Vivi had no idea what Bruce was going through… She was busy herself.

After several days, Mayor Anna pushed open the door to her office. The AI on the computer screen greeted her, and Vivi tapped the desk. “Jar, contact Shelk, Warden Bettywen of Blackgate Prison, and get Hogg. I want to hold a meeting.”

Shelk arrived first. After the city-wide sleep event ended, most citizens with average mental strength subconsciously ignored the strange occurrence. When Vivi saw Shelk, her first words were, “How’s your relationship with Black Mask?”

Although Black Mask had been imprisoned in Blackgate, he hadn’t given up on causing trouble for Vivi. Unlike the Penguin, Black Mask still had his steel mill and his Sionis Group, which were all under his subordinates’ control, just waiting for him to be released so he could retake his empire.

Vivi intended to cut off Black Mask’s claws while he was still stuck with the other villains in Silent Night.

Shelk’s expression shifted slightly. He took a deep breath and lowered his head. “Ms. Alek, he once funded my education, and I helped him manage his business.”

There was no need for them to pretend anymore. From the moment Vivi first met him and found a mask on him, and he discovered a corpse under her desk, both had realized neither was exactly on the side of the angels.

“Black Mask is gone,” Vivi nodded at him, then looked toward the door. “I’ll let Warden Bettywen explain the details.”

Vivi, through her alt as Bettywen, clarified, “We’ve ‘obtained’ a new kind of cell. For the next ten or twenty days, Black Mask will be as if he’s completely disappeared from the world. No messages, no orders can get out.”

Shelk caught on quickly. “In that case, we can make some moves to destabilize his operations.”

“Can I trust you with that task?” Vivi, sitting at the head of the table, clasped her hands together, a curious smile on her face.

Shelk thought for a moment, then said, “Time’s too tight for me to do it alone. Warden Bettywen, I’ll need someone from your side.”

After Shelk left, Vivi didn’t have her alt Bettywen leave. She had her sit on the office sofa, waiting. Not long after, Hogg arrived.

Ryan Hogg, head of the city’s security department, was a cautious man. Though he had once allowed his department to be infiltrated by the Penguin’s men, he remained diligent and rarely complained. Since being sent to maintain order in the East End, even when forced to collaborate with lower-class gangs, like the ones under Violin, he never voiced any dissatisfaction. According to Millie, he was a good worker—maybe not the best, but certainly better than most.

“Hogg,” Vivi gestured for him to sit. Bettywen shook his hand, and then Vivi, in her mayoral guise, said, “I’ve decided to withdraw the GCPD’s MCU from the East End and rebuild the district’s police station. Do you have any recommendations for someone to head it?”

The previous East End precinct was rotten from top to bottom, doing next to nothing. Ironically, most of the real detective work there had fallen to the MCU and vigilantes like Batman.

While Vivi should technically be coordinating with the GCPD on this, she had spent time with the department and felt that the only reliable person was Joe. Currently, Joe was the deputy under homicide chief Block, who was more of a figurehead. Vivi leaned toward making Joe the chief, which meant he wouldn’t need to be transferred to the East End.

Hogg furrowed his brow in thought for a moment. “I do have someone in mind, but he doesn’t have the experience to be chief.”

“But you’re bringing him up because you think he’s suitable, right?” Vivi filtered through potential candidates in her head. “What makes him stand out?”

“He’s with me now,” Hogg nodded, and after a glance from Vivi, he spoke into his communicator, “White, come in.”

A man with sandy brown hair walked in.

For a moment, Vivi wasn’t sure how to have Bettywen react.

Yes, Tal White—former Talon assassin for the Court of Owls. After losing his memory, he had been taken in by the cathedral and kept a low profile. His abilities, though, had earned him a spot in the city’s security department under Hogg, becoming one of his trusted subordinates.

And… he had killed Bettywen before.

Though his skin was still pale, it wasn’t the sickly white it had been. His once straw-like hair had grown healthy, his muscles toned beneath his uniform, though his expression remained a bit stiff.

Under Hogg’s encouraging gaze, White stood tall, catching the mayor’s scrutinizing look. He tried his best to muster a social smile.

…Well.

Vivi suspected he hadn’t even noticed Bettywen sitting right there.

Hogg was pleased with his subordinate. Standing behind Vivi, he whispered, “He’s good at his job, tough as nails, doesn’t play favourites, and always takes on the most dangerous tasks. He’s handled most of the small-time problems in the East End. The punks are scared of him… The only issue is his lack of experience…”

She tapped her fingers on the desk, resting her chin in her hand as she thought for a moment, then said, “Experience isn’t an issue.”

Suddenly, she smiled. “White, I know your background, and I hope—”

“‘I will never compromise with violence or criminals, nor will I let the innocent suffer injustice. I will take it as my duty to protect the weak and guard the peace.’ I hope you live up to this oath and always remember it.”

Tal’s face remained stern, but he nodded seriously in response.

Turning a former Talon assassin into a police officer responsible for maintaining public order—wasn’t that far more interesting than killing him over and over?

—She wondered what the Court of Owls would think of this.

“The next task is yours, Director Hogg,” Vivi said. “We still need experienced hands to oversee things. I want the East End to remain calm and peaceful for the time being.”

After Hogg left, the AI notified Vivi that a $200 million grant had been directly deposited into the city’s account, skipping any formal procedures, and making her think Bruce was more eager than she was.

On a whim, she asked, “What’s Bruce Wayne up to?”

“Ms. Alek,” her AI replied in a crisp London accent, “half an hour ago, Wayne Enterprises acquired Felix Advertising and sent you an email, hoping to participate in the Children’s Day promotional campaign.”

While everyone else was asleep, Vivi had her AI, which never rested, set up the “Mr. C’s Magic” campaign in advance, allowing her to roll it out citywide and prevent the citizens from fearing the gargoyles flying around.

She had considered using the gargoyles to frighten people and generate the fear energy needed to keep them active. But that would have turned Gotham into a haunted city, and her City Population stat would have likely plummeted by the month’s end—hardly worth it.

When she thought about population, another idea occurred to her—

The [City Population] stat didn’t only count Gotham’s residents; it also included temporary workers and visitors. If she could organize a large event at the end of the month, couldn’t she increase the city’s population for the final tally by drawing in a crowd?

This was technically exploiting a loophole in the game… but isn’t that exactly what players are supposed to do when they find a game with exploits?

So, instead of risking it all, she went ahead with the Children’s Day plan, giving a legitimate reason for the gargoyles flying around and making it an official celebration.

As for the actual Children’s Day? That didn’t matter. Cities don’t even have uniform holidays. She just needed a plausible excuse for a citywide celebration.

Vivi had her AI read the email aloud. As it continued, her expression grew increasingly curious—

Though she had used “magic” as a cover story, anyone who got close to the gargoyles would quickly realize that magic alone wouldn’t fool everyone. So Bruce Wayne, ever the meticulous Batman, stepped in to handle the aftermath.

First, he acquired the ad company, expanded the online campaign nationwide, and then partnered with a famous animation studio to create a charitable film titled The Gargoyle and the Slum Children’s Festival. In the movie, Batman, often found perched atop gargoyles, would even play the villain. To cap it off, they announced a “Magic Bounty,” inviting the world’s top magicians to explain the mechanics of “bringing gargoyles to life.”

The online debate over the “trick” would certainly stir up a storm.

But the key was establishing a firm belief in people’s minds—this was magic, not sorcery.

…Batman had really gone to great lengths to prevent mass panic in the city!

The only question left was: “Will the movie really premiere nationwide in early June?”

A quick reply popped up: I’m rich.

Perfect. This plan… didn’t cost Vivi a single cent.

She then turned her attention to her balance on the dashboard, nodded, and sent her alt to handle the day’s work. She allocated the funds to the “New Council” and instructed them to contact AT Construction, ACE Chemicals, and other Gotham industries. She would seize this opportunity to complete her underground mainline mission!

By the time newcomers arrived in Gotham, they would find a city where even the sewers were pristine and where the phrase honest folk was coined to describe Gotham’s citizens.

…

Penguin was growing anxious.

Standing on East End soil, he noticed the air was more stifling underground, though it was daylight above.

Penguin was always resourceful; as long as he could think, he could figure out how to gather information to improve his situation. But today’s experiences had left him uneasy—

He might be out of a job soon!

First, he was thrown into prison by Mr. C, then turned into a pseudo-foreman under Bettywen, forced to work alongside the other inmates. As Penguin reflected on his failures, he came to a realization… How could an ordinary person like him possibly compete against a magic-wielding foe like Mr. C, or against a warden who viewed convicts as disposable labour?

If that was the case, there was no harm in switching sides entirely. After all, even his soul wasn’t his own anymore.

But now, it seemed even the chance to work was being taken from him! Penguin, always sharp, noticed that aside from the gargoyles flying in the sky, the others that remained stationary in the city might also be able to come to life—if the need arose.

Given Mr. C’s abilities, it’s easy to imagine that controlling a hundred or controlling a thousand—or even ten thousand—wouldn’t make much difference to him. Penguin could almost picture it: in the dead of night, when everyone else is fast asleep, these winged creatures would descend, pick up the shovels left behind, and drive the cement trucks. Meanwhile, the convicts, those who had been wasting air and food just by living—Bettywen would never let this bunch off the hook!

And Penguin? He would gradually lose his own value!

He realized that Mr. C had a favoured girl, the new vigilante called the Nightwatch. But before Penguin could come up with any plan to get closer to her, he was already facing a career crisis!

This made Penguin anxious even as he worked, losing clumps of hair under his hood.

What he didn’t know, however, was that above ground, Shelk had just signed the digital documents provided by the guards, officially releasing Penguin from prison.