American comics farmer: start by adopting the villain savior.

Chapter 149 The Emperor said: The King shall bear the burden, the King shall allow the King to carry it!
When Clark was turned away by the Metropolitan.

On the other side, Dior had already mounted his sleek silver Harley again.

The engine's low growl was exceptionally clear in the streets and alleys of Gotham.

Um.
His reason for choosing this car was simple.

Anyway, his father can turn into lightning.

Then there is obviously no need for such a mundane means of transportation.

So, isn't it only natural that his son should be given the opportunity to make the best use of it?

Cough
Why make such a clear distinction between father and son?

"boom--!"

A smooth drift.

The motorcycle came to a steady stop in front of the still somewhat dilapidated entrance to the Iceberg Club.

Compared to the streets behind him, which have been restored to their original state, this seaside entertainment empire still bears the scars of the war, with charred and damaged marks visible on its exterior walls.

Locke's precise repairs seemed to have completely overlooked this aspect.

“Mr. Diego”.

Rocman, who had been waiting at the door with a bow, immediately stepped forward and skillfully parked the motorcycle for him. Then, lowering his voice, his tone, now even more respectful after the ordeal, said:

“Mr. Diego, as you instructed, all of Ogilvy’s die-hard supporters have been ‘asked’ to leave. Now, the key positions are all filled by our own people.”

Dior nodded slightly, expressionless, showing no surprise at this efficient and inevitable result.

He strode forward, heading straight into the club, ignoring the mixed feelings of fear, curiosity, and raw awe cast upon him from the shadows and corners.

The whispers that arose in the silence became the background music for his return.

Rocman followed half a step to his side, like the most loyal shadow, and continued to report in a low voice:

"Also, the BOSS is already waiting for you on the top floor."

Upon hearing this, Dior did not pause in his steps.

The only clear direction was the private elevator leading to the top floor.

The cold and powerful aura that naturally emanated from him
Those who are ignorant and awe-inspiring might easily mistake him for the true and sole master of this place, and his return at this moment is merely a return to the throne where he should reside.

of course
That may indeed be the case.

"boom!"

The heavy oak door was pushed open, the sound of which seemed somewhat abrupt in the overly quiet office on the top floor.

Only the Gotham skyline at dusk, visible through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, blurred the outline of his short, stout figure.

He was facing away from the door, gazing out the window at the city he longed for.

There were two people standing beside him.

One was a lark, whose posture remained respectful.

And the other is
Ogilvy?
Dior's eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly.

This guy has some clever tricks up his sleeve. He easily made use of the waste, picked up this mad dog with a broken spine again, and trained it to be a guard dog.

Hearing the door open, Copter slowly turned around.

His eyes held a complex expression, no longer displaying the shrewd calculation or tyranny of the past, but rather a hint of barely concealed apprehension.

God knows.
What must he have felt when he returned triumphantly from his brief 'Italian trip' aboard his airship, only to find his icy empire reduced to a smoking ruin?
The sky is falling!
His beloved, icy empire, which he had built with his own hands, had been torn to shreds by someone else! He was furious, wishing he could stuff his umbrella into the perpetrator's ass and spin it a hundred times!

But after watching those blurry yet chilling surveillance videos from various angles…

Gotham Urban Legends: The Masked Man vs. the Helmeted Man.

He had to admit that he had no choice but to swallow his anger.

Even if it makes his throat hurt.

The other party is a superhuman whose eyes can breathe fire and whose fists can smash buildings like building blocks!
No matter how ruthless he is, how many henchmen he has, or how ingenious and insidious the mechanisms hidden in his umbrella are, what can he do to fight this inhuman monster head-on?
Take the lead?
He hasn't had a good night's sleep in the past few nights, lying in bed constantly wondering when and where he had accidentally offended this extraordinary being.

No matter how hard I racked my brains, I couldn't come up with an answer.

People in his line of work have offended enough to circle Gotham Harbor three times over. Who knows which lucky enemy managed to hire such an outrageous outside helper?
And most importantly
That crazy superhuman who demolished his club was actually defeated by 'his own people,' namely this blond kid in front of him.
Even in the underworld and legitimate society, rumors have begun to circulate about something...

——'The Golden Phantom of Iceberg Club'

He said it was a mysterious guardian from his Iceberg Club, his deepest, ultimate trump card...

Even these bizarre and absurd rumors were surprisingly effective.
This left his competitors completely bewildered. A few days ago, when negotiating a crucial smuggling deal, the cunning old fox on the other end was so frightened that he voluntarily conceded two percentage points, remaining polite and courteous throughout the entire process, fearing that if they couldn't reach an agreement, he would send that 'Golden Phantom' to raid his hometown overnight!

Not to mention.
In that final, breathtaking glimpse of the raging thunder that tore through the sky, I saw...
This complete divine power was the force that truly made him feel as if he had returned to his old home in Antarctica.
After all, it seemed that the divine being and the kid in front of him were clearly on their side...

Damn it! You guys are all so amazing, one of you can charm people and the other can demolish buildings, and you're just here at my shabby little club as male escorts?! Are you playing The Sims?!

"Ding--!"

He and Dior stared at each other in silence for a long time.

Copper's lips twitched uncontrollably a few times.

He forcefully suppressed the suffocating mental storm raging within him.

He forced a smile that could only be described as enthusiastic, his voice even carrying a hint of obsequiousness that he himself found disgusting:

"Oh~ who do we have here? Isn't this our dear hero, His Majesty the King? Haha!"

"Your heroic 'protection' of the club during that horrible, damned superhuman attack truly amazed me!"

"."

Dior had absolutely no interest in playing along with him.

He simply walked straight to the huge mahogany desk.

With his hands on the table and his body leaning slightly forward, his inhuman blood-red eyes glowed in the dim light, carrying immense pressure as he stared directly into Copeport's flickering eyes.

"Stop with the boring small talk, Mr. Cobblestone."

His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable power:
"I think we should revisit the future of this place."

"?"

The penguin's smile froze.

So you've already revealed your true colors?! You can't even pretend for a moment?!
Those despicable outsiders!

"That Diego! Do you know who you're messing with..."

Standing next to Cobbler, Ogilvy seemed to want to demonstrate his worth, attempting to reprimand him and salvage some of his master's dignity.

however--

"Crack——!"

A crisp sound of bones cracking rang out.

The foolish Mr. Gorilla didn't even see what was happening.

He felt a sharp pain in his wrists as his hands were cleanly and decisively broken again. He screamed and collapsed to the ground, only able to wail in agony.

"."

The office fell into dead silence.

Yun Que's eyelids twitched, and her lowered gaze became even more respectful.

Witnessing firsthand how this supernatural power, completely beyond human comprehension and unfamiliar to humans, was wielded so casually, Copter couldn't help but swallow hard.

"Your Majesty, we already discussed the future two weeks ago..."

“A week ago,” Dio continued without giving Copport a chance to interject, “your club almost turned into a pile of real ruins. Fortunately, I ‘persuaded’ the Maroney family to stop taking advantage of the situation.”

"We reassured our panicked key clients, making them believe that it was just an accident and that their privacy and safety would still be protected."

"And they stabilized the situation in the ruins, preventing the GCPD or other troublesome individuals from having an excuse to conduct a thorough investigation."

"."

Copport remained silent.

Yes.

Because everything this guy said was true.

Every single word he said was fucking true!
After that devastating battle,

The blond demon didn't rush to leave. With Rocman's help, he quickly and efficiently eliminated all the hyenas that had come because of the smell, using astonishing efficiency and ruthless methods.

Without him, it would be Falcone or Maroni.
Those hyenas had already gnawed all the remaining bones!

And those GCPD cops will swarm over like flies to shit! They'll investigate endlessly, turning his business upside down!

This guy not only preserved the Iceberg Club's core 'values', but even...
He also took this opportunity to significantly enhance his intimidation factor, making everyone outside now believe that this blond man is Copport's secret weapon.

"Oh, I almost forgot again."

A slight smile played on Dio's lips as he said teasingly, "Mr. Cobblestone, I remember that thing you've always wanted but never truly had. Now it seems only I can help you achieve it?"

"?!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of humiliation flashed in Copeport's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by immense greed.

What Dior was talking about was precisely his most vulnerable weakness.

It was what he longed for most.

"It seems you agree with this statement."

"Then it's time to upgrade our previous agreement."

Dior straightened up, his tone leaving no room for doubt:

"Two floors, three floors, six floors? They're all too cramped."

“I have no interest in those mouse holes underground or your toys.”

“But from now on, I want to have control over the entire iceberg above ground.”

Dio paused slightly, scrutinizing Cobblestone with his gaze, before presenting the final plan he had already conceived:
"Let's find a more efficient way to cooperate."

"You can continue to be the king of the underworld, the boss and the largest shareholder, and still the respected 'Penguin' of the Gotham underworld."

"but me"

His voice carried an air of self-assured declaration:
"To become the rightful 'king' of the Iceberg Club on earth, responsible for all its order, security, and future... expansion."

"You enjoy the profits and fame, while I ensure the iceberg remains standing."

"How about this kind of cooperation?"

"."

There was no immediate roar or refusal.

Copperfield slowly lit an expensive cigar.

Let the subtle sound of burning fill the room.

He needs some time to process and weigh the options.

Is it a matter of rejection, leading to the loss of everything? Or perhaps even the loss of one's life here?
Or accept?

By relinquishing some control, he may be able to use this inhuman power to realize his lifelong ambition.

After a long silence, Copport exhaled a grayish-white smoke ring, his voice somewhat shrill:
“Mr. Diego, you’ve really put me in a difficult position. It sounds like… I’ve gained the most powerful person in all of Gotham without giving anything in return…”

"—Partner?"

He was trying to regain some ground, his tone tentative.

“This is not a proposal, Cobblestone. This is a notification.”

But Dior clearly had no intention of haggling, and spoke in a completely flat voice:
"I'll have Roccoman coordinate the details with your people."

Now they don't even want to call him "sir" anymore?!

"."

The cigar went out inexplicably.

The sizzling sound from burning also disappeared.

The office fell into dead silence.

All that could be heard was Coppa's slightly heavy breathing.

He looked at Dio, feeling the oppressive aura emanating from the young man before him.

Many top figures flashed through my mind.

—Falcone? Maroni?
A sullen, imposing presence? A violent, cruel nature?

What the hell.
It's all so outdated and ridiculous in front of this cold, aloof king!

This kid's only been here for about two months, right? How come he's so comfortable and at ease?! Is this still Gotham?!

Setting his cigar aside, Cobbert removed his top hat.

Ok
His intuition, honed over years in Gotham's dark underworld, was screaming wildly.

The indifference to rules and life in the eyes of this superhuman 'king,' that pure coldness, was something this ordinary penguin could never bear.
After a long while, the penguin slowly nodded.

Then his expression changed, and he said enthusiastically:
“Then let’s do as you say… my new partner, Your Majesty the King.”

Seeing Copport's change of expression, Dio couldn't help but show a hint of satisfaction.

It wasn't joy, just the coldness of achieving a goal.

"correct."

He turned to leave, but then stopped, turned his head to the side, and left with his last words: "My name is Dior."

After saying that, he didn't say another word or even look at Copeport again.

He pushed open the office door and disappeared into the shadows of the corridor.

He left behind the glittering lights and neon-lit nightscape of Gotham at dusk, leaving it all for the penguin standing there, motionless.

"DIO?"

Copport murmured the pronunciation repeatedly.

I had just returned from Italy not long ago, so I was unfamiliar with this word in Italian.

It could be said that it was somewhat familiar.

"god?"

Looking out the window at the city overflowing with desire.

Copeport's voice was so low it was almost inaudible, and his tone was complex and difficult to decipher.

Is it a name change or the original name?

A feeling of utter absurdity gripped him.

He also knew some of the strange and unusual things that happened in Gotham.

For example, there's a toilet about 300 meters away from his club, a toilet said to come from hell and devour evil people.
Gods and ghosts
Then, recalling the thunder that tore the sky apart that night and this kid's inhuman strength...
"."

"Mr. Cobblestone is just..."

Only after Dior's footsteps completely disappeared in the direction of the elevator did Lark dare to take a step forward, her tone filled with resentment, "Are we just going to hand over half of everything we've worked so hard to build over the years to him like this?"

"But what? Superhuman?"

Coppert waved his hand, interrupting her, his tone weary and irritated.

They then ordered someone to drag Ogilvy, who was still groaning in pain on the ground, out like a piece of trash.

“Lark, you don’t understand,” he turned around and said calmly, “That man isn’t just Ogilvy who only smashes things!”

He then walked to the window and looked out again at the city he longed to conquer, yet which he had always been excluded from the core power circle.

"Actually, it's not impossible."

He wasn't sure if he was comforting himself or the lark, but anyway...
“That kid isn’t the most troublesome one.” Penguin paused, his fingers unconsciously tightening their grip on the umbrella. “The most troublesome thing is the unimaginable power that might be behind him.”

"We both saw the thunder that tore the sky apart that night."

"That's a power that can easily turn several city blocks into scorched earth, yet can also restore everything to its original state in the blink of an eye. This power has completely transcended the realm of gang warfare, bribery, and political manipulation; it's... magic, or a miracle!"

He took a deep breath, as if using the lingering smoke in the air as a courage booster, and made a desperate, all-or-nothing decision.

"And what that kid said wasn't wrong either."

Copeport's tone carried a hint of self-deprecation.

“I, Oswald Cobblestone, have never wanted to be some damn Godfather of Gotham, nor do I want to sit on the throne every day on guard against sniper shots from below.”

As he spoke, his eyes burned with a fierce, pure greed.

“Skylark, you’ve been with me since I was a bartender.”

"You know, at first, I just wanted to be a middleman."

"that."

"—The middleman that all gangsters, police, politicians, and even every dark corner of this city have to deal with when conducting any dirty deal!"

"I will monopolize all the gray areas in Gotham, making my club—no, my name—the inevitable gateway for all secrets, all desires, and all sins! Just like blood vessels are to the human body!"

Coppert's voice rose slightly with excitement.

Throughout his life, because of his ugly appearance and humble origins, he was regarded as a marginal figure by Gotham's arrogant old aristocracy and traditional gangsters, who mocked, used, and then discarded him at will.

So what he had always longed for in his heart...

It's never just an empty reputation!

Instead, it completely shattered the old order that judged people based on bloodline, seniority, and hypocritical respectability!
he.
Oswald Copport!

He wanted to prove to everyone that he was the smartest, richest, and most powerful man in Gotham!
As for whether this power comes from the throne or from behind the scenes...
"I never expected that he could see right through me after only four or five meetings with me."

"Partner?"

He chuckled, a glint in his eyes:
“I see the future in him, Lark.”

"As long as it ultimately helps me achieve my goal, what's wrong with temporarily cooperating with that kid, or even working for him?"

After all, even he had to admit it.

Dior
There is something I have never had before, and something I desperately crave.

That undisguised, daring to trample on all established rules, and pure ambition that sees everything as something to be possessed!
And enough to turn ambition into reality! Terrifying.

Style! Prestige! Prestige! Power!

after all
Damn it, what kind of decent guy would be so eager to oust his boss and become the boss himself after working as a gigolo for only two months?!

"lark…"

“At this rate, with his help, we…” Cobblestone’s voice deepened, as if he could already see the future, “maybe we really can stand on everyone’s shoulders and reach the top of Gotham.”

"Above ten thousand people."

"As long as it can be that way"

A glint of dazedness flashed in his eyes, and his tone carried an almost manic excitement as he chuckled softly:
Even if I have to look up to someone for a while... what does it matter?

"No matter how you look at it, I'm the one who profited from this deal. He used his fists and charm to clear the obstacles for me. I used my mind to manage and develop the industry for him."

"He became the king in the shadows, the ruler of a kingdom within a kingdom."

"And I only used half an iceberg, the management rights of a club, to exchange for a stepping stone to the top of Gotham. This may be the most profitable deal I have ever made in my life."

Who is he?
Isn't Penguin just a lowly bartender working for Falcone?
He managed to climb the ladder step by step, eventually becoming the manager of Gotham's largest nightclub.

What does it rely on?
It's about seeing the situation clearly, seizing opportunities, and prioritizing survival!

"But sir," Hibari still worried, "what if, after it succeeds, he..."

“No, no, no, Lark.” Cobblestone waved his hand. “Once he gets to know me better, he’ll realize he needs me, he can’t live without me. In some ways, he needs me far more than I need him.”

“He’s just an outsider, he’s not a Gothamite.”

"He cannot do without my understanding and knowledge of this city."

"You know, this city is..."

"."

Copeport didn't finish his sentence.

But that unfulfilled ambition had already permeated the room.
-
Leading to the fourth floor.

Dior's steps were steady.

The sound of leather shoes tapping on the marble floor echoed in the corridor, striking the beat of supreme power.

But his heart remained coldly calm, utterly undisturbed.

Copeport's compromise was entirely within his expectations, and even went a little more smoothly than he had anticipated.

This fat and shrewd penguin was indeed very pragmatic, knowing how to assess the situation and understand that when faced with an irresistible force, bowing one's head was the only way to survive.

very smart.

This saved him a lot of unnecessary violence and trouble.

This brightly lit palace on the ground was now truly in his hands.

But this... is just the beginning.

After all, the devastating war that happened not long ago was like a heavy hammer, shattering some of his vague perceptions and revealing a cold and powerful truth nakedly before his eyes.

Really
He witnessed Clark's loss of control—

It is the lowest form of power, pure, barbaric, and aimless destruction; it is power that does whatever it pleases.

He also witnessed firsthand the workings of the green-haired bald man and the official machinery—

That is a higher form of power, the power to arbitrarily control and manipulate order.

But that's all there is to it.
Because what he ultimately saw was everything his father, Locke, had done—

That is the highest level of power.
Define reality, reshape the rules.

Crushing, repairing, healing...

With a wave of the hand, everything was made to never have happened.

This taught him an incredibly vivid lesson.

Power may take many forms, but the nature of power has never changed.

That is

——Domination!
Dominate power, dominate order, dominate reality!

His father often said, "A choice is a responsibility."

Dior now has a deeper understanding of this.

是 的
From the moment he decided to become king that night.

This choice leads to power, and this power means the inescapable responsibility that comes with it.

Thus, a chilling realization naturally arises in the heart:
Dio wanted to maintain order here, ensure efficiency, keep the 'people' loyal to him, and make the wealth and intelligence here as vital as blood to his own use.

Make everything here serve his interests!

This is his responsibility as king.

It has nothing to do with morality, it's just about order itself.

Darkness and sin, deals and rules, and all the consequences that result!
The king will take responsibility, the king will allow it, the king will bear the weight of the entire world!

And post-war Gotham provided him with the perfect stage.

The Falcone family is in turmoil, the Maroni family is reckless and impulsive, Copport is completely stunned, and the authorities are busy covering up the truth…

The timing, the power, and the stage are all in place.

He simply reached out precisely and grasped the crown that was automatically handed to him.

That great battle was the grandest fireworks display at his coronation ceremony!
This is also why he forgave Clark so easily.

It's not because I don't care.
But
A faint smile played at the corners of Dio's lips, and a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes.

His gaze had transcended personal grudges and turned to how to rule the 'kingdom'.

This is not tolerance, but rather a kind of indifference stemming from standing at a new height.

If he continues to be angry or seek revenge, wouldn't that be tantamount to admitting that the big oaf is worthy of being his opponent?

This actually elevated Clark's status.

Just thinking about that guy's recent state filled Dio with a kind of almost contemptuous pity.

Too weak.
Not just in terms of physical strength, but also in terms of spirit.

The devastating cries upon waking, the ridiculous self-blame, the fear and rejection of one's own power…

Such self-doubt and self-castration.
Even Clark, who was repeatedly beaten by him on the rooftop but still dared not use his own strength in the end, had completely lost the right to be his opponent.
It did not arouse in him the slightest desire for revenge.

'Pitiful' and 'useless'.

Would Dio Kent deliberately bend down?
Go and kick a stray dog ​​that's already limp on the ground!

Should we also send it to the incinerator in one go?

That's so beneath me.

Losers are not worth investing any more emotion and energy in.

As for why Cobbert was kept on? Why not become his own boss?

An empty title is meaningless.

A target standing in the open, a steward handling miscellaneous tasks, and a signboard that can also be used to stabilize the situation.

This can save you a lot of trouble and protect you from many open and hidden attacks.

after all
I'm only fifteen years old.

His kingdom has only just begun.
-
PS:

I've finally finished writing about the beginning of Gotham.

Oh dear, I devised eight versions to achieve this shift in mindset and to proceed gradually.

After all, Dior has a lot of appeal.

But it won't be so overpowered that the evil people of DC will bow down and shout: God, Messiah, Savior.

You can tell from Lex's attitude.

He and Dior also had their share of clashes (lol).
So no matter what, it would be a shame to make the penguin just an ordinary stepping stone for Dio, which would only make him a simple compromiser intimidated by power.

Cobblestone, with his keen sense of timing, shrewdness, willingness to gamble with the enemy, and belief that he could counterbalance Dior, ultimately became the winner. I think he is also the Gotham Penguin that everyone knows.

It is also a penguin emperor that Dior can slowly tame with his charm.

As for the initial succubus version, please refer to unofficial historical accounts →

(End of this chapter)