Phantom Kid in the American Comic World
24. Bruce Wants to Return

"This gift is far less useful than last time."

Mathison was a little disappointed, the shooting technique in Wanted Order was actually quite similar to the one in the Phantom Kid's repertoire.

His playing cards are no worse than bullet tricks, and much more fun.

The only tactic that works is bullet time.

Although the slowdown ability this time around had many limitations, it was still a very useful skill

Until Mathison manages to learn time-stopping magic, this is just the thing that can be used as a substitute.

The last reasonable improvement was that his fighting skills had improved significantly.

Assassin training is not just about playing with weapons; melee combat is also part of it.

And not only the fistfights are learned, but also the killing techniques that finish off the enemy.

After hiding the Cat's Eye Emerald, Mathison leaves the castle and returns to her original home.

Of course, there were many costume changes and route changes along the way.

Meanwhile, inside Wayne Manor.

Bruce sat on the sofa in silence, his eyes constantly flashing as if he was struggling with something important.

"Mr Wayne, the newscast is over, and the Phantom Kid has won."

Alfred reminded.

"I know, Alfred."

Bruce said in a deep voice.

"Am I being stupid, the teaser letter says an invitation to the wave and I honestly thought it was a sea wave."

”I can't believe I ignored the fact that Gotham Broadcasting also happens to be on Downtown Island. Phantom Kid has won this time.”

"The old me would never make such a cheap mistake."

"With all due respect, Mr. Wayne, the child that appeared in the sky was originally just a puppet, and even if we had guessed the correct teaser, we would not have been able to catch it."

Alfred was very serious, he did not want Bruce to question himself anymore over this trivial matter.

But at the same time, there was little relief that Bruce could finally return to the surface and see the sunlight.

"No, Alfred, you don't understand what that means."

Bruce shook his head as he stood on his crutches. His long period of inactivity combined with the various wounds left from the past had left him with a right leg that was almost numb.

The whereabouts and extent of his injuries are still unknown, as he was reluctant to go to the hospital to have them checked out.

“Phantom Kid is very different from what we thought, he is no ordinary thief.”

Bruce's words were tinged with a vague fear.

"Gordon doesn't suit him, I think ..."

"You think it's time to bring 'her' back?"

Alfred interrupted.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Wayne, but I don't think that's a good idea."

Gotham needs you, but it needs your resources, your contacts, your wisdom, not your life!

"What Gotham really needs is Bruce Wayne, not Batman!"

Alfred was so happy, he was now gray-haired. Although he was only a butler, Bruce had been raised by him.

In Bruce's mind, Alfred was almost on par with a father.

Similarly, Alfred, who had no wife or children, had long regarded Bruce as the person he cared about most.

"Rachel said he'd come back to me the day Gotham no longer needed Batman, but he died..."

“You cannot always stay in Gotham!”

Alfred suddenly becomes violent, which reminds Bruce when Alfred raised him after the death of his parents.

Alfred was just as tough at the time.

“Look at the world and you will find many good things to do. Do you remember before everything happened, before Batman was born?”

"You left Gotham and disappeared for seven whole years, and I never wanted you to go back to Gotham because all you remember is pain."

"Stop, Alfred!"

Bruce suddenly shouted, regretted, then kept silent.

"Make an appointment so I go to the hospital tomorrow to check my legs and see if it can still be cured."

With those words, Bruce returned to his room with a crutch.

"Which hospital do you want to visit?"

Alfred asked while looking at Bruce's back.

"What I used to visit, of course!"

————

Blackgate Prison, a large prison that stands on Blackgate Island, has a reputation as the hardest prison in the world to break into and the easiest to break into.

It is a forbidden place in Gotham City, second only to Arkham Asylum.

Today, a new visitor entered the place.

”Serena Kyle, nickname: Catwoman, has done a lot of jewel theft, has more than ten arrests but has managed to escape every time, her first escape was when she was sixteen years old, she has been, a famous criminal.”

"Jim, you gave me a big problem today."

Prison Chief Blackgate frowned.

Gordon, who was escorting Catwoman himself, replied, "But she's never been to Blackgate, has she?"

"You know, put him in a regular prison and he'll run away in a few days, I'll only be comfortable if he's with you, right here."

"But Blackgate Prison never held female prisoners."

Gordon calmly said: "Dante's law stipulates that under special circumstances, male and female prisoners are allowed to live together."

"Well, well, it's just a cat, not one of those freaks in the past, besides, Blackgate didn't release his prisoner."

“I suggest that he be given one room.”

"Oh, I understand, after all, the prisoners here are ruthless people."

"No," Gordon shook his head, "because he's going to knock out all the other inmates."

After leaving Blackgate Prison, Gordon did not go straight home but went to GCPD, not because she likes to work overtime but because the GCPD police on duty have called her not long ago to say that Barbara is in the office.

If not for the Catwoman escort, she would have rushed back to the GCPD.

"Dad!"

As soon as she returned to the police station, Barbara ran over and hugged Gordon. The father and son looked at each other without saying a word.

Seeing Barbara safe and sound, Gordon is relieved to learn that the Barbara he previously met was a fake Phantom Kid disguise. If Kid dares to hurt his daughter, Gordon will do anything to shoot the bastard.

Luckily, Kid didn't hurt Barbara.

The next day, all of Gotham's major media outlets turned on the Phantom Kid like crazy.

Two consecutive high-level crimes, both of which managed to steal high-value gems, and a very eye-catching dress, dominated the front page of all the news.

“Ah-choo!”

Gotham University, in one of the classrooms, Mathison sneezes, drawing blank stares from her deskmate, Barbara.