Chapter 794: Chapter 751: Batgirl
"Thank you to the reporters on the front line."
The host in the studio stared seriously at the camera lens and spoke slowly.
"Ladies and gentlemen, as you’ve seen, the deranged criminal has taken 78 officers hostage, including Director Gordon, alongside hundreds of civilians within the precinct. He’s rigged bombs and traps in all directions and has made a mad demand during the broadcast, leaving experts online puzzled over the situation."
The camera switched, showing a split screen. On the left was an elderly man sitting upright, wearing round glasses, and his subtitle indicated he was Dr. Hugo, a psychologist from Black Gate Prison.
Viewers wondered how the TV station managed to contact such an expert during the incident’s short timeline, but such authoritative figures often garner public trust.
The old man adjusted his glasses and leaned in closer to the microphone, seeming unaccustomed to using a computer, and his background looked like a cell.
"I believe this young man is a complete lunatic. He committed serial murders, bombing incidents, and kidnapped government employees—this is a severe mental problem."
The host nodded slightly, responding to prompts in his earpiece: "Dr. Hugo, what are your thoughts on the suspect’s demand to obtain the Moon within an hour?"
The old man’s wrinkled face was twisted together, appearing monstrous under the poor camera quality. Dr. Hugo, unaware of his appearance, leaned closer to the camera and microphone.
"That’s absolute nonsense. Who can bring down the Moon in an hour? No one! We must instruct the National Guard to prepare for an assault."
The host nodded in agreement and turned to the camera: "Now, we invite Harleen Quinzel, chief physician of Arkham Sanatorium, to share her thoughts."
The screen split again, showing a blonde woman with a frosty demeanor, her emotions seemingly frozen, speaking in a monotone voice:
"The suspect is undoubtedly mentally ill, and the demand for the Moon is an expression of psychological trauma. His past shows he’s a paparazzo, adept at stalking victims at night. Without the Moon, he feels safer in darkness."
Dr. Quinzel analyzed with seriousness and displayed exceptional expertise.
The host had little to add and chose to defer to the expert’s judgment, nodding like a pecking chicken: "Dr. Quinzel, do you think there’s any hope of curing the criminal’s mental illness?"
"He has persecutory delusions, and aggression will only make him detonate the bombs prematurely. However, if given a few months to personally converse with him, I am confident in curing his mental issues."
The female doctor lifted her chin, like a proud swan, exuding elegance and grace.
Dr. Hugo, unwilling to lose the spotlight, grabbed the microphone and interrupted: "Conversation therapy is nonsense! The treatment should be surgery—frontal lobotomy coupled with electroshock is the way!"
Dr. Quinzel turned her head with a ’humph,’ ignoring Hugo, arms crossed, leaning back on her chair. Away from the microphone, she seemed to mutter something, barely discernible as an F-word.
Hugo’s eyes turned red, gripping the microphone, his face contorted, spitting out a B-word, soon muted by the crew, yet he continued to display his street English proficiency.
His image vanished swiftly as the host adjusted his demeanor, maintaining professionalism, following directions to move on from Hugo.
"Dr. Quinzel, do you believe the young man’s threat to blow up the bombs and take all officers with him if the Moon isn’t delivered in an hour is genuine?"
Harleen’s mood visibly improved upon Hugo’s disappearance, speaking in a softer tone.
"From my professional perspective, I advise not to doubt threats made by mentally ill patients during episodes. They lack discernment but possess the capability to act on them. Haven’t we witnessed three bombings today?"
"Well, Dr. Qui..."
As the TV screen turned into a white line and vanished to reveal a black screen, the woman in the living room fell silent.
She slumped backward, sinking into the sofa, shielding her eyes with her lotus-like arms, unwilling to believe what she’d seen.
Yet that was the reality—her father, Director Gordon, was held hostage by a complete madman, with the lives of dozens of innocent officers threatened.
Watching the news broadcast where her father was coerced to smile alongside the criminal, she felt her spine begin to ache again.
This shouldn’t be happening.
Why, despite reshaping the world, did Joker reappear?
Indeed, she was well-versed in such antics. While TV experts might not understand, she knew Joker made such seemingly impossible demands to lure Batman into a game.
She’d never seen Joker’s true face. It was reportedly burned by chemicals, later painted ghostly white with large red lips.
That was Gotham’s former nightmare.
Now, the nightmare had returned, yet Batman was absent...
Though she’d experienced much, she remained a second-line hero, forever reliant on Batman for rescue as part of the Bat Clan.
While Joker was devoid of his iconic face paint, he was still forcing others to laugh, his speech style as erratic and unpredictable as ever.
The world had only her, a lone superhero, intent on leading a quiet life.
Even with her eyes covered, the smiling faces and gazes floated across the black background, growing more numerous and larger, threatening to overwhelm her.
She abruptly sat up, refusing to continue this way, lest she be consumed by fear before the madman detonated the bombs.
Without Batman, there’s still Batgirl. She must resolve this crisis, rescuing her father and the officers from Joker’s insanity.
Ordinary troops pose no threat to Joker; in fact, they might be incited to side with him or be controlled by laughing gas. The more people, the happier he becomes.
In this new world, only she understands Joker, and she’s the lone person capable of defeating him.
Barbara took deep breaths, heading to her room. After rummaging in the closet shoeboxes, a hidden door popped open, illuminating the cabinet’s base.
As mechanical gears whirred, a glass case emerged from the floor, standing proudly a dark blue uniform adorned with a yellow bat emblem on the chest.
