Meanwhile, after briefly parting ways with Kara, Axel appeared back at the Iceberg Lounge.
But something was off.
The entire nightclub was completely empty.
Axel narrowed his eyes, puzzled, and walked across the stage before stepping outside. What he saw snapped him out of his confusion.
Thousands of people were gathered near the collapsed Sky Rail, tirelessly clearing debris.
The Sky Rail was a city‑wide infrastructure, and its collapse had left a massive ruin across Little Italy. Unlike the slow, bureaucratic response from City Hall, the Dead Souls Gang — one of Gotham's largest criminal organizations — mobilized instantly and at massive scale.
In just minutes, while City Hall had only managed to send out fewer than three thousand police officers, the Dead Souls Gang already had thousands of workers on site with heavy machines, bulldozers, cranes, and engineering vehicles joining the cleanup effort.
Seeing Axel, a forklift driver from the docks waved enthusiastically as he drove toward the ruins.
"Boss, the Sky Rail is wiped out! Shouldn't we build something new here?"
"Obviously we should build something," Axel replied with a casual nod.
That answer set off a wave of excitement among the workers, including the forklift driver.
"Then when the time comes, can I bring my whole crew to work? My dozen siblings are sitting at home doing nothing!"
"Yeah, who doesn't have a mess of little brats at home needing work?"
"Shut the hell up, all of you!"
Suddenly Victor appeared, cutting off their chatter and kicking them into action.
"Get back to work!"
Once the henchmen dispersed, Victor approached Axel and spoke in a quieter corner.
"Boss Axel, listen," Victor began, using the name Axel now that he was their leader, "Don't mind them. The gang is doing pretty well already. If we talk about cash at the end of a day, the guys working for us make nearly as much as white‑collar workers at Wayne Group. Put in enough risk and they'll never starve."
He shook his head.
"As for their poor families? Those idiots wouldn't know what to do on a construction site. They'd hide or loaf around, useless. Gotham is simple: if you have the guts to pick up a gun and risk your life, you won't starve. If someone still starves after that, it's because they don't have the courage to pull the trigger."
Victor put a hand on Axel's back, steering him to a quieter spot before continuing.
"Also, Luther Group from Metropolis contacted me. They want a meeting with you."
Axel raised an eyebrow.
"Luther Group? I've heard of them. They've surpassed Wayne Group in high‑tech over the last few years. I even got messed with by their gadgets back in Smallville. Their stuff is compact and practical — perfect for you guys to use."
Victor looked eager.
"I just don't know what you think, Boss."
Axel smiled and waved dismissively.
"I'll decide after I meet them. Have them come to my manor. Once this Sky Rail business is wrapped up, I need a damn break."
He paused, smirking.
"Oh, and damn it — Batman changed our nuclear bomb's detonation code. Tell Oswald to remember to switch it back."
Victor's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"What?! Someone changed our code?! Who the hell is this Batman? Do you want me to lead a team out to take him down?!"
Axel laughed and patted Victor's shoulder.
"No need, that buddy is my younger brother. You show him respect. When you see Batman, call him Boss Bat!"
Axel turned and started walking toward his manor.
Victor watched his retreating figure, thoughtful.
"Boss Bat, huh?" he murmured.
He scratched his head.
"After Maroni died, the Dead Souls Gang really lost a few players to manage everything. Fish is handling Otisburg, Oswald's got the East District, and I watch over the Iceberg Lounge — that still leaves three districts unclaimed. Boss Axel isn't as hands‑on as Carmine used to be in Burnley District, but if we keep it up like this, problems might rise there soon."
Victor paused, gesturing toward his own arm and wincing.
"Still, having someone recognized by the Boss joining us as a big boss is a good thing. I just hope he has what it takes."
He shook off the discomfort and rallied his underlings.
"Listen up! You've seen Batman on TV, right? He's our new Buddy, and Boss Axel's good younger brother. Treat him at least as well as Oswald! Get out there with some men, find where this Bat Buddy is, and assign him folks so he can set up his operations!"
The subordinates immediately pulled a few thousand workers from the crowd and, in a mighty procession, headed toward the Diamond District.
Why there?
Because Batman was currently on live television clearing debris there with the Batmobile!
About twenty minutes passed.
After finally clearing another major road, Bruce pulled into a gas station to refuel the Batmobile.
Reporters swarmed him in an instant.
Seeing them approach, Batman frowned, annoyed, but the fuel gauge was low, so he couldn't escape just yet.
Microphones and cameras were shoved in his face.
"Hello, may I ask if you are a god or a superhero? We saw your interaction with Wraith this morning. What's your relationship with him, and why are you still standing here helping rescue even though you clearly beat Wraith?"
Another shouted, "What's your codename? Is it Black Catman? You've got cat ears!"
"Shut up!" Bruce growled, turning cold eyes toward his fuel tank.
As soon as the gauge hit eighty percent, he planned to escape and end this.
He'd rather face another losing battle with Axel than endure another second of intrusive reporters.
But before he could make his move, a massive convoy of engineering vehicles broke through the crowd like a bulldozer.
Reporters, despite their displeasure, stepped aside, allowing the mob of Dead Souls Gang members to surround Bruce.
Seeing himself surrounded by gang scoundrels with ill intentions plastered across their faces, Bruce inwardly sighed — but oddly, it felt familiar.
The damned reporters were gone, replaced by the bums and thugs he had chased down since he became Batman.
A grim thought flickered in his mind… Maybe this is my rhythm again.
Batman clenched his fists, imagining a hundred ways to take down the first goon in front of him.
But right as he prepared to strike, the lead gang member raised his hand.
"This is the new big boss personally appointed by Boss Axel! All of you idiots, greet Boss Bat!"
The gang member clasped his right hand to his chest and bowed like some mob boss's underling.
Then — whoosh — countless henchmen jumped down from their vehicles and bowed deeply toward Bruce.
"FUCK!!!" Batman's eyes widened in disbelief — speechless, really.
Without another thought, he sprinted for the Batmobile's driver's seat.
He didn't even care how much gas was left — he yanked out the nozzle and drove off.
Watching the Batmobile roar into the distance, the leading henchman blinked blankly.
"Fuck… is the new Boss that shy?"
He cracked a wry smile and turned back to his subordinates.
"What are you waiting for, buddies? Get in your cars and chase Boss Bat! From now on, we're Boss Bat's people! Anyway, our job today for the Dead Souls Gang was to clear debris. Doesn't matter who we do it with, as long as Boss Bat's willing to pay!"
With that, he leapt onto a forklift, gripping the frame and waving energetically at the Batmobile's exhaust.
"Drive faster! Catch up! Hurry!!!"
The reporters watched, dumbfounded, as the massive convoy of engineering vehicles followed Bruce into the distance.
It wasn't until the gang convoy disappeared entirely that the reporters exchanged bewildered glances.
"No wonder he dared to clash with Wraith," one muttered, "even if he wasn't one of those flying gods or mages. Looks like it was a family squabble!"
"Spread the word! A new big boss has risen in Gotham! Unlike the Falcone era, the Dead Souls Gang picks big bosses named after animals!"
"First Fish, then Penguin, and now Bat! The Dead Souls Gang might become the Animal Gang!"
Another whispered anxiously, "Wait… we were unfriendly to Boss Bat earlier — will he retaliate later?"
____
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