Chapter 366: Who is the Devil!
The Interrogation
No father wants anything but happiness for his daughter. While the definition of happiness varies, most fathers hope their daughter finds an honest, kind, devoted husband worthy of lifelong commitment. Given his extensive criminal history, Luke was not a perfect—or even acceptable—choice.
In the dimly lit study, Jim Gordon stared intently at his daughter from his chair. The air pressure around him was extremely low, like the menacing stillness before a storm.
Barbara nervously wrung her hands, occasionally glancing up, then quickly dropping her gaze.
"Dad, I'm sorry. I promise I'll never ignore your calls again."
Jim Gordon clenched his fist, fighting the urge to strike, and pulled a photograph from his pocket.
"Is the person in this photo you?"
Barbara glanced at it, shocked.
"Where did you get that photo? Who took it?"
"It is you, then." Jim Gordon put the photo away, gritting his teeth and roaring, "Last night, you attended the Wayne Manor party with Luke Shaw?"
"..."
"That orange-red dress, the jewelry, the boots—did he buy them for you?"
"..."
"Tell me, what is your relationship with him?"
The barrage of questions left Barbara speechless. Fortunately, she had prepared a story after her intimate time with Luke. Seeing the gravity of the situation, she quickly blurted it out:
"A partnership! Yes, a partnership. We're partners."
"Partners?" Jim Gordon slammed his hand onto the desk, the fury in his eyes nearly materialized. "Barbara, do you think I'm an idiot?!"
The enraged sound nearly lifted the roof.
Barbara's scalp tingled. She quickly tried to explain.
"I'm not lying, really! We're partners. I help him, and he provides money and weapons/equipment. Look, if you don't believe me."
She raised her right hand and lightly twisted the ring on her index finger.
Boom!
An energy blast shot from the ring, leaving a fist-sized circular crater in the wall.
"See? The ring is my payment. He gave me other equipment too."
Jim Gordon frowned slightly, looking at the wall. The crater was seven centimeters deep, showing immense force—enough to instantly kill a person if struck.
After a few seconds of silence, he said coldly,
"Take off the ring."
Barbara didn't dare hesitate, quickly removing the ring and placing it on the desk. Jim Gordon picked up the ring, examined it closely, and then asked,
"How do you use it?"
"Friction-turn it ninety degrees clockwise. It can only be used three times before it needs recharging."
Jim Gordon followed his daughter's instructions and turned the ring. An energy blast shot out, shattering the glass and disappearing out the window.
It's actually true? Jim Gordon was secretly stunned. He couldn't understand the technology in the ring at all; it was far beyond current weapon technology. The rumor that Luke Shaw possessed technology far ahead of the current era seemed to be true.
Barbara secretly watched her father's expression. Seeing it ease somewhat, she quickly added,
"How about that? Isn't it awesome?"
Jim Gordon snorted, tossing the ring onto the desk. It was obvious the ring was meant for self-defense. Though he had a terrible impression of Luke Shaw, he approved of this gesture.
"What else?"
"Wait a moment."
Barbara ran to the living room and dragged the heavy 70-pound briefcase into the study. As the power was turned on, the briefcase glowed blue, splitting into two sections. Black plates extended up and down, joining to form a humanoid frame.
"This is..." Jim Gordon's eyes widened. He stood up from his chair. "Power armor! The power armor from last night!"
Barbara raised her eyebrows, excitedly introducing it.
"This isn't just any power armor. Luke unlocked its full capabilities. Its performance is double that of comparable suits. I relied on it to drive back the criminals last night."
Jim Gordon suppressed his shock and looked at his daughter with a scrutinizing gaze.
"What kind of relationship do you have with Luke Shaw for him to give you something this important?"
"It's not a gift; it's a loan. Luke said that if I can help him retrieve the one hundred suits of power armor stolen by the Court of Owls, he'll give me an even stronger suit."
Jim Gordon fell silent. His daughter's words made him doubt his initial judgment. Was it possible they really were partners and not lovers?
No!
As a criminal boss, Luke Shaw had no shortage of capable people. Why would he seek out Barbara? Barbara was only eighteen. Though smart, she had zero practical combat experience. There was no logical reason for him to partner with her.
Having figured out the missing piece, Jim Gordon slowly raised his head, his sharp eyes seeming to pierce her heart. Barbara squirmed uncomfortably under his gaze, stammering,
"Dad, why are you looking at me like that? I'm not lying. Everything I said is true."
Jim Gordon sighed heavily, his face etched with disappointment.
"Barbara, you're eighteen years old. You're an adult. I won't overly interfere with your personal relationships, but Luke Shaw is an exception. He is a ruthless, cold-blooded man, far more dangerous than the Court of Owls. Regardless of your relationship, starting now, you are not allowed to have any contact with him. You can keep the ring, but the power armor must be returned. I don't want to see you in prison one day."
Barbara was speechless.
"Enough. Say no more. You can leave now."
The girl reluctantly packed up the power armor and left the study.
Inside the room, a troubled Jim Gordon lit a cigarette. When the cigarette was halfway done, he picked up the phone.
"Bourne, light the Bat-Signal."
New Grandmaster
Yesterday's attack caused significant disruption in Gotham City. Fortunately, the high-ranking officials were unusually united, and with the influence of Wayne Enterprises, they managed to suppress the incident.
Most citizens only knew that a group of criminals had tried to rob a bank last night and clashed with the police. Such a case was a minor incident—perfectly normal for Gotham, which had the highest crime rate in the country.
Of course, for those in the know, the attack was far more serious than it appeared on the surface.
The criminal organization named the Court of Owls was waging war on all of Gotham's elite. They failed this time, but who could guarantee they wouldn't return? As the saying goes, it's not the theft you fear, it's the constant worry.
For their own safety and for the future of Gotham City, the judiciary and the political world were united in an unprecedented way, mobilizing all resources to find information related to the Court of Owls.
At the Delk Manor, Cohen Delk, his hands and feet wrapped in bandages, was resting in a chair. Suddenly, a window opened, and with a rush of cold air, a shadow appeared before him—it was the former Talon, William Cobb.
Cohen Delk gripped the armrest and said cautiously,
"Did the Master send you?"
William Cobb pulled a hard drive from his clothes and placed it on the table.
"This is from the Master. The program on the hard drive can breach the power armor's firewall and unlock all of its functions."
Delk glanced at the hard drive, confused.
"Why give this to me?"
"The Master said that the Court of Owls has three Grandmasters. Since one is dead, a new one should take his place. That person must be you. You should become the Master of the Court of Owls."
Delk's heart stirred, filled with a mixture of excitement and dread.
"I... I don't have the necessary qualifications."
William Cobb said nothing more and leaped out the window.
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