novelraw Chapter 228 Gotham Christmas Eve (Catching Bugs)
Chapter 228 Gotham Christmas Eve (Catching Bugs)
"Have you ever caught their little brother?" Harry cleared his throat, and sat upright. "If you make a little threat, maybe you will be recruited, or are they all very loyal?"
Damian shook his head, took off the loose fragments of the metal casing, and threw them aside, he pushed up the protective mask and leaned against the maintenance rack, "I tracked down a few, and they either died on the side of the road or nothing I don’t remember. I completely lost the memory of the past few days, and I even forgot where I was.”
Harry was thinking. At this time, her thinking was still completely confined to the Gotham-style crime form-amnesia and so on were all criminals' excuses.
"Maybe this is an organization like the Red Riding Hood, composed of a group of 'sleepers', the leader can 'wake up' them at any time to commit crimes for him. And the leader has the handle of these 'sleepers', blackmailing them , so they will never recruit you?"
It's a whole new form of criminal organization that Uncle Bruce discovered when he first became Batman.Unlike the old street gangsters, this is a crime buried deep under the skin, like a hard-to-diagnose virus, and by the time it strikes, it will be too late.
"Imagination is quite rich," Damian smiled helplessly into the mirror, "No, this is not the Red Riding Hoods. I can tell that what they say is true-when I was interrogating, I almost took one of them Don't tell your father if you kill someone..."
"Don't worry..." Damian said "almost", which shows that the problem is not serious.
"So we now have a hypnotist? Leading a bunch of puppet lunatics?" Harry asked.
"Another difficult problem is that I don't know what the purpose of this new organization is now." He jumped off the maintenance rack, strode to the operating table with the double-sided mirror, and tapped on the computer.According to Damian's habit, he should be looking at the design drawings of the aircraft at this time.
"They are very quiet. They will leave dead bodies in various urban areas, but they still only occupy a small area, and they don't do any drug/drug or human trafficking business." The young new Batman frowned with a good-looking arc , he is thinking.Harry wanted to reach over the mirror and reach out to smooth him out.
"Penguin should have a bigger headache than me right now. Black Mask disappeared after contacting this new organization. With that old guy's paranoia, he must be worried that he will be next."
Damian took off the protective hood and rubbed between his brows, "Poison Ivy should have noticed this guy too. The plants near their base are all dead."
"Are they doing experiments?" Harry was also confused.
"It's possible, the specific situation requires soil sampling and analysis." Damian said, "There was movement at the Owl Court, which surprised me-they had a sharp claw missing near this area, and even in the One of my night patrols got into a fight with me. They thought it was Batman."
"Claw..." Harry was very worried, "Are you not hurt?"
Damian's shoulders slumped, and he looked at Harry helplessly, "I'm so stupid in your eyes, I can't handle it with one sharp claw? I can kill several with one hand at the age of ten."
Tsk, that's an exaggeration...Harry shook her head inwardly, determined not to expose her boyfriend's bullshit.
It's just that these amnesia, and random crimes...
Plus Voldemort who disappeared...
"Could it be...my enemy has come to America?" Harry asked softly.The idea was so terrible that she felt it was too far-fetched as soon as she said it.
"You mean, that's a wizard?" Damian stopped typing on the keyboard and raised his eyebrows, "Does the Magic Congress of the United States ignore it?"
"Governments in the wizarding world have never been known for their enthusiasm and sense of responsibility." Harry spread his hands, thinking more and more sadly.
"You guys have to be more vigilant, maybe I can go home?" Seeing that Damian's eyebrows had been raised again, Harry quickly changed his words, "Or...can I call Sirius home?"
"No need," Damian snorted, "We have Zatanna."
Then he looked at her with inexplicable eyes that made Harry shudder, "... I still have your sacrifice magic on me, remember? That enemy of yours can't touch us."
So this look, is it a reproach?move?Still affectionate?
Harry couldn't see it.
"Oh..." She lowered her head and touched her nose, pretending not to see Damian's eyes, "Then I'm relieved."
After a few seconds of silence, Harry only slowly raised his head when he heard the sound of typing on the keyboard again.
Damian suddenly changed the subject. He stared at the computer screen with a serious expression, "Peter Parker - the guy who jumped out of the window and climbed the building - called you. Well... To be precise, he called Dad company, ask the front desk to find Mr. Wayne..."
"Of course the front desk ignored him," Damian shrugged, "then he ran directly to the Titan Tower."
"Obviously he can't catch an owl to write to you," he said dryly.
This is indeed news. Harley probably...hasn't contacted Peter for several years. That young hero must now be able to stand on his own like Damian. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"There are several homicide cases in New York without clues. The corpses don't have any external or internal injuries that can be detected by science. The victim seems to be asleep, but the heartbeat has stopped. He wants to ask you if it is magic."
Such a clear detection direction...
"Why do you doubt magic?" Harry frowned, "There are so many superpowers in New York, maybe some villain has this ability."
Damian looked over, hesitated to speak, "The victims all belong to an organization called 'Second Salem'*..."
Harry stopped talking, Peter's suspicion was indeed justified.Second Salem...a fanatical organization against wizards in North America, with a long history, and its guiding ideology has been very firm for so many years-they believe in the existence of magic but extremely hate magic, and their goal is to expose the magic world to the public and eradicate all the wizard.
Of course, in recent years they have clearly declined.In this era when superheroes are flying all over the sky, and any dead house can set up a cult/religious organization in his bedroom and preach through social networks, various conspiracy theories have bombarded the public to the point of aesthetic fatigue.
You say wizards are hiding among us?This kind of cult/religion without gimmicks will even be overwhelmed by the flood of the Internet because it is not shocking enough and not fun enough.
The number of people who believe in "Flying Pasta" is dozens of times that of "Second Salem".
"Huh..." Harry sighed, scratching his hair, "It's getting more and more complicated... Tell Peter that he can ask the Avengers to contact the Magic Congress, which is also in New York, to see if they have relevant information , but in the way Congress always does things, they will probably get away with it."
Damian was going to hum, why did he tell him!That kid's matter should be settled by that kid himself...
Then I thought, if he didn't tell, wouldn't that mean that Harley might contact Parker directly?
Hmm... It's better for him to convey it in a mocking tone!
"Going to school is so boring, I want to go back to Gotham to fight bad guys!" At this time, Harry shouted from the other side of the double-sided mirror.
"It's useless to tell me, tell Ah Fu." Damian smirked, "See if he agrees or not."
Harry was really deflated, and could only curl his lips in dissatisfaction.
*****************
As the British magical society became more and more obvious, even Dumbledore had to admit that the Dark Lord did not move.
By the end of the semester, two-thirds of the dementors in the campus had been withdrawn; and the Aurors on duty would also take advantage of the opportunity to be lazy when Scrimgeour was busy with campaign affairs.
Harry received the Medal of Merlin with Regulus' name on it, and also found a fairly detailed rehabilitative article on the second page of the Daily Prophet.Scrimgeour kept his word and acted simply, so Halle readily accepted the interview and expressed his optimism for the candidate.
Ron couldn't understand why Harry suddenly changed his cautious personality and started to get involved in politics; Hermione didn't say much, and Harry guessed that she had already thought of the news about the young master of the Black family.
A new batch of special bat darts has also been rushed out. At the same time, a short-term invisibility cloak has also been developed successfully. The Weasley brothers received a big check from Harley. After dealing with the NEWTs exam at the end of the semester, I immediately looked for a store.
"We don't care about the exam and the diploma at all, but our mother doesn't like it." George shook his head and complained.
Harry imagined Mrs. Weasley's stern look, and expressed that he understood the brothers' fear very well.
They waited for Harry to get off the train at platform nine and three quarters, and while the rest of the Weasley family had already walked far away, they pulled Harry to a corner and handed her a... plain blank parchment ?
"I solemnly swear that I have done no good!" George yelled this inexplicable sentence, waving his wand at the parchment.
Then, something magical happened, the ink lines began to appear and extend, a complete map of Hogwarts was displayed on the parchment, and there were even small offset prints that moved from time to time. Harry took a closer look, there were professors, and those Christmas Students who do not go home during the festival.
"As our biggest benefactor, this map is our thank you." Fred said, "We probably won't need it next semester. You must continue our legend."
"Did you make it?! Why are you bringing out such a good thing now!" Harry waved the map excitedly, "Can you make a bigger one? Like...Gotham?"
"Calm down, calm down..." George grinned, "We... really can't do it."
"This is the work of Moonface, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, a tribute to them," Fred added, spreading his hands.
Oh... kind of disappointed, if something like this could be made in Gotham... Batman's daily workload would be cut in half.
But there are too many residents in Gotham, and it is actually very unrealistic to think about it.Harry sighed.
Wait, maybe... just being an Arkham Asylum would be enough!She regained her fighting spirit, and studying the principles of this map will be the focus of her future work at Hogwarts!
*****************
The Christmas holiday is short, but the criminals in Gotham will not go on strike because of the cold and snow. They are very passionate about their criminal careers, loyal, hardworking, and open all year round.
So, Batman and Robin can't have a holiday even on Christmas Eve.
Fortunately, after half a year of investigation by Uncle Bruce, Damian finally got the chance to take Harley on the night patrol again.But as long as there are any mistakes, both have to be punished.
Gotham had just experienced a heavy snowfall at this time, and these whites covered the towering chimneys and black and yellow sets, softening the sharp edges and corners of the city.In the night, Gotham on Christmas Eve reveals a tranquility that she rarely sees.
Harley followed Damian to the roof of an ordinary apartment building. Looking at the dotted lights of the surrounding residents, she made a wish in her heart—may everyone find a home in this city tonight.
Before she finished her wish silently, she watched an eight or nine-year-old boy run out from a house on the first floor of the opposite apartment, holding a small piece of triangular pie in his hand...
The host chased him out the door, holding a long wooden stick, which was about to fall on the boy.
Harry and Damian made a silent gesture and jumped down, landing next to the hostess.
"I have money here, here you are, I'm very sorry." Halle stood in front of the boy, took out twenty dollars and handed it to the angry host, "This kid has something wrong with him and needs education. But if your The stick fell on this kid, and I had to do it."
The host unceremoniously snatched the twenty-dollar bill from Harry's hand, glared at the boy, and strode straight back to the apartment.
Harry shrugged. Every family may have its own difficulties, and she cannot judge at will.
"Stealing is wrong no matter what," she turned around, and began to educate and appease the little boy, "What about your... parents? Or do you need help? They don't care about you? In that case, I can introduce you to a reliable welfare hospital."
The little boy didn't speak, but held the pie in his hand, shook off Harry's hand, and ran into the depths of the alley. Harry watched him run to the dead end of the alley, leap towards the trash can, and fly up to the roof...
"Hey!" Harry chased after him.
Is he... a wizard?
The kid was very clever, almost as deft as she was when she was a kid dodging Dudley, jumping from building to building almost like she had an invisible grappling gun.This familiar skill made Harry feel a little sad and hesitant, should he pursue it?Catch up, can ordinary orphanages tolerate a strange little wizard?
It was not surprising that the little boy stopped in a remote neighborhood, which was the most messy slum in Gotham.
He silently watched her approaching with a calm expression.
Unbeknownst to Harry, a shotgun was aimed at her at this moment...
"Stop! Julia!" A male voice sounded anxiously from the shadows not far to Harry's right.
A bullet hit Harry ten centimeters away. She was taken aback and took out her batarang to prepare. Did she really let down her vigilance because she was facing a child?
"We're going to be exposed!" A female voice growled irritably.
"She's...a friend." The male voice sounded inexplicably familiar, "I promise."
"We're not threatening, please put down your weapons," he whispered to Harry.
In a few seconds, a teenager wearing marching boots, camouflage pants, and a shotgun came out of the shadows.
The brim of his hat was pulled down very low, but Harry could still see a pale gold in the almost extinguished street lamp.
The boy looked up——
"Malfoy?!"
The author has something to say:
*The following concepts are all from Pottermore and the Fantastic Beasts movie, which will appear in this chapter and the next chapter, and are all written here:
1. Second Salem, which appeared in the Fantastic Beasts movie, is a fanatical organization in North America composed of descendants of the Clearers. This organization believes in the existence of magic but hates magic extremely. The goal is to expose the magic world to the public and eradicate all wizards.The hallmark of the organization is a wand being broken by a pair of giant hands.
2. The concept of "scavenger".In the history of the United States, evil wizards collected money to help No-Majs kill wizards. Cleaning up the "scavenger" was the reason for the birth of the American Auror profession.
Later, the Scavengers were chased and expelled by the Aurors, forced to integrate into the No-Maj society, and intermarry with the No-Maj. In order to hide their identities, they would abandon their offspring with magical talents, leaving only the Squibs. The concept of hating wizards passed down in future generations may be the origin of "Second Salem". (The life experience of the second female leader of Salem in the movie has not yet been revealed. Judging from the surname, she may be a descendant of Bartholomew Barberen.)
3. Bartholomew Barber himself is a No-Maj, scavenger descendant.The earliest ethnic segregation law between magicians and No-Majs—the Rappaport Law—was because he approached the daughter of the Secretary of the Treasury of the Magical Congress of America at the time, dug up a lot of secrets about wizards, and then summoned journalists to steal the money. wand exposure.
The history of magic in North America is quite tortuous, and Rowling greatly kneels down.
What happened to Second Salem was not mentioned in the movie. The setting of this article has been active intermittently until now, but the influence is much smaller.
*This article may give the young and old Fu Jia IQ. The original hp text always talks about how he has the ability to instigate and confuse. There is no one who Lao Fu can't confuse, except for Lao Deng and the like.
And he committed so many extermination cases, such as Emilia Bones, the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, who he killed after his resurrection.According to the power structure chart of the Ministry of Magic, the Director of the Law Enforcement Department even leads the Auror Office. After the war, Hermione ran for the Minister of Magic from this position.
In short, Lao Fu should not be very weak. The original text's shaping of Lao Fu's ability and terror reign is mainly a side description scattered in the entire seven volumes.
Of course, it can also be understood that in order to balance the abilities of both parties, this article has made corresponding upgrades to the boss 23333