On the outskirts of Gotham,
Beneath Wayne Manor,
Inside the Batcave.
Tim stared at the report detailing Two Face's crimes on the screen, his expression heavy.
Just then, footsteps sounded from above.
A tall, slender butler descended the stairs, carrying a tray in his hands.
"Tim, would you like something to eat? I made you a pizza."
"Thanks, Alfred. Just leave it on the table. I'll eat it later."
Tim replied without turning around.
"Harvey has been overtaken by his darker side once again. He used to be the best man in this city. We all believed he would become Gotham's savior, even Master Bruce did. And now he's become one of Gotham's most notorious supervillains. How did things end up like this?"
Alfred walked over, set the pizza down beside Tim, and spoke with a sigh.
"The bottle of acid Maroni threw at him, the one that disfigured him? No. That was merely the fuse. It ignited the darkness that already existed within him. His second personality may have been there long before that." Tim picked up the thread of Alfred's words.
"I often wonder, if Two Face had never been born, if Harvey had remained the same Harvey, would Master Bruce be less distrustful of the world? Would life have been a little easier for him, and for all of you?"
Alfred lifted his gaze toward an unseen point in the distance.
"Perhaps. But there are no 'ifs' in reality. Harvey Dent, who once embodied justice, ultimately became Two Face. While I don't entirely agree with some of Bruce's views, I understand him. If even a man like Harvey could fall, then who in this world is truly incorruptible? That is why Batman chooses to remain skeptical of everything."
Tim stretched his arms, leaned back in his chair, and grabbed a slice of pizza, stuffing it into his mouth.
"Either way, Two Face, who's been missing for a long time, has resurfaced and resumed his crimes. What we need to do now is catch him. Everything else can wait."
"Is there anything I can help with?" Alfred asked.
"Of course. Please make me a cup of coffee. Thanks."
...
Meanwhile,
In the Baileys District,
At the shopping mall robbed by Two Face the night before.
Gordon arrived with a group of officers, sealed off the entire mall, and began investigating the shops that had been attacked.
"Jim, how long has it been since Harvey last showed his face?"
A slightly overweight middle aged detective walked up to Gordon and asked in a familiar tone.
His name was Harvey Bullock, sharing the same first name as Two Face.
He had been Gordon's partner when Gordon first joined the GCPD, and the two had worked together for over twenty years as colleagues and friends.
"Two years. It's been a full two years. The third Robin appeared around that same time."
Gordon recalled the timeline.
"Yeah. If I remember correctly, that kid's first opponent was Two Face. Hard to imagine a teenager going up against someone that dangerous and actually winning."
Bullock nodded.
"Harvey was originally defeated by Batman and Robin, but while being transported to court, the prison van was attacked by unknown assailants who broke him out. After that, there was no word of Harvey until yesterday, when he resurfaced."
Gordon turned to Bullock.
"Bullock, how's the investigation inside?"
Bullock shook his head grimly.
"Probably the same as always. Not many useful leads. Two Face isn't an ordinary criminal. He knows police procedures inside and out, and he deliberately erases any traces he leaves behind."
Gordon had to admit Bullock was right.
That was exactly what made Two Face so difficult to deal with.
Sure enough, when the search concluded, they came up empty handed.
In fact, there was one small discovery.
One of the officers found a bullet that had pierced the clerk's forehead in the jewelry store. A ballistic analysis might yield some clues.
Even so, the lead was unlikely to be of much help in catching Two Face.
"We just dealt with the Riddler not long ago, and now Two Face is back to stir things up," Gordon said. "I've got a bad feeling about this. It feels like something big is about to happen in Gotham."
He took a pipe from his coat and lit it. The pressure weighing on him made it hard to resist taking a few puffs.
"Jim, you still keep that precious pipe of yours?" Bullock said with a grin. "Aren't you afraid your daughter will confiscate it again?"
Seeing Gordon smoke, Bullock pulled out a pack of cigarettes of his own, lit one, and teased him.
"I hide it in my office every day," Gordon said with a sigh. "All the tobacco at home was thrown out by Barbara."
"In last year's physical, your lungs weren't in great shape, were they?"
"It's fine. The doctor said there's no risk of lesions for at least a few years."
"But that's assuming you start quitting, right?"
Gordon fell silent for a moment.
"If you've got the energy to lecture me, why haven't you quit yourself? I'm sure your health isn't any better than mine."
"Can't quit. The only reason I haven't gone crazy yet is because this stuff keeps me going. If I really quit, I'd probably be in Arkham by tomorrow."
Living in Gotham was no easy thing, and being a police officer in Gotham meant standing on the edge of a breakdown every single day.
The turnover rate at the GCPD was exceptionally high. It was rare to see an officer with more than three years on the force. And it wasn't only because of deaths in the line of duty. Most people resigned simply because they could not withstand the pressure.
Recruitment, on the other hand, was just as frequent. Wayne Enterprises donated large sums to the GCPD every year, making the benefits for Gotham police officers several times higher than the state average. With rewards like that, there were always people willing to risk their lives.
As for veterans like Gordon and Bullock, who had served for over twenty years, without tobacco to relieve the stress, even if they had not truly gone insane by now, they would certainly be far more mentally exhausted.
"We probably won't find any more clues at the crime scene," Gordon said after taking one last puff, his expression resolute. "Starting today, I'm increasing patrol numbers across Gotham and paying special attention to any locations or vehicles related to the number two."
"We absolutely cannot let Harvey keep going down this path."
...
Meanwhile, on a street in one of Gotham's neighborhoods.
"Hm hmm Hmm mHmm~~♫"
Darren was strolling down the street at an unhurried pace.
"It's been a while since the Riddler incident. Time to think about the next target. Last time, I accepted a challenge from the Riddler. This time, I'll take the initiative."
"What should I steal? A giant diamond? Pearls? Or a famous painting?"
Lost in thought, Darren walked up to a newsstand and was immediately drawn to the front page of today's newspaper.
Two Face.
"Hm? Two Face, missing for two years, has resurfaced and robbed a mall in the Baileys District…"
He picked up the paper and read it carefully.
"Got it. I've got a great idea. I've decided. For my next target.. I chose you!"
______
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