American comics: Starting in Arkham, a system-based Batman

Chapter 56 For Our Future Battles

Harvey Dent, an ordinary lawyer, voluntarily transferred to become Torres's assistant prosecutor. He came at Batman's invitation to stand here in this courtroom, under the watchful eyes of thousands, to defend the fairness and justice in his heart, opposite the Romans.

He stared intently at the Roman, as if he could see the shadow reflected behind him.

The darkness that stretched out from the shadows was so deep and vast, like solidified ink dripping from the night sky, as if it could swallow the entire city whole.

Lights shone from countless narrow windows in the towering buildings, and men and women strolled along the streets. On the other side, separated by streets and alleys, homeless people rummaged through trash cans, someone snatched a bag and ran away, and someone was forced to retreat to a corner with a gun pointed at them.

Gang members were trading in the warehouse filled with boxes. Some were counting money, others were inspecting goods. The boxes were opened and closed, and the goods inside were briefly illuminated by the moonlight streaming in through the skylight before quickly returning to their original positions.

The glass in the skylight is transparent, and the sound it makes when it breaks is crisp.

When the huge black shadow suddenly attacked from above, everyone below was caught off guard. Chaotic gunshots rang out one after another, only to quickly disappear into the darkness.

The dull thuds of punches landing and the terrified screams of gangsters mingled together, making one's teeth ache just to hear it.

Harvey Dent, who was hiding around the corner outside, didn't know exactly what was happening inside the warehouse, but he realized that something unexpected had occurred.

He waited outside for a long time until there was no more movement inside before tentatively pushing open a small crack in the door to peek inside.

Moonlight streamed through the crack in the door from behind him, illuminating the haphazardly scattered human figures lying on the floor of the warehouse.

The skylight on the roof was broken, and moonlight and shattered glass were scattered all over the ground. The parts not covered by moonlight remained pitch black, as if something unfathomable was lurking inside.

Harvey took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and was about to walk inside.

The moonlight stretched his shadow long and thick, making it appear much larger than he actually was.

He lifted his leg to leave, but was drawn to the two sharp horns protruding from the top of the shadow's head. The shadow beside his leg swayed slightly in the wind, making one break out in a cold sweat.

Harvey suddenly realized that something was standing behind him.

He wasn't a coward, and he suddenly turned around, trying to grab the thing, but when he turned back, he saw nothing.

The outside was deserted, with only garbage bags being blown around and falling in the wind; there wasn't a soul in sight.

Harvey breathed a sigh of relief.

When he turned back, a pair of lifeless white eyes were staring straight at him.

"Who are you?"

The rough voice sounded hoarse and unpleasant, as if his throat had been burned by charcoal. Harvey was startled and involuntarily took a big step back.

He clutched his chest, barely managing to steady himself, and looked at the guy who had suddenly appeared before him with lingering fear.

A black, pointed-ear hood, a bat-shaped icon on the chest, a long, jagged cape...

"Batman!"

Harvey recognized the man instantly. His eyes widened. "What are you doing here?"

"No, it's not normal for you to be here. The media is reporting on your fight against the gangs." Harvey muttered to himself, realizing his mistake as soon as he finished asking the question.

Batman didn't care about any of that, he just moved a little closer to Harvey, "Who are you?"

"I am Harvey Dent, a lawyer."

He raised his hands high above his head, as if afraid of angering Batman. "Relax, I mean no harm."

"I came here mainly because of my client, who was the original owner of this warehouse. The gang requisitioned this place and later simply took over the warehouse, forcibly buying it at an extremely low price."

Harvey explained his reason for being there: "I want to document gang criminal activities so I can help my client reclaim the warehouse in court."

Batman didn't say anything, but reached into the suit pocket on his side and took out his phone to check.

"...Why haven't those old bastards arrived yet? Maybe they can't raise the money and are trying to renege on their debt..."

The voices of gangsters talking came through the phone, mixed with the rustling sounds of footsteps.

"Now you can trust me, right?" Harvey looked at Batman, tentatively lowering his hand, before looking past him at the gangsters lying on the floor in the warehouse. "What are you planning to do with them now...?"

Harvey turned around, only to find that the other person had disappeared without him noticing.

"……them."

"Okay, okay, those elusive bats." Harvey shrugged.

He thought this would be his only interaction with Batman, but a few days later, the shadowy figure sneaked into his room.

At this time, news had just emerged that Romans were being prosecuted by prosecutors in connection with the Arkham affair.

"Would you like a drink?"

Harvey poured himself a glass of red wine and raised it to Batman, who was hiding in the darkness. "To the reason you came here today, and to the battle that lies ahead."

Batman took a few steps and took the glass from Harvey's hand.

What happened that night was a secret known only to the two of them, but their determination to make Gotham a better place was not.

Harvey Dent is not shy about showing his determination and courage, even if what he does seems like a futile effort to others. But if everyone thinks that way, Gotham will not be any better.

He stood in court with this determination, facing the Romans.

The well-dressed old man smiled at him, seemingly unconcerned by his righteous words.

"Young people... are just too proud and arrogant."

Falcone looked away, turning his gaze to the judge on the high seat. "We can continue."

The debate was abruptly interrupted, and no one spoke up to stop it until Falcone spoke, at which point the stagnant air seemed to begin to move again.

The judge struck the gavel. "The prosecution and its lawyers, do you have anything to say regarding the prosecution's allegations?"

"certainly."

Although he was at a disadvantage, the lawyer quickly rallied, "Regarding the prosecution's allegations, I..."

He stared at Harvey Dent, his wide eyes reflecting the other's bewildered expression and the red dot that had suddenly appeared on his forehead.

"Get down! There's a sniper!"

A loud shout suddenly came from behind, some people screamed, some rolled under the table, and panic instantly spread throughout the courtroom.

The sharp sounds of tables and chairs being overturned and pushed aside pierced the eardrums. In the chaos, the ink bottle on the prosecutor's desk was knocked over. Torres scrambled to hide under the table, but did not notice that large stains had spread across the documents.

But Harvey Dent saw it.

His attention was completely drawn to the ink stains on the documents. He wanted to collect all the surviving documents, he wanted to preserve the evidence, he wanted to…

"boom--"

A shot rang out.