Phantom Kid in the American Comic World
39. Have We Met Before?

”We were secretly sent by Commissioner Gordon. He asked us to hide among the guests to find out who was disguised as Phantom Kid.”

"To avoid the attention of the Phantom Kid, please keep this a secret."

Not waiting for Barbara to speak any further, Mathison pulled her away and whispered to the doorman in a serious tone. His expression immediately lowered the doorkeeper as he wished.

On such occasions, the doorman would not allow trespassing, even if she knew that Barbara was Commissioner Gordon's daughter.

And, in the end, the doorman couldn't allow them to enter, he was still suspicious of Mathison's words.

“It's okay, I know what you're thinking. You can call Commissioner Gordon to verify, but do not attract the attention of other guests.

Mathison said solemnly, expecting the man to believe her, but, finally, this latter had sent someone to call Gordon, and instructed them not to attract the attention of other guests.

If the two really cause trouble, then Gordon should hold them off.

"Hey, they actually went to call my father, but we're not even cops, we're definitely going to get kicked out."

In the midst of waiting, Barbara pulled Mathison aside and whispered in her ear anxiously.

Mathison won't lose her smile.

”At first, you said very aggressively that you will attend the party. So, why are you scared now? Plus, you said you've thought of a way to convince Mr. Gordon, right?”

”I... I wanted to reassure him after we met him inside, but you are lying to the man now; you told him that we are special police officers. This situation is different!”

”Aha... Now, let me disappoint you, your plan will not work. Even if you told her that you were Gordon's daughter, she wouldn't let you in, and I'm even guessing that she probably wouldn't bother calling your dad.”

"How did you know that?"

Barbara muttered dissatisfied, «how could she know even without trying.».

“No matter how I know. As soon as your father comes later, you'll know if I tell you the truth.”

Mathison said with a mysterious look.

“Why I didn't know before, you actually have a habit of hanging people's appetite.”

Barbara pursed her lips.

"You tell me."

"Actually very simple, the first thing the receptionist said when she stopped us was to ask if we had an invitation, do you remember?"

Mathison must satisfy Barbara's curiosity.

"Isn't it normal to ask that?"

”Of course hotels used to ask that, but this is the Country Guest House, they definitely pay attention to every guest, so everyone who came before us entered and nothing was stopped.”

"And we obviously couldn't have been on the guest list, but they didn't kick us out in the first place and even asked if we had an invitation, don't you think that's weird?"

”When he asks, his gaze is more on you, which means he knows you are not invited but does not want to be too hard on you. So, he said that so you could retreat. ”

Hearing this, Barbara felt that something was wrong.

“Then, the rest is clear. Director Gordon must have guessed that you would come and then tell the receptionist. Therefore, the latter guessed after seeing you that you were Gordon's daughter, but since there was also the presence of an additional person, I, she was not sure of your identity. That's why he didn't try to kick you out, following Gordon.”'s orders

"In other words, if I had just revealed my identity, she would have blocked us out of the door" Barbara said in a daze.

"Right, that's a pretty reasonable reason, but I didn't think, Barbara, that you'd bring Fang along."

No one noticed Gordon's presence until his words appeared. He looked at Barbara with a dark look, but immediately softened when he saw Mathison.

"This poor boy grew up to be a quick learner, he now seems to have developed an extraordinary mind."

«Unlike our own two children; the eldest daughter is very biased, not to mention her social problems; her youngest child is naughty, naughty, and never listens even when spoken to.”

"I haven't seen you in a long time, Jim, and I heard from Barbara that you've been busy lately."

Mathison scratched her head, embarrassed, knowing full well that she was the real culprit that kept Gordon so busy.

"Jim, actually, I think we can help."

Mathison said stiffly, after a long journey to get here, he wanted to get in no matter what.

“I know, you don't need to support him with reason. I've heard it all, you just got dragged here by Barbara.”

Mathison looked at Barbara, gesturing that it was now her turn to convince her father.

Then, Barbara ran to Gordon and pulled him away. Mathison only saw him whisper something in Gordon's ear, only for the latter's eyes to widen in shock and his lips to remain closed …

Even Mathison didn't hear exactly what Barbara said, but it didn't matter.

"Come with me, you guys."

Mathison and Barbara follow Gordon to the State Guest House.

"What exactly did you say to your father?", Mathison asked Barbara in secret.

"Stop asking me." Barbara blushed and shook her head.

"I just told you everything, and you have to satisfy my curiosity."

"It's not the same thing!"

Regardless of what Mathison says, Barbara won't tell him how she convinced Gordon.

"Fang, you are endowed with perfect reasoning abilities, have you ever considered joining the GCPD in the future?", Gordon suddenly asked, and Mathison sniffed.

”Yeah... uh.. I haven't thought about it yet, after all, it took me two more years to graduate.”, Mathison laughed flatly.

"Commissioner Gordon, both are ..."

Bob and the others gathered around the corner, they didn't like to blend in with those politicians and businessmen. They prefer to discuss the existence of the teaser letter.

Gordon couldn't let the two young men in with a big punch, so he brought them here.

Starling's sharp eyes glimpsed that the two youngsters who followed Gordon were not GCPD officers. As a result, he had to ask.

It was only later that Gordon began to introduce the two sides to each other.

Mathison felt very anxious right after Gordon finished introducing her.

«The Silence of the Lambs, The Spy Next Door, Agent Bean .. nothing can be handled easily.» (TL: This is the movie from which the above characters originated.)

Although he had already met these people when he was disguised as a plane cleaner before, only now could he see and analyze them openly.

It was also impossible to recognize them at once by name alone.

"You're an Easterner?"

At this point, English, or Agent Bean, walked over to Mathison and asked in an agreeable tone.

"I'm of Chinese descent".", Mathison nodded, nothing to hide.

“Have we... ever met somewhere before?”, Agent Johnny asked, rubbing his chin.

Mathison's eyelids twitching, can't believe her disguise got caught? Impossible!

He pretends to remember that he's seen her somewhere before, then apologizes by saying that he's never seen Johnny before.

"Sorry, that's my misrepresentation."

”I have been practicing martial arts in Tibet in the East for a while. In the words I've learned, there is a mysterious power within you that makes me feel familiar with you.”

Johnny slowly uttered four words in Chinese.

Mathison's pupils shrank slightly; she was horrified inside!