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Chapter 113: The Birth of Two-Face
2022-10-19 Author: Great Demon Spirit
The Joker once again publicly announced that he would randomly blow up hospitals, which reignited panic among the citizens. Everyone was on the verge of madness, truly losing their minds, trapped in an extremely dangerous mental state.
Gotham City was indeed known as the City of Crime, yet its crime rate had not reached an exaggerated or absurd level. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for the city to gather a population of over ten million, let alone generate such immense wealth. At least in the New City District, while the crime rate was high compared to other cities, it was still tolerable.
Until that bastard Joker appeared, everything descended into chaos, and the entire city plunged into madness.
Bruce reluctantly emerged from his psychological shadow. He quickly donned an ordinary suit, his gaze regaining its usual sharpness, and prepared to act immediately.
"Alfred, I need you to stay in contact with me at all times. At the same time, thoroughly investigate Gordon's subordinates and family members, rooting out anyone who has secretly sided with the Joker. Also, help me contact Tony; at the very least, he mustn't disrupt my plans," Bruce said quickly.
"Young Master, will you still use the Batmobile?" Alfred asked.
"In broad daylight, I should keep a low profile," Bruce said. "I'll drive the Lamborghini."
"Wow..." Alfred was a bit speechless. "That's certainly keeping a low profile."
All hospitals, big and small, across the city plunged into chaos. All doctors and nurses urgently evacuated patients. They could no longer prioritize the safety of critically ill patients, only forcing them to leave. If they left, there was a chance to survive; if they didn't, the likelihood of death was higher. That Joker fellow had no principles to speak of.
In the city's largest hospital, as the last police officer, out of loyalty to his duty, tried to patrol the hospital one last time to see if any patients had been left behind, the Joker, disguised as a nurse, appeared and shot the police officer dead.
The Joker amiably lifted Harvey's hospital bed, waving at the agitated Harvey. "Hi, long time no see."
At this moment, only half of Harvey's face remained; the other half was burned away, leaving only grotesque muscles and bulging eyeballs.
Half-man, half-ghost, Two-Face Harvey.
He stared at the Joker with bloodshot eyes, letting out a beast-like growl, utterly frantic. His beloved Rachel had died at the Joker's hands; the Joker was the one who killed her.
"Mmm... I don't want there to be a rift between us, Harvey," the Joker said, grabbing his hair in annoyance. "When you and... mm..."
"Rachel!"
"Oh, Rachel! When Rachel and you were kidnapped, I was still sitting in Gordon's little cage. It wasn't me who blew you up," the Joker said.
Harvey roared: "It was you, your subordinates! Your plan! You deserve to die!"
"Do I look like a man with a plan? Do you know what I am? I'm a dog chasing cars. If I actually caught one, I wouldn't know what to do with it! You know, I just 'do' things."
The Joker stretched out both hands, gesturing wildly, as he infused Harvey with his ideology: "The police have a plan, Gordon has a plan. They are the schemers who want to control the world. I'm not. I just want to make the schemers realize how pathetic their actions are. You'll see, what I'm saying is true."
The Joker walked over and directly untied the ropes binding Harvey, without a second thought.
The moment Harvey was released, he ferociously lunged to strike the Joker, but the Joker gripped his arms tightly.
"I just did what I do best. I exploited your little plans and let you reap what you sowed. Look, I only used a few bullets and a few barrels of gasoline, and what a hellhole this city has become? When everything 'goes according to plan,' no one panics. Even if I say I'm going to cause an explosion tomorrow, they aren't afraid because it's part of the plan. But if I say I'll blow up the mayor tomorrow, everyone panics."
The Joker took out a pistol, opened the safety in front of Harvey, and roughly forced it into Harvey's hand, then used Harvey's hand to press it against his own head. Harvey's eyes were bloodshot, but his breathing miraculously went from heavy to gradually steady.
"Harvey, I am a chaos-maker. You understand the meaning of chaos now, don't you? That's fairness. I've said similar things to another guy, Tony. Unfortunately, he completely ignores me. In my eyes, he's the real chaos-maker, but unfortunately, he doesn't see himself that way, his mind full of inscrutable thoughts and strange purposes."
The Joker licked his lips and said: "So I chose you. Now, Harvey, shoot."
Harvey now maintained an eerie calm. He stared at the Joker for a long time, one hand still gripped tightly by the Joker, the gun in his hand pressed firmly against the other's forehead.
The Knight of Justice picked up the coin lying on the table.
He had originally given this coin to Rachel as a small engagement gift when they got engaged, but Batman had ultimately returned it to him.
"Heads, you live. Tails, you die." Harvey's tone was flat, as if he were discussing everyday matters.
"Now that's more like it," the Joker said, grinning as he looked at Harvey.
The moment Harvey took out the coin, he had already succeeded.
Gotham City's conscience, the people's Knight of Justice, vanished from this moment on, and the cold, extreme Two-Face was born into this world.
...
Tony entered the city with his motorcade. The streets were filled with speeding vehicles, and a massive roar came from not far away. The central hospital had been blown up by the Joker, and the Knight of Justice, Harvey, was also missing.
Many Gothamites were still in a state of confusion and fear, but Tony knew that the real drama had just begun. Harvey, on whom Batman had placed great hopes, under immense stimulation and the Joker's guidance, had his dark side awakened, plunging his entire being into darkness.
"Bruce, prove it to me. Prove that you won't give up on Harvey," Tony said, narrowing his eyes and indifferently watching the panicked citizens, without the slightest intention of helping.
Just now, he had received a call from Alfred, who specifically explained the so-called "hostage" situation to him, wanting to use it as an opening to bridge the distance between them.
But Tony had no intention of helping. They sought his help to deal with the Joker, but now the enemy had become Harvey.
The Joker was a mad dog; catching him wasn't difficult. But he had corrupted Harvey and achieved his goal. Regardless of the outcome of this struggle, the Joker had won; he was the ultimate victor.
Tony also got what he wanted in the process.
Only Batman had utterly lost, defeated beyond redemption.
(end of chapter)
2022-10-19 Author: Great Demon Spirit
The Joker once again publicly announced that he would randomly blow up hospitals, which reignited panic among the citizens. Everyone was on the verge of madness, truly losing their minds, trapped in an extremely dangerous mental state.
Gotham City was indeed known as the City of Crime, yet its crime rate had not reached an exaggerated or absurd level. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for the city to gather a population of over ten million, let alone generate such immense wealth. At least in the New City District, while the crime rate was high compared to other cities, it was still tolerable.
Until that bastard Joker appeared, everything descended into chaos, and the entire city plunged into madness.
Bruce reluctantly emerged from his psychological shadow. He quickly donned an ordinary suit, his gaze regaining its usual sharpness, and prepared to act immediately.
"Alfred, I need you to stay in contact with me at all times. At the same time, thoroughly investigate Gordon's subordinates and family members, rooting out anyone who has secretly sided with the Joker. Also, help me contact Tony; at the very least, he mustn't disrupt my plans," Bruce said quickly.
"Young Master, will you still use the Batmobile?" Alfred asked.
"In broad daylight, I should keep a low profile," Bruce said. "I'll drive the Lamborghini."
"Wow..." Alfred was a bit speechless. "That's certainly keeping a low profile."
All hospitals, big and small, across the city plunged into chaos. All doctors and nurses urgently evacuated patients. They could no longer prioritize the safety of critically ill patients, only forcing them to leave. If they left, there was a chance to survive; if they didn't, the likelihood of death was higher. That Joker fellow had no principles to speak of.
In the city's largest hospital, as the last police officer, out of loyalty to his duty, tried to patrol the hospital one last time to see if any patients had been left behind, the Joker, disguised as a nurse, appeared and shot the police officer dead.
The Joker amiably lifted Harvey's hospital bed, waving at the agitated Harvey. "Hi, long time no see."
At this moment, only half of Harvey's face remained; the other half was burned away, leaving only grotesque muscles and bulging eyeballs.
Half-man, half-ghost, Two-Face Harvey.
He stared at the Joker with bloodshot eyes, letting out a beast-like growl, utterly frantic. His beloved Rachel had died at the Joker's hands; the Joker was the one who killed her.
"Mmm... I don't want there to be a rift between us, Harvey," the Joker said, grabbing his hair in annoyance. "When you and... mm..."
"Rachel!"
"Oh, Rachel! When Rachel and you were kidnapped, I was still sitting in Gordon's little cage. It wasn't me who blew you up," the Joker said.
Harvey roared: "It was you, your subordinates! Your plan! You deserve to die!"
"Do I look like a man with a plan? Do you know what I am? I'm a dog chasing cars. If I actually caught one, I wouldn't know what to do with it! You know, I just 'do' things."
The Joker stretched out both hands, gesturing wildly, as he infused Harvey with his ideology: "The police have a plan, Gordon has a plan. They are the schemers who want to control the world. I'm not. I just want to make the schemers realize how pathetic their actions are. You'll see, what I'm saying is true."
The Joker walked over and directly untied the ropes binding Harvey, without a second thought.
The moment Harvey was released, he ferociously lunged to strike the Joker, but the Joker gripped his arms tightly.
"I just did what I do best. I exploited your little plans and let you reap what you sowed. Look, I only used a few bullets and a few barrels of gasoline, and what a hellhole this city has become? When everything 'goes according to plan,' no one panics. Even if I say I'm going to cause an explosion tomorrow, they aren't afraid because it's part of the plan. But if I say I'll blow up the mayor tomorrow, everyone panics."
The Joker took out a pistol, opened the safety in front of Harvey, and roughly forced it into Harvey's hand, then used Harvey's hand to press it against his own head. Harvey's eyes were bloodshot, but his breathing miraculously went from heavy to gradually steady.
"Harvey, I am a chaos-maker. You understand the meaning of chaos now, don't you? That's fairness. I've said similar things to another guy, Tony. Unfortunately, he completely ignores me. In my eyes, he's the real chaos-maker, but unfortunately, he doesn't see himself that way, his mind full of inscrutable thoughts and strange purposes."
The Joker licked his lips and said: "So I chose you. Now, Harvey, shoot."
Harvey now maintained an eerie calm. He stared at the Joker for a long time, one hand still gripped tightly by the Joker, the gun in his hand pressed firmly against the other's forehead.
The Knight of Justice picked up the coin lying on the table.
He had originally given this coin to Rachel as a small engagement gift when they got engaged, but Batman had ultimately returned it to him.
"Heads, you live. Tails, you die." Harvey's tone was flat, as if he were discussing everyday matters.
"Now that's more like it," the Joker said, grinning as he looked at Harvey.
The moment Harvey took out the coin, he had already succeeded.
Gotham City's conscience, the people's Knight of Justice, vanished from this moment on, and the cold, extreme Two-Face was born into this world.
...
Tony entered the city with his motorcade. The streets were filled with speeding vehicles, and a massive roar came from not far away. The central hospital had been blown up by the Joker, and the Knight of Justice, Harvey, was also missing.
Many Gothamites were still in a state of confusion and fear, but Tony knew that the real drama had just begun. Harvey, on whom Batman had placed great hopes, under immense stimulation and the Joker's guidance, had his dark side awakened, plunging his entire being into darkness.
"Bruce, prove it to me. Prove that you won't give up on Harvey," Tony said, narrowing his eyes and indifferently watching the panicked citizens, without the slightest intention of helping.
Just now, he had received a call from Alfred, who specifically explained the so-called "hostage" situation to him, wanting to use it as an opening to bridge the distance between them.
But Tony had no intention of helping. They sought his help to deal with the Joker, but now the enemy had become Harvey.
The Joker was a mad dog; catching him wasn't difficult. But he had corrupted Harvey and achieved his goal. Regardless of the outcome of this struggle, the Joker had won; he was the ultimate victor.
Tony also got what he wanted in the process.
Only Batman had utterly lost, defeated beyond redemption.
(end of chapter)
