After putting on a little makeup, Liu A'dou slipped into Gotham Hotel and blended into the banquet on the top floor.
Glasses clinked and laughter echoed. Here, no one seemed to care about the threat of Joker. That made Harvey Dent feel even more out of place. He didn't belong to the world of these wealthy elites.
Harvey grew up poor. His father was a drunk who used to beat him and his mother. Sometimes, his father would flip a coin to decide whether to hit him or his mom. Harvey's childhood was anything but happy. But he didn't give up, didn't fall into despair—instead, he worked hard, studied harder, and graduated with top marks, becoming Gotham's district attorney, determined to fight evil and corruption.
So being surrounded by these carefree, empty-headed millionaires made Harvey feel sick.
"Scared of gangsters but nervous around rich people?" Rachel couldn't help but tease him.
"The mob's got nothing on these guys," Harvey muttered, unimpressed. The shallow conversations were unbearable. He just wanted to leave.
"Then have a drink, loosen up," Rachel handed him her glass of champagne.
He needed it. Outside, Joker was running rampant, and in here, people were partying like nothing was wrong. He needed something to numb the dissonance.
At that moment, a loud thrum came from the helipad outside. A private helicopter descended slowly. Bruce Wayne, arms around a blonde and a brunette, walked in at a leisurely pace. "Sorry I'm late—had some private matters."
The crowd laughed, and Bruce laughed along, shamelessly.
Harvey shrugged. What a ridiculous world. His first supporter in this city was this playboy? He glanced at Rachel, who grew up at Wayne Manor as the daughter of a housekeeper. He hoped Bruce wasn't a rival in love.
"Harvey, tonight's star," Bruce called out, waving him over. "And Rachel, too, come on."
Bruce pushed them forward. "These two are fighting on the front lines for Gotham's justice. Let's have a toast!"
"Cheers!"
Liu A'dou joined in, downing his champagne, then immediately zeroed in on the food table. He hadn't eaten all day and was starving.
As he ate, he kept watching Bruce. His eyes lingered on Rachel. It was obvious—Bruce truly cared about her. But as Batman, he gave too much of himself to Gotham. He and Rachel were never meant to be.
Now Rachel had chosen Harvey, and Bruce had to swallow that pain.
Even Batman couldn't escape a love triangle. Liu A'dou munched away while stuffing some food into his coat for Iselin later.
The party hit its peak after Bruce arrived. He introduced Harvey to a handful of wealthy men. Some Liu A'dou recognized, some he didn't—but none of them knew who he was.
After a year in this world, most of what Liu A'dou knew still came from movies, cartoons, and comics. His status didn't allow him access to Gotham's elite. The most influential people he could actually talk to were Commissioner Gordon, DA Harvey Dent, and his boss, Howard.
Sure, he'd interviewed a few officials for work, but those didn't count as real connections.
He scanned the room carefully, ready for Joker to appear at any moment.
Just as the rich were getting cozy, drunk on wine and ego, uninvited guests made their entrance.
A group of masked men stepped out of the elevator, led by none other than Joker, grinning with his signature, world-hating smirk.
Joker's goons raised their submachine guns and fired into the ceiling, sending the millionaires into a panic, trembling with fear.
Liu A'dou kept his eyes on Joker, thinking, just say something. Just let me hear your voice, and I'll make sure you can't hide. Once he locked onto Joker's voice, he could use the Eye of God to track him down.
Clap clap clap— Joker strolled into the center of the banquet hall, bouncing on his toes in a weird little dance, spinning a knife in his hand.
The millionaires were dead silent.
"Where is Harvey Dent?" Joker finally spoke.
Everyone looked around and realized Harvey, who was just there moments ago, was now gone. Only Liu A'dou knew—he had stepped out onto the balcony with Bruce earlier, who must have hidden him away by now.
"Looks like no one knows." Joker scanned the room until his eyes locked onto Harvey's girlfriend. In a few quick steps, he grabbed her by the chin.
Their faces were so close they could feel each other's breath. Everyone in the room froze, terrified to make a sound that might provoke Joker into hurting her.
But Rachel wasn't the kind to just stand there. She lifted her knee and slammed it into Joker's leg, making him stumble back, clutching his knee.
Her resistance only fueled Joker's madness. He lunged back, this time shoving a knife straight into Rachel's mouth. But his fury only made his grin wider—a smile hiding a blade.
Rachel's face was just inches from Joker's again. She could now clearly see a deep scar stretching from the corner of his mouth all the way up to his ear.
Joker noticed her staring at the scar, which only seemed to amuse him more. "You know how I got this scar?" he asked, a spark in his eyes. "It started with my father. I was a crybaby back then, and one day, he shoved a knife into my mouth just like this. You know what he said? He said, 'Smile, smile, smile, SMILE! Every. Day.'"
The cold steel in Rachel's mouth sent waves of pain through her. If Joker pressed just a little harder, her face would be ruined. She could barely breathe now, fear gripping her as she tried to hold herself still. A woman's face meant everything.
Joker's grin grew wider. He loved breaking people, seeing their fear, their helplessness. It gave him a twisted sense of power.
Silence. No one dared to speak.
But then, out of nowhere, a mocking voice cut through the tension, making the room gasp—and making Joker's eyes blaze with rage.
"So, Joker, what you're saying is your old man was just as crazy as you?" The voice was sharp, taunting.
Joker's eyes turned cold as he scanned the room, but couldn't find who it was.
Swish…
A playing card shot through the crowd, striking a thug's wrist and making him drop his weapon.
"Who's there? Batman?" Joker grabbed Rachel, pulling her in front of him like a shield. Everyone looked around, but saw nothing unusual.
A card? Joker looked at the floor where it had landed. It wasn't a Batarang. It was a playing card.
So, not Batman. Then who?
Liu A'dou, hidden in the crowd, was frustrated. The tranquilizer dart in his watch didn't have the range. Only the magic card gun barely worked, and even that wasn't ideal. If he could've just hit Joker with it, this whole thing would be over by now.
Joker pulled out a handgun from his belt, eyes still scanning. "Who is it?" he shouted, moving toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.
"What are you trying to prove, Joker? That everyone had a lousy childhood like you? That we all had horrible fathers?" Liu A'dou's voice floated through the room. "If you've got a grudge, take it up with your old man. Don't take it out on the world. No one owes you anything."
The voice seemed to come from everywhere at once—no one could tell where it was coming from.
Joker narrowed his eyes, thinking hard. Then suddenly, he laughed. "It's you. I know who you are. Kaitou Kid, the new thief in Gotham."
Gasps rippled through the room. First Joker, now Kaitou Kid? What kind of night was this?
Liu A'dou stayed hidden, but cursed in his heart. Batman, where the hell are you? How long does it take to change? He wasn't in costume, had no rope, and if Joker threw Rachel out the window, there was no way he could save her.
But Joker didn't wait. He acted fast.
Crash! A shot shattered the window behind him, and the cold night air rushed in, making everyone shiver.
"I wonder, thief of the moonlight, can you fly under the moonlight?" Joker laughed, his voice sharp and grating. And with that, he shoved Rachel out of the window.
Her scream tore through the night sky, echoing across Gotham.
Below, Thomas and Iselin stood frozen, staring up in horror as a figure fell from the top of Gotham Hotel.