The days of being a spiritual mentor in Meiman.

Chapter 56 Gotham Evening Clock

Silence echoed in the empty room, and finally, Batman said, "Everything I've done, everything I've been honed since that day, has been for revenge."

"The law and the trial told me that Joe Chell killed my parents, but I knew that wasn't the case, and it took me years to empower myself to question the outcome."

"...And now, it's time for the bat's revenge."

Along with the dull evening clock of the clock tower of Gotham Cathedral, Batman disappeared.

The recent changes in the Edward family have made Batman, who is constantly monitoring the entire Gotham City, discover that before the Edward brothers made their fortunes, when they first came to Gotham, they used to be the leader of the alley where his parents died.

But now, the Edward brothers are dead, leaving only their nephew, and little Edward offended the godfather. If Falcone is not willing to let him go, then the Edward family will cease to exist.

Batman first found little Edward, he didn't need to send people to invite people like the godfather, he can appear directly in the shadow behind anyone.

The next day, Gotham was filled with a drowsy mist again, and later in the evening, the hazy mist over Gotham was dyed with more color.

Schiller was chatting with the priest at the door of the church. Like an authentic Westerner, he went in and out of the church on time without appearing to be disobedient.

The priest here is very learned, and he has a very deep understanding of theology. Schiller likes to chat with him about philosophy and theology, and at the same time, he can also learn about intelligence.

The old priest has lived in Gotham all his life, has experienced all the times of Gotham, and knows all the stories here.

The priest said: "Recently, the workers at the wharf have not come often. Perhaps their business has improved. I hope this is the case. God tells people that they need to use such hard work to atone for their sins."

"The number of merchant ships at the docks has increased recently, and the business of cargo ship owners has improved," Schiller said.

"I remember many years ago, for a while, many workers liked to come here to pray, and the church was never so lively."

The old priest's voice bears the unique imprint of the times, like a railway track paved from history, the old one has faded.

"It can be seen that they were not busy at that time, maybe there was not much business, and many people were complaining. Some people were very angry, and there were quarrels. I tried my best to dissuade them."

"You are a good man," said Schiller.

The old priest squinted his eyes and recalled, he said: "In those days, everything was a mess, I remember that the man who dominated the dock at that time was a man named Leif, he was not easy to mess with, people called him big Beard, some call him Viking."

"He is burly and strong, with a beard on his face, and he has a dozen equally strong men. They are domineering at the dock, and no one dares to provoke them. They specially collect labor protection fees and blackmail others."

"And then, who then sanctioned them?"

"It's Falcone, the Lord Godfather gave him a ruthless one."

The priest stroked his fingers, which were somewhat dry from aging, and said, "The godfather was supposed to take over those piers, but somehow, it ended up in the hands of the Edward family."

The priest shook his head and finally said: "I'm not saying that the Edward family is not well managed, maybe, if the Falcone family took over the pier and the entire Eastern District was connected into a line, the Falcone family would be stronger than now. many."

"I often hear people say..." Schiller said, "The Godfather's control of the East End is a little weak, because he only controls some areas in the northeast and southeast, and leaves the most important part of the wharf."

The priest shook his head and said, "Maybe he has his own plans."

Schiller pondered that what the priest told him was no secret. The reason why it was not widely circulated was because not many people survived in that era.

Of course, as to why the godfather didn't control the pier in one breath, Schiller guessed that there might be more complicated disputes.

After dark, Schiele said goodbye to the priest and walked out of the church alone.

When the last rays of the setting sun also sank below the horizon, he heard the bell tower of the church above him, and there were seven heavy tolls in a row.

In front of the church door, the priest drew a cross on his chest with his hand and whispered, "This is the death knell... God bless, your soul will be liberated..."

Schiller was standing outside the door, he turned his head, and in the dark gray haze, he saw a black and yellow figure standing on the high clock tower.

On the other side, little Edward collapsed to the ground, facing the shadow with two pointy ears in front of him, he said tremblingly, "I only know...I only know that back then...the godfather ended the chaos at the Eastern Docks. situation, my father and uncle want a piece of the pie, even if they can only get a dock..."

"But, the godfather suddenly doesn't want any of them... So, our family got all five piers. I don't know what happened... I was too young at that time, you can only ask the godfather. Well, I really don't know anything..."

After the shadow of the bat left, little Edward got up from the ground shaking all over, he cursed in a low voice, and suddenly he saw another shadow appeared in front of him.

He looked up and saw a huge umbrella facing him. Behind the umbrella, a sullen eye was staring at him. Edward was about to scream in fear when his vocal cords were cut off, along with his throat.

After a slight soft sound, the sound of heavy objects falling to the ground was accompanied by the lights that went out in Edward's old house, and everything was quiet.

In the end, Batman came to Falcone's mansion, which was dark and quiet as if no one existed.

Unlike Edward's old mansion, which was brightly lit and guarded all night, the mansion where the Godfather of Gotham lived seemed to have no defenses, and Batman knew this was abnormal.

Finally, Batman saw him in Falcone's office. There was still no one here. Falcone seemed to be waiting for him, sitting alone in the office in the early morning.

"I knew you were coming," Falcone said. "You weren't careful enough about old Edward's resume."

"That means there must be something special about his resume that deserves your attention," Batman said.

"Indeed, are you interested in hearing stories from many years ago?"

Then, from the mouth of the godfather who has ruled Gotham for 40 years, Batman learned about the turbulent era that he had never seen or heard.

"...They invite friends and friends, and they are ruthless. Among them, the Viking pirate Leif is the most powerful."

"I know very well that if I want the Falcone family to really gain a foothold here, I have to cut him."

"The bearded man made a lot of money by blackmailing or the owner of the ship for many years. He was not convinced and wanted to resist me."

"So I killed all of his family in front of many people and stuffed him in a powder keg."

"Of course, that terrified a lot of people and made my plan go smoothly."

"I want to know about Park Street," Batman said.

"Don't worry, it's almost there."

Falcone turned his chair, turned to look at Batman and said, "You kind of look like your father." He nodded and said, "...very similar."

Before Batman could say anything, Falcone said: "I swept the major forces at the dock at that time, but I didn't take over the dock, but threw them to the Edward family, and this matter is related to your parents. related."

"Your mother is a good person, a kind wife, she sympathizes with the laborers on the dock, and thinks that their work for more than ten hours a day is too hard, and your father agrees. They think it should be better for those poor poor people."

"So they didn't allow the gangs to bully those workers, and they made a more relaxed work system for them, you know, you only have to work for a few hours and then you have to take a break, eat something and drink some water."

"The Wayne family is determined to reform the entire Gotham Wharf, but I know... I know."

"I know they can't do it, but I don't want to fight the Wayne family, so I retreat and let them do what they want."

"I let the Edward family control all the docks. Brother Edward is still smart."

Falcone lit a cigar, the weak flame shone on his face, and a dark shadow was cast under the sharp eyebrows, shrouding his eyes, and he could still vaguely see a little bit of the all-powerful youth of that era. Godfather appearance.

"So, Edward hired that bastard named Joe to kill my parents?"

The smoke of the cigar drifted slowly, and Falcone's speech began to slow down, as if the recalled things became more distant and unclear.

"You mean the one who actually did it? No, not them, not Edward."

"The person who really did it was a laborer at the dock, named Louis."

"Labor?" Batman asked, feeling absurd. "Why? How could it be a docker?"

"I know if you don't understand, the Wayne couple helped them. Yes, the laborers don't have to work so long every day, being oppressed by gangsters and cargo ship owners, they have found their savior..."

Falcone shook his head and said: "But you don't understand, the workers are also divided into three, six and nine classes. The work of carrying sandbags and carrying heavy objects is the most tiring. , the big workers only do the light work of allocating manpower and inventorying materials."

"Your parents want everyone to be easy, no one does the dirty work, and the cargo ship owners have been delayed for too long and lost a lot of cargo. They would rather take a long way to go to Gotham Pier."

"I remember...that Louis was...the chief engineer of the third or fourth dock. He was closely watched by the Wayne family and had to be assigned the same work to everyone. He could only work nine hours a day, and there were still They have to rest for two hours and let them eat."

"The cargo ship was parked there, no one moved the goods, and the fresh and fruit on it were damaged. The main ship's main owner, Louis, paid for it. Louis couldn't afford it. He was beaten by the cargo ship's owner and sailors and broke his leg. "

"So, he hired that bastard and killed the Waynes?" Batman's voice was hoarse.

"He turned to old Edward for help, and together they made that murder on Park Street."

"You must think it's absurd that Judas betrayed his Lord and made his benefactor suffer," Falcone said.

"...But this is Gotham, a place where the devil will detour when he sees it."

Batman closed his eyes, the truth was completely different from what he had imagined.

This is not a story of perpetrators and innocents entangled in confrontation, and there is no justice that can be served at a glance.

Everything is not white walls and black shadows, but an old faded gray videotape with the thick dust of that era.

"The punks and the Edward brothers are dead, but Louis is still alive. If you still want revenge, go to No. 7 End Lane, Divine Grace Street, on the east side of the church, where he lives."

After speaking, Falcone exhaled the last puff of smoke, and he also closed his eyes.

His fingers are well maintained, there are almost no wrinkles, the cigar between his fingers has been burned out, and the fire is gradually extinguished, just like to that boiling era, to all the waves of that turbulent era, silently, painted on a period.

(End of this chapter)