Chapter 379: Sweetheart Candies
The Ball Family Legacy
The "Sweetheart Candies" company was founded at the beginning of the 20th century and has a history of nearly a hundred years. Its owners, the Ball family, are also "famous" in Gotham.
The fifth-generation patriarch, Byrne Ball, was a notorious drug addict who died on his sickbed at a young age. The sixth-generation patriarch, Jack Ball, had an attraction to young boys under the age of thirteen and was arrested for child molestation. He later developed a mysterious "mental illness" and underwent a comprehensive "body-to-soul" transformation at Arkham Asylum. Upon his release, Mr. Ball had become Miss Ball, later participating in the Miss Gotham beauty pageant and earning a respectable fifth place.
The seventh-generation patriarch, Lars Ball, was completely different from his ancestors. He was a talented, striving young man. While his background was somewhat mysterious, his ability was unquestionable. Taking over the company at nineteen, he transformed the near-bankrupt enterprise into the leader of Gotham's food industry in just five years.
Of course, like his "forefathers," Lars Ball was also a member of the Court of Owls, and a highly favored one. When the "Night of Vengeance" began, he didn't hide at home or retreat into the labyrinth like the other members. Instead, he came to his company as usual, sitting in his high-up office, looking down on everything below.
"When the Owls show their Talons, all of Gotham will fall silent," Lars Ball murmured softly, a relaxed smile on his face, like a high-ranking noble looking down on ignorant ants.
"The night is too perfect tonight. Perhaps I should call Susie over."
Thinking of his new secretary, Lars felt a surge of heat. His preference for secretaries differed from the norm: he didn't like single, beautiful women; instead, he was particularly fond of married young women. Every one of his secretaries had been a married woman, and this one was no exception. In his understanding, a married secretary was a good secretary.
Just as Lars took out his phone to send an ambiguous message to his secretary, a large number of footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door.
Bang!
The office door was kicked open, and heavily armed SWAT officers poured into the room.
"Who are you people? Who authorized you to enter?"
Hank, wearing a bulletproof vest, walked forward and slammed a document onto the desk.
"Mr. Ball, this is a warrant for your arrest. You are under arrest."
"Search the place!"
Hank waved his hand. The police behind him began a comprehensive search of the office, acting with extreme roughness—it seemed more like a destructive rampage than a search.
"Stop this! I'll sue you and your lawyers! This is a violation of human rights!"
Lars Ball shouted while trying to reach for his phone, but Hank punched him in the stomach.
"Stop struggling, Mr. Ball. The Owls are finished, and so are you."
The low voice echoed like thunder in his ears. Lars looked up in terror, his panic evident in his eyes.
"The underground entrance to the Court of Owls is directly beneath Sweetheart Candies. We found it."
Lars Ball's body stiffened, and all the color instantly drained from his cheeks, leaving him terribly pale.
"You... you..."
"Mr. Ball, you have only one path now, and that is to cooperate with the police. Otherwise, we'll have to send you to Arkham Asylum. I'm sure your father, Miss Ball, knows exactly what that place is like."
The Labyrinth Entrance
Outside the old factory in the northern part of "Sweetheart Candies," a mixed force composed of armed police, SWAT, the Guard, and plainclothes detectives had completely surrounded the area. Headlights cast fierce white beams, illuminating the surroundings.
Jim Gordon stood inside the warehouse. The movable iron door on the floor had been blasted open, revealing a dark, deep underground entrance. This was one of the Court of Owls' entrances, and the most frequently used one.
Harvey Dent had also arrived. Compared to the silent Jim Gordon, he was extremely excited, even manic.
"It's the last step! What are you waiting for?" Harvey Dent looked impatient. "Give the order quickly! This time, we must dig out the cancerous Court of Owls from Gotham!"
Jim Gordon remained silent, his expression deadly serious, as if he were facing not an entrance, but a terrifying, man-eating beast.
"Jim, what exactly are you hesitating about?"
Jim Gordon turned his head, his voice hoarse.
"The underground labyrinth is complex and massive. Many areas are booby-trapped. It's easy to get in, but difficult to get out. My men won't die in vain."
"You..." Harvey Dent opened his mouth, but noticing the gazes of the surrounding officers, he forcefully waved his arm.
"Then what do you propose? Just stand around waiting? The Court of Owls has more than one entrance. If they seize the opportunity to sneak out elsewhere, all our efforts will be for nothing!"
"I'll go."
A cape rustled. A black shadow descended from the rooftop. Police officers instinctively raised their weapons, but upon seeing who it was, they quickly lowered them.
"Batman!"
Harvey Dent was stunned. Although he had heard plenty about him, this was his first close encounter. Out of curiosity, he took a few extra looks. The costume was as rumored: black armor covering a tall, muscular body, a black cape, and a cowl that obscured most of his face, with two prominent horns on the top.
"I'll go down first. I'll notify you once I find the correct route."
A flicker of hesitation crossed Jim Gordon's eyes, but he finally nodded.
"It's very dangerous down there. Be extremely careful. Come out if you have to." Jim had interacted with Batman many times; they were both colleagues and friends.
Bruce nodded slightly, glanced at Harvey Dent, and turned to glide into the underground entrance. The black passage and his silhouette merged, leaving nothing behind.
Harvey Dent frowned. "Can he actually do it?"
"I don't know," Jim Gordon sighed, rubbing his forehead. "If even he can't do it, our men would just be going in to die."
Luke's Interrogation
At the Coast City mansion.
Luke, wearing a bathrobe, lay in a lounge chair, letting the sea breeze wash over him.
He was aware of the events in Gotham. Everything was going even smoother than expected. Most of the Court of Owls' loyalist soldiers had been eliminated, all the MAX power armor was being recovered, and the biggest surprise was the capture of eight Talons, fundamentally shaking the Court's strength. After this battle, even if the Court of Owls miraculously escaped, they would never return to their previous stature. They were destined to become dust in history, forgotten by everyone.
Footsteps sounded behind him, accompanied by a faint, clean scent.
Luke picked up his juice and took a sip, smiling.
"Have you made up your mind?"
The girl pouted, sitting down next to Luke.
"I feel like you're making a fool of me."
"Making a fool?" Luke asked, puzzled. "How am I making a fool of you?"
"Don't think I can't see it. All of tonight, and the choice you made me choose, were designed in advance."
Luke was silent.
"Your goal was actually to make me work for you, wasn't it?"
The girl stared at Luke, her face set.
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