American comic book: Transmigrated into Dior and adopted by the Wayne family

"You hate him?"

Dio looked up and gazed into the penguin's eyes.

"Then why are you giving it to me? That doesn't make sense, does it?"

The penguin shook his head and said seductively:

"Don't you find it strange? A wealthy man who suddenly appeared out of nowhere wants a knife with the Wayne sigil on it?"

Dior instantly understood the Penguin's scheme.

This guy wanted to escalate the conflict between him and Gallevin so he could reap the benefits.

He smiled knowingly, realizing that the man who hunted geese all day long had finally been pecked blind by them.

One day, someone used the very tricks that he was best at against him.

Sure enough, villains like the Penguin are much more troublesome than villains like the Riddler who haven't yet awakened their true nature.

"Aren't you surprised, Mr. Penguin?"

Dio didn't take the knife, not even glancing at it again.

Even though he knew it was a crucial clue, containing the secret that would lead him to Gallagher, he didn't accept it.

The penguin ignored him and continued talking to himself:

"Here's a piece of advice: if you want to know about Gotham's past, go find Edwich."

After saying that, he smiled.

Upon hearing this, Dio looked at the Penguin with a wildly smiling face in front of him, and then at the antique knife.

Even knowing it's poison disguised as sugar, even knowing it's the cause of escalating conflict, he still takes it.

The quest "Shadow of Saint Duma" has been stuck for a long time, and there's not a single record of it in Wayne's study, making it extremely difficult to find out.

However, what is honey to one is poison to another, and this applies to the Penguins as well.

Arsenic, if used properly, can even kill rats; the key is how you use it.

"I will go."

After a moment's thought, Dior decisively picked up the antique knife.

Pop, pop, pop.

"Young people have guts."

The penguin smiled with satisfaction.

But when he saw Dio's thoughtful expression, a sudden unease welled up in his heart.

But when he tried to take the knife back, he found that the other person had already left and disappeared.

"Huh? What time is it? Why are you walking so quietly?"

The penguin's smile froze on his face, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes, but in the end he didn't chase after them.

-----------------

Edwich Antiques is located in a narrow alley on the edge of the Diamond District. The storefront is small but exquisite.

The shop is located on the first floor, where people are open for business during the day, and on the second floor, where they live at night. It is a typical family-run antique dealer.

Dior stood at the doorway and glanced up at the second-floor window.

There was a light behind the curtains, and a figure was moving around.

He took out his phone and dialed the number posted on the wall.

The phone rang three times before being answered.

"Edwig Antique Shop, may I ask who you are?"

His voice was old, carrying a kind of old-fashioned aristocratic reserve.

"Dio Brando, the adopted son of the Wayne family, I need to see you now."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Mr. Brando, it's already 10 PM, I—"

"I'm downstairs, come down and see me now."

Dior hung up the phone, put his hands in his pockets, and waited patiently.

"Oh, right, Azrael, wait for me at the door."

"Alright, sir... fine."

About five minutes later, a corner of the curtain on the second floor was lifted.

After confirming that there were indeed two people standing downstairs, the old lady shrank back and closed the curtains again.

A few minutes later, the rustling sound of the lock being opened came from behind the door.

The heavy wooden door was pulled open a crack, and an old woman wrapped in a blanket peeked out. She had a full head of silver hair and wore glasses.

"Come in."

She stepped aside, and after Dior came in, she immediately closed the door again, locking it with the bolt and chain.

"Why is it so slow?"

Dior glanced at the watch, a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice.

"I've been waiting for you for several minutes."

"I'm an old man, I can't get dressed as quickly as you young people."

Edwige, leaning on his cane, limped back behind the counter, sat down, and caught his breath.

"Speak, Mr. Brando, what brings you here so late?"

Dior placed the antique knife on the counter.

Edwig looked down, his cloudy eyes widening instantly, and he exclaimed in surprise:

"OH! NO!"

Dior's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Do you recognize this knife?"

Edwig shook his head frantically and shrank back.

"No, no, I don't know it. I've never seen it before. You can go, take it with you."

Dio didn't move, but stared into Edvich's eyes.

In those cloudy eyes, the fear was real, but so was the evasiveness.

What is she afraid of, and what is she hiding?

"Madam, tell me the story of this knife."

Dio placed his hand on the knife and tapped it lightly; the threat was clear.

Edvich's body was trembling, but she didn't run.

She knew she couldn't escape.

"That...that's a cursed knife."

"Two hundred years ago, it was used to commit terrible crimes."

Dior didn't urge him, but listened quietly.

"Back then, Gotham was ruled by the five great families," Edwig said.

Dio frowned slightly; this was different from what he had expected.

"Five great houses? The Wayne family history I've read says there are only four great houses in Gotham."

Edwige looked up, a strange glint in his eyes:

"That's because one thing was erased, from history, from the map, everything was erased."

Which one?

"Duma".

Dior's pupils contracted slightly.

Duma.

The Duma of the St. Duma Order.

He didn't interrupt, letting Edwig continue.

"Back then, the crown jewel of Gotham was a woman from the Wayne family, Celine Wayne."

"She was engaged to the eldest son of the Elliott family, and all of Gotham thought she would become the mistress of the Elliott family."

"but--"

Edwige paused, as if organizing his thoughts.

"She fell in love with someone else. Kellerb Duma, the eldest son of the Duma family."

Dio's eyes narrowed.

"The Wayne family discovered their affair."

"But Keller said they were truly in love and offered no resistance."

"But Celestine accused Kellerb of raping her, swearing on her mother's grave."

"The Wayne family believed it, they went berserk with rage, chopped off Caleb Duma's hand with the knife, then seized all of the Duma family's property and drove them out of Gotham."

"The Wayne family used their power to completely wipe out the Duma family, and they have disappeared from Gotham's history ever since."

Dior remained silent, but his mind was racing.

The Wayne family sacrificed some face and a woman in exchange for the entire family's wealth.

Is there a conspiracy involved?

Humph.

Dior gave a cold laugh.

There's a saying that goes, "Whoever benefits the most is the most suspicious."

Nobody would believe there wasn't a conspiracy behind this!

"The descendants of the Duma family later changed their surname."

Edwige continued:

"And they changed their name to..."

"Gallervin".

Dior let out a deep breath.

All the clues finally came together.

The Church of St. Duma, the Duma family, and the Galerwin siblings—they're not here to seize the Wayne family's property; they're here to collect debts.

The blood debt from two hundred years ago.

He looked down at the panel, which had already changed.

[Long-term Quest: The Shadow of Saint Duma]

【completed】

[Reward: Remains of a Saint (Eyeball - Left Eye)]

[Ability: Unknown]

[PS: This is one of the remains left behind by a saint who wore a crown of thorns and had a pierced palm after crossing continents. It is said that when all the parts reassemble, a true miracle will occur.]

New quest unlocked: Blood of Sacrifice

[Mission Summary: The Order of St. Duma has never left Gotham. Hidden in the shadows, they sacrifice "Sons of Gotham" generation after generation, drawing power from the Wayne family. In just two hundred years, a once vast family has gradually withered, plagued by accidental deaths, disease, and disappearances—every generation of Wayne has someone who dies mysteriously before middle age. This is not a curse, but a sacrifice.]

[Mission Objective: Stop the sacrificial ritual of the Saint Duma Order and destroy the core organization of the Order]

[Reward: Unknown]

Dio stared wide-eyed in surprise.

Wow.

-----------------

Waaaaaah, the plane crashed, godfathers.

Could you give this bug some monthly votes to comfort me?

Waaaaaah!