Chapter 443: The Mystery of Metropolis (Conclusion)

Gotham's blizzard had just ended, the weather slightly warmed, so the snow was melting—but melting snow was even colder, and with icy roads, most people chose to stay home.

In other cities, logistics would have completely halted at this time, but Gotham's truck drivers always braved hardship; as soon as the weather improved, they returned to work.

Yet not all truck drivers could hit the road now—some, for various reasons, still had to stay home, including Jack.

His reason for being grounded was simple: the crash at the central roundabout hadn't just affected Shi Ler and the Wayne family—it had affected Jack too.

He hadn't been at the center of the roundabout, but waiting at a side intersection for the light; when the green light flashed when it shouldn't have, Jack didn't think—he slammed the accelerator and sped out.

He knew it wasn't a real green light, but with such an obvious chance to play bumper cars, how could he miss it?

But playing bumper cars came at a price—his truck was broken and couldn't be fixed anytime soon, so he was stuck at home.

In a loft apartment on Elizabeth Street in the East District, the oil-drum heater had gradually gone out; cold wind blew through the window, and the figure on the bed rolled over, smacked his lips, his teeth chattering slightly, yet he remained lost in sleep.

In his dream, he was playing in a gigantic amusement park, with attractions like the rotating bat carousel, bat bumper cars, the Bat House, and Bat Cave Adventure.

Jack sat on the rotating bat carousel, arms wrapped around the vertical pole shaped like a bat's head, eyes wide, grinning as he looked left and right—when suddenly, the ride stopped, and a voice came over the park's loudspeaker:

"Jack, please report to the service counter—someone is looking for you. Jack, please report to the service counter—someone is looking for you. Repeat…"

Jack pounded hard on the wooden bat beneath him; suddenly, the ticket window lit up red. Jack gripped the pole and shouted: "I haven't finished ten laps! You can't kick me out—I paid for my ticket!"

But soon he was kicked out anyway, so he trudged dejectedly along the park's brick path.

He passed a souvenir shop selling all kinds of bat plushies, bat lollipops, and drinks emblazoned with bat imagery.

Seeing the shop, Jack suddenly dashed over, pointed a finger-gun at the empty counter, and yelled: "Hurry up! Hand over all the bats! Yes—hands on your head, turn around…"

Then he slowly lowered his hand, strode into the shop's shelves, snatched several bat plushies, and before leaving, grabbed a handful of bat lollipops from the counter—so hastily that he nearly tripped over the shelf he'd knocked over.

After leaving the shop, he glanced furtively left and right, then grinned happily, fumbled open a lollipop, popped it in his mouth, and wore a blissful smile as he strolled leisurely toward the service counter.

The service counter stood in a building's lobby—the building's exterior shaped like a bat about to take flight. Jack stepped into the bat's dark mouth, yet it felt like coming home.

Inside the lobby, there were numerous claw machines and vending machines, glowing in all colors. Jack looked around, fascinated and delighted; as the lights shimmered, his green hair was dyed in every hue.

At the service counter, a figure in a suit waited in the lounge. Jack stepped in and snarled: "You bastard! You made me waste a ticket—I didn't even finish ten laps!"

The figure turned—it was Shi Ler, having entered Jack's dream through the dreamworld.

His gaze landed on the three round bat plushies clutched in Jack's arms. Jack noticed, stepped back warily, and hugged them tightly with both arms: "What? Go buy your own!"

"But I don't have Bat Coins. Where did you get Bat Coins to buy these?"

"I… I met my neighbor. He said his name was Joe. He's a nice guy, so he gave me a big handful of Bat Coins." Jack pouted, speaking rapidly.

"Alright, will you share some with me?"

"No!" Jack squeezed the three plushies so hard they began to deform. Shi Ler immediately said: "You're lying. You have no Bat Coins. You didn't buy a ticket. You're a fare-evading robber."

"I didn't! I didn't!" Jack shook his head like a rattle, stared at the ceiling, whistled, rolled his eyes upward, and darted them back and forth—as if he understood nothing Shi Ler was saying.

"No ticket, no entry to the park."

"I don't know what you're talking about! Shut up!" Jack shouted—but the surroundings slowly faded, until only a blank white space remained.

With a *thump*, the bat plushies vanished from his hands. Jack stared blankly at the empty air in his arms.