American comics: Only I know the plot

Chapter 39 Aftermath

Harvey lay on the floor, staring at the warehouse ceiling, and suddenly burst out laughing.

She laughed and cried at the same time, her voice filled with despair: "She won't forgive me...she won't..."

The sound of police sirens came from outside the textile factory, growing clearer and clearer as it approached.

Looking at Harvey, who was being pinned to the ground by Batman, and at the coin rolling down his side, Li Wei felt a void in his heart.

Did they really win? It looks like they did.

But for some reason, Li Wei couldn't feel happy at all.

It seems that justice in Gotham cannot be solved by the system alone.

He followed Batman out of the basement, and the early morning wind whipped up raindrops that hit his face, instantly invigorating him.

Harvey's words, "She will never forgive me," were still echoing in his ears, causing him to steal a glance at Gotham's King of Pop beside him.

Harvey may be a bit crazy, but he seems much more devoted than this guy.

However, if Harvey had this guy's wealth, the outcome might not be so certain.

...

The police station's conference room was brightly lit, but only Gordon, Batman, and Reeves were present in the spacious room.

They are having discussions about what to do with Harvey.

Outside the meeting room, several police officers, though keeping their eyes straight ahead, were all listening intently, eager to gossip.

Harvey has been taken to the police station and is currently under Robin's care.

Although the specifics are unclear, anything that could bring Commissioner Gordon, Advisor Levi, and Batman together for discussion must be extraordinary.

The meeting room was filled with smoke, and Gordon stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.

The movements were so heavy it looked like he was smashing something, as if he was venting his inner frustration.

The sky over Gotham outside the window was already beginning to lighten, but there wasn't a glimmer of sunlight in sight.

Only thick, dark clouds hung heavily over the city, just like the atmosphere of the city at that moment.

"It can't be made public," Gordon said, his voice hoarse like sandpaper scraping wood. "If the citizens knew what Harvey did, they would completely lose faith in him."

This is exactly the result the Joker wanted.

Li Wei sat at the table, his fingers lightly tracing the documents on it—Harvey's interrogation records.

The surface was covered with words like "Rachel," "coin," and "fairness."

In the movie, after Harvey's death, Batman took on all the blame to protect his reputation.

It was for this very reason that Batman became depressed and eventually became the Dark Knight.

He looked up at Batman standing by the window: "Are you really sure?"

Batman stood with his back to them, his cape trailing on the ground like a giant shadow, blending into the darkness outside the window.

"Gotham needs a hero like Harvey Dent," Batman said. "And I, I've always lived in the darkness."

Batman's throat tightened as he recalled the first time he met Harvey.

At the hearing at the city hall, the prosecutor in the white shirt delivered a passionate speech.

He vowed to send all criminals to prison, his eyes shining brighter than a spotlight.

Who could have imagined that in just a few months, everything would have changed so drastically?

"Ramires has resigned," Gordon added, his voice weary. "She took all the blame, saying Harvey was misled by her."

Watts is still receiving treatment in the hospital, and Maronny... will never be able to stand up again.

Li Wei picked up the evidence bag on the table, which contained the coin that had changed everyone's fate.

He poured the coin into his palm, the coolness of the metal seeping through his skin, the jet-black side resembling a wound that would never heal.

"But I ask you, does this really mean someone has to take the blame?"

Looking at Batman's forlorn figure, Li Wei felt it was completely unnecessary.

"If we don't do this, we won't be able to handle Harvey," Gordon rubbed his forehead. "We can't just let him out; the risk of exposure is too high, and after all this trouble..."

"I think Harvey was traumatized, I mean when the Joker attacked Gotham City Central Hospital."

He was captured by the clown's henchmen while protecting the citizens, and we only recently rescued him.

"All of this was done by the Joker's henchmen. Harvey has also suffered greatly from the ordeal and has developed some minor mental issues, requiring special treatment."

As Li Wei spoke, he raised his finger and pointed to his temple.

The Joker is already in Arkham, might as well make use of him.

Since this guy has a bad reputation anyway, it's perfect for him to take the blame.

His suggestion caught Gordon's eye, and Batman turned to look at him as well.

Although neither of them said anything, Li Wei could sense their excitement.

Without a doubt, these two stubborn guys made their stance clear through their actions.

"I will handle all the evidence properly, including that from relevant insiders," Li Wei smiled, his tone light, "leaving no trace."

During this period of reviewing files, he gained a lot of insights into how to handle such matters.

"That's settled then, and I think it's perfectly acceptable."

Gordon didn't waste any words, directly expressing his agreement, and then looked at Batman.

Batman remained noncommittal, his gaze beneath his helmet fixed on Levi's face: "Rachel really..."

"I had a friend take that photo," Li Wei shrugged. "She's fine, but she hasn't woken up."

Although he was curious about Rachel, he never went to visit her. To avoid giving certain people something to think, it was best to keep his distance from this woman.

Li Wei's two simple sentences instantly extinguished the hope that had just been ignited in Batman's eyes.

The hospital where Rachel was staying was owned by the Wayne family, and he was wondering why Levi knew about Rachel waking up before him.

Without saying anything more, Batman leaped out of the window and quickly disappeared into the night.

Watching Batman jump out the window without saying a word, Li Wei shrugged and began organizing the materials from the past few days.

Erasing Harvey's work is no easy task.

...

By the time Li Wei finished dealing with his business and walked out of the police station, it was already fully light in Gotham.

The only evidence that it rained heavily in Gotham last night is the water on the ground.

Li Wei greeted the police officer at the door, and facing the rising sun, reached into his pocket to feel the coins inside.

He didn't destroy the coin; instead, he secretly kept it.

For some reason, he felt that the coin should be kept instead of being destroyed.

It carries too much weight and deserves to be properly placed and carefully preserved.

"Oh, this is really a headache, why do I have so many things to do!" Li Wei rubbed his head, feeling a headache coming on.

"I must have been out of my mind yesterday to take all this on myself."

"This is just a game, but playing it is more tiring than going to work. That's fucking ridiculous."

"Mr. Li Wei, we've finally found you."

A voice sounded from behind him, and Li Wei turned around to find that it was Officer Robin.

"Hello Robin, what can I do for you?"

He had a very good impression of this cheerful young man.

"Chief Gordon said you were doing an important job and asked me to accept your assignment."