But the Bat did not intend to explain anything, still going about its ways, and its methods were even more brutal.
Gordon became the commissioner at that time, and he immediately ordered a Bat signal to be set up on the police station roof, no longer hiding it. Whenever the Bat signal lit up, it meant he had something to discuss with Batwoman, as a new madman had come to town, requiring Batwoman to resolve.
Yes, from then on, the criminals appearing were no longer ones the police could deal with, relying instead on the Bat Heroine. The police's role was to follow Gordon's orders, cleaning up the criminals left by the Bat Heroine, who by that time were often in a state of unconsciousness or disability.
Fortunately, during that time Gotham was dangerous, but at least people weren't like today; at least back then, people held beautiful expectations in their hearts.
Until Batwoman's greatest adversary arrived.
No one knew where she came from. She had long green hair, a ghastly pale face, a perpetually exaggerated smile, and she liked to carve that smile onto others' faces with a knife.
She committed several major incidents, showing people how insane she was, and also showing people that madness was a great thing.
No more worries about death, hunger, and poverty, just laugh joyfully every day!
She planted the seeds of madness deep in the hearts of Gothamites, patiently and sneakily waiting for them to sprout. Occasionally, she'd employ methods of "forcing growth" just for fun.
She became entangled with Batwoman, being captured countless times and escaping numerous times, as if the city had become their stage. She only wanted all of Bat's attention on her.
Until half a year ago, the Jester came up with a new game and planned to invite Gordon to be a prop. However, a mishap in the kidnapping led to Gordon's daughter, Barbara, being hit in the spine by a bullet, becoming paralyzed for life, confined to a wheelchair.
In the end, the Jester was captured by the Bat again, and Gordon wanted to kill her to avenge his daughter. But Bat Heroine blocked the gun, telling him not to be fooled by the Jester, not to be ruled by madness, not to lose his principles.
Gordon ultimately put down the gun, choosing to act by the law, and the law had no verdict for the mentally ill, only confinement at Arkham for treatment...
But who could treat the Jester? The doctor who once treated her was instead influenced by her, becoming today's Harley Quinn, not only helping the Jester escape but collaborating to create the monster called the Two-Faced Woman.
Since then, Arkham no longer assigned doctors to the Jester.
This time, the Jester seemed tired of the game, and she stayed quietly in Arkham, with no disturbances for a long time.
Based on past experiences, when the Jester was captured, Harley Quinn would seem soulless, calming down completely. Therefore, Batwoman and Gordon weren't too concerned about missing Harley last time; it was better this way. If both were confined in Arkham simultaneously, trouble might ensue.
Approximately half a month before Su Ming arrived...
Gordon, as usual, awoke from a nightmare, shaking his head, fumbling to put on his glasses. He found he wasn't tied to a roller coaster in an amusement park by the Jester, not facing scenes of madness, but was in his own bed at home.
Cold sweat soaked the sheets, the partly closed window bringing a howling sound, the curtains were lifted high by the wind.
The bedside electronic clock told him it was only four in the morning, that he had lain down not even two hours ago, with the dream being filled with scenes of Barbara lying in a pool of blood and the ongoing mad laughter of the Jester.
Gordon's first wife had divorced him, left Gotham, and the daughter without a word. The second wife, a police officer, was killed by the Jester while on duty saving babies.
Besides the Jester, they often appeared in Gordon's nightmares, and now the only daughter left to rely on, was made disabled by the Jester.
Gordon had more reason than anyone to go mad, yet he did not. He continued upholding justice and the law.
He picked up the gun from under the pillow, first closing the unlatched window tightly, then carefully checked each room to prevent any intruder from sneaking in, finally arriving outside Barbara's room.
Gently opening the door, by moonlight, seeing his daughter sleeping peacefully in bed relieved him, and he tucked the gun behind his waist, heading to the kitchen for some water.
The refrigerator held little; when Barbara was healthy, it was the daughter who did household chores, Gordon was too busy, leaving hardly any time for grocery shopping.
After searching for a while, he found half a carton of milk, seemingly not expired, which could slightly soothe his throat.
Just as he was drinking milk and closing the fridge door, someone suddenly appeared behind the door, startling him to almost drop the milk carton.
"Next time you sleep, it's best to first close the window."
"Phew... damn! Batwoman, can't you make some noise? You always pop up suddenly; you'll scare me to death!" Gordon spat out the milk in his mouth, while Batwoman agilely dodged, not a drop staining her cape.
"Because... I'm Batwoman!" the newcomer answered expressionlessly, her voice clearly altered by a voice changer.
"I know who you are, who you really are, I just don't say it!" Gordon grumbled as he looked for a rag to clean the floor. "It's four in the morning, and all the madmen are locked up. Can't you let me have a proper sleep? Don't you have anything better to do at night?"