Chapter 03: Harleen Quinzel
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"Sigh, now we have to part again." Zatanna had just received news that her father, Zatara, wanted her to return home to continue her advanced studies in backward magic.
Her trip out this time wasn't just because Zatanna was smart and found a way to escape; it was also because Zatara had turned a blind eye and let her go. Now, the time for indulgence was more or less over.
"Separation is for a better reunion next time."
All Jiang Li could do was comfort Zatanna as much as possible. After all, he couldn't just steal her from his future father-in-law.
"I will miss you, Li."
"Me too, Little Za."
"『Spell』" As the backward magic activated, a white, swirling portal appeared behind Zatanna.
With a reluctant gaze, Zatanna gradually backed away until her entire body entered the portal.
After passing through the portal, Zatanna returned to a Western-style house. This was her home.
Inside, the master of the house, Zatara, was sitting on the sofa, holding a newspaper and reading its contents, not even glancing at Zatanna.
"You're back. How was your evening with your boyfriend?"
*If you hadn't interrupted, we would have proceeded to the final step.* Zatanna pouted inwardly.
Afterward, Zatanna recounted her night with Jiang Li.
Upon hearing it, Zatara couldn't help but frown, especially when he heard the information about learning backward magic in an hour. He had clearly never seen or even heard of such a person.
"Next time you have the chance, bring him back for a meal."
Hearing this, Zatanna's face lit up with joy. She knew her father was starting to take an interest in Jiang Li. As long as Jiang Li passed her father's test, she believed the day they got married and had babies wasn't far off.
Zatanna couldn't help but get lost in her fantasy.
Zatara naturally knew what his daughter was thinking and couldn't help but shake his head, feeling a headache coming on from his daughter's love-struck mind.
He had been afraid his daughter would be bored at home, so he brought back novels and other entertainment books for Zatanna to read. After that, Zatanna spent her days hugging books, staring out the window, blushing and daydreaming.
Zatara silently apologized to his departed wife; it seemed he had led his daughter astray.
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Back in Gotham City, Jiang Li watched the portal until it completely disappeared before turning to leave.
As Jiang Li walked back to his apartment, he couldn't help but start thinking.
When he first arrived in Gotham City in the DC world, he triggered the sign-in system for the first time. Now, after more than ten years, it had triggered again on Zatanna.
From the current looks of it, the system's sign-in function only triggers on famous places and people.
"What are the underlying conditions?" Jiang Li frowned in thought. After two or three minutes, a flash of inspiration struck his mind.
It seemed that the city's representative figure determined whether the sign-in was successful. For example, Superman in Metropolis and the Flash in Central City had not officially appeared yet.
That's why it didn't trigger successfully. As for why Gotham was successful back then, perhaps it was because Batman was born at the moment Bruce Wayne experienced the incident in Crime Alley.
"I see, I've roughly figured out the rules."
Jiang Li's mood instantly brightened. He began to ponder how to sign in on Bruce Wayne, i.e., Batman.
But as Jiang Li was passing a dark alley, he heard voices coming from inside.
"Hand over everything valuable, missy."
"Okay, sir, please calm down first, I'll give you the money."
A robbery was happening inside. Given that a woman was being robbed, it was even possible it could escalate into another type of crime.
Jiang Li glanced around. It wasn't that no one heard the voices inside; they all just tacitly chose to ignore it, because they didn't know if the mugger inside had a deadly weapon.
As expected of the simple and honest folk of Gotham City.
"Sigh, what a hassle." Under the gazes of Gotham's citizens, who looked at him as if he were a hero, Jiang Li stepped into the dark alley.
"Hey, you idiot. Scram if you know what's good for you. Don't force me to kick your balls in."
The mugger was immediately annoyed. He turned around with a ferocious expression, only to see Jiang Li's figure, which was more than a head taller than him.
Instantly, the mugger subconsciously took a step back. Then he had another thought: he was a mugger with a knife and a gun. Wouldn't retreating bring shame to the criminals of Gotham?
"Kid, are you really stupid or just pretending? Playing hero to save the damsel?"
As he spoke, the mugger intentionally waved the small dagger in his hand in front of Jiang Li, trying to scare him.
"Wait, he's my younger brother. His mind isn't quite right." The blonde woman being robbed saw the situation and became anxious. She quickly moved to Jiang Li's side and said to the mugger.
After speaking, the blonde woman secretly tugged on the corner of Jiang Li's shirt, signaling him to play along.
Seeing Jiang Li remain unmoved, the blonde woman grew more anxious. She whispered to Jiang Li from his side using ventriloquism: "He doesn't just have a knife; he has a gun."
Jiang Li first looked at the blonde woman, then quickly grabbed the wrist of the hand holding the dagger. He immediately twisted it hard.
"Kala!" A crisp sound rang out. The mugger's wrist was instantly broken.
"Ahhhh!!" Intense pain assaulted the mugger's nerves, causing him to kneel on the ground and beg for mercy.
The mugger's plea for mercy was fake; drawing his gun was real.
"Go to hell!"
Jiang Li naturally saw through his trick. He delivered a roundhouse kick to the mugger's body. The mugger flew sideways, slammed into the wall, and then fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Oh my god..." The blonde woman stared blankly at the scene, not expecting Jiang Li to be so capable.
Jiang Li turned around and finally got a good look at the blonde woman he had rescued.
She wore a white coat, like a doctor's, with her beautiful blonde hair tied in a ponytail. She wore gold-rimmed glasses that weren't high-prescription, making her look quiet and refined.
Her face was also quite attractive, at least much better looking than those internet celebrity faces, appearing very natural.
Jiang Li suddenly looked at the tag hanging on the woman's white coat and saw a familiar name—Harleen Quinzel.
Perhaps some people didn't know the name Harleen Quinzel, but they would definitely know the name she adopted later—Harley Quinn.
The famous Harley Quinn.
Jiang Li grabbed Harleen's wrist without hesitation, making Harleen jump in fright. She subconsciously thought he was a bad person with ill intentions.
If not for the lack of any particular expression on his face, she would have slapped him long ago.
Jiang Li also confirmed in his heart: signing in on characters must require them to have certain abilities first. For example, the Flash must have the Speed Force.
Harleen must become Harley Quinn before he can sign in on her!
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