The sun was bright and the sky cloudless.
A gentle breeze drifted in through the window. Gotham was having a rare good day.
The clear weather seemed to lift his mood. Jack Kadere didn't care that Harley Quinn wasn't around. He squinted against the light and lay there a while longer before getting up.
He dressed and washed.
When Jack Kadere came downstairs, he frowned slightly.
Usually by this time, Harley Quinn would have breakfast ready and waiting. But now there was no breakfast, and no Harley Quinn.
"Forget it."
Jack Kadere didn't think much of it. He made himself something to eat. Just as he finished, the door opened.
It wasn't Harley Quinn who walked in, but Barbara Gordon in her Batgirl suit and Talia al Ghul/ Miranda Tate in a long-sleeved top and pants. They were here to prepare for the operation. Barbara Gordon introduced them to each other. Talia al Ghul acted as though this was their first meeting and asked for his continued support, even thanking Jack Kadere gratefully for being willing to help save Gotham.
Apparently, she hadn't confessed the reason for her disheveled state when she returned the night before, nor had she mentioned meeting Jack Kadere.
"In an hour, my father will lead the others to attack City Hall. At that time, you, Miranda, and I will go directly after Bane. Any problems?" Barbara Gordon asked Jack Kadere.
Jack Kadere nodded indifferently.
Barbara Gordon nervously rechecked her equipment and reminded Talia al Ghul to stay close to her.
Harley Quinn had run off somewhere. Jack Kadere had originally planned to say goodbye to her before leaving. After all, she had contributed quite a bit to his comfort and sleep quality during this time. But since she wasn't here, it didn't matter. Life was just a journey—people pass each other by.
"It's almost time. Let's go." Barbara Gordon glanced at her watch.
Jack Kadere picked up his backpack and headed out. The three of them got into the car and drove toward City Hall.
As Bane's stronghold, City Hall's entrance was crowded with armed thugs. Two Wayne Enterprises tanks were positioned out front, their barrels aimed at the opposing group. The surviving police, led by James Gordon, and the righteous citizens of Gotham stood with solemn, resolute expressions.
This was their first assembly, and also their last. Though the armed thugs on the opposite side outnumbered them, though steel tanks capable of shredding flesh and bone with a single shot faced them down, they did not retreat.
They would fight for survival. Fight for freedom. Fight for justice.
James Gordon stood at the very front and checked his watch. It was almost time. Why hadn't they arrived yet?
BOOM!
A deafening roar of an engine pierced the solemn atmosphere. A car shot out from behind them, screeching to a halt between the two groups. The tires left long black marks on the pavement.
"You're insane!"
Seeing Jack Kadere drive the car directly into the open, Barbara Gordon couldn't help but shout. The original plan was to sneak in and find Bane during the chaos after her father launched the attack. Now they had suddenly become the center of attention. They would probably be riddled with bullets before they even laid eyes on Bane.
"You want to see Bane directly, don't you?" Jack Kadere turned his head and asked.
"Of course I do!"
Jack Kadere glanced at Talia al Ghul, then turned back to Barbara Gordon. "I have a way to take you straight to him."
"What way?" Barbara Gordon asked, surprised.
"Do you have handcuffs? Give them to me."
Barbara Gordon didn't think much of it. She pulled a pair of handcuffs from her utility belt and handed them over, asking curiously, "What do you need handcuffs for?"
"To cuff you."
Jack Kadere took the handcuffs, grabbed Barbara Gordon's wrists, and with a quick click, locked them around her.
"What are you doing?" Only now did Barbara Gordon seem to realize something was wrong.
"Your intelligence..." Jack Kadere chuckled, shaking his head as he stepped out of the car. He opened the door and grabbed Barbara Gordon with one hand and Talia al Ghul with the other.
Instantly, every eye from both sides fixed on the three of them.
James Gordon's expression froze. A terrible premonition washed over him. Then he saw Barbara Gordon struggling furiously, cursing at Jack Kadere.
"You bastard, you betrayed—"
Thud!
Before she could finish, Jack Kadere's fist drove into her stomach. Her cursing stopped abruptly, and she doubled over like a shrimp.
"Jack Kadere, you bastard!"
Betrayed!
James Gordon screamed in fury.
The sudden turn of events caught both sides off guard. Those on James Gordon's side saw that the ally they had recruited had betrayed them and even captured key figures. Their morale plummeted. Meanwhile, the thugs quickly understood what was happening. Someone immediately ran to notify Bane.
Among the thugs, one man shouted at Jack Kadere, feigning ignorance, "What do you want with Bane?"
Jack Kadere smiled brightly. "I'm here to kill Bane. Do you believe me?"
Kill Bane?
Looking at him—one arm hooked around Talia al Ghul's neck, the other gripping the handcuffs of Barbara Gordon, who was too pained to stand—no one could miss it. They had clearly sought Jack Kadere's help, only to be betrayed. This was obviously a move to curry favor and surrender.
"No way! Anyone who believes that is a fool!"
Loud laughter erupted. The previously tense, murderous atmosphere seemed to turn jovial in an instant.
Amidst the laughter, the crowd parted from behind, and a tall, burly man wearing a black metal breathing mask slowly walked out. The mask covered his mouth and nose, emitting a cold, eerie gleam. His eyes were sharp and sinister. His entire presence radiated a deathly aura like a caged predator, instilling fear, making people unwilling to meet his gaze.
The Back-Breaking Maniac.
Bane.