Ever since Alex had cleansed Gotham of crime, many people had begun calling him the Knight of Light.
Because Alex had brought light to Gotham.
Granted, the methods by which he'd done so were… anything but bright.
But the result spoke for itself—
Gotham was finally shining.
Ironically, in the original comics and films, the title "Knight of Light" actually belonged to Harvey Dent.
Unlike Alex, who ruled through blood and fear, Harvey's approach relied on law and order—
open, transparent, and righteous.
He truly lived up to that title.
Unfortunately, that same shining knight would one day fall—
becoming one of Gotham's most feared, tragic villains.
Two-Face.
But that was all still in the future.
At this point in time, Harvey Dent hadn't even earned the title "Knight of Light," much less fallen from it.
Alex, of course, wasn't particularly interested in such details.
He thought about it briefly, then dismissed the thought entirely.
His attention was fixed on the Riddler.
For that man to target someone like Harvey Dent—
the message couldn't be more obvious.
After all, there were only a few people who truly represented Gotham's fight against crime:
Homelander, Batman, and Harvey Dent.
This wasn't just random violence.
It was a direct provocation.
An open slap to Alex's face.
A challenge to Homelander's authority.
And Alex?
He wasn't about to let that slide.
---
> "Homelander, aren't you going to do something about this?"
"You know… you don't have to stay here with me right now."
Catwoman's soft voice broke Alex's train of thought.
She was perceptive—she understood the stakes perfectly.
This case wasn't just another crime; it was a test of Homelander's dominance.
If the Riddler succeeded, it would shake the very foundation of Gotham's new order.
For Alex, failure was simply not an option.
> "Relax, Selina," Alex said with a small, dismissive smile. "He's just a clown. Not worth worrying about."
He wasn't bluffing.
Through his super-hearing, Alex had already listened in on both the Gotham Police Department and Batman.
He knew the Riddler's next target.
In fact, he'd known the Riddler's identity from the start.
And thanks to his remote surveillance, he even knew where the Riddler planned to strike.
The Gotham Grand Hotel.
Three days from now, the "Light Foundation" would hold its inauguration ceremony there.
The so-called Light Foundation was a project backed by several of Gotham's wealthy elites—
supposedly to "bring light and hope" to the city.
To Alex, it was nothing more than a money-laundering front.
But that wasn't the point.
The event would draw Gotham's most powerful figures—
and Harvey Dent had been invited as the keynote speaker.
The Riddler's plan was simple:
assassinate Harvey Dent in front of every major player in Gotham.
If he succeeded, he'd instantly become the city's most infamous criminal celebrity—
the man who humiliated Homelander.
But unfortunately for him…
he'd picked the wrong opponent.
---
> "You're not the type to brag," Catwoman said with a teasing smile. "So I guess I should start mourning that poor fool right now."
Seeing Alex's quiet confidence, she felt her worries melt away.
After all—
Homelander wasn't a man. He was a force of nature.
With his impossible powers and terrifying precision, how could a masked lunatic who hid in the shadows ever stand a chance?
And so, for the next two days, Alex and Catwoman simply lived as they pleased.
They didn't bother tracking the Riddler's every move.
They didn't prepare some elaborate trap.
They simply waited.
Calm. Leisurely.
Untouchable.
---
Three days later.
Half an hour before the ceremony.
> "Alright, Homelander—we should get going!"
Catwoman's cheerful voice echoed through the room. She'd already gotten everything ready.
Alex didn't waste any time. With Selina by his side, he headed straight to the Gotham Grand Hotel.
---
> "Homelander!"
"It's really him!"
"He came! Homelander's here!"
As always, his arrival caused a wave of excitement to ripple through the crowd.
Heads turned. Cameras flashed.
Alex, calm as ever, strolled forward with Catwoman on his arm.
Together, they entered the massive ballroom on the top floor—
a glittering sea of Gotham's wealthiest and most influential figures.
Everywhere he looked, Alex saw familiar faces: businessmen, politicians, celebrities.
And then—his gaze locked on the main attraction.
Harvey Dent.
Standing beside him, Commissioner Gordon was speaking earnestly, his face grave.
Even across the noisy crowd, Alex could clearly hear their conversation.
> "Harvey, you're in real danger. Listen to me—cancel the speech."
Gordon's tone was urgent, pleading.
Harvey, however, looked completely unfazed.
He even smiled.
> "Detective Gordon, relax. Do you know how many death threats I've received since taking office? You think I'm scared of one more?"
He chuckled softly.
Ever since the day he'd chosen to stand up against Gotham's corruption, he had accepted the risk that came with it.
> "This time's different!" Gordon insisted. "You don't understand—this one's a lunatic! He's challenging Homelander himself!"
That made Harvey blink in surprise.
> "He's challenging Homelander?"
A wry smile crossed his face.
> "Then I think the one who should be worried… isn't me."
> "But you're just a normal man!" Gordon pressed.
> "It's fine, Jim," Harvey said, patting Gordon's shoulder. "Take it easy. Nothing's going to happen. I've got a speech to prepare."
And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving Gordon sighing helplessly behind him.
> "I just hope Batman and Homelander can stop the Riddler in time…"
Gordon murmured under his breath.
Alex, having heard everything, let his gaze drift elsewhere.
And there—among the crowd—he spotted another familiar figure.
Bruce Wayne.
Of course.
Alex wasn't surprised in the least.
There was no way Gotham's most famous billionaire wouldn't be on the guest list.
And, naturally, Batman already knew the Riddler's plan—
which meant Bruce Wayne would stay close to Harvey Dent tonight, ready to step in if things went wrong.
All perfectly logical.
All perfectly predictable.
Alex allowed himself a faint smirk.
> "Let's see who saves who tonight," he murmured.
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