Chapter 376: The Showdown!
Waiting for the Call
Inside a Coast City mansion in Gotham City, Luke, dressed in casual clothes, leaned against the window, quietly admiring the city lights in the distance.
Barbara surveyed the room, confused.
"Didn't you say we were going to Metropolis?"
Luke smiled. "I'm waiting for a call."
"A call? Whose call?"
"Your father's."
The girl frowned. "Dad already agreed. Is he going to go back on his word?"
Luke laughed heartily.
"It's not about going back on his word; it's about something else."
With a wave of his hand, a massive model of the city appeared in mid-air. The city was composed of data streams, with several unusually bright points of light.
"Do you know which city this is?"
The girl was stunned, staring intently ahead. As a few familiar buildings came into view, her pretty face finally changed.
"Gotham? This is Gotham City."
"Correct, it is Gotham. As for those light sources, they are nothing more than the eighty-five stolen power armor suits."
Barbara's eyes widened. She looked at the model, then at Luke, her face filled with confusion. She didn't quite understand his words.
Luke offered no further explanation. He tipped back his head and drained the red wine in his glass.
"This model map is exactly what your father desperately needs. Should I give it to him, do you think?"
The girl was bewildered. For some reason, Luke felt strangely unfamiliar to her now.
"You... what exactly are you doing?"
"You'll find out in a moment."
Luke closed his eyes, silently counting. When he reached ten, his phone rang. It was Jim Gordon.
"Your father's calling. Should I answer?"
Barbara pursed her lips, remaining silent.
Luke shook his head, pressing the speaker button.
"Commissioner Gordon, what can I do for you?"
Jim Gordon's urgent voice came through the phone. "Is Barbara with you?"
Luke glanced at the girl.
"No."
"Good. Luke Shaw, I'm asking you seriously: do you have a way to locate the power armor?"
Luke paused, seemingly hesitant.
"Do you or don't you? Tell me quickly."
Luke looked at the girl again, then said coldly, "Yes."
"Give it to me. No matter the condition, name your price, and I will consider it."
After a brief silence, Luke spoke slowly,
"No conditions necessary. The information will be delivered to the City Hall in half an hour."
He hung up the phone and walked to the balcony.
Barbara chased after him. "Luke, what is going on? I don't understand your conversation. Have you known the location of the hijacked armor all along?"
Luke lit a cigarette and took a long drag. "I personally designed the MAX program. As soon as someone activates the core program, I can locate them." He turned around, his eyes incredibly deep. "This secret was not written into the contract with the Department of Defense. The only people who know about it are me, you, and your father. But after tonight, many people will know."
"Do you know what this means?"
The girl said nothing, only watching him.
Luke sighed. "I hadn't intended to interfere with Gotham's affairs. The Court of Owls is a quagmire; once you step in, it's hard to get out. But now, some things must be done."
"Barbara, I'm going to help your father one more time, to solve this problem with the Owls. After this is over, I may run into some trouble and won't be able to see you for a while."
"Dior!"
The door opened, and a man named Dior, wearing a dark brown power armor, walked in. His armor was completely different from the MAX—it was more slender, form-fitting, and exquisite. If the MAX was a general on the battlefield, this was an assassin hiding in the shadows. This suit was custom-built by Luke for his subordinates and was called the Shadow Flyer.
"Boss."
"Are you all ready?"
"Personnel and equipment are all prepared. We are just waiting for your command."
"Then let's begin. Take the information to the City Hall and hand it over to District Attorney Harvey Dent. After that, intercept the Court of Owls members. Dead or alive, it doesn't matter."
"Understood."
Dior nodded slightly and left.
Soon, thirty soldiers in power armor poured out of the basement. Led by Dior, they headed straight for Gotham City Hall.
Barbara watched the scene silently, feeling a sense of unreality, like a friend you grew up with had suddenly transformed into the embodiment of terror.
Luke walked to the liquor cabinet, poured half a glass of red wine, and, while swirling it, said,
"Your father must have mentioned who I am, right?"
"He said you were the head of the West Coast underworld, your hands are stained with blood, and you are a very... very..."
"A very dangerous person, right?"
The girl gave an embarrassed smile, trying to explain herself but swallowing her words.
"He's not wrong. I am indeed the crime boss of Coast City. I've led a crew since I was eleven, wiping out nearly half the gangs in the area. The people who died by my hand are countless."
"Faced with a person like me, what should you do?"
The girl nervously pinched her fingers, looking constrained.
"You are the Police Commissioner's daughter. You've received the most orthodox education, believing in the law, justice, and principles. A person like you shouldn't have any interaction with me. But fate is truly strange."
"Barbara, I'm giving you two choices now: One, stay and be with me; two, leave and walk your original path."
Luke truly admired Barbara. Her innate super-high IQ and eidetic memory gave her incredible insight, judgment, and logical thinking ability. She had the potential to be a super-scientist or a top-tier hacker, not to mention her extraordinary talent in combat. Such talent was globally rare, and more importantly, she was beautiful. Luke would regret it deeply if he let her go.
Talent is hard to find, but winning their heart is even harder.
Barbara wasn't a typical girl easily fooled by sweet words. She had her own internal code of conduct, knowing what she should and shouldn't do, upholding her bottom line just like her father.
If classified by D&D alignment, Barbara was Lawful Good, and Luke was thoroughly Lawful Evil. Their views on morality were vastly different.
Winning over such a person would be difficult unless Luke changed his path to become a vigilante like Bruce Wayne. Unfortunately, that would never happen. Luke had no ill will or fondness for superheroes; he simply viewed them as an inevitable product of their environment.
The DC world was not like ordinary Earth. It had angels, demons, magic, technology, aliens, metahumans, super-powered beings, cultists, maniacs, and more. Disasters occurred daily. The government struggled even to maintain control, let alone curb crime. When the government couldn't guarantee the public's safety, superheroes were born—they were a product of the times, and no one could stop them.
Barbara's goal was to become a superhero and fight crime, just like her father. This was Luke's biggest headache.
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