"When the upper echelons who maintain a stable order suddenly leave, the people who fill these upper structures become the people with the most bullets in their guns. Falcone and his Twelve Families are such people. They made trouble for a while, and then

Just took over this place."

"I used to be a good partner with Falcone, because I know that he is different from other gangsters. He wants to create a new order here. Even though it is a violent order, it is better than no order at all.

"

"I tried my best to help him. I thought that the gang was just a temporary replacement for the upper-level building blocks that had been evacuated. One day, Gotham would return to normal."

"But I didn't expect that it all got out of control. After Falcone and his gangster family ruled the city, it began to become a real crime capital. Spreading out from the twelve gangs, it was 120

One gangster, 1,200 gangsters, and in the end, it became a city where everyone was a gangster and a criminal."

"Evil is spreading here, but I can't do anything about it. I know that the same may be true for Falcone. Many people think that he is the culprit of Gotham's deterioration, but I know very well that this is not the truth."

Finally, the priest raised his head and looked around the church. He said: "There were not many buildings left from that era. I am grateful that they left a place like this for me so that I could have a place to stay."

"Then why don't you leave? Even if you can't go back to your hometown, you can at least go to the church in the metropolis. There are still quite a lot of clergy there, and they live a good life."

The priest said: "You don't understand. Not only have I witnessed how sin has infected this city little by little, but I have also been deeply involved in it."

He crossed himself on his chest, prayed a few words in a low voice, and then said: "The biggest thing I understand in this process is that this city will only accept people who should belong here, those who really want to save this place."

The heroes will eventually leave because they don’t belong here.”

"So what's all this about?"

"I don't know, but I always firmly believe that I made the right choice back then. Falcone is the same as me. We are both defenders of this city, not destroyers."

"In your opinion, the Godfather may be a success. He has ruled Gotham's underground for 40 years, but I know, Falcone and I both know that we are just losers, we can only weave our lives in the abyss of sin.

An order that is not stable to protect itself."

The priest shook his head and said: "But unfortunately, I am just an ordinary person. I have only lived longer than others. What I know is not even as good as Falcone. Or maybe Falcone doesn't know the real answer either."

.”

As the sun gradually set, the shadows of the tables and chairs in the church became longer and longer, and the light spread from the stained glass began to flow to Bruce's body.

Finally, the old priest said: "I can only guard a piece of His kingdom here, and when I die, this piece of pure land will also dissipate, just like countless hopes that once dissipated in Gotham."

"Of that group of people, Falcone and I are the only ones left. We are all old. Perhaps when we all go to see our Lord, the remaining order in this city will no longer exist.

.”

"Do you think it is possible to establish a new order?"

"Countless people have worked hard for this, but they all failed. Falcone succeeded to a small extent, but it only delayed it for a while. Perhaps no one can delay it for longer."

With the old priest sighing, Bruce fell into deep thought again.

Whenever he heard these historical stories about his hometown, Bruce couldn't help but feel nostalgic like a wanderer returning home.

Because the story of Gotham reveals absurdity and despair from beginning to end. Everything that happens here has no cause and no result. Even people who experienced that era cannot explain it clearly.

In this mysterious journey of exploring the history of Gotham, the parts of the time machine are always stuck in some foggy fragments. Whenever Bruce wants to repair this dilapidated old projector and explore the truth

, there are always various forces stopping him.

After Bruce walked out of the church, he began to think about the question Schiller asked him. The answer the priest gave him was that this city would probably have no chance of having a new order. After all the older generations died, the place would be completely destroyed.

into darkness.

He suddenly came up with a strange metaphor, but he thought it was very vivid.

All the evil that occurs in the city of Gotham, and all the criminals who live here, are like grains of salt sprinkled from a salt shaker.

This is a salt shaker that will never be empty. The person holding this salt shaker pours out some crystal salt particles in a leisurely manner, just like a patient fisherman making his bait.

Bruce, who had just grown up, learned a fact earlier from his professor, Falcone, and the old priest.

Gotham will become what it is today. It is not a simple natural evolution. The goal of revenge against criminals that he once had may never be completed, and Gotham will never be completely saved, because the salt shaker above Gotham will never be empty.

The salt grains are crystal clear and flow with the wind, just like the fine lines of rain that never stop in Gotham City.

But this did not make Batman feel defeated, but gave him an ambition earlier.

Batman has no desire to keep flying around these salt particles that are scattered like charity, like a stupid fish circling around the bait, hoping that the water will wash out some residue to fill its stomach.

What he wants to do is to crush the salt shaker directly, or, in other words, just like what he once did to Louis - appear like a bat behind him, letting a shadow cover the smug person holding the salt shaker.

Man, let him tremble with fear of bats.

Then, get this salt shaker and all the salt grains in it.

If this world is destined to have a salt shaker for all criminals, then this salt shaker had better belong to Batman.
Chapter completed!