American comics: Praising the sun, starting from Gotham!

A broadcast rang out over the city.

Immediately afterwards, Edward Nigma ripped through the sky with his neurotic voice.

Good morning, you stagnant city! Want to hear a new riddle? What has four legs in the morning and two legs at noon?

Just as a meaningful smile appeared on Lei Xiao's lips, he was about to use the noisy background noise to reiterate the truth that "only fire can purify chaos" to the young man with divine potential in front of him.

This should have been a perfect teaching case, a real-time demonstration of a rotten foundation.

"Did you hear that, child? This is...?"

"Zzz—!! Boom!"

A deafening explosion, like a thunderclap, abruptly cut short the riddler's grand monologue that was yet to unfold.

Immediately afterwards, only a deathly silence of static filled the radio.

About three seconds later, a deep voice came through the microphone that wasn’t completely broken and echoed throughout Gotham.

"I've found you."

There's no brain-taxing puzzle-solving involved.

There's no long, drawn-out cat-and-mouse game.

There was only the sound of clothes rubbing together, then the broadcast was completely cut off, and the world became so quiet that only the birdsong in the garden could be heard.

Joestar blinked, still trying to deduce from the brief broadcast whether it contained a new oracle.

Xiu En, meanwhile, slammed the empty bowl in his hand, which had been chewed into an abstract work of art, onto the railing and burst into laughter, completely lacking in manners.

"This is the terminal illness you were talking about?"

Xiu En pointed in the direction where the broadcast sound disappeared, his face bearing the kind of gleeful expression that showed he was not moved by the purification theory, but rather was watching a compilation of circus clown mistakes.

"If the chaos you're referring to is like the comedian who gets choked before he can finish speaking, then I think that security captain who likes to wear special forces uniforms but insists on adding a cape did a pretty good job."

He gestured in the air without any hesitation:

"Looks like you're facing a lot of competition in your cleaning business, old man. I suggest you think long-term. For example, since you can't purify living people, why not try purifying those septic tanks over there?"

Lei Xiao Aug's outstretched hand, which had been very waving, was now frozen in mid-air.

Even with his unwavering composure that had stood the test of six centuries, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when faced with a reality that almost made him a laughingstock for his apocalyptic theories.

The old man was not angry. This time, his gaze toward Wayne Manor was less disdainful of the immature heir and more solemn.

"It's different now."

Lei Xiaoaogu muttered to himself, his voice even carrying a hint of approval.

"He used to wait for the riddle to finish, enjoying the process of solving it to prove his intellectual superiority. But now he..."

It's like a heavy sword that no longer pursues fancy sword techniques, but is tempered solely for killing.

This efficiency, this decisive approach that no longer wavered on the edge of the principle of not killing, did not disappoint Lei Xiao Augu; on the contrary, it made the light in his eyes shine even brighter.

"Yes, yes, yes, children grow up and are no longer under their father's control."

Xiu En had no interest in listening to such fatherly sentiments. While Lei Xiao Aug was still marveling at Batman's growth, he suddenly lunged forward.

The hand, tempered by the golden energy, moved so fast that only afterimages could be seen, heading straight for the jade pendant still hanging at the waist.

"Whoosh."

Lei Xiao Aogu's body didn't even move; he simply shifted half a step backward like a willow catkin blown by a gentle breeze.

Xiu En's fingertips were only a fraction of a centimeter away from that emerald green delicacy. Although he missed, the force of his strike still caused the wind pressure to flutter the hem of the old man's long robe.

"A love of food is a good habit, but you have to be careful not to break your teeth."

Lei Xiao Augu looked at this young man who had no dignity whatsoever and even launched a sneak attack right in front of him, but he was not angry. Instead, he showed a smile that truly belonged to an elder.

"If you consider the ending of that broadcast to be the conclusion..."

Xiu En raised his head.

"Then you've definitely never seen this lively giant bat's real morning grumpiness!"

"boom--!!!"

A dark shadow crashed into the center of the orphanage garden, in the relatively intact open space between Lei Xiao Augu and Xiu En.

The shockwave instantly created a hurricane-like storm, a mixture of mud, gravel, and the plant powder that had just been eaten.

Xiu En took the opportunity to shrink behind Alvin, only peeking out to watch the commotion.

Lei Xiao Augu had no choice but to stop his elegant hand-behind-his-back stance at this moment. He crossed his hands in front of him and used his inner strength to create an invisible aura so that his hair would not be messed up by the wind.

As the smoke cleared, dark gold patterns slowly flowed across a brand-new suit of armor.

That's the product of Zatana's magical runes combined with Wayne Technology—[Anti-Thundercloud Shadow House Special Attack Armor (Mark I)].

Batman straightened up, his pair of crimson-glowing visors remaining fixed on the Immortal before him without wavering.

Good morning, detective.

Lei Xiao Aug did not display what could be described as a benevolent smile.

"This armor... is very interesting. It not only has a witchcraft feel to it, but also that power that you're finally beginning to embrace."

Batman did not respond to the reminiscing; he simply raised one hand slowly.

The mystery has been solved.

"Gotham is not sick, nor does it need your surgery."

He took a step forward, and his height, combined with the imposing presence of the thickened armor, made him look down on his former mentor for the first time.

"Now, take your purification theory and your old era with you and leave my sight."

This is an expulsion order that doesn't need to be emphasized a second time.

"Excuse me, may I disturb your loving father-son relationship a little?"

Shuen emerged from behind Alvin.

"Boss, although your appearance would definitely make headlines even in the metropolis next door, can we put our personal matters aside for now?"

As Xiu En spoke, he pointed to the jade pendant on Lei Xiao Augu's waist.

"This old man tried to lure me away with something, which is one thing, but the real problem is he actually tried to use the guise of 'purification' to postpone the orphanage's breakfast time. Doesn't that count as a work-related injury? And what about compensation for emotional distress?"

Bruce didn't even turn his head, but the cape behind him seemed to tremble in an extremely human-like way upon hearing that familiar extortionate tone.

But his silence was the strongest response to Lei Xiao: He's on my side, whether he's a madman or a god, we're in this together now.

Lei Xiao Aug glanced at Xiu En, who still coveted his jade pendant, and finally his gaze fell on the pair of scarlet glasses that were no longer wavering.

Suddenly, he burst into laughter.

"Hahaha...very good."

There was actually a hint of unbridled joy in the laughter.

"You not only broke the rules, you also learned how to raise monsters. Bruce, this is even more perfect than I imagined."

He knew he had already lost this match.

He didn't lose because of force, but because the city's immune system no longer accepted his chemotherapy.

Whether it's the unreasonable variable of Shuen or Bruce's resolute decision to even resort to magic, it all proves that this mess is not as easy to handle as he thought.

"Jade is prepared for the strong."

As the old man turned to walk into the shade of the garden, he flicked the jade pendant into the air.

It wasn't for Hugh; the emerald green arc went straight for Bruce's chest.

"Hopefully, the madness contained within this stone will add a touch more luster to your current armor."

Lei Xiao's figure quickly faded into the shadows, leaving only his last words echoing in the air.

"I'll be waiting for you at the finish line. Don't die at the hands of these bastards, my successor."

A hand wreathed in pale golden light, as if it had been waiting for this moment, severed the jade pendant in mid-air.

"I also hope you can understand that littering will result in a fine."

Xiu En tossed the jade pendant in his hand, then without asking Bruce's opinion, he opened his mouth and snapped off a corner.

"Hmm... it's the same recipe, the same familiar taste."

Xiu En looked disgusted, but his body language betrayed him as he began to chew, even though he choked a little.

"Only hearty dishes can truly fill you up."

Bruce's lips, hidden beneath the mask, twitched slightly in a gesture that seemed utterly helpless.