Chapter 159: Where Everyone Is
Gotham City.
Night had fallen, and the city lights flickered on.
Even with Batman's presence improving the crime situation, gray areas still existed.
In a dangerous alley where local police wouldn't dare to tread, a nightclub blazed with red and green lights, neon flickering chaotically, and loud, intense music pounding like a steel flood.
Tall, burly men and scantily-clad women danced wildly, faces twisted in ecstasy. Some stuffed wads of cash and bottles of wine into the breasts of voluptuous women, eliciting soft, flirtatious laughter.
At a bar counter in the middle of all this.
A girl with dyed twin-tails sat alone, drinking. Her delicate pale face was painted in chaotic clown makeup. On her slender neck were faint bruises and cat paw marks. She wore a black strapless vest, exposing her poker-card tattooed waist and navel. Red hot pants hugged her hips as she perched on a bar stool, radiating allure.
Her looks and figure made her the center of attention, with a natural sex appeal drawing glances from all around.
Yet no one dared approach.
Her long legs, clad in black fishnet stockings, tapped absentmindedly as she swirled the wine in her glass. A black strap, like a pet collar, covered the paw mark on her neck.
At that moment.
A group of men entered through a side door. The leader, a burly man, spotted the twin-tail girl and whistled loudly. "Oh, my God! Isn't this Gotham's queen—Harley Quinn? When did you escape the asylum or prison?!"
"I heard you broke up with the Joker. Have you considered letting me be your new boyfriend?" The man's gaze roamed over her exposed skin, brimming with aggressive intent.
"Sure!"
Harley set down her glass, grinning wildly. She pushed forward one long leg provocatively, her shorts barely covering her.
The man's eyes gleamed. Ignoring his crew's warnings, he lunged to grab her leg.
The instant his hand touched her leg, he screamed like a butchered pig. Pain shot through his fingers as if pierced by countless tiny spikes, blood gushing dark as ink. His body convulsed violently.
Less than three seconds later.
The nearly two-meter-tall man fell backward, lifeless, his face frozen in pain and terror.
Harley ignored the panicked patrons fleeing the bar. She swirled her wine, took a sip, and muttered softly, "Black cat… where are you…"
…
Eastern Africa.
One of the poorest, most remote regions in the world. Human presence was sparse.
For tens of kilometers, no proper villages existed—only jungles, savannahs, endless mountains and canyons. It was a paradise for wild animals and poachers alike.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots erupted, startling birds in the dense forest before fading.
Beside a blood-soaked bush lay the bodies of men dressed as poachers. Their loaded rifles still clutched, their torsos, necks, and limbs bore fatal claw marks. Clothes and flesh were sliced open, revealing pale bones and innards.
Nearby, a clear stream flowed.
Sunlight fell on the figure of a woman by the stream. Tail, fur, ears, and claws all gone, revealing a beautiful, mature woman cleaning blood from her hands.
Her golden curls fell lazily on her shoulders. Barefoot, she walked lightly with a catlike grace. Her tight suit accentuated her full figure, an elegant presence at odds with the wild environment.
"Should be around here, Wakanda…"
Panther-woman Barbara licked her fingers, eyes glinting with resolve and fury. "Diana, just wait. Once I grow stronger, I'll come back and reclaim my prey!"
"That child—I've got my eyes on him!"
…
Los Angeles.
Downtown, atop skyscrapers.
Former biotech company, now the headquarters of the Fantastic Four.
The new superhero team's fame in the city was growing. They conducted research during the day and acted as heroes when extraordinary incidents arose.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
A phone rang in the office.
A short-haired woman, dressed in a pristine white skirt suit, rushed in, taking a bite of toast. Her bright face and model-like figure made her look professional and attractive.
She picked up the phone. "Hello, this is the Fantastic Four office. I'm the manager, Susan."
"Really? Are you sure there's no one by that name? No boy named Max Eisenhart or girl named Polaris in Los Angeles? Okay, understood."
Susan hung up, clenched her fist, and bit into the toast with confounded determination.
"All fabricated… but don't think I won't find them."
…
Washington.
High school, teacher's office.
"Yes, all students and parents, including our instructors and drivers, are safe!"
"Indeed. Who knew a giant wave disaster would strike? Thanks to Wonder Woman and Spider-Woman for the timely rescue…"
Deputy Instructor Felicia Hardy sat in her chair, answering call after call.
"Yes, the last missing student—Xi Nian Prince—has been found. He was swept to the beach near the town. Safe and sound."
After hanging up, Felicia leaned back, her white shirt straining at the chest. Her long, silky white hair shimmered in the sunlight.
Alone in the office, she lifted her feet clad in black socks, tapping the desk corner. The chair spun, along with her hair lifting gracefully.
"Glad you're safe…"
She whispered softly, closing her eyes. Her long lashes now shimmered with an unusual silver glow.
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