American comic book police officer survival manual

Gotham, today's weather: light rain.

Stepping out of the police car with an umbrella, Lucius jogged back into the station. Looking at his rain-soaked shoes, he said irritably:

"Fuck... another reason Superman dislikes Gotham..."

How many days has it been?

Ever since meeting Clark in the hospital and obtaining 1% of Kryptonian physique from the survival manual, Lucius has been thinking about getting more sun exposure, trying to improve his frail body by absorbing some solar radiation.

But the result?

There's not a single sunny day in Gotham!

Every day was either overcast or rainy. Lucius even checked the weather forecast for the following week and found that the dilapidated city was likely to be gloomy and the citizens had hardly ever seen the sun!

"When can I go on a business trip to the metropolis...so I can enjoy some sunny days too?"

Envious of Superman's life, Lucius folded his umbrella and grumbled as he walked into Sheriff Gordon's office.

Yesterday, Gotham police arrested a suspect in a poisoning case overnight.

Brock said that it was a signal from both Sheriff Gordon and Prosecutor Harvey to withdraw the team, so that Lucius would have less to worry about in the investigation.

"I'm just baffled... If it wasn't that old man who made the toxin, then who else could have done this?"

After thinking about it all night, Lucius felt something was off. He decided to come and see for himself what really happened in the Snowfield Restaurant poisoning case!

"Lucius?" Standing in Sheriff Gordon's office, Brock waved to his colleague.

"What's going on now?"

Lucius approached Brock and watched as several senior detectives discussed the case with Chief Constable Gordon. Lucius was completely unaware of the police department's progress in the investigation.

"The suspect we arrested last night has confessed."

They've let their guard down? Everything went smoothly?

"But you don't look very happy..." Lucius glanced around the office, pursing his lips, not quite believing Brock's statement.

Not just Brock, but the entire police station was filled with a tense atmosphere. It didn't look like a major case had been solved; it looked more like they had made a huge mess of things.

"Hmph, you have no idea how terrifying the superior that guy revealed was."

Brock, who usually enjoys gloating, was not in the mood for jokes this time. He nudged Lucius's arm and gestured for his colleague to look out the window.

Sheriff Gordon's office has a window that offers a direct view of the parking lot.

The area, which used to have only a few scattered police cars, now has more than ten special operations vehicles parked there, looking ready for action.

Upon realizing this, Lucius's expression changed, and he looked at Brock, who was deliberately keeping him in suspense: "Tell me quickly, what's going on? Why did that guy poison us?"

"...Have you heard of the Maroney family?"

"That name sounds familiar. What family is that?"

"Those were once the two giants of Gotham's underworld, the Maroney family and the Falcone family."

After taking Lucius to a secluded corner of the office, Brock began to give the newcomer a crash course in Gotham.

"Before the Penguin established his criminal empire, Gotham's mob was controlled by these two families."

"They are hostile to each other, but they also give each other some face, and they have a special understanding in managing their subordinates."

"Until Penguin, who was just an ordinary thug when he joined Falcone's gang, the landscape of Gotham's underworld began to change in a very subtle way."

From an ordinary umbrella bearer to the legendary Penguin, his experiences are so rich that they could fill an autobiography that would astound every Gotham resident.

Moreover, it is rumored that the conflict between the two families, and even the decline of their respective strengths, is related to the rising star, the Penguin...

"In short, although the Penguin was nominally subordinate to the Falcone family, he actually cultivated his own power through various means, and now he is on par with the Falcone family in the eyes of gang members. It's just that they still maintain a delicate alliance."

"The Maroney family, on the other hand, has always been at odds with the Penguins, and their relationship remains strained to this day..."

From the past polarization to the current proliferation of gangs, those two families can be considered as not dead yet, still wielding considerable influence in Gotham's underworld.

Lowering his voice, Brock's expression became extremely solemn: "And this time... it's said that the kid who poisoned them has intricate connections with the Maroney family..."

Therefore, this case against the Penguin is by no means a trivial matter.

In the eyes of many high-ranking police officers, this is because the Maroney family is dissatisfied with the status quo in Gotham and is trying to reshuffle the gang's power structure.

"That's the Maroni family... Although they've lost their former glory, they still control at least 20-30% of the gangsters, so their strength shouldn't be underestimated."

If a conflict were to actually occur, all the work the Gotham Police Department has done over the years would have been for nothing!

If so many gang members in Gotham were to go on the wrong foot, the death toll would be horrific!

"...The Maroni family, is the news true?"

Looking at the skinny gangster in the interrogation room, Lucius couldn't believe that such an ordinary man could be involved in so many things.

Could it be some conspirator using this poisoning incident to instigate conflict within the gang...?

In other cities, Lucius might not have thought much of it, but this is Gotham!

Gotham City, with its honest and simple people, certainly doesn't lack troublemakers like the Riddler and the Joker...

Sowing discord, creating chaos, and then profiting from the chaos—that's what they do best.

"The news is supposedly absolutely true. Anyway, now we need to follow the clues to catch that kid's supplier, the guy who gave him the poison. What do you think? Should we join in?"

"..."

His expression softened slightly, but Lucius ultimately shook his head.

To be honest, he was also very curious about who was behind all of this.

That bizarre poison, the complex web of interests between gangs... no matter how you look at it, this incident is incredibly fascinating.

But he was, after all, a man who valued his life.

Lucius would never dare to put himself in the center of the vortex unless absolutely necessary.

so...

"Sorry, I'll just continue my regular patrol duties."

After packing up his sidearm, Lucius decided not to go with the others.

If this is a trap set by some dangerous individual, and the police and Penguin's henchmen are all wiped out, and Batman is forced to show his face in the process, then Lucius will be caught in the crossfire and become an unfortunate victim who dies unjustly.

"Tch...boring. Where are you patrolling today?"

After struggling for a long time without getting the kid to join their ranks, Brock looked at Lucius with extreme disdain.

"First Avenue".

Lucius gave a casual reply, walked out of the police station, and got into his police car.

"Um??"

First Avenue?

Upon hearing this incredibly coincidental news, Brock's eyes lit up, and the smile on his lips suddenly turned playful...

......