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

Chapter 2 An Ordinary Crime Capital

If Batman still had a body when his consciousness responded unconsciously, then Jung Eun would have seen his face visibly darken.

Batman, or rather Bruce Wayne resurrected as Batman's mentor, discovers that he remembers nothing but Batman.

What had happened to him before?

Has someone erased his memory?

Why did he respond subconsciously?

These issues are of paramount importance to Batman, and at the same time, a passage of text surfaces in his mind.

[A system mentoring agreement has been signed]

[Some content has been blocked in accordance with the agreement]

Then came a long stretch of text, which Batman scanned word for word. He realized it was a contract, an agreement.

According to the agreement, the system will guide him and the body's owner, a man named "Jung Eun," through preliminary tasks in the form of a game.

Everything inside revolves around the owner of this body, and its core purpose is just as the system's name suggests: a life simulator.

Just like in a game.

After completing the task, he will officially take over system privileges.

Batman then recalled a fragment of his memory: standing inside the watchtower, gazing at the universe from the window.

The world vanished like dust, swept away and diluted by an invisible wave. The alarm beeped, and countless dots on the screen turned red and disappeared.

There was no one around, yet he seemed to be talking to someone.

"Yes, that's what I'll do..."

"I'm sure..."

After regaining consciousness, it took the form it has now.

As a mentor, he has an obligation to answer players' questions about their identity, which is why he previously answered automatically.

Players, games, life simulators.

Batman highlighted these words, and while pondering them, he also observed his surroundings.

Although his consciousness was trapped inside this body, what he could "see" was not limited to Jung Eun's field of vision. If a comparison had to be made, it was more like a 360-degree surveillance camera.

The surrounding sounds were also clearly audible; the two police officers were talking.

It was supposed to be a conversation, but in reality, Marshall did most of the talking.

"Harvey, you're a smart man. After working in the GCPD (Gotham City Police Department) for so long, you should know that no one here, or rather, no one in this city, from top to bottom, is innocent."

Marshall had already put away his gun; perhaps in his view, once you enter Arkham, no one can escape.

"People like us who don't have a wealthy family background have to pay a price and have some conscience if we want to live comfortably and with dignity in this city."

After passing through the gate surrounded by iron railings, you have to cross a grassy area before you can enter the building.

Marshall walked at the front, and was the first to step into the shadow of the building. The blurred dividing line, made indistinct by the light of the sky, separated him from Harvey and Jung Eun.

"But actually, conscience isn't worth much. In Gotham, there are too many people selling their conscience. You need to have a certain status to have the key to getting a good price for your conscience."

"For example, becoming a police officer."

Upon hearing this, Jung Eun couldn't help but wonder about Batman's reaction.

What do you think, Batman?

Anyone who knows even a little about Batman knows that he loves Gotham City. Even though he is well aware of the city's darkness and evil, he constantly tries his best to change and save the city and everyone in it.

Like Sisyphus, who pushes a boulder and never yields.

Batman did not respond immediately, but he did say, "This is one side of Gotham."

He realized that Jung Eun knew him to some extent.

Why?

Was Zheng En a Gotham native before? Or is the other person a five-dimensional being like a bat mite or a troublemaker?

But Batman didn't say anything.

He could no longer extract confessions as he used to when interrogating criminals, and he trusted his own observations and judgments more than Zheng En's verbal statements.

Following the police officers inside, they could see a burly man dressed as a caregiver waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Marshall approach, he relayed, "The hospital director is already waiting for you on the fourth floor."

"Thanks." Marshall nodded to him and walked confidently toward the elevator.

Harvey lagged behind, with Jung Eun sandwiched in the middle, her eyes discreetly scanning the surroundings to roughly memorize the layout of the hospital.

Seeing this, Batman secretly noted his actions. This person had a certain level of reconnaissance awareness, but was still within the realm of ordinary people.

"Stop dawdling, Harvey. You walk slower than these stowaways."

Hearing Marshall's greeting, Harvey quickened his pace, "You're walking too fast. I have to keep an eye on him."

"yes."

Marshall neither denied Harvey's excuse nor denied it. "The director of this mental hospital is connected to Falcone; in other words, this place is under Falcone's protection."

“I’ve heard of that,” Harvey replied. “Falcone, the gang leader nicknamed the Roman.”

"When his gang members committed crimes, Arkham would issue them mental illness certificates. No matter how serious the crime, as long as they came over for a few days and got a diagnosis, they could easily be exonerated."

"But what does that have to do with bringing this person here?"

After Harvey caught up, Marshall slowed down. "How should I know? They want people, so I'll just give them away."

"It's nothing more than things that you and I can guess: organ trafficking, human trafficking, human experimentation... basically, transactions that require human beings to conduct."

Upon hearing this, Harvey couldn't help but turn to look at Jung En. Marshall spoke without any restraint simply because this man couldn't understand their language. Even after noticing his gaze, Jung En could only offer an awkward smile.

This Asian man was like a lamb raised in a greenhouse, with a fair complexion, gentle eyes, and a submissive, bookish look.

Although he didn't know how he got to Gotham, Harvey didn't think he was an illegal immigrant. When agreeing with Marshall, Harvey didn't give it much thought; a simple police investigation would reveal the truth.

He never expected that both the Asian man and he himself would end up in Arkham.

Looking at Jung Eun's blank and innocent eyes, Harvey couldn't help but sigh.

“But Marshall, the longer I look at him, the less I think he looks like an illegal immigrant,” Harvey tried to convince Marshall. “He’s probably a college student who just arrived in Gotham.” He grabbed Zheng En’s hand. “Look at his hands, not a single callus. The skin is so soft and smooth.”

"It's okay, we're already here, whether we were smuggled or not doesn't matter."

Marshall didn't care. If someone came looking for Zheng En later, it would actually tie Harvey to this pirate ship. "It's just one person missing, it won't cause much of a stir."

You guys in Gotham are really something.

Zheng En was just pretending to be stupid, not really stupid. He felt powerless as he listened. Gotham might not be the only lawless place, but Gotham was most likely a lawless place.

He cried out in his heart, "Batman, can't you do something about them?"

He knew his words were unreasonable and he didn't expect the other party to respond.

Batman didn't know where his trust in him came from, but he noticed it and consciously deepened it, saying, "I'll get you out of here."

Jung Eun, who knows nothing: It feels so good to have Batman backing me up.

Then he felt something scratching his hand. He stared wide-eyed at Harvey holding his hand, and then at the other man's big belly and stubble-faced face.

Zheng En tugged at it but couldn't budge it.

No, man, is this right?

You American comics—

Zheng En's inner thoughts were so intense that even when Batman wasn't talking to him, he could sense the other man's emotional fluctuations.

This person is just like his appearance: innocent, naive... a student with a somewhat overactive mind.

Batman reminded him, "...watch his gestures."

After hearing what the other person said, Jung Eun realized that Harvey was writing in her palm.

run.

He felt embarrassed; it turned out to be a reminder to run away. Look at the mess he'd made.