Chapter 51: Standard Ministry of Foreign Affairs Crisis Response Strategy-Sou Padre em Gotham e Encontro um Garotinho Logo no Início(O Grande Imperador das Focas)

A chorus of shrill screams, whistles, cheers, and applause erupted as the audience burst into a frenzy. A few people even pulled out exaggerated clown-painted masks and put them on.

"JOKER!"

"As expected of Joker! He effortlessly did what we could never do! So inspiring, so admirable!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! To witness this moment, it's worth dying just to have bought the ticket!"

Most of the people who came to watch the spectacle were lawless renegades. To them, the Joker—a figure embodying chaos and madness—was a wildly chased idol.

"He really came..."

"If this isn't love..."

"Prepare to execute the arrest. Remember to bring gas masks; the Joker is very fond of laughing gas."

Those lying in ambush for the Joker communicated with one another, getting ready to make their move.

"JOKER, are you here to crash the party?" Killer Croc looked down at the Joker from above. "Or are you jealous that I managed to capture Batman, and that's why you pulled this stunt? Forget it! I am Gotham City's strongest, fiercest, most tyrannical, and most hardcore criminal. You're already obsolete!"

Those present noted that this was the first time they had ever heard the Joker curse in such a foul-mouthed manner.

The Joker pulled out a party popper, twisted it with both hands, and fired a rocket directly at Killer Croc.

"Huh?" Killer Croc leaped straight down from the high platform as the rocket struck the ceiling, sending flames and debris flying.

Killer Croc lunged directly at the Joker, only to be struck in the face by a purple perfume bottle, instantly knocking him cold.

"...This guy was taken down just like that?" The police officers present hurriedly drew their tranquilizer guns and various restraint devices, aiming and firing at the Joker.

"Heh heh... Does having numbers really matter?" The Joker let out a bizarre laugh. On the ground, Killer Croc's eyes suddenly snapped open, his body expanded by a size, and with a roaring bellow, he began smashing everything in his vicinity like a madman.

"What the hell is this?" Roland watched as the tranquilizer darts had zero effect on Killer Croc, whose strength had also grown far greater than before. He immediately stepped into the fray to lure Killer Croc away.

Killer Croc's current strength already surpassed Roland's, forcing him to deflect the onslaught by utilizing the "winding" force of Bajiquan, which greatly annoyed Roland, who preferred direct head-on clashes.

Yet, he knew that if he were to trade blows with Killer Croc head-on right now, he would most likely be sent flying.

However, Killer Croc's agility was far inferior to his. Roland led Killer Croc into the equipment room, using the complex terrain to run circles around him.

"Roar!" Killer Croc let out a furious bellow, wielding a sound system like a hammer and swinging wildly at Roland.

"Too slow!" Roland braced his hand against the floor, executed a backflip to dodge the hammer strike, and launched himself forward like an arrow.

A mid-air kick slammed into Killer Croc's nose, sending foul, reeking blood spraying everywhere.

Killer Croc couldn't help emitting a miserable wail as his offensive rhythm fell into disarray.

"It seems his vulnerable spots haven't changed much after all..." Seizing the opportunity, Roland delivered a *Lidi Tongtian Pao* (Ground-to-Heaven Cannon) straight to Killer Croc's chin.

With a loud "bang," the previously aggressive Killer Croc crashed to the ground, his entire body stiffening.

"Hoo..." Roland wiped the sweat from his brow and walked outside.

While he was dealing with Killer Croc, the Joker had already been subdued by Batman. Traps set in advance throughout the venue had dealt the Joker quite a heavy blow.

Yet, the Joker showed no sign of displeasure. Even as Batman placed him under arrest, he continued to laugh merrily.

"If this isn't love..."

"Does this guy have a hidden masochistic streak?"

"I suddenly feel like Batman is a scumbag..."

The police officers murmured among themselves, causing Batman's face to darken beneath his cowl, though nothing could be seen through his mask.

"Something feels a bit off..." Commissioner Gordon muttered to himself as he watched the Joker being loaded into a police cruiser.

"What's off? Didn't everything go according to our plan?" Roland asked.

"I'm just wondering... why haven't any other police officers shown up after all this time? Killer Croc even started a live stream; didn't any viewers call the police?" Commissioner Gordon was utterly baffled.

One hour ago, Gotham City Police Department.

The dispatcher was continuously taking calls.

"Hello, it's a major emergency! Killer Croc has taken over the Gotham TV station and is getting ready to live stream the murder of Batman!"

The dispatcher glanced at a sticky note on her desk, which read: "Phase One: We claim nothing is happening."

"Hello, we have found no indication of such an event occurring. This is likely a prank, a television advertisement, or perhaps some promotional gimmick by the broadcasting station." With that, she hung up the phone.

When Batman first emerged, he proclaimed his intent to wage war on the crime and corruption of this city. He had crashed Falcone's dinner party and warned all the corrupt guests that they would soon face his justice.

Commissioner Loeb had promised to handle Batman, only to be met with Batman's fierce retaliation.

Now that Batman was about to be publicly executed, Commissioner Loeb could hardly wait to throw a banquet in celebration; he had no intention of dispatching officers to stop it.

Before long, the next call came in.

"Hello! Is this the police department? The Gotham TV station has been taken over! Killer Croc is live-streaming, and he's going to kill Batman! If my child sees this, it's going to leave permanent psychological scars."

"Perhaps Killer Croc really is at the Gotham TV station, but if we act rashly, we might provoke him. What if he murders all the staff inside the station? That is something we cannot accept. As for your child... I suggest you change the channel."

The dispatcher replied, glancing at the second rule written on the sticky note: "Phase Two: We say something may be happening, but we should not take action."

A few minutes passed.

"Oh, dear god, this is terrifying!" a woman's panicked voice came through the receiver.

"Ma'am, please calm down. What happened?"

"It's Killer Croc! He's using a crowbar to beat Robin to death! It's horrific! Why haven't you dispatched the police yet?"

"We perhaps should dispatch the police, but Killer Croc has just issued threats against us, warning that he will kill the staff at the Gotham TV station. Right now, there is nothing we can do."

Meanwhile, the third rule on the sticky note read: "Phase Three: Perhaps we should take action, but we can do nothing."

Calls continued to pour in one after another, and the dispatcher kept deflecting them.

"We perhaps should have dispatched officers when Killer Croc seized the Gotham TV station, but unfortunately, it is far too late for us to go now." The dispatcher stated.

The final line of text on the sticky note read glaringly: Phase Four: Perhaps we could have done something back then, but now it is too late.