Chapter 116: Straw Man and Mad Hatter

While Vernon was conversing with Maroni, in the basement of the Harvey residence, Harvey held his mobile phone, listening quietly.

"With even those around him being my people, what does he have to fight me with?"

A clear voice emanated from the phone; every word spoken by Maroni and Vernon was reproduced verbatim by the wiretap.

A smile appeared on Harvey's face; upon hearing Maroni request Vernon to investigate the surveillance cameras, he knew the other party had taken the bait, truly believing his words and assuming that camera was the sole remote monitoring device in that room.

Who could have expected that District Attorney Harvey Dent would make such arrangements against a temporary ally? Overt surveillance coupled with covert eavesdropping—this two-faced tactic was entirely unlike Harvey's previous modus operandi, thus proving extremely deceptive at this moment.

Meanwhile, Ma Ma Zhaodi, cooking at home, was also listening to the conversation between Maroni and Vernon through an earpiece.

This was certain; although Harvey himself conducted the eavesdropping, Ma Ma Zhaodi naturally kept a separate recording of his own, after all, this concerned whether his life as a wage-thieving slacker could continue.

"I somehow feel Harvey seems a bit different," he thought silently. "Utilizing the formal legal system to prosecute criminals, yet employing dark, special methods to counter the underworld's extra-legal maneuvers manipulating justice... Strange, have I actually succeeded in preventing the birth of Two-Face?"

Everyone was busy, and the other two members of the Golden Iron Triangle were not idle either.

In the night of Gotham City, an unusually bright, ultra-high-power searchlight beam shot into the dark sky, and what was particularly noteworthy was the shadow silhouette of a bat at the very center of this searchlight.

The brilliant pillar of light pierced the clouds, striking directly above Gotham City; from nearly every district in the entire city, this massive bat symbol woven from light and shadow could be seen. After so many years, it had practically become part of Gotham City itself; everyone was accustomed to it, and everyone knew this was the special method used to contact Batman—the Bat-Signal.

Whenever this lamp lit up, one only needed to stand beside it and wait; within moments, that bat of the night would appear behind you.

However, most people were in no mood to pay attention to this urban legend; ordinary folks did not believe that the violent vigilante who enjoyed dismembering and breaking bones would show them any kindness, so naturally, they dared not play with turning on this lamp—the few previous daredevils who tried it did meet Batman, but they were also frightened out of their wits.

Therefore, the two people who most frequently used this lamp were actually just District Attorney Harvey and Commissioner Gordon.

"We have been continuously searching during this period; all available police manpower the Gotham Police Department could spare has been deployed to find Scarecrow and the Riddler, but..."

Commissioner Gordon stood beside the huge Bat-Signal, taking a drag from the cigarette in his hand: "There are absolutely no leads on those two; we cannot even catch a glimpse of their shadows."

Batman, standing in the shadows nearby, opened his mouth to respond to Commissioner Gordon's words: "The Riddler was frightened by the Holiday Killer; before we announce news of his arrest, he will cautiously keep himself hidden and will not dare to come out to do anything else."

"But Scarecrow... someone gave him a lifeline, helping him escape. Therefore, either someone wants to utilize him for some purpose, or he himself wants to accomplish something and sought assistance."

"Whichever it is, it is a major trouble for us." Gordon waved his hand. "Let us hope they do not emulate Alberto and stir up some trouble on the upcoming Independence Day—I have nothing further to say; do you?... Batman? Are you listening to me?"

After pausing for a few seconds, Commissioner Gordon extinguished the cigarette butt in his hand, threw it to the ground and stomped it out, then casually switched off the Bat-Signal, turned around, and went downstairs.

Waiting for a response? Absolutely unnecessary; having dealt with Batman for so long, Gordon had long understood his nature—once there was nothing left to discuss, he would simply vanish.

And he never said goodbye.

Sofia had been somewhat puzzled from Father's Day until now.

Falcone had recently become somewhat mysterious, and no one in the family knew what the Roman was actually busy with; as his daughter, Sofia was the one who felt this most acutely. On Father's Day, she had presented her father with a necktie, and after the Godfather accepted the tie, he merely uttered a "thank you" before hurrying away.

Was his father's abnormal behavior caused by Alberto's death? Sofia was unclear, but her father indeed seemed to have something to do, as he had not stayed much within the family compound these past days, instead frequently running about outside.

Until today, when she looked out the window and again saw that inconspicuous sedan carrying her father disappear around a street corner—obviously, he very much did not wish to attract attention.

That sedan gradually vanished from Sofia's sight; after traversing several blocks and winding through twists and turns for half an hour, the driver finally spoke.

"Mr. Falcone, it is confirmed that there is no tail."

"Very good; we are still going to that place."

Falcone looked through the dark one-way glass, watching the scenery outside gradually change, until they finally arrived at the abandoned facilities area of Gotham Central Park.

No one would come here, so the Godfather exited the vehicle and walked into the interior of the abandoned facility, soon hearing a voice.

"Making cakes, making cakes, the baker~"

A tone-deaf singing voice echoed within the facility, singing the children's nursery rhyme "The Cake Song"; it was truly unpleasant to hear, and within this empty facility, it sounded rather like a ghost or spirit singing.

And if one were to see that eerie Scarecrow singing beside a small red stove, this terrifying sensation might become even more intense.

Falcone walked step by step inward, the singing gradually becoming clearer; however, besides Scarecrow's song, there was another person's voice here.

"Put it in the oven, for Batman and—"

"Tea?"

Scarecrow's singing ceased abruptly; he turned his head to look, seeing a short-statured dwarf standing behind him dressed in a green formal suit, holding a tray of tea—and what was most eye-catching was undoubtedly the tall hat on his head, so absurdly large it looked just like a prop costume used in a theatrical fairy tale performance.

On that large hat was a slip of paper bearing the inscription "10/6," meaning ten shillings and six pence—obviously, this was the image of the Mad Hatter from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."

Facing Scarecrow's hostile gaze, the dwarf seemed to have little reaction; he seriously lifted the teacup, ran on his short legs to stand before Scarecrow.

"Would you like some tea?"

(End of Chapter)