Chapter 50: Batman Robs a Bank (3k3)
"Actually, Mom and Dad... you don't need to worry about me."
Having gained new abilities, David wasn't planning to hide his uniqueness anymore.
Although he couldn't reveal his Eternal variant physique for fear of worrying his parents with his strange appearance, he could show off his manipulation abilities.
"What do you mean?"
Seeing their son about to reveal something, his parents exchanged confused glances.
Hum!
A smile flickered in his eyes. David raised his hand, a highly condensed ball of purple energy hovering, not yet released.
"I also have some special abilities. Self-preservation is not a problem."
The purple light illuminated the room.
"Son, what... what is this?"
Staring at the light emanating from his younger son's hand, like a small purple sun, Jonathan and Martha gasped in astonishment.
Clark's eyes widened, unable to believe what he was seeing.
This was different from how he had imagined his brother revealing his abilities.
In the living room, silence fell.
...
Allowing his shocked parents to digest the sudden news first.
"Manipulating energy?"
As David went upstairs to prepare for his departure, Clark followed him, disbelief etched on his face as he pressed, "You actually hid some of your abilities from me."
He told David everything about his powers. The thought that his brother's secrecy might stem from distrust hurt him.
"It's an ability I awakened not too long ago."
In his room, David pulled a box from under his bed, effortlessly lifting the hundred-pound box onto the desk.
The box was about the size of a baby's cradle.
"Really?"
"Believe it or not."
"You..."
Seeing that David didn't look like he was lying, Clark's emotions calmed down slightly, and he was about to ask when he had gotten this ability.
Click!
David opened the box.
Various-sized meteorites, emitting a green fluorescence, lay quietly in the wooden box. A rough count revealed seventy to eighty pieces.
"This... this is meteorite??"
Clark was stunned mid-sentence. "How can there be so many meteorites?"
If he hadn't lost his powers, he might have collapsed onto the floor and fainted the moment the box was opened.
"You..."
He stared at his brother with wide eyes.
"What are you collecting so many meteorites for?"
"Collecting."
David raised an eyebrow. "Is that not allowed?"
Looking at his brother's calm demeanor, Clark was so angry he felt like he would faint.
"Do you think I believe you?"
He couldn't believe that his weakness to meteorites had only been revealed a few days ago, and his brother had already collected such a large box of them.
They were enough to build him a coffin.
In truth, David had unearthed these from his stash long ago, and since he felt he had enough for the next few years, he hadn't searched for more.
Hum!
David took out a slightly larger meteorite.
Energy beams shot from his eyes, manipulating the beams like lasers to cut.
With precise control, as if cutting through butter with a hot knife, the tough meteorite's skin was quickly sliced off.
"You can shoot energy beams from your eyes?"
Clark was astonished, finding his brother's actions somewhat perplexing. "What are you doing?"
"It's too silly to carry a rock around with me."
He quickly finished what he was doing as he spoke.
"And the radiation from the raw meteorite isn't strong enough."
Blowing away the green, snow-like dust, the light in David's eyes faded.
On his palm rested a ring, cut from the innermost crystal of the meteorite. It resembled a flawless emerald, emitting a potent radiation. Even in the daylight, a faint fluorescence was visible.
Clark looked at the emerald ring, his face turning green, giving him the illusion of being poisoned. He instinctively took a step back.
Even though he wouldn't be powerless and in pain now, the psychological trauma lingered.
"David, when you successfully bring Avery back, you'll destroy it, right?"
He placed the box back in its original spot.
Facing Clark's probing, David slipped the Kryptonite ring onto his right index finger and smiled, saying nothing.
"You'll destroy it... right?" A sense of extreme foreboding washed over Clark. He swallowed, his voice completely lacking confidence.
...
Clark wanted to accompany his brother, but Jonathan and Martha wouldn't allow it. Without his powers, it was best for him to stay home and not be a burden to his brother.
After going downstairs, David was about to leave.
He didn't need to bring any luggage; a Kryptonite ring was enough.
"Son, are you sure you have the confidence to bring Avery back without getting hurt?"
At the doorway of the house, Jonathan and Martha, their faces still showing shock and surprise, couldn't help but express their worry as they saw David preparing to leave.
As their son was about to embark on a journey to another city, one that might involve danger, how could parents possibly feel at ease?
"There won't be any problems."
David let out a breath and smiled.
He felt much more relaxed after explaining his abilities.
"My energy manipulation ability is best suited for defense. Clark's attacks can't break through my defense."
"Really?"
Jonathan and Martha looked at Clark.
"Yes."
Clark nodded, steeling himself.
Truthfully, he hadn't tested it, but at this moment, he definitely couldn't let his parents worry.
"David, please be careful."
Clark, with worry etched on his face, stepped forward and hugged David tightly.
He secretly clenched his fist. Logically, this situation had started because of him, and David shouldn't be the one to handle it. He felt a pang of guilt.
"Son..."
David hugged his parents back, then turned to leave, waving his hand.
"Gotham isn't far. I'll be back in a few days."
Jonathan held his wife Martha, watching his son's retreating figure, his eyes filled with concern.
"May God bless our David and ensure his safe return."
David knew how his parents looked without even turning to see them, feeling a bit helpless.
Before he hid his abilities, his parents worried about his safety. After he revealed them, they were still just as worried.
He left an afterimage in his place and accelerated away.
...
Gotham wasn't far from Metropolis, separated only by a stretch of water.
The two cities, facing each other across the sea, shared close cultural and economic ties.
Like Metropolis, Gotham was a prosperous and advanced modern metropolis, with skyscrapers standing tall everywhere. It even had an elevated rail system, absent in Metropolis, that ran through the city like the veins of a body, indicating its developed transportation. This system delivered sustenance to Gotham's heart—Wayne Tower.
However, unlike Metropolis, Gotham's prosperity was superficial, hiding a dark underbelly. Its persistently high crime rate was an indelible stain on Gotham.
...
Drip!
Lead-gray clouds sealed the sky, and cold raindrops pattered down. Birds, their feathers soaked, flew weakly, perched on gargoyle statues extending from the walls of tall buildings, preening their feathers.
A bird shook its head and looked down. Reflected in its pupils, a black umbrella slowly moved through the street.
Clang! Clang!
"This place, Gotham, seems to have a persistent cloud cover and unending rain."
Watching the long, noisy monorail pass by on its elevated tracks supported by concrete pillars, David, dressed in a gray trench coat, lifted a corner of the umbrella he was holding and looked at the gloomy sky, sighing softly.
This was his impression of Gotham.
He hadn't encountered clear skies during his first few visits to Gotham either.
"How can such a dark and damp place not breed some mold and grime."
In a dark alley not far away, someone with a pale face, sniffling and shivering, pulled out a roll of money. Looking left and right like a thief, they urged the other person to quickly produce their goods to complete the transaction, with several more people waiting in line behind them.
Pressed against the alley wall, a homeless elderly vagrant, his beard scruffy, hunched his emaciated body. The dull gray sky reflected in his eyes as he lay numbly on the cold ground.
Several wicked-looking young vagrants, wearing tattered clothes, gathered around a burning trash can, extending their hands clad in worn-out gloves to warm themselves, shivering and trembling.
When someone looked over, they glared fiercely, like several matted, dirty wild dogs guarding their territory.
This was downtown Gotham, the most prosperous area.
David shook his head, stepped up the stairs, put away his umbrella, and walked into Gotham National Bank, its ancient exterior resembling a castle.
"Without the super-vision and super-hearing of the Son of Krypton, finding someone in a city of tens of millions isn't easy."
First, he needed some money.
While the exterior looked like it was built with ancient bricks and had a long history, the interior of the bank was spacious and clean, with thick marble columns, plush brown sofas, and bright display windows.
The decor was classic and elegant, yet it didn't lack a modern humanistic touch.
"Even old things can be made new."
The impeccably dressed lobby manager was enthusiastically chatting with some customers who were holding free coffee.
"Remember, that old coffee machine used to have grounds that it couldn't filter out, leaving customers with grit on their teeth. We received so many complaints."
"Look at our current Gotham National Bank, with its fresh environment, modern equipment, and high-tech security system. We guarantee to provide you with better service and safeguard your wealth more securely."
Walking across the lustrous marble floor, ignoring the lobby manager who was speaking with arms spread wide in pride, David slowly walked to the counter, preparing to conduct his business.
"I believe – who wouldn't like the current Gotham National Bank?"
"Don't speak too soon, sir!"
A sudden loud voice interrupted. A group of robbers, dressed in suits, carrying submachine guns, with black bags slung over their shoulders, and wearing red hoods, burst in. The leader said mockingly, pointing his gun at the manager.
"I prefer banks from sixty years ago. The vaults back then must not have been this thick, impossible to open even with a tank!"
Ahhhh... Bang!
Piercing screams instantly filled the bank. Before the terrified people could scatter like birds and beasts, a gunshot exploded the head of the bank manager, whose expression had frozen.
"Following the old ways does no harm to people."
As the body fell, the man smiled elegantly, placed his index finger on his lips, and softly uttered words that blew through the hall like a winter wind, making everyone tremble.
"For example, you should all get down on the ground now, quiet as mice on a church beam. Otherwise, we'll use you to decorate the walls!"
Robbing a national bank in broad daylight, an audacity of crime.
Less than an hour after arriving in Gotham, he was experiencing Gotham's specialty again.
David glanced around.
"Is this city so eager to awaken its impression on me?"
Each of them wore a red hood, a black suit, and even a red rose pinned to their chest. They were so dignified and elegant that they didn't look like bank robbers, but rather like attendees at a banquet.
How stylish. Then again, Gotham was no stranger to stylish criminals.
"Oh, there's a kid over here who isn't complying. Can't he understand?"
Everyone in the hall was trembling and lying down, but only one person remained standing, his expression calm, even scanning with a hint of curiosity. It was as if he hadn't seen a bank robbery where people could die at any moment, making him incredibly conspicuous.
Seeing David, the robber leader smiled and waved, as if dismissing a servant at a banquet to bring him a glass of champagne.
"Red Hood Five, give this disobedient gentleman a lesson he'll never forget."
One of the henchmen behind him walked out and aggressively ran up to David, swiftly pointing his gun at his head. His voice was low and menacing, instilling fear.
"Kneel down, I told you to kneel!"
As he spoke, he kicked David fiercely at the back of his knee, but it felt like kicking a steel pillar; it didn't budge!
Feeling a sharp pain in his foot, Red Hood Five frowned under his hood, a flicker of astonishment in his eyes.
"I've heard that people in Gotham live difficult lives."
Raising his eyebrows, David chuckled lightly at the unremarkable Red Hood Five in front of him.
"But I didn't expect... that Bruce Wayne, the owner of Wayne Enterprises, has fallen so low as to rob a bank?"
The update is a bit late. The two chapters combined have over 1,800 characters. Please support me by reading. (ω)
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