harleyscars Chapter 105-02: Where is Afu?
Chapter 105-02: Where is Afu?
Chapter 105-02: Where is Afu?
The pizza vendor had his throat slashed from the front, the wound wider on the left and narrower on the right. Qin Wei gestured to simulate the scene.
It is inferred that the killer held the knife in his left hand.
While trying not to disturb the scene, they searched the victim's pockets and found a $100 bill with a signal tracker stuck to the back.
Qin Wei hadn't held out much hope to begin with. If the other party really was a clown, there was no way he wouldn't be wary of the tracker. Instead of figuring out where the other party had gone, it was better to deduce his purpose in desperately pursuing this information.
The first was the bank robbery predicted in the comics; the second was infiltrating the group to try and shoot them in the back; and the third was a brutal extortion and threat.
Looking back, Qin Wei realized that the other party's objective each time was the same document.
As for the second Joker, Qin Wei is more inclined to believe that he actually exists.
It's not because of the laughter, nor because of a change in verbal tics, but simply the feeling it evokes.
The first Joker didn't show a strong desire to kill; he was someone who preferred to manipulate things from behind the scenes.
The onlookers, watching the crowd tug at each other's heads in the farce, occasionally get caught up in the excitement and join in themselves.
But this clown is different; he got involved in two murders within minutes of appearing.
He was ruthless and cunning, not only cruel and merciless in his actions, but also possessing a keen understanding of human nature. His order for Gordon to turn on speakerphone was most likely intended to lure the trio into making a deal. But he probably didn't expect that Qin Wei's few words would calm Harvey Dent down.
The side story failed, but that didn't stop the Joker's main plan from proceeding smoothly.
At least for now, he has succeeded.
Meanwhile, far away in the Eastern District Senate, in the wardrobe of a room on the third floor, a comic book appeared in the inner pocket of the tattered suit that he couldn't bear to throw away.
With the release of "The Joker," the scarlet curtain was also lifted.
Back at the safe house, the atmosphere inside was rather tense.
Qin Wei felt obligated to get these old buddies back on their feet.
"Don't be so pessimistic. At least Maroni is finished, isn't he? And other evidence isn't suitable to be made public for the time being. I'll find a way to get it back before 'Purge Day' arrives, and while I'm at it, I'll snap his neck."
Gordon removed his hands from his face; Qin Wei's words seemed to have had an effect.
"I'd much rather you handed that guy over to us; vigilante justice is never the answer."
"Absolutely impossible. Even if I believe in Gotham's laws, his fluctuating mental state would allow him to easily evade legal punishment. Believe me, if he did that, Arkham Asylum would become his backyard."
Qin Wei gently patted Gordon's back.
"You handle the gang and political/business matters, I'll take care of the damn guy."
Gordon nodded. Although he didn't know why Qin Wei knew him so well, he chose to trust this ally.
With the interlude over, the conversation returned to Alfred. And the news Gordon revealed next was absolutely unexpected: our butler was now working for Falcone, becoming a member of the Romans.
It's ironic that both father and son are working for the gang.
Qin Wei pondered the news, finding it ironic yet also somewhat fateful.
Now he had to go to Falcone no matter what, firstly to find Afo and uncover his true identity, and secondly to bring down Maroni, for which a reward awaited him.
"etc!"
Before leaving, Gordon called out to Qin Wei and handed him his car keys:
"You'd better drive this car less often, because it's on the police's wanted list now because of a villa arson case!"
Qin Wei scratched his head. How was he supposed to explain to Gordon that he couldn't live without the autopilot system?
"I'll go with you! I also have something I want to discuss with Mr. Alberto."
Harvey came to the rescue and took the keys.
Gotham is different tonight. Perhaps it's influenced by Maroney, but even the streets of the Diamond District are deserted. Flurry neon lights dot the desolate streets, and the wheels of an old Ford roll over puddles, stirring them up and then quietly healing them.
"Thank you for your words, I'm much more clear-headed now." Harvey gripped the steering wheel, the iridescent light flashing across his face. "But I failed to protect the evidence, making all your efforts futile."
"Don't think that way, unless you think I can't handle him."
"Are you really that confident?"
"Yes, in fact, he almost succeeded many times, but he chose not to kill in order to avoid falling into darkness completely. But I don't have that much dark past."
The clown's repeated stomping and jumping on Qin Wei's face thoroughly enraged him. He had been busy dealing with Maroney, but now he had plenty of time to play that damned game with the clown.
Those who stay hidden always have an advantage; now it's Qin Wei's turn to make his move.
Old Ford stopped in front of the nightclub, while Harvey stayed in the car to wait for others. The "notorious" prosecutor didn't have that kind of influence; he needed Qin Wei's help to meet Alberto.
The bodyguard led Qin Wei to Alberto's room.
It's another study, but unlike Maroni's love of using books as Christmas bells to decorate his empty mind, the owner of this room is indeed making good use of it.
On the desk, a young man wearing glasses was flipping through an economics book, with a cup of coffee in his left hand and a fountain pen on his right.
His cheeks were so thin that the light shone down on his high, prominent cheekbones, and the lower half of his face was almost completely hidden in shadow.
It looks like—uh—a triangular rice ball?
Qin Wei was amused by his own rich imagination.
About thirty seconds later, Alberto finished making the last note and hurriedly closed the book.
"I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting. I'm preparing for my speech next month, and I've been quite busy lately." The young man turned on the study light.
"Would you like coffee or black tea?"
"Thank you, but I would like to see your father." Qin Wei smiled and nodded; he had a good impression of this refined young man.
Alberto hesitated for a moment before leaving the study, but soon returned.
"Father said he'll wait for you at the usual place." After finishing their business, Alberto suddenly rubbed his palms together, a subtle gesture that did not escape Qin Wei's notice.
"Is there something you need?"
"Yes, indeed!" He straightened his bow tie. "I have a personal request—I would like to meet Ms. Kyle, my sister Selena. If she is willing to acknowledge me as her brother, perhaps I can address her that way."
Alberto had always struck Qin Wei as a near-perfect person—a prodigy, impeccably groomed, and with impeccable manners.
His speech was dignified, like a flawless diamond.
But just now, when he uttered Selena's name, an undisguised unease crept across his calm face.
What is this? Is it a sister complex?
Qin Wei blinked.
"Sir, please don't misunderstand. I would never disturb Ms. Kyle's life. In fact, she probably doesn't want to return to the family. I just want to see her, to see this unfamiliar relative."
"I understand, and I will convey your meaning to Selena."
Leaving Alberto's study, Qin Wei, guided by his bodyguard, entered the elevator and headed down to the ground. The last time he was here, he was with Oswald; the two of them had just escaped assassins and crawled out of Gotham River, looking utterly disheveled.
Recalling his past predicament, Qin Wei scratched the tear in the back of his trousers and smiled knowingly.
In Falcone's room, Qin Wei sat down at the long dining table again. Unlike the empty tabletop before, this time it was covered with US dollars.
The mountain of US dollars completely obscured Falcone's face at the other end of the table.
"My friend, I have waited for this day! You have returned in armor, the dried blood on your spear a symbol of honor. You deserve this reward."
Falcone's laughter echoed as Qin Wei grabbed a wad of US dollars from the pile of money and fiddled with the edges of the bills with his index finger, as if shuffling a deck of cards.
Ah, that damn sound was so pleasant to hear!
I thought you would break your promise.
"An honest businessman never breaks his word. Even if Maroni's assets are frozen, what he promised you will be converted into cash."
"Besides, you're the son of an old friend. If only Thomas knew all this."
Qin Wei stopped what he was doing. The other person seemed to have mistaken him for Bruce Wayne, but he didn't want to deny it.
"When did you find out?"
"From the first time you sat in that seat, your face bore at least a 70% resemblance to his. I swear on my years of friendship with Thomas, I would never mistake him for someone else."
Falcone mistook Qin Wei for Bruce, and then mistakenly believed that Qin Wei attacked Maroni for revenge. That's why he trusted Qin Wei so much, even at the cost of the life of a stuntman he had known for many years.
That Russian roulette game was merely a small test of his nephew's courage and boldness.
The process was completely wrong, but the result was exactly as expected; that's the charm of fate.
"So, when you hesitated to speak, were you wondering whether to expose my identity?" Qin Wei raised an eyebrow, his expression a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
If Falcone had chosen to speak frankly, he could have avoided many detours.
But none of that matters anymore. Since we're all treating him like Bruce Wayne, let's do what Bruce would do.
"I want to see Alfred."
"Of course! I notified Mr. Pennyworth the moment you stepped into this building, and he's definitely on his way here right now!"
"He came to me about four months ago, wanting to use my connections to find you. I didn't want to meet a suspicious Englishman, but he said that name."
“‘Just for Thomas,’ he said, and I couldn’t refuse the request of a man who had saved my life.”
Falcone tells a story about his father, how he was being hunted by enemies and accidentally stumbled into Wayne Manor, and how he was rescued by Thomas.
"At that time, the wound was on the inside of my thigh and it was bleeding constantly. Your father's stitching technique was very good, and it left almost no scar."
"After that, he said to me: Hey! Falcone! Want to save Gotham with me?"
"If it were now, I would consider him a hopeless idiot, but back then we were about the same age as you are now."
"You mean start a gang, and I'll handle the things the police can't? That's such a cool plan." I blurted it out almost without thinking.