Darkness, the undertone of the city, is like a thick gray-black cloth. The streets were deserted and silent just after nine o'clock, and even the street lamps were a little dimmer than the others, and the glimmer of each lamp was like fireflies struggling in the cold night.

This is Gotham.

A jungle of steel that disguises itself as a civilized land. Here, even the blood is cold.

The sturdy man walks through the unsettlingly dimly lit neighborhood as if walking in a dark temple where the bones of an ancient god are buried, and the streetlamps on either side are sacrificial torches.

There was not a faint warm light until the end of the street lamp. Coming from a coffee shop, this is probably the only place in the neighborhood where people feel safe.

It's a new store that opened just a few months ago. The man heard that the boss's name was Shen You, and it seemed that he was a Chinese, surprisingly young for his prestige in the nearby community.

One seems to be an out-of-town who just arrived in Gotham this year. But unlike most out-of-towners who are dissuaded by the simple folk customs of the Gotham people in just a week, he quickly broke into the community and ran a café here.

On the surface, he is a kind businessman who can maintain friendly and kind communication with anyone. And, interestingly, he seems to be very good at convincing.

It is said that when the store first opened, there were some minor frictions with gangs in the nearby streets. But then the gang members clarified that it was all a misunderstanding. They have a good relationship with Boss Shen, and there has never been any conflict.

Interestingly, the neighborhood has noticed that the gangs that were originally stationed in the area have become less active in the past few months, and it seems that there is not much protection money to collect.

No one has ever explicitly stated why, but there are always rumors that it may have something to do with the newly opened coffee shop on the street.

And the man's target tonight is this coffee shop.

He stopped in the doorway, looked up, and saw the eye-catching neon sign that read "HISHE".

"Sorry, our store is closed today."

The young boss walked out, with his usual gentle, contagious smile.

"I'm sorry to bother me so late, Mr. Shen." The man said nervously, "You may not remember me......"

"Of course I do, Mr. Grimm. Yesterday was a cappuccino, with a hint of sugar, right? ”

"Ah...... You remember me. Mr. Grimm looked delighted, "Yes, I need your help. ”

"Oh? What's up? ”

"Have you heard ......?"

He looked left and right as he spoke, lowering his voice as if he were afraid to be heard.

“...... Batman? ”

Shen You said: "The urban legend that has just started to circulate in the last few days, right? I've heard of it. ”

"It's not a legend, it's true, I saw him with my own eyes." Grimm's face distorted, and he said in a deep voice, "My son...... Probably kidnapped by that monster. ”

Shen You pondered for a moment and asked, "...... Batman? ”

"yes." Grimm nodded firmly.

"Okay...... Since it is a kidnapping matter, it should be under the jurisdiction of the Gotham police. Didn't consider calling the police? ”

"Absolutely." Grimm looked resentful, "But they don't care at all, they even laugh at me!" ”

"Laughing at you?" Shen You was a little surprised.

It is indeed possible to say that the GCPD (Gotham Police Department) at this stage is not working. After all, in recent years, their main policy to deal with the underworld problem is that the police and bandits are close to each other, and the director spends five days of the week in the nightclubs opened by the underworld, and the remaining day is to pay the public food to the mother-in-law at home, and the other day to recuperate and recuperate.

But it still seems a bit too much to ridicule, even by the standards of this city.

"yes." Grimm huffed, "I said Batman did it, and those two cops started laughing!" It never stopped!

I said they didn't admit it yet, saying that they were professionally trained and wouldn't laugh no matter how funny they were......"

"Unless you can't help it?" Shen You interjected.

The man stared at him with big eyes and blinked twice and looked at him in dismay.

"How do you know?"

"Guess, coincidence...... You continue. ”

"Later, I asked him what he was laughing at, and he said that his wife had a baby......"

"Ahem, no, this part can be skipped. I mean about Batman taking your kids. Shen You coughed.

"That's right, my child is in his second year of junior high school, and he came home from school that day and walked on the road...... And then all of a sudden, that guy fell from the sky! It spread its huge wings and flew down like a bat monster, grabbed poor Jack with its claws and carried him away.

The classmates in the back saw this scene from afar, and my poor Jack ......"

"So you didn't see it with your own eyes, did you?" Shen You asked.

"yes...... But it didn't matter, his classmates saw it. "And it's not the first time." In the past few days, several children have been missing in our neighborhood in a row, and more than one witness has identified it as the Batman!

That's not an empty rumor, it's true! He's a pervert who snatches children, a demon! ”

"Well, calm down, saliva, sir."

Shen You handed him a glass of water. The man's face was ruddy from excessive excitement, and he didn't slow down for a long time.

"So, why did you come to me? As you can see, I'm just a businessman......"

"Everybody says that. In this community, if something makes you desperate and at a loss, you can always go to Boss Shen of the café. ”

Shen You's face was strange: "Who said such strange things?" I'm like some godfather. I'm a businessman. ”

"They said that the kid who came to collect protection money from the Blue Dragon Gang had his leg broken here......"

"Nonsense, he fell by himself, it's none of the business of others." Shen You was categorical.

"The leader of the Blue Dragon Gang said that he wanted to set foot here, and when he woke up the next day, he found that his car had been crumpled into a scrap metal ......"

"Typical use of false rumors to add oil and vinegar. He drove himself through a traffic light and hit it. ”

"Then, I heard that later, the leader of the Iron Mask Gang personally led people to kill the door, but he fled in a few minutes, and never dared to set foot in the block again......"

"Oh, that friendly gentleman. The others are very nice, and the subordinates are also very talkative. I served him a cup of cold brew, and we had a good chat and made some sense. He expressed his approval and left with the people himself. ”

Grimm: "......"

God reasoned and departed on his own.

That's the Iron Mask Gang, which has deterred the local snakes on these streets for several years. A group of typical brave and ruthless people, the kind of people who have to take a detour when they see it, have become civilized people who talk politely and politely when they come to you?

Of course, Gotham is the place where there is no shortage of urban rumors, and the natives of Gotham have grown up listening to rumors including but not limited to pale circus clowns and owls hiding in some corners.

Therefore, although most of the neighbors also feel that the rumors may be exaggerated, no one will deny that Boss Shen has his own set of methods in the art of "reasoning". There are also many people in the neighborhood who tend to think that he may have practiced traditional kung fu, which is not unusual in Gotham.

"As I said, I'm a serious businessman, and I've never crossed the line in the slightest."

Shen You paused and thought for a moment.

"But I have a lot of people in the store, and sometimes I'm fairly well-informed. I'll keep an eye on it for you, and I'll let you know if you happen to hear anything. ”

Grimm consciously heard that this should be the meaning of a euphemistic agreement, and was immediately overjoyed: "Then please Mr. Shen!" As long as I can get my Jack back, I'm willing to pay any price! I can borrow money right now......"

"No, I'm just trying my best to keep an eye out, but I can't guarantee that there will be any clues." Shen You said softly, "If you are really lucky enough to hear some rumors, I don't need you to pay money or any other big price."

I just need a small, insignificant pay. ”

Grimm held his breath dazedly and nervously, waiting for the next step.

Shen You said with a smile.

“...... Your gratitude. ”