"Where the hell are they?"
A man in a dark jacket with his hood up muttered irritably, glancing toward one of the alley entrances.
"Maybe those idiots decided to whack Gordon themselves? Or joined another group?"
"They aren't complete morons, Frank. They wouldn't try to storm a police station alone. And they've never flaked before." The first man defended the absentees.
"We wait five more minutes." A man with a cigarette between his teeth spoke coldly. "If they don't show, we head to the meeting point. We've lingered here too long already."
"Whatever you say, Dave."
Frank scanned the gathered group.
"But they aren't the only ones missing. I don't like th—"
"You don't have to wait for them."
A gravelly voice echoed from above.
"They aren't coming."
Everyone snapped their eyes toward the source.
Nothing there.
Tin-tin-dink.
Something metal bounced off the pavement.
The criminals looked down at their feet.
"GREN—"
He didn't finish.
The entire alley drowned in a short, blinding flash and a deafening, high-pitched bang.
A second later, darkness reclaimed the space.
Batman leaped from the fire escape.
Landed squarely on the backs of two blinded thugs.
Slammed their faces into the asphalt.
Lunged forward.
The next man met the brick wall with the back of his head after a shoulder tackle.
Batman grabbed a nearby thug by the collar. Flipped him over his shoulder. Straight into a dumpster.
"Agh! I can't se—"
Right hook to the gut.
Left cross.
Several teeth went flying.
Another dash.
The Vigilante was in front of the next group.
Grabbed the sixth man. Yanked him forward. Buried a fist in his forehead.
Side step.
Double-ear clap.
Palm strike to the chin.
Coma.
Placing his palms against the necks of two thugs standing with their backs to him, the hero sent a surge of electricity through them.
Their bodies twitched in convulsions.
He cracked their heads together.
Reaching into his belt, Batman hurled several small pellets into the remaining group.
They exploded mid-air.
Thick smoke cloud.
He vanished into the mist.
Muffled impacts followed.
Screams of pain.
After surveying the unconscious bodies, Batman pulled out his grapple gun.
Fired.
A second later, he zipped upward.
Braced against the building wall. Flipped onto the adjacent roof.
"Alfred, notify Gordon about the neutralized group."
"Coordinates already sent, sir."
"How are the... 'others' doing?"
Batman hesitated for a fraction of a second on the last word.
"Croc ran into a small group trying to use the sewer tunnels to blow up Central. They've been neutralized. Waylon got away with a few 'scratches.'"
Brief pause.
"This 'Frosty' also just ran into and dealt with the crowd gathering for the storming..."
"Is something wrong?"
"According to his report, it was a crowd of thirty."
"Thirty?"
"Yes."
The hero fell silent. Processing.
"He's good."
"Perhaps. Send me the coordinates for the next suspicious gathering."
"On it. And Frosty?"
"Let him keep heading toward the precinct."
'Convenient, having superpowers...' Bruce thought to himself.
[Meanwhile, Me]
Aaaah... Ooooh... Help... Aaaaah!
The groans of street thugs.
What could be better?
Especially when you're the "hero" and these morons were planning to storm a police station.
You could say I killed two birds with one stone.
Protected the law. Ironic as that sounds.
And protected these guys from their own stupidity.
Definitely a good deed.
"Do you even know WHO you're messing with?!"
Oh.
One of them can still form coherent sentences.
Ironically—or perhaps just by the laws of the genre—this Benito fellow was one of the gang leaders sent by Falcone to "coordinate."
"You're asking if I know whose toes I'm stepping on?"
In a flash, I was in front of the mobster pressed against the wall.
"Let me ask you a counter-question, Benny."
I leaned in close.
"Do you lot even know who you're messing with?"
"What? How did you—"
"Doesn't matter how I know your name."
I grabbed him by the throat. Hoisted him up with one hand until our eyes were level.
"Falcone's only concern right now should be that he decided to wake a very, very dangerous beast. And the city itself is on that beast's side."
I tightened my grip slightly.
"Believe me—he won't be able to swallow the piece he's trying to bite off."
His face was turning purple.
"If he decides to come for me... a meteor will fall on his brainless head. Do you understand?"
The choking criminal managed a weak nod.
I slammed him into the wall.
He slid down. Unconscious.
I turned around and walked out of the alley.
Continued down the road toward the main precinct.
Everyone would be heading there eventually anyway.
I deactivated the [Ice Body] spell and downed a [Mana Potion].
After catching my breath and calming down, I began analyzing what just happened.
Specifically—the sudden, excessive aggression.
'Damn, when did I accidentally drink Berserker Juice?!'
I opened my [Status] and saw another anomaly.
Again.
The effect [Satsui no Hado] had appeared.
It was already blinking—meaning it would soon vanish and its influence over me would end.
Relief.
'Ryu...'
The Surge of Murderous Intent. The Power of Nothingness.
I guess I forgot a very important detail in his biography.*
That... isn't the best trait of the "Dragon."
But the good news? He eventually overcame the first and mastered the second power.
So in the future, I might not have to worry about it.
I hope.
I closed the system notifications.
Including a very pleasant one about a level up.
Once I was sure the negativity was gone, I walked calmly, watching the rare cars drive by.
Until I was called out again.
By someone in a dark alley.
Again.
"Hey man, aren't you cold? Aha-ha-ha-gaaa-agh!"
A trio of teenagers drinking beer—clearly not their first bottles—were immediately subjected to [Analysis].
Which confirmed they were also members of yet another gang.
"Are you kidding me? I've only walked three blocks..."
My hand met my mask in a facepalm.
"I don't know, couldn't you guys at least gather in warehouses? Or 'behind the garages'? Instead of..."
Wait.
Warehouses!
Even though the port warehouses were a bit far, it wouldn't hurt to zip over and check.
Same with a few old abandoned factories.
I activated the [Rabbit Talisman] and blurred through the crowd.
Froze in a pose with my fist extended.
Style is everything.
A moment later, all the idiots began to double over, fall, or fly backward.
Then the screams and groans started.
I ignored them.
Held the pose for two more seconds.
Then shot off toward the port.
"Not a single one..."
Either I'm missing something and thinking too stereotypically...
Or this city and its entire criminal underworld are just wrong.
In fifteen minutes, I didn't find a single street gang.
Though I saw two on the way. One being a biker gang.
Not counting actual "organized crime"—seemed like Russian Mafia—who were unloading a massive shipment of something, taking advantage of the busy police.
Actually, if you think about it, it becomes logical.
Even clear why I didn't meet anyone.
'...Why the hell did I decide to come here?'
Ready to head back toward the center, I stopped.
At a sight unusual even for Gotham.
Two women arguing about something.
At night.
In the port zone.
Wearing light clothes.
Carrying pistols in holsters.
They felt vaguely familiar. Like I'd seen them somewhere before...
"An 'easy stroll,' a 'piece of cake,' and a 'generous reward.' That's what you promised me! Not a hunt for a psychopath in a bat suit!"
"How was I supposed to know the local kingpin would decide to eliminate the local masked vigilante? I thought it would just be some big shot or one of his competitors."
"Well, you were partially right—they're offering half a mil for the new police chief."
"Who we are definitely not taking down, Revy!"
Revy?
Um...
And the blonde, I assume, is... what was it?
Eda?
Right, Eda!
"And what do you suggest, 'Sister' Eda? Running around the city looking for this 'Batman'?"
'I wonder if Rock, Dutch, and Benny are here too. Or if it's just the two of them.'
"And what kind of stupid 'name' is that anyway?! I get why Superman is Superman! But this guy... Is he sure he's not some meta who turns into a giant bat? Or a vampire?"
"How should I know?"
The brunette sighed tiredly.
Kicked something on the ground.
Scratched the back of her head.
"He said we'd get a hundred grand just for being here, regardless. Maybe we just sit this one out?"
"Falcone has eyes everywhere in this city. He'll definitely..."
Pause.
"Hey, who the hell are you?"
Oh.
It seems I've been spotted.
Not like I was hiding—rather the opposite—but having guns pointed at you still causes some discomfort.
"Me?"
I tilted my head.
"Oh, just a 'passing crocodile.' Though many know me by the nickname 'Frosty.' Sort of a touring superhero."
"Eh?.."
"It's a shame you haven't heard of me. But I'm not surprised—I'm not as famous as Superman or Batman yet."
At those words, I heard the clicks of safety catches being disengaged.
'Since there won't be a peaceful solution...'
I cracked my neck.
'I might as well see what HE is capable of.'
A sharp dash forward toward the two Pirates of Roanapur.
[Elsewhere]
Dodging a knife strike, Batman stepped forward and tried to disarm his opponent.
But the man pulled his hand back at the last second.
Leaped away.
Widened the distance.
'Damn. He's definitely not a common mob thug. His movements and reactions... you can see it immediately.'
'A professional.'
Extending his left hand forward while keeping his right tucked under his cape, the hero watched his opponent's movements closely.
Simultaneously trying to retrieve something from his belt.
The assassin in the hoodie made the first move.
Stepped forward.
Immediately leaped to the side, dodging a batarang that whistled past.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, he lunged.
Aiming straight for the neck.
But to no avail.
The blade was blocked by an armored, spiked gauntlet.
Undeterred, he thrust with his other hand—small knife aimed at the hero's exposed chin.
Again—blocked by the other arm.
The Dark Knight's counter-kick was also fruitless.
Hit the braced leg of the killer.
The assassin let go of his weapon. Used the momentum. Flipped backward.
Snatched up pieces of his broken bat.
Hurled them at the hero instantly.
Batman dodged nimbly. Closed the distance again. Tried a right-handed strike.
The man in the hoodie jerked his head aside at the last moment.
Grabbed Batman's arm.
Using it as leverage, he jumped and delivered a wide kick to the head.
The hero staggered. Briefly lost his balance.
However—a discharge of electricity prevented the follow-up.
Forced the assassin to release his grip.
Back off again.
Once more, they froze.
Staring at each other.
"You really aren't that simple, Bat-Man."
The killer savored the name.
"I'm glad I decided to take this job."
'His style and experience... He's definitely not just a common mercenary.'
[GCPD Headquarters]
"Mother of God! What is even happening?!"
A police officer yelled, pressing his back against the wall by the window.
Catching glimpses of the chaos.
The armed mob gathering outside.
"Crap! I had a bad feeling. Shouldn't have come to work today."
His colleague muttered, also leaning against a wall.
Drawing his pistol.
"Stop the panic!"
The steady voice of a middle-aged man with a mustache and glasses drew everyone's attention.
"We are police officers. We cannot show weakness in moments like these. We are the ones who—"
Dzin.
CRACK.
The sound of shattering glass.
One of the windows.
Everyone saw the glass web with cracks spreading from the center.
Caved inward by a lodged bullet.
"Sniper!"
All the officers scrambled.
Diving behind walls and desks.
[Rooftop, Somewhere]
"Bulletproof glass?! Dammit!"
An old man adjusted his Remington 700, glaring through the scope.
"Why was there not a single word about this?!"
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