Want to read ahead? Join in my Patreon for only $7 to get early access to all upcoming chapters!
> > Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations < <
───────────────────────────
Chapter 45: Why Did This Day Come So Late?
"What did you say? 'They' are arriving soon? Who are they?"
Harvey was completely confused.
"Don't worry. You'll know soon enough."
Kid just smiled faintly, offering no further explanation.
"If possible, let us meet again, Mr. Harvey Dent."
He raised his right hand and snapped his fingers lightly.
The ring of special glass surrounding them seemed to receive a command and automatically collapsed outward.
Crash!
With a crisp sound, countless glass shards scattered on the floor.
And in the center of the shards, Phantom Thief Kid's figure had long vanished, leaving only Harvey Dent standing alone.
At this moment, the light rays distorted by the glass returned to normal. Harvey, Robin, and the others reappeared in each other's eyes.
"Two-Face!"
Robin didn't know what had happened inside the glass, so seeing Two-Face again, he immediately issued a fierce interrogation.
"Where is Phantom Thief Kid? What did you guys just do?"
"Robin, this should be our first meeting."
Harvey ignored Robin's hateful attitude and walked calmly toward him.
"If you think just because I'm tied to this chair you can easily take me out, then you're wr—What are you doing?"
Robin's warning to Two-Face cut off halfway.
Because he felt his restraints being released.
Two-Face was untying him voluntarily.
"You... you are Phantom Thief Kid?"
A light bulb went off in Robin's head. This Two-Face might be Kid in disguise.
"Sorry, you guessed wrong, Robin. Phantom Thief Kid has already left."
Harvey didn't linger after untying Robin. He continued to untie the judge and the jury hostages.
Their eyes looking at me are filled with undisguised fear. Two-Face's emergence has indeed caused irreversible, terrible influence on this city, Harvey thought heavily, seeing the panicked faces of the hostages.
"What exactly do you want, Two-Face? Are you preparing to surrender?"
Robin watched Harvey's actions with a frown.
He wouldn't lower his guard just because of one seemingly repentant act from Two-Face.
"You could say that. But a more accurate way to put it is: I am preparing to turn myself in."
After releasing the last person, Harvey turned and spoke seriously to Robin.
"Robin, after sending these people out of ACE Chemicals, let's go to the police station together."
"What!?"
Harvey's words completely exceeded Robin's expectations. He even suspected he had misheard.
"Are you really not Kid disguised just to fool me?"
"I am n—Ow!"
Robin didn't give Harvey time to answer. He flashed in front of him and pinched his cheek hard.
Of course, he pinched the side without burns.
The result was obvious. Robin didn't pull off anything resembling a mask.
Now he had to admit: this Two-Face was the original article.
But... he still couldn't believe Two-Face said he was going to turn himself in.
"What is your ultimate goal? Do you plan to attack the GCPD today?"
Robin grabbed Two-Face by the collar, staring dead into his eyes.
He wanted to see the cunning and insidiousness hidden there.
However, in the end, Robin only saw loneliness and guilt in those eyes.
"I don't know how to convince you, Robin, but you are right not to believe me," Harvey said.
"I can only tell you that Phantom Thief Kid woke me up. From now on, I will not do any more bad things. I will spend the rest of my life in prison."
"This is my heartfelt thought, though I indeed have no evidence to prove it."
"...God. What did Kid do to you?"
Seeing Harvey speak from the bottom of his heart with such an expression, the suspicion in Robin's heart had actually dissipated by half.
However, Two-Face had too many priors. Robin couldn't believe every word Harvey said.
He was still guessing Two-Face's true purpose.
"Give me your coin."
Robin released Harvey's collar and held out his hand.
"Take it."
Harvey placed the only coin currently on his person into Robin's hand.
"Wait, this isn't your coin!"
Robin looked at the coin and instantly noticed something wrong.
Two-Face's coin had heads on both sides, but one side had obvious scratches to serve as tails.
But the coin in Robin's hand now—although also double-headed—didn't have a single scratch!
"The old coin was already taken by Phantom Thief Kid. This is the gift he exchanged with me," Harvey explained.
Wee-woo-wee-woo—
Just then, sirens sounded outside ACE Chemicals.
Robin and Harvey simultaneously showed expressions of surprise.
Logically, no one should know Two-Face's base was at ACE Chemicals. How did the GCPD find this place?
Suddenly, Robin thought of something. He looked up at the electric lights glowing on the ceiling.
"Right. The sudden restoration of power to the abandoned ACE Chemicals must have alerted Oracle, who then notified the GCPD."
Soon, a squad of officers led by Gordon quickly secured the chemical plant and logically arrived at the room where Harvey, Robin, and the others were.
"Two-Face! Hands up! Step away from the boy! I'm only warning you once!"
Gordon pointed his gun at Harvey and shouted angrily.
"Jim..."
Harvey understood in his heart. So the person Phantom Thief Kid mentioned just now was Jim Gordon.
Once one of the Iron Triangle of Gotham alongside him. His closest friend.
And now, his most hated enemy.
Following Gordon's instructions, Harvey raised his hands, slowly moved away from Robin, and walked toward Gordon.
His movements were very slow, intending to let Gordon know he had no intention of resisting.
"Relax, Jim. Cuff me. I won't resist."
Harvey stopped a few steps from Gordon, letting him take out the handcuffs.
Hearing Harvey's words, Gordon didn't immediately pull out the cuffs but scrutinized Harvey vigilantly.
When his gaze met Harvey's eyes, Gordon froze.
Unlike Robin, who only knew Harvey Dent through data and files, Gordon was a comrade with a long history with Harvey.
He understood the difference between Harvey and Two-Face.
So Gordon recognized at a glance that the Two-Face in front of him was the Harvey Dent he knew best!
"Harvey? You're back?"
Gordon called his name in disbelief. "What happened here?"
"Jim, do what you need to do now. Whatever you want to say, wait until we're in the interrogation room," Harvey reminded him.
Gordon fell silent.
Yes. Even if Two-Face changed back to Harvey, what did it matter? The crimes he committed were facts.
No matter what, Harvey Dent was now a wanted criminal.
"Too late, Harvey. This day came too late."
With a complicated look in his eyes, Gordon took out the handcuffs and cuffed Harvey's hands.
Gotham, an abandoned factory building in the Otisburg Industrial Park.
Darren nestled on the roof, quietly watching the police car taking Harvey away in the distance.
Only when the taillights were no longer visible did he climb down and leave in another direction.
After walking out of Otisburg and disguising himself to blend into a group of passersby, the System notification sounded timely in his ear.
[Congratulations Host for completing the objective: 'Steal Two-Face's Coin'.]
[Completion Difficulty: Medium]
[Treasure Quality: Common]
[Style Index: Explosive!!]
[Comprehensive Evaluation: D]
[Random Reward Draw initiating...]
[Congratulations Host, obtained: Enhanced Lung Lobes]
[Enhanced Lung Lobes: Maintain normal breathing unaffected even in environments filled with poison gas or with thin oxygen.]
[Comment: Epic inhale.]
───────────────────────────
Support this Fanfict by leaving Positive Review, Comments, and Power Stones. For Advance Chapters:
Visit > Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations