Batman, appearing in broad daylight, had no cover. He was fully exposed to his enemies. Before he even reached Joker's hideout, the Joker gang was already set to welcome him.
Batman activated the sonar system in the Batplane, instantly mapping out every person in the building. "Looks like they know I'm here."
The positions of the hidden thugs clearly showed they were armed and waiting. Joker was on the sixth floor—neither too high nor too low.
Batman had a way to flush them all out. Today, these lawless punks were going to learn what a real billionaire's fight looked like.
The Batplane did a tight flip, and Batman armed the weapons system. "Here's my ticket in."
Inside the building, the gangsters stared wide-eyed as the black jet spun around the structure with incredible agility. When the cannon barrels extended from beneath the plane, cold sweat poured from their foreheads.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
Batman opened fire. Thick cylindrical canisters blasted into the building, then exploded, flooding the interior with heavy smoke.
Smoke bombs—but that wasn't all. One, two, more and more.
This was the kind of game only a rich man could play. An endless stream of expensive rounds poured into the building like money meant nothing. The rundown structure turned into a Christmas tree wrapped in smoke.
But this wasn't just ordinary smoke. It didn't just block vision—it scrambled heat signatures too. Normal thermal imagers wouldn't work in this. But Batman's cowl was linked to the Batplane's sonar feed, completely unaffected.
Joker and Harley Quinn pulled on gas masks. Everything around them was a thick white blur. But Joker didn't move. He was staying right here, waiting for Batman to come to him. First, he grabbed the detonator. "Safety, safety, safety… who needs safety." He inserted two keys, disarming the lock. Now all it took was a press, and the bombs next to Harvey and Rachel would go off.
Joker was going to wait, to watch Batman come face to face with him, to provoke him.
Joker wanted to see Batman lose control, to break his code and kill him. Then Joker would win. Because even Batman, the so-called moral guardian of Gotham, would show his true colors—selfish, murderous. Just human. Ugly human nature. Joker's victory wasn't in surviving. It was in proving that no one could uphold their morals in every moment, in every place. That no one had the strength to stay true. Not even Batman.
"Come on, Bats, come on! Haha, hehe, ha!" Joker could barely hold back his excitement, waiting for Batman's rage.
As for Harley Quinn, she was slowly backing away into the shadows. She loved Joker, but she wasn't stupid enough to stay in his spotlight. She feared Batman.
Step by step, feeling her way back, Harley tried to hide in the smoke where she couldn't see a thing. The open floor, now cloaked in white, felt like a maze—flat ground turned treacherous, and she didn't know where to place her hands or feet.
But she kept at it. Finally, she felt the stairwell.
"Made it!" Harley smiled faintly, her blood-red lipstick making her grin look eerie. Then she collapsed.
Batman had arrived, landing a punch straight to her gut, knocking her out cold.
The sound of Harley hitting the floor told Joker—Batman was here.
"Good, good, good! That's my Batman! No matter how tough it gets, you'll always find me." Joker twirled the detonator in his hand, his smile pure evil. "Honestly, I'm touched. So touched, I don't even know how to thank you."
Batman narrowed his eyes. The distance between them was barely two meters. He could clearly see what Joker was holding. He didn't dare act recklessly—whatever that remote was, it couldn't be good.
"Come on, Bats, arrest me! Do it!" Joker almost pressed the remote to his own face. "Huff, huff, wanna know what this is?"
"A bomb detonator," Batman replied coldly.
His answer made Joker giddy with excitement. "Correct! A remote. For Gotham's golden boy, DA Harvey Dent, and your little angel, Rachel. All I gotta do is press this button, and boom~." Joker licked his lips. "Tss~ you know what happens next."
There'd be an explosion. They'd be blown to pieces.
"So, what are you gonna do, Bats?" Joker's finger hovered over the red button. "You've got one shot. Kill me. Come on, two lives are in your hands—do it, don't hesitate."
Batman stood still, unmoving.
Joker clicked his tongue, disappointed, shaking his head. So let down. They were this far along, and Batman still wouldn't break. Joker started to wonder if he was even a man. Time to add fuel to the fire.
"Haha! Maybe I should tell you something worse." Joker grinned wider. "There's only minutes left now. Even if the cops find Harvey and Rachel, they won't save them both."
Batman's heart sank. "What did you do?"
Joker spread his hands like he was innocent. "I just rigged the doors. Open one, and it'll trigger the bomb at the other site. So, Harvey and Rachel… Rachel and Harvey… only one gets to live."
He swung the remote left and right, as if offering two lovely choices. But no matter which, the result was cruel.
Batman's face changed. Kaitou Kid and Gordon were en route—there was no time to warn them.
BOOM——————
A distant explosion echoed from across the city—the industrial district where Rachel was.
Joker feigned confusion, looking at the remote in his hand, fiddling his thumb as if he'd pressed something, then glanced up at Batman, all innocent. Suddenly, he burst into manic laughter. "Harvey Dent lives. Your little angel Rachel—dead. The answer's revealed. Perfect ending!"
Batman froze, just for a moment—a sharp breath, a silent cry in his heart. Then fury erupted. His arm shot forward like a dragon. The Batarang hidden in his palm flew with deadly force, burying deep into Joker's wrist.
Joker screamed, the remote dropping from his hand. Batman hadn't aimed to kill, only to stop.
Joker was furious, devastated. Even now, Batman wouldn't kill him. Gritting his teeth, Joker lunged for the remote with his other hand. He'd blow the rest. Harvey, the rescue team—they were still in range. "You'll regret this, Bats!"
"JOKER!!" Batman was faster. Another Batarang flashed, striking the remote and sending it flying.
Joker stared at Batman, like he'd been wronged. "Why, why?!"
"I want you to stand trial!" Batman kicked him hard, knocking Joker to the floor.
"Stand trial?" Joker cackled, as if that was the biggest joke. He'd just go back to Arkham Asylum. Even Joker found that laughable. "I'll be waiting for you in Arkham, Batman."
Batman said nothing. He punched Joker square in the face, knocking him out cold.
Police had stormed the floor. Batman darted out, cape billowing, leaping into the Batplane. Full speed, heading for Rachel.