American comics: Only I know the plot

Chapter 38 Rescuing the Hostages

Levi shone his flashlight into the depths of the warehouse, gesturing for Gordon to see for himself.

The flashlight beam pointed to an iron door leading down to the lower level. "I think they must be down there."

As soon as Li Wei finished speaking, Gordon rushed out like an angry bull.

Rushing down the narrow stairwell into the basement, Li Wei used a powerful flashlight to see what was inside.

Beside a crooked metal frame, Gordon's wife and son were tied to chairs with their mouths taped shut.

Upon seeing Gordon, his son, James Gordon Jr., let out a whimpering sound.

Tears streamed down his face, his eyes filled with fear.

"Don't be afraid, child, Daddy's here to save you."

Upon seeing his son tied to a chair, Gordon was about to rush over to rescue him.

"Don't come any closer!"

Harvey's voice came from the shadows as he slowly stepped out, toying with the coin in his hand.

Under the flashlight, his burned profile looked like a crumpled piece of paper that had been forcibly unfolded, both grotesque and tragic.

"Everyone's finally here." His gaze swept over Levi and Gordon in turn, finally settling on Batman at the warehouse entrance.

"Leeway, you go first," Harvey suddenly spoke, a coin spinning rapidly between his fingers. "You knew the Joker's plan, so why didn't you tell me sooner that day!"

Harvey didn't stay idle during his disappearance; he carefully reviewed Rachel and his kidnapping.

After careful investigation, he discovered that Levi had analyzed the Joker's plan, but the guy revealed the truth a little too late.

—If he had told the truth sooner, Rachel wouldn't have been in this situation, and he wouldn't have been disfigured.

Harvey's words struck Levi as absurd. This guy must have lost his mind; he didn't even think about what really happened that day.

Li Wei was taken to the police station as a suspect, and nobody listened to him then.

Li Wei took a step forward, the flashlight beam falling on his toes, his voice laced with sarcasm.

"Please understand one thing: at that time I was still a suspect. Would anyone believe what I said?"

I said, "Are you blinded by hatred, thinking everyone owes you something?"

"Shut up! You're just making excuses!" Harvey roared, pointing his gun at Levi.

"I've planted explosives in this basement. If you don't want to die with me, do as I say!"

Levi completely ignored Harvey's threat; he wanted to bring the guy to his senses.

"Li Wei, stop, buddy, I'm begging you..."

Before Li Wei could step forward, Gordon's pleading came from behind.

Li Wei's heart softened, and he helplessly shrugged, wanting to see what Harvey was up to.

Seeing Li Wei stop, Harvey's face showed a satisfied smile, but the smile looked sinister no matter how you looked at it.

"Since you have an excuse, let's see if you deserve to live or not."

Harvey tossed the coin high into the air, where it gleamed brilliantly under the light.

As Harvey slowly opened his palm, the smile on his face gradually froze.

The coin lay quietly in his palm, its white side facing up.

"The coin says you deserve to live." Harvey picked up the coin, pointed at himself, his eyes filled with self-mockery. "And what about me? I failed to protect her. Do I deserve to live?"

The coin was tossed high into the air and caught again as it fell—heads up once more.

Harvey suddenly laughed, the sound echoing through the empty warehouse, tinged with an indescribable sorrow: "Even fate is deceiving me."

He suddenly looked at Batman, his emotions instantly spiraling out of control. "It's your turn, Batman! Why are you so late!"

Why didn't you come sooner? Aren't you a hero of Gotham? Why couldn't you save Rachel?!

Batman looked at Harvey, who was in a frenzy, and felt a mix of emotions.

He had high hopes for Harvey, especially after Harvey admitted he was Batman and used himself as bait to lure out the Joker.

He believed Harvey could bring hope to Gotham, and was even prepared to take off his Batsuit and spend his life with Rachel.

However, looking at Harvey's crazed expression, and the fact that everything he was doing was for Rachel's revenge, made him feel utterly absurd.

He took a step forward, and his voice sounded particularly heavy through the voice changer.

"I don't want anyone to get hurt, Harvey. You need to understand, the Joker is the one who caused all of this!"

Have you ever considered that everything we've done is to preserve hope for Gotham?

"Hope?" Harvey's voice suddenly rose as he grabbed a wrench from the metal rack and charged madly at Batman. "Gotham is hopeless! To hell with hope!"

The two wrestled, and the wrench slammed into Batman's shoulder pad with a dull thud.

Gordon tried to rush over and untie his wife and son, but Harvey kicked him to the ground.

Li Wei picked up a blackened brick, intending to let Harvey calm down.

But before Li Wei could make a move, he saw Harvey holding a detonator.

This scene struck Li Wei as absurd, even bordering on dark humor.

The person who should hate the Joker the most is now doing the same thing as the Joker.

"Don't panic, everyone calm down, or we'll all die here!"

Harvey, panting heavily, got up from the ground, holding the detonator in his hand, and gestured for everyone to retreat.

After everyone did as instructed, he nodded in satisfaction, then pointed the wrench at Gordon's son with a crazed look in his eyes.

"Your turn, Chief Gordon."

You always talk about upholding justice, but your police station is full of Maroney's men!

We trusted you so much, and what happened? You couldn't even guarantee the most basic safety!

Harvey shoved a coin into Gordon's hand, his expression frantic: "You flip it. Heads, your son lives; tails..."

"Waaaaah~"

Gordon's wife was tied to a chair with duct tape over her mouth, and could only whimper in despair.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, soaking the tape over her mouth.

Gordon looked at the coin in his hand, then at the terrified faces of his wife and children, his fingers trembling wildly.

"Harvey, this is not justice..."

"It's fate!" Harvey roared, his voice filled with madness, "just like my and Rachel's fate!"

If you don't throw, then we'll all die together!

As Harvey spoke, he picked up the detonator and was about to press it.

At this critical moment, Li Wei suddenly rushed over and grabbed Harvey's arm.

"Rachel is still waiting for you! She woke up yesterday, and she called your name!"

As Li Wei spoke, he took out his phone from his pocket, opened the photo he had prepared in advance, and said, "Look, this is what she looks like today."

She's awake now, and I don't think Rachel would want to see you like this!

Li Wei's words stunned Harvey, whose gaze fell on the photo, and his movements froze instantly.

Under the light of the phone, a hint of wavering could be vaguely seen on the burned side of his face, and his originally crazed eyes gradually cleared.

It's now!

Batman seized the opportunity and punched Harvey in the stomach, slamming him to the ground.

Li Wei kicked the detonator away, and then he and Gordon rushed over to untie the ropes and protect the mother and son behind them.

Looking at Harvey lying on the ground curled up like a shrimp, Levi had ample reason to suspect that Batman had done it on purpose.