The opening of the news station brought in new programs, and Howard, being the seasoned TV professional he was, clearly understood what the audience liked. Besides the usual news segments, he also launched a special show titled "Focus on Batman," which made Liu A'dou realize just how influential Batman was.
He and Iselin maintained a close relationship, but it was nothing more than casual outings, dinners, and movies—holding hands now and then. During his rare moments of leisure, Liu A'dou still found time to prepare for his next heist. He hadn't forgotten his true identity just because he had a girlfriend.
Today was the day Anthony would appear in court, and both Liu A'dou and Iselin attended.
Inside the solemn courtroom, Liu A'dou saw Harvey Dent, the troublesome prosecutor. The entire trial process was straightforward, with undeniable evidence of Anthony's crimes. Although Anthony's lawyer worked hard to argue for a lighter sentence, he still faced thirty years in Blackgate Prison. Given that Anthony was already in his fifties, it was uncertain if he would even survive that long.
Iselin leaned on Liu A'dou's shoulder, crying uncontrollably.
"Boy, take care of my daughter," Anthony shouted loudly as he was led away. Liu A'dou thought to himself, You only just remembered you have a daughter? Why did you partner with someone like Scarecrow in the first place?
"Dad!" Iselin cried out, her voice breaking, hoping the bailiffs wouldn't take her father away.
"Iselin, take care of yourself," Anthony said, turning his head, his voice also cracking.
Liu A'dou had seen this kind of thing many times in the detective world, and aside from feeling sympathetic, he didn't know what to say. He patted Iselin's shoulder, comforting the poor girl to stop crying. Liu A'dou thought to himself that if he hadn't been there, Iselin might not have been able to hold up. She wasn't as strong as she appeared. The judge had also announced that Anthony's assets had been frozen, including his properties, meaning that Iselin was now truly homeless.
The high-rise apartment also belonged to Anthony. Iselin had only worked for two months and didn't have the money for rent. Before she received her first paycheck from the new station, she might end up on the streets. Liu A'dou certainly couldn't let his girlfriend end up like that, so he invited Iselin to stay at his place.
Though Liu A'dou had secrets of his own, the guest room had always been empty, and Iselin wouldn't find anything unusual.
They had already discussed it, and Iselin had packed her things. Soon, they would head back to his place with her belongings.
"I hope you don't mind, this is just part of my job," Harvey Dent seemed to feel guilty when he saw Iselin with tears in her eyes. He came over to express his apologies—beautiful women always received a bit of extra attention.
Harvey Dent was undoubtedly handsome, with a sunny smile that could charm countless women. His soft blonde hair, muscular physique, well-tailored suit, and his righteous job as a district attorney made him very popular with women. However, Harvey Dent had always kept himself pure, with only a girlfriend named Rachel and no scandals.
"I won't hold anything against you because of my father, Mr. Prosecutor," Iselin said, her eyes red and swollen, but she finally managed to stop crying.
"You can call me Harvey, everyone does," Harvey said with his natural charm. "If you don't mind, I'd like to invite you both to lunch."
"Thank you, it would be an honor," Liu A'dou replied, then whispered to Iselin, "For our future work, it's necessary to network with the prosecutor."
Though Iselin wasn't in the mood, considering her job and the problems she might face in the future, dining with the prosecutor was an opportunity she couldn't pass up. She pulled herself together. Her father was just in prison, and she could visit him anytime she wanted. Thinking about it that way, Iselin felt much better.
The prosecutor chose a very elegant restaurant. While eating, Liu A'dou and Iselin learned that Harvey had recognized Iselin, which was why he invited them both to lunch. "As the first reporter to cover Kaitou Kid, you must have some insight into him. After stealing the gems twice, why do you think he always returns them to their rightful owners?"
This topic was difficult to discuss, as Kaitou Kid hadn't revealed much information recently. Even though Iselin was the first reporter to cover Kaitou Kid, it didn't mean she knew much about him.
Liu A'dou said, "Mr. Harvey, as a prosecutor, you should know more than we do. The police have been tight-lipped about Kid's activities, afraid that others might imitate him. While we are reporters, we don't have the means to get information from the police."
"I just wanted to hear your thoughts," Harvey said, "Actually, I think Kaitou Kid's style is very similar to Batman's. One is a vigilante, the other a thief. If Kaitou Kid were to reform, he could perhaps become the second Batman."
Liu A'dou was taken aback. Was this really coming from a prosecutor? The idea of a second Batman—didn't Gotham already have enough trouble with just one? Was the situation really this bad?
"Mr. Harvey, have you ever met Batman?" Liu A'dou asked. "I've heard that you, along with Commissioner Gordon, have made some kind of arrangement to join forces with Batman to uphold the law in Gotham. Is that true?"
Upon hearing this, Harvey Dent laughed. "Liu, you're more like a reporter than a reporter. Of course, I don't want to lie, so I can only say that I cannot disclose that."
"Mr. Harvey, you're too humorous, but we understand your position." The current situation in Gotham was one of growing chaos, with various criminal factions—gangsters, arms dealers, drug traffickers, and violent criminals—gathering, along with corrupt officials aiding them. Moreover, many external forces used Gotham as a manufacturing hub and a place to sell their illicit goods. The illegal profit chain covered almost every class in Gotham, and even the district attorneys were finding it hard to get anywhere. Few could be trusted, and it had been hard for Harvey to find allies. It wasn't until Gordon came into the picture that things began to change, and with Batman's introduction through Gordon, the three of them formed a strong alliance.
Batman focused on investigation and evidence collection, Gordon handled arrests, and Harvey was responsible for sending criminals to prison. Harvey's rhetoric was stronger than that of many lawyers.
"Liu, Iselin, I can tell that you two are different from other reporters," Harvey Dent suddenly said.
These words made Liu A'dou alert. This was the start of a persuasion attempt—he had used the same tactic to sway others before.
Sure enough, Harvey continued, "You're both young, and just out of university, yet you managed to get news on Kaitou Kid and report on it without bias. You two are promising reporters. Now that you're part of the first group after the new station merger, you have a great future ahead. I have a request—would you be willing to listen?"
Liu A'dou and Iselin exchanged a glance, and Liu A'dou could see the doubt in her eyes. However, he knew that Harvey was looking to use them as pawns or informants.
Harvey had realized that he was lacking in resources. Many times, he had no one to collect intelligence for him, which had made his efforts difficult. While investigating Anthony, Harvey had learned about Iselin and Liu A'dou. He believed that they were both people with a strong sense of justice and could be of use to him. For the future of Gotham, Harvey had decided to take action.
"You can speak," Liu A'dou said.
"I know that reporters are well-informed and sometimes know things I don't. Could you provide me with information when I need it?" Harvey said, wording his request very carefully.
Liu A'dou thought for a moment and then gave Iselin a glance. "It's possible, but we're just small-time reporters and might not have useful information."
"No, you're being modest. I believe in your abilities. Both of you will become outstanding reporters," Harvey Dent said. With two reporters providing information, he might receive unexpected leads. These young reporters could potentially become his key assistants in solving cases.
The three continued talking for a while. Harvey Dent was indeed focused on cleaning up Gotham City, his ambitions high, and Liu A'dou and Iselin found themselves admiring him.