mousepad-d2 Chapter 132 Incoherent Speech
Chapter 132 Incoherent Speech
Chapter 132 Incoherent Speech
"Leeway? What happened?" Alfred's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible tension; he had clearly also noticed the unusual situation in Gotham.
Upon hearing Alfred's voice, Levi's emotions, which he had been holding back, collapsed instantly.
His voice trembled uncontrollably, and he could barely speak a complete sentence, only able to speak intermittently.
"Alfred...Bruce...He's in trouble...in the alley next to the office building downtown...Quick...come quick...he's badly injured...unconscious..."
He spoke incoherently, quickly describing his location and Bruce's injuries: spinal deformity, multiple fractures, unconscious, and barely breathing. With each word he uttered, he felt a growing sense of guilt.
Alfred immediately said in a deep voice over the communicator, "Levy, don't panic. Keep an eye on Bruce. I'll be right there in three minutes, three minutes at most."
His voice was calm and firm, like a stabilizing force, which calmed Li Wei's flustered heart a little.
"Okay." Li Wei said only one word before hanging up the communicator, stuffing it back into his pocket, and then squatting down to look at Bruce, who was huddled in the corner.
In the darkness, Bruce's face was as pale as paper, devoid of any color. His hair was stuck to his forehead with sweat and blood, obscuring his eyes and brows, which were still slightly furrowed, as if he were still enduring endless pain.
His lips were cracked, and the blood at the corner of his mouth had congealed into a dark brown color, dripping down his jawline onto the cold cement floor, leaving a thin trail of blood.
His battle armor was tattered and torn, blood soaking through the fabric and clinging to his skin. His exposed arms hung at an odd angle, and the unnatural curve of his spine, even in the dim light, was painfully piercing. His body was motionless, with only the extremely subtle rise and fall of his chest proving that he was still alive.
The detached mask rolled beside him, its black surface stained with blood and dust, a crack appearing on its once smooth surface, much like Bruce's now fragmented body.
Looking at Bruce's lifeless appearance, Li Wei slowly clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white, his nails digging deep into his palm, making the already cracked wound even deeper. Blood dripped from between his fingers, hitting the cement ground with a soft pattering sound that was particularly clear in the quiet alley.
He was completely unaware of what was happening; his heart was filled with endless guilt and anger, like a raging tsunami that threatened to engulf him.
He felt guilty because he knew exactly how the plot was going to go, he knew Bane would destroy Batman, and he had made so many preparations in advance, yet he still couldn't stop it from happening.
He witnessed Bruce's downfall, but could only stand by and watch helplessly, without even the courage to step forward and help. This sense of powerlessness was more painful to him than any wound.
The anger stemmed from Bane's cruelty and arrogance. He trampled Bruce's dignity underfoot, shattered Gotham's hopes, and threw Bruce into an open space in the city center to display his spoils to the entire city. This unbridled cruelty ignited a raging fire in Levi's heart.
He was also angry at his own weakness, angry that he didn't have enough power to protect Bruce, to protect Gotham, and could only hide in the shadows like a turtle, watching everything happen, but powerless to do anything about it.
He remembered Bruce leaning against the stone wall, even though he was covered in wounds and had a broken arm, he still stared intently at Bane, the light in his eyes never fading. He remembered Bruce's hoarse voice saying, "Gotham will not yield, justice will not be absent." He remembered Bruce's years of lonely perseverance and everything he had sacrificed for Gotham.
Bruce Wayne dedicated his life to Gotham from the moment his parents were brutally murdered in the alley. He became Batman, walking in the darkness, becoming the light of Gotham and the hope in the hearts of the people. But now, this light has been shattered by Bane and plunged into endless darkness.
The wind blew in from the alleyway entrance, carrying the smells of blood and dust. It brushed against Li Wei's face, making him shiver. He silently took off his coat and gently draped it over Bruce. The coat wasn't thick, but it shielded him from the chill of the night wind.
Levi sat beside Bruce, his back against the cold wall, his eyes warily fixed on the entrance to the alley, clutching a shard of glass he had picked up from the ground as a weapon for self-defense.
His gaze would occasionally fall on Bruce, looking at that lifeless figure, and he would silently think to himself, Bruce is right, Gotham will not yield, and justice will not be absent.
Bane thought that by destroying Batman, he had destroyed Gotham's hope, but he was wrong. The spirit of Batman was already etched into the very bones of Gotham and into the hearts of everyone who held a sense of justice.
And he, Levi, was the only person in the world who knew the plot. He knew Bruce wouldn't fall, that Batman would return, and that Gotham would eventually see the light.
Now, all he can do is silently protect this faint glimmer of hope, wait for Alfred's arrival, wait for a turning point, and wait for Batman's return.
No matter how difficult the road ahead, no matter how many thorns and darkness lie ahead, he will persevere, because Gotham needs Batman, and he has the responsibility and the obligation to protect this hope that belongs to Gotham.
The distant sirens and screams of the crowd gradually faded away, and Gotham's night remained shrouded in darkness. But in this dark alley, a faint light was quietly brewing. It was the light of hope, the light of Batman's return, and the light that had never been extinguished in Levi's heart.
Li Wei stared intently at the entrance of the alley, listening to the approaching car engine sounds in the distance. He knew Alfred had arrived, and a faint glimmer of hope finally ignited in his heart, like a small spark in the darkness, enough to illuminate the road ahead.
He knew that the bat had only fallen temporarily, and that one day it would spread its wings again, soaring through the night sky of Gotham, dispelling the darkness and bringing light.
And he will always stand by Bruce's side, accompanying him and protecting Gotham, until that day comes.
The news of Batman's demise started in an empty space in an office building in downtown Gotham City and spread like wildfire throughout the city.
Blurry videos taken by bystanders spread wildly on communication networks. The moment the black figure fell from the sky and crashed heavily onto the concrete ground in the pixelated footage became a nightmare etched in the hearts of every Gotham resident.
Electronic screens on the street, televisions in convenience stores, projections in bars, and even mobile terminals in alleys are all playing this image on a loop, accompanied by Bane's cold line, "I broke the bat," which stings the eyes.
The news spread like a cold tide, washing over every street and corner of Gotham. Even in the most remote slums, one could hear people sobbing quietly and talking in fear.
The people of Gotham were plunged into unprecedented panic and despair.
Those who once saw Batman as the only light in the darkness now seemed to have all their strength drained away. Some leaned against the wall, covering their faces with their hands and weeping silently, while others slumped on the street, staring blankly at the sky as if the sky had collapsed.
The city, already rife with chaos, was completely stripped of its order. Thugs took advantage of the chaos to loot in every block, smashing shop windows and stealing items from shelves. Screams and the sounds of vandalism mingled together.
The gates of Arkham Asylum were easily pried open as they were unguarded, and the escaped convicts poured out, their faces contorted with maniacal smiles, roaming the streets with abandon. Their presence added to the panic in Gotham.
No one dared to go out late at night anymore. Even during the day, there were very few pedestrians on the street. Everyone walked hurriedly, their eyes scanning their surroundings warily, afraid that they might encounter misfortune at any moment.
The entire city of Gotham seemed shrouded in a thick layer of darkness, from which even sunlight could not penetrate. The air was thick with fear, despair, and the stench of blood. The once infamous city of sin was now devoid of even the slightest sign of resistance.
Bane had anticipated this situation, and taking advantage of the public's panic, he began to take full control of Gotham.
On the morning after Batman's death, Bane led his elite mercenaries, armed to the teeth, to storm Gotham City Hall. He pressed the cold muzzle of a gun to the foreheads of the mayor and a group of officials, forcing them to sign the document of abdication.
Without any resistance or outside help, Gotham's official regime was utterly vulnerable in the face of Bane's absolute power.
Bane sat in the mayor's office chair, his massive frame almost filling the entire space. His gaze, hidden behind his mask, swept over the trembling officials, and his deep, thunderous voice announced his first order: disband the Gotham Police Department.
This order, like a sharp knife, completely severed Gotham's last official defenses.
Tens of thousands of police officers were either ordered to hand over their weapons and pack their bags, or they chose to submit to Bane and become his puppets. The few officers who tried to resist were either beaten to a pulp on the spot or imprisoned and thrown into Gotham's black jail.
The police badges that once protected Gotham are now scattered in the dirt of the streets, mercilessly trampled upon. Those police officers who upheld justice were forced to hide and wait silently in the darkness for their chance.
Bane then built up his own mercenary force, transforming them into Gotham's new "law enforcers."
These mercenaries, dressed in black combat uniforms and armed with heavy weapons, set up checkpoints in various streets of Gotham, randomly checking passersby. If they were slightly dissatisfied, they would resort to fists and kicks, or even open fire.
Their oppressive rule plunged Gotham into deeper darkness. Bane's logo was spray-painted on the walls of the streets, and those rebellious graffiti would be wiped away in an instant, leaving only Bane's intimidation.
Bane allowed fugitives to roam the streets, turning a blind eye to their burning, killing, looting, and even secretly providing them with weapons, making them his pawns to disrupt Gotham.
Innocent civilians became the biggest victims. Some people were robbed and beaten by fugitives for simply going out to buy bread. Others were shot on the spot as a warning for glancing at mercenaries, with bullets grazing their ears and leaving behind fatal fear.
In Gotham's hospitals, the wounded were packed with people, their cries and screams filling the air. However, due to the chaotic situation, the hospitals were experiencing a shortage of medicines, and many people could only wait in agony, some even losing their lives.
After taking control of Gotham's order, Bane set his sights on Wayne Enterprises, aiming to completely destroy everything owned by Bruce Wayne and extinguish the last hope in the hearts of Gotham's people.
Bain ordered the freezing of all Wayne Enterprises' assets and the seizure of all of Wayne Enterprises' offices in Gotham. Heavy trucks rammed open the doors of Wayne Tower, and mercenaries rushed in, ransacking the place and taking away all the documents and equipment.
He forced Wayne Enterprises executives to resign, threatening them with the lives of their families to spread negative news about the company, claiming that Wayne Enterprises was already insolvent and that Bruce Wayne was just a billionaire in name only.
Those employees who remained at Wayne Enterprises were either laid off or imprisoned. For the first time, the lights in Wayne Tower went out completely. This building, once a landmark of Gotham, was now a cold, empty building.
Bane wanted everyone to know that Bruce Wayne had fallen, Batman had fallen, Wayne Enterprises had fallen, and Gotham was beyond hope.
Li Wei saw all of this and kept it in his heart.
After handing Bruce over to Alfred, he returned to the Gotham Police Department, which was now under the control of Bane's mercenaries. The corridors echoed with the mercenaries' shouts, and his once-familiar colleagues were either silent with their heads down or had long since disappeared.
Li Wei knew perfectly well that with his current strength, fighting head-on would be like a moth drawn to a flame. Not only would he fail to avenge Bruce, but he would also lose his life and deprive the remaining forces in the shadows of an important source of information.
He suppressed the surging anger and guilt in his heart and made a difficult decision: to feign submission and lurk by Bane's side.
Using his connections and case-handling skills accumulated during his time at the police station, Li Wei proactively approached the mercenary leader stationed at the station, feigning compliance and declaring his willingness to serve Bane and become an advisor to the police force.
His voluntary surrender surprised and aroused suspicion in the mercenary leader, who then tested him several times, asking about his views on Batman and his attitude towards Bane's rule.
Li Wei remained calm throughout, his words filled with "disappointment" with Batman and recognition of Bane's "strength." He said that Batman was just a hero in name only, ultimately no match for absolute power, while Bane was the one who could "control" Gotham.
These insincere words pierced Levi's heart like needles. Every word he uttered was excruciating, but he knew that only in this way could he gain Bain's trust and remain infiltrated to gather intelligence.
Ultimately, Levi's disguise fooled the mercenary leader, and he was brought before Bane to undergo the final test.
Bain sat in the police chief's office, his back to Levi, his figure as tall and straight as an iron tower. His breathing was heavy and even beneath his mask, and a faint smell of medicine filled the air.
He didn't turn around, but coldly asked, "What makes you think I'd keep someone who's had dealings with Batman?"
Levi's heart skipped a beat. He knew that Bane had investigated his background and knew that he had been in contact with Bruce. This was his biggest crisis.