked.
"My injury... damn it! You're the one who tampered with it?"
Boris was extremely angry, shouting and screaming violently, but everyone nearby had already been driven away by him.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Joe shook his head, returning Boris's own words to him, "You are our Vought's top star, after all."
"Look at you, not smiling again." Joe laughed very happily. "Why so serious?"
The camera panned out. It was unknown what Joe said to Boris next, but the next day's headlines changed to—'Breaking: Vought Actor Commits Suicide, Unable to Endure Disability!'
That night, back in Gotham, Joe Cole found an invitation at his room door.
[Vought Corporation cordially invites you to join.]
[Inviter: Fang Yuan.]
[Signee: Blank]
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