American comics: Praising the sun, starting from Gotham!

When Shuen led a group of gray-robed children who looked like little ducks, along with a fully armed psychopathic killer, away.

Instead of Gotham's cold, rainy night, they were greeted by a yellow school bus gleaming under the streetlights.

But this is definitely not an ordinary school bus.

The run-flat tires were thicker than Xiu En's waist, the windows were so thick they could stop a rocket, and the paint didn't even have a speck of mud stuck to it in the rain.

"I knew it..."

Xiu En wiped the rain off his face and looked at the old gentleman standing by the car door with a black umbrella in his hand, and couldn't help but complain.

"Does your Wayne Enterprises have a special department called the 'Logistics Department' for dealing with bosses suddenly taking their kids home?"

Alfred bowed slightly, and the huge black umbrella steadily shielded Hugh's head from the rain.

"That's basic courtesy, Mr. Hugh. The master had already signaled that you would be bringing a group of children with you."

The old housekeeper smiled, as if welcoming elementary school students who had just returned from a spring outing.

"And considering everyone's special circumstances, I've also prepared some hot cocoa and blankets. While they can't compare to the hand-ground coffee from the estate, in this awful weather, a little sugar always lifts your spirits."

As he spoke, he pulled out a cooler from behind his back, and when he opened it, a rich aroma of chocolate filled the air.

Alvin, who was following behind, stiffened slightly. As a former Claw, he was used to eating rats in the gutter and hibernating in ice cellars, but he was not used to this thing called warmth.

He stared warily at Afu, the short knife in his hand slipping slightly from his sleeve.

"Don't be nervous, Alvin."

Xiu En took a cup of hot cocoa and casually handed it to the little girl who was sniffling the nearest one.

"This is God's logistics archbishop. Although he looks like just a butler, he's definitely more efficient at cutting meat than you are."

"archbishop?"

Alvin's wariness instantly turned into awe, and he even wanted to bow to Afu.

Ah Fu raised an eyebrow, elegantly ignoring the strange form of address: "I would be very grateful if this gentleman would be willing to help carry the children into the car. After all, I need to save my back for cleaning up the messes the master makes."

The car door opened, revealing a truly luxurious interior.

The cramped school bus seats have been replaced with soft airline-style seats, the heating is on full blast, and soothing classical music is playing.

The children, who were still shivering, were immediately surrounded by warmth as soon as they got on the bus. Afu was like a nanny with the skills of a thousand-armed Guanyin, wrapping each child in a blanket in the blink of an eye and stuffing hot drinks and snacks into her hands.

In less than two minutes, only the sounds of chewing and soft snoring remained in the carriage.

"Is this the power of money?"

Xiu En slumped in the spacious seat in the last row, feeling as if his soul was being elevated.

"System, look at everyone else! All you ever do is send me out to sunbathe!"

[System prompt: This system provides lifespan; please maintain a proper attitude.]

The car shook slightly before smoothly gliding into the night.

Looking at the Gotham cityscape rushing past the window, Xiu En turned to Alfred, who was checking the car's security camera in the front seat: "Where's the boss? Still down there doing demolition?"

"The master has his own rhythm."

Afu said without turning his head, his tone carrying a helplessness that only those who knew him well could understand.

"However, according to the surveillance footage, the underground tremors have stopped. I imagine those old friends at the court are busy moving now, if they can still move."

Xiu En shrugged, took out half a small cake from his pocket that he hadn't finished eating, thought for a moment, and then put it back.

The massive iron gate slid open slowly through the rain, and the specially made school bus, like a steel behemoth returning to its nest, came to a steady stop under the porch of Wayne Manor.

"Alright, little ones, welcome to the super luxurious Wayne Manor."

Xiu En stretched.

Afu methodically directed the maids to take care of the still dazed children: "Take them to the side wing of the guest room and prepare hot milk and a change of clothes. As for this Mr. Alvin?"

The old butler looked at the forepaw that was still tightly gripping the dagger and even trying to climb the chandelier as a guard, maintaining a perfect smile.

"If you don't mind, I can prepare a room for you that is closest to Mr. Hugh, but before that, you'll need to take care of your smell. The carpets at the manor are very expensive."

Alvin looked to Xiu En for help, and only after receiving the divine messenger's nod did he reluctantly put away his sword and follow Afu like a prisoner being escorted.

Just as Xiu En was about to slump onto the expensive-looking leather sofa, a series of heavy footsteps came from the side door.

Bruce Wayne walked in.

He looked nothing like the once-powerful Gotham prince. His left sleeve was completely gone, revealing a bandage wrapped around his arm that was still bleeding, and his face was also bruised.

"Looks like there's a price to pay for soloing dungeons."

Hugh's gaze was instantly drawn to what Bruce had thrown on the coffee table.

It was a white owl mask, made of a material that resembled bone but wasn't. In Xiu En's vision, this thing was emitting a dark golden light that caused the system panel to flash red lights wildly.

[WARNING: High concentration of reactive metal residue detected.]

[A Dionysian factor byproduct detected. Analyzable.]

[Comment: This is more than just a mask; it's a fragment of the key to immortality.]

Xiu En felt like his lungs were cheering. He swallowed hard and forced his gaze away: "Boss, did you dig up someone's ancestral grave? This mask looks pretty creepy."

"This is what their leader wears."

Bruce poured himself a glass of whiskey, but didn't drink it; he just held it in his hand and twirled it around.

"But he ran away. Right after I broke three of his ribs, he vanished like smoke."

He paused, then picked up the phone and dialed a number.

"Gordon."

Bruce's tone instantly switched to that low, hoarse channel, even though he wasn't wearing a mask.

"Thirteenth Avenue, the underground ruins of the Old Wayne Tower. I have a gift for you."

Gordon's exhausted roar came from the other end of the phone, roughly saying "It's the middle of the night" and "I knew it was you."

"Forty-three survivors, all severely wounded and incapacitated. They were a group of wicked assassins."

Bruce ignored the other person's complaints and said coldly.

"Call ambulances, call several. Also, cordon off the scene and don't let the media get close."

After hanging up the phone, Bruce downed the drink in his glass and turned to look at Afu, who was cleaning up the cake crumbs that Shuen had dropped on the carpet.

"Several core members have fled. Afu, activate the Argos Protocol. We need to increase our oversight of this city. I need to have eyes in every sewer, every abandoned subway station."

"Young Master, if I may be so bold, this sounds more like the prelude to some kind of totalitarianism."

Afu straightened up, his tone calm.

"Only fear can stop them."

Bruce stared at the mask, his eyes dark and brooding.

"Or more cameras."

Xiu En interjected, taking the opportunity to touch the mask, and the system immediately sent a pleasant vibration.

"But boss, sometimes you can't just block the hole to catch mice, you have to put some cheese in."

He pointed to himself: "Like, a glowing, delicious-looking bait, accompanied by a traitor as bait?"