After sending Nightwing back to Wayne Manor to recover, Viktor thought for a moment and decided not to take off the Batsuit.
Instead, he returned to the Batcave and sat down.
According to Oracle, the news that Penguin and Black Mask had been badly injured had already spread across Gotham.
Batman's brutal and unusual actions tonight had scared almost the whole city into quieting down for a while.
Of course, absolute peace was impossible, but the remaining small-time crooks, the Gotham City Police Department, could handle them.
Otherwise, what would be the point of the GCPD existing?
It seemed Oracle, as the daughter of the police commissioner, was a little defensive on her father's behalf.
But since he was already in disguise and had nothing better to do, Viktor might as well go all the way.
If any problem the police couldn't handle suddenly appeared, and Nightwing was still recovering, he could lend a hand himself.
After giving a brief thanks, Oracle ended the call.
Viktor jumped onto Batman's usual work chair and spun around in place. He pulled out his phone and sent Rachel a brief text message.
He told her that he had some business to attend to tomorrow during the day and might come back late.
Rachel didn't reply at first.
Not until he grew impatient and was about to get up and fly back to check on her did his phone suddenly start pinging with notifications.
Rachel sent a bunch of photos.
Viktor lowered his head and looked through them carefully.
It seemed that after he left, Rachel took a short nap, then got up and kept working on the house.
After all, Viktor had already finished most of the parts that needed strength and careful handiwork.
Rachel simply used magic to paint the house and fix some of the details.
The photos showed the house gradually changing, such as the colors, waterproofing, tiles, and so on.
Then came some of the furniture and household items inside.
Even though it was Rachel's first time dealing with this kind of work, she somehow managed to install big household items like the bathtub, televisions, and air conditioner pretty well all by herself.
After viewing all the photos, Viktor's mouth unconsciously curved into a smile, and he sent a thumbs-up.
Seeing the different color choices inside and outside the house, Viktor started to feel a headache coming on.
The outside was painted pure white and gold, giving it a clean and holy feeling, but everything was done in dark colors that seemed to swallow up the light inside the house.
After the photos, Rachel also sent him a short video. As soon as he opened it, Rachel's cold and lifeless voice began explaining:
"I've also finished engraving all the defensive spells."
In the video, Rachel's pale, slender fingers made a gesture.
Suddenly, an eerie wind swept through the entire house, and various deep, oppressive screams and shrieks echoed.
Those seemingly frightening decorations weren't just decorations at all.
They could actually jump down like vengeful ghosts, tearing apart some unfortunate soul who might accidentally wander into this house.
Those things could really jump out like evil ghosts in a horror movie and bite apart some unfortunate soul who might accidentally enter the house in the future.
He suddenly slapped his own face hard and felt even his lips trembling.
It wasn't that he was physically afraid, but this style was different from the peaceful and quiet life he had imagined in his previous life.
"The only thing left is the water and electricity. I don't know how to modify your spacecraft, so remember to get it done quickly when you come back."
He looked down in silence. After calming himself for half a minute, he finally replied in the chat with an OK hand sign.
Suddenly, a footstep sounded from behind. He put away his phone and turned his head slightly.
It was actually Batman's personal butler, Alfred.
He bent down and placed a cup of hot tea and some snacks beside him.
Viktor looked at the steaming teacup with some confusion.
"Young Master Viktor, I must say, your silhouette does indeed look quite convincing."
The formal form of address triggered an instinctive reaction in him, causing him to jump up from his seat.
"Mr. Pennyworth—Alfred—sir—I'm not—"
Alfred smiled slightly.
"Just call me Alfred, regardless of what the young master thinks of you, your assistance to Gotham tonight is plain for all to see."
This kind and polite way of speaking briefly brought back his habits from his previous life.
He quickly reached out to support Alfred, who was about to bow, but for a moment, he still could not think of anything elegant enough to say in the situation.
Alfred's careful choice of words and gentle tone made him feel awkward, almost like meeting relatives.
He didn't insist.
After straightening up with Viktor's help, he gestured toward the hot tea and snacks on the table.
"It seems Master Bruce was right. After coming to Earth, you have become even more human."
"I'm trying. Failing spectacularly, but trying."
Viktor nearly choked.
Alfred smiled.
"The attempt is noted and appreciated. Gotham could use more people willing to wear the suit and still text their partner about interior decorating."
"You saw that?"
"I see everything, sir. It is my curse and my profession."
Viktor froze mid-sip.
"She turned our house into a haunted house..."
Viktor rubbed the back of his neck under the cape.
"A bold aesthetic choice. I once caught Master Bruce attempting to install blackout curtains in every room 'for tactical advantage.' This feels… adjacent."
He handed Viktor a napkin without comment.
After a few moments, Alfred turned and walked away, slowly disappearing into the dark corridor.
After offering a somewhat forced thanks, Viktor tilted his head back and drank the tea in one go, then picked up a piece of cake and ate it, smacking his lips.
Then he leaned back in the chair, cape swirling, tea warm in his hands, and let himself grin like an idiot under the cowl.
...
600 POWER STONES = 1 BONUS CHAPTER
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