Chapter 4: The Bat Watches
The city moved differently now.
Since Carmine Falcone's fall, Gotham's criminal underworld had gone eerily silent. No power struggles, no retaliation—just a seamless transition to an unknown ruler. That alone was enough to raise alarms.
From the shadows of a rooftop, Batman watched.
The crime families hadn't fallen apart. They had fallen in line. That was the most dangerous part. Whoever had taken over wasn't just powerful—they were smart.
"Falcone disappears, and instead of a vacuum, there's order," Bruce muttered. "That's not normal."
"I've been running surveillance," Alfred's voice came through the earpiece. "A few of Falcone's old allies attempted to flee Gotham. They never made it to the airport."
Batman's jaw tightened. Not sloppy. Not reckless. Controlled.
He had narrowed the suspects down to a few possibilities—but none fit. Penguin wouldn't be this subtle. Two-Face lacked the patience. Even the Court of Owls operated with whispers, not silencing an entire crime empire overnight.
Something new had stepped into Gotham.
And it was watching him too.
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Elsewhere
He sat at his desk, fingers steepled, watching live surveillance footage of Batman moving across rooftops. The Bat was investigating.
Expected.
Selina, draped in his bedsheets, stretched lazily on the couch. "You know he'll figure it out eventually."
"I'm counting on it," he said, still watching the screen.
Selina smirked. "You want him to come to you?"
"I want him to realize that he's already too late." He leaned back, tapping the desk. "He thinks he's hunting a criminal. He doesn't understand yet—he's hunting a system."
[Daily Reward: Prototype WayneTech Scrambler Device (Blocks Digital Surveillance & Communications for 30 Minutes)]
His smirk deepened. Convenient.
He activated the device. Wayne Tower's security systems flickered, momentarily blinded.
Just enough time.
He picked up his phone and dialed a secure number.
"Mayor Sharp," he greeted. "Time for our next step."
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