Chapter 369: Talon vs. Talon
Batman's Deduction and Barbara's Identity
Alfred never doubted his young master's judgment, as Bruce could always find the right clue within complex intelligence. But this time, he was confused.
"Why would Luke Shaw bother the Court of Owls? Is it really just for the stolen power armor?"
"The Department of Defense has already paid Tesla's account. In principle, the armor has nothing to do with Tesla. The FBI and the DEO should be the most anxious ones. Yet, the opposite is true. Why would Luke Shaw, the president of Tesla, personally come to Gotham? His goal can't possibly just be the armor." Bruce clenched his fist, stating with certainty,
"He definitely has other motives."
Alfred sighed inwardly.
"What do you plan to do next? Investigating him won't be easy."
Bruce shook his head and changed the subject.
"Have you found the identity of that girl yet?"
At the mention of the girl, Alfred's expression turned odd. He placed a photo down as he spoke.
"You may not believe it, but the girl's name is Barbara Gordon. Her father is your old acquaintance, Commissioner Gordon."
"Hmm?" Bruce paused.
"Are you sure?"
Alfred nodded, chuckling softly. "That orange-red, low-cut dress was purchased at a clothing store under Wayne Enterprises. I've already spoken with the owner, and the person who came with Barbara was indeed Luke Shaw."
"The Police Commissioner's daughter is dating a gang leader. The world truly is interesting."
Bruce ignored his butler's teasing, picking up the photo. It showed Luke and Barbara chatting and smiling as they left the clothing store, carrying many shopping bags.
"Does Jim Gordon know?"
"Definitely not."
"Why are you so sure?"
Alfred sighed, speaking with gravitas.
"Master Wayne, you don't have children; you wouldn't understand a father's feelings. No father would want his daughter dating a man like Luke Shaw."
Bruce was thoughtful for a moment.
Alfred continued, "I've investigated the Grayson family's background. They have few surviving members, with only Dick Grayson remaining. If that Talon truly is related to John Grayson, as you hypothesize..." He shrugged. "The probability of that is very low."
"Where is the boy now?"
"After his parents died, he stayed at the circus for a while, but was later forced out for some reason..."
"A street kid?"
"Yes. Should I bring him back?"
Bruce closed his eyes and shook his head. "Place him in a welfare home for now."
The Encounter on the Docks
If Dick Grayson's life were divided into two parts, the first thirteen years were paradise, and the time after has been nothing short of hell.
The accidental death of his parents dealt Dick a massive blow, at one point making him contemplate suicide. Thankfully, there were many kind people at the circus. Under their care, he finally overcame his depression and became a vibrant boy again.
Unfortunately, everything came to a halt four months ago.
That day, he went to fetch some items and saw a group of thugs enter the ringmaster's office. Curiosity led him to eavesdrop, and he heard the truth: his parents didn't die by accident. Because the ringmaster refused to pay protection money to a gang, they retaliated by soaking the trapeze ropes in strong acid. His unaware parents fell to their deaths.
Furious at the truth, Dick rushed to the nearby police station to report the crime. Instead, the police sent him to a correctional facility on some vague charges, where he was held for half a month before being released.
For the sake of his business and to avoid trouble, the ringmaster threw Dick out of the circus. Since then, Dick has been a homeless street kid. Though he has no fixed residence, he has never forgotten revenge, taking every opportunity to harass the gang.
Having trained in the circus since childhood, Dick had excellent physical conditioning; ordinary people were truly no match for him.
The series of attacks enraged the gang leader, Tony Zucco, who ordered his men to search the entire city for Dick. After several days of investigation, they finally located Dick's hiding spot.
Under the cover of night, a dozen armed gang members appeared outside an abandoned building by the shore.
Suddenly...
With a deafening roar, the building exploded. Wood and beams collapsed downward. Four unlucky thugs who failed to dodge were instantly crushed beneath the rubble.
One man yelled, "We found him! He's on the beach! Don't let him get away!"
The others quickly rushed toward the beach. Dick gritted his teeth, unwilling to give up. He could handle one or two, but facing over a dozen surging enemies, he could only run.
Dick Grayson had great physical ability, but even the best body couldn't withstand being chased and cornered. Before long, he was trapped in a small shack on the pier.
His throat felt like it was on fire. Listening to the vulgar insults from outside, Dick's face flushed crimson. He gripped his dagger, wishing he could tear them to pieces. These bastards had killed his parents and were shamelessly insulting them.
Just then, screams sounded outside, followed by the fierce noises of a struggle and the desperate cries of people dying. The fight was brief; the sounds vanished in just half a minute. The surroundings became extremely quiet, but the smell of blood in the air was overwhelmingly thick.
Dick shivered, feeling the terrifying sensation of being watched by a beast.
He cautiously pushed the door open and looked out. In the dim moonlight, a tall figure stood by the sea, the short sword in his hand dripping with crimson blood.
"Father!" Dick blurted out, then instantly snapped back to reality. "No, you're not my father. Who are you?"
The man resembled his father, but there was a distinct difference in age and build.
"You... you..." Dick looked around. When he saw the bodies scattered on the beach, a chill shot to the top of his head. "You killed all of them!"
William Cobb silently watched the young boy before him, his expression immensely complex. Blood ties were truly strange; he saw a reflection of his own youth in this child.
"Dick Grayson?"
Dick instinctively stepped back, veins throbbing on the back of his hand. "How do you know my name? What... what do you want?"
"Why are these people hunting you?"
"Why do you ask? It has nothing to do with you."
"Answer my question."
Dick hesitated for a few seconds. Sensing the man had no intention of attacking him, he whispered,
"They killed my parents."
"John and Mary?"
Dick looked up, confusion etched on his face. "You know my parents? Who exactly are you?"
William Cobb did not answer. He pulled an envelope from his clothing and placed it on the ground. Then, he turned and left. Just as he was about to exit the pier, he was forced to stop.
On the deserted beach, four mysterious figures wearing Falcon Masks marched abreast, their black short swords seemingly swallowing the moonlight.
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