On the busy shopping street, Haino dragged Axel into the Dior boutique, practically bursting with excitement.
The store was empty when they entered, and Haino instantly slipped into full sales‑assistant mode.
She led Axel straight to the coat section.
In a matter of minutes she had selected an outfit and gripped Axel's arm.
"This one is definitely perfect! Come on, let's go try it on."
"We?" Axel gave a dry smile, about to push Haino away.
She had been painfully enthusiastic all day, and he was more than ready to stop playing kidnapper.
With three thousand in cash from her wallet, he could easily find a decent hotel.
Tomorrow, he'd find another lucky rich jerk in Gotham and do it again.
With all these wealthy people around, how could he not?
Still, when Axel secretly loosened Haino's restraints, she didn't even realize she was free.
"Of course we go into the fitting room together, otherwise the cops will fill it up with bullets if you're inside alone," she insisted.
"You're a robber, Axel, can't you be slightly more cautious?"
"Come on, try this on first, then we can go to Louis Vuitton and look around. I want to help you find something that matches your style."
Before Axel could escape, Haino had practically dragged him into the fitting room and was squatting in front of him.
Outside the Dior shop, Mayor Mitchell stood with Deputy Chief Gordon, bewildered at the scene.
"They just walked in like it was nothing to try on clothes?" Mitchell asked, staring at the boutique.
He turned to Gordon with a strained smile.
"Gordon, letting a robber hold Councilor Lawrence's daughter hostage for an hour already makes the Gotham Police Department and City Hall look like amateurs!"
"And look at them still talking and laughing. How will Gotham citizens watching on TV see this?"
"Tomorrow's headlines will say the police were so slow the robber and the hostage grew feelings and the kidnapping isn't even resolved!"
"You know, Gordon, I'm not even mad about your inaction. Councilor Lawrence's partner is the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Defense. Nobody's crazy enough to order a sniper shot that risks hitting her. But why wasn't this handled quietly? Why did so many reporters show up?"
"I even saw journalists from Metropolis! Did they take a goddamn boat?"
Mitchell folded his arms and sighed, but a camera swung toward him and he forced a serious look for the broadcast.
Gordon, clutching his service pistol, explained helplessly.
"Mayor, this robber Axel is acting ridiculously in public. He didn't just kidnap Miss Lawrence in the street, he caused a traffic jam and fired shots. Miss Lawrence's car and license plate are recognizable, so paparazzi knew about the situation before we even arrived."
Mitchell forced a bitter smile, then loudly addressed the approaching camera.
"No matter what it takes, I want to see Miss Lawrence safely reunited with her parents! Gotham should not be a city where kidnapping happens to a nineteen‑year‑old girl!"
Watching this broadcast, the Balding Owner at Gunfire Feast spat with contempt.
"Mitchell won't be mayor for long. After getting into office, he completely lost the eloquence he had during the campaign. Maybe he can't afford his old team anymore."
"With these same tired words every day, who would vote for him again? Not me."
Then the Balding Owner's eyes narrowed as his memory flicked to the bullet‑riddled black suit Axel had once worn clean in his shop, before the shooting and explosions near the Iceberg Lounge.
If Axel survived all that, and now this kidnapping stunt…he felt uneasy.
Had his precious 'living father' really cursed his son from boss down to waiter?
Across town at the Iceberg Lounge, Selina watched the circus unfold live on TV and burst out laughing.
"That guy killed Sabatino in front of Falcone and then immediately goes and kidnaps the daughter of a councilor and the Deputy Secretary of Defense. Liv, are you sure this man is a good client? I feel like he'll drag you straight to hell."
Selina turned to Liv and saw intense awe in Liv's eyes.
Seeing that sparkle made Selina jealous, so she hugged Liv's waist tightly.
"What? Do you get captivated by men sometimes?"
"What a talent," Liv replied dreamily.
"That's the ability to treat death like nothing. Why shouldn't I be captivated?"
"So what if he killed Sabatino? So what if he kidnapped a councilor's daughter? When the Wraith keeps returning from death, what can't he do?"
"Selina, listen, I've found the most valuable super client to invest in. He literally radiates power."
"Bullshit!" Selina felt sour as Liv's praise of Axel continued with fierce admiration.
"When will you stop fawning over this man? I'm going home to feed my cats."
Selina patted her hip and began to leave, but Liv grabbed her hand.
"Don't be so moody, Selina. Stay a little longer. I want to hear you talk about Axel killing Sabatino."
"Please," Selina scoffed, freeing her hand and walking off.
Liv called after her in panic.
"Selina! I just got word Falcone sent Victor to bring Sophia back to Gotham. She and you are like fire and water. That woman will kill you. Don't go back to your apartment recently, stay here with me!"
"Why ask me? Go ask your light, Sophia's rushing over to marry him."
"Sophia and you are just pitiful women shaped by others."
"But I'm different, Liv. No one can catch me, no one can control me."
"Sophia Falcone? Let her come."
"I am Selina Kyle. I am born free."
____
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