DC: A Cop in Gotham

Chapter 71: Ride me, Barbara!

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Dean, representing the police department, officially handed over Mr. Freeze and his armor to Wayne Technology Laboratory. It was expected that both he and Nora would continue their cryo-sleep experiments, contributing to scientific research and continuing to shine—albeit in a much colder way. In a sense, it was poetic justice.

Mr. Freeze, obsessed with preserving life in ice, would now be an eternal subject of study in the very field he dedicated himself to.

With this, both Mr. Freeze and the Court of Owls had been removed from the board, and the number of talismans that have been found became five. Adding Harleen's Tiger Talisman, Batman's Pig Talisman, and Pandora's Snake and Chicken Talisman. There were now only five whose whereabouts remained unknown. The path forward was still long, but it was getting clearer.

The Penguin, without waiting for the official election results, had already begun settling into the city government as acting mayor. His presence was now firmly cemented in Gotham's political scene, and his transformation from a notorious criminal to a respectable public figure was nearly complete. This meant Dean no longer had to hide out at the police station or wear disguise glasses whenever he went out. He could move freely, no longer worried about the overwhelming public attention. But despite these victories, he couldn't shake an uneasy feeling.

Everything had happened too quickly, too smoothly. Mr. Freeze's downfall, the Court of Owls retreating, Penguin's rise—all of it played out as if someone had carefully orchestrated each move in the shadows. Dean turned the Horse Talisman over in his palm, lost in thought.

"This wasn't just luck. Someone set this up…" His fingers tightened around the charm before he sighed, shaking his head.

"I hope I'm just overthinking this."

---

Out at sea, under the dark sky, a small boat carried three passengers, one of whom clutched a black mask tightly in his arms. The sound of waves crashing against the hull was interrupted by the panicked, impatient voice of the man holding the mask.

"Drive faster!" he barked at the other two men.

"NO.1, this is the fastest speed we can manage," Marco, the boat's driver, explained, keeping his hands steady on the wheel.

"I understand."

A gunshot rang out across the water, sharp and final. NO.1 had executed the third man and shoved his lifeless body overboard. The splash was quickly swallowed by the waves.

"Less weight means we can go faster, right?"

Marco swallowed nervously. "…Yes."

NO.1 had been directly appointed by Black Mask as his assistant, but Black Mask's NO.1s changed frequently—most of them ended up dead at their boss's hands. He clutched the black skull mask tightly, as if it were his lifeline.

"Black Mask, I don't understand why we have to leave Gotham. With you here, we can make a comeback anytime."

(Don't question me, NO.1. I've funded armed groups in other cities before. Once things cool down, we'll return to Gotham.)

Since his boss had made the decision, NO.1 had no choice but to obey. But then, suddenly, Black Mask let out a horrific scream.

(What—?! You actually caught up to me?! No, you can't do this! I followed your instructions, I manipulated Mr. Freeze into obtaining the Horse Talisman, just like you said! Why—why are you still coming after me?!)

"Black Mask?" NO.1 gripped the mask tightly, alarmed.

Inside the mask's spiritual domain, two cowering souls huddled in a corner while Roman Sionis, the Black Mask himself, stood frozen, glaring at a strange yellow figure with pure hatred.

The entity's serpentine body slithered through the darkness, sending ripples through the void, its voice an eerie whisper.

"Because you lied to me, Roman. You promised to sacrifice more wicked souls in my name, so I granted your soul refuge within this mask… and yet, you planned to escape."

Roman sneered, trying to salvage his situation. "The Court of Owls and Mr. Freeze weren't enough for you? What about Poison Ivy? Or Harley Quinn? Catwoman?"

He listed off names he thought were easy prey—individuals he considered weaker than Gotham's true villains.

"No," the yellow figure responded, circling him hungrily. "None of the ones you named are evil enough."

Roman's confidence wavered. "Then… what about Falcone? He's the former king of Gotham's underworld. Surely, he meets your requirements."

The moment he spoke Falcone's name, the yellow figure lunged, swallowing Roman whole in an instant.

"Unfortunately for you, he isn't evil enough either," the entity said, its voice dripping with finality. "And besides… I despise traitors. Even if the one you betrayed wasn't me."

With Roman devoured, the entity turned its gaze away from the trembling Sionis couple in the corner and peered up toward the narrow limits of its dark spiritual domain.

"There is too much evil in this world. The less, the better."

Marco hesitated, glancing at the broken mask in NO.1's hands. "Are we leaving Gotham now?" The eerie silence that followed gave him no reassurance, but he dared not question further.

---

For once, Gordon had taken a leave of absence, instructing the deputy not to disturb him unless there was a dire police emergency. He had more pressing concerns today.

"Director, you don't have to be so nervous. It'll be over in a moment."

Dean wheeled Barbara into the living room, where he found the floor covered in emergency medical supplies. Garlic, crosses, even a pistol loaded with silver bullets—Gordon had gone all out. Dean raised an eyebrow. "God knows where you even found this stuff."

"I consulted someone," Gordon admitted. "They said magic comes at a price. If you heal two legs, you might lose two hands."

Dean sighed. "I repeat, Director, the treatment is so fast that you won't have time to use any of these. Even if a demon suddenly appears, I'll handle it."

To prevent any further debate, Dean simply took out the Horse Talisman and placed it in Barbara's hands.

Barbara turned the stone over in her palm. "So this little thing is supposed to cure me?"

"The noble horse will restore your body, but…" Dean smirked. "You'll have to do something a little unladylike first."

He picked up a clove of garlic from Gordon's supply and sliced it open. The strong scent filled the room, making all three of them sneeze.

"Achoo!" ×3

Droplets from their sneezes landed on the Horse Talisman, making its engraved pattern glow. Barbara's entire body radiated a bright light, forcing Gordon to take a cautious step back. When the glow faded, the talisman returned to its original, ordinary appearance.

"…That's it?" Gordon blinked. "Magic shouldn't have… I don't know, rituals or something?"

Barbara, unconvinced, pinched her thigh. The sharp pain made her gasp, but instead of distress, her face lit up with joy. "I can feel my lower body! Dean, this really works!"

She eagerly pushed herself up from the wheelchair, her legs trembling as they made contact with the ground. Just as she tried to stand, she lost her balance and began to fall forward. Gordon instinctively moved to help, but Dean stopped him.

"She has to do this herself," Dean said calmly. "Physical injuries can be healed, but mental barriers need to be broken by her alone."

Barbara took a deep breath, determination flaring in her eyes. "I—I understand!"

The Bat Family had never lacked courage. With a visible effort, she forced herself upright, her legs unsteady but supporting her weight nonetheless.

Gordon's eyes welled up as he watched his daughter stand on her own two feet. "Barbara… you did it!"

The moment was too much for him to bear. Overcome with emotion, Gordon rushed forward and pulled Barbara into a tight embrace, his usual stoic demeanor completely shattered.

"Dad!" Barbara held onto him, tears streaming down her face.

Father and daughter clung to each other, crying tears of relief and joy. For the first time in years, Gordon didn't have to bend down to hug her.

Dean, watching the heartfelt reunion, allowed himself a small smile. He thought about giving them space, but before he could move, both Barbara and Gordon grabbed his hands, pulling him into their embrace.

Barbara went a step further, pressing a grateful kiss to Dean's forehead. "Thank you, Dean. Mua!"

Her face flushed as she pulled away, though she quickly added, "Don't get the wrong idea. That was just a thank-you kiss."

Dean rubbed his forehead, amused. "Of course I wouldn't misunderstand. After all, the ventilation in your room is not great."

Barbara's face turned even redder. That was the exact excuse she had used when she and Dick reunited after being apart for so long, only to be interrupted by Dean.

But the thought of Dick make her depressed. She had her legs back now… but she was also Dick's ex-girlfriend.

Dean saw what Barbara was thinking, whistled, and hinted, "Barbara, you must have a lot of things you want to do at home after such a long time. Now that your legs are healed, I believe nothing can stop you."

Barbara's eyes lit up when she heard this. Dean was right. Even when her lower body was paralyzed, she could still assist Batman in fighting crime. Now that her body had recovered, there was no reason she couldn't catch up with a mere Gotham thug. She immediately shouted to Gordon, "Dad, I want to go on a trip!"

Gordon, unaware of the whispers between his daughter and Dean, thought Barbara simply wanted to go out and relax after being home for so long. Without hesitation, he agreed.

Dean quietly reminded her, "Before that, Barbara, you need some rehabilitation exercises. I think I can help."

Barbara understood what Dean meant, and the two stepped outside.

"It seems you already know my identity," she said.

Dean complained, "You used your original voice in the communication channel before. If I couldn't recognize it, I'd need to see an ear doctor."

This was indeed Barbara's negligence. Since nearly everyone in the Bat Network already knew her, she hadn't taken extra precautions.

"In that case, I don't have to hold back anymore. Come on." Barbara got into a fighting stance.

Dean casually pulled a wooden stick from his system warehouse and tossed it to her. "I'm empty-handed. This is yours."

"You actually look down on me!" she huffed.

Even during her time in a wheelchair, Barbara had never neglected her martial arts training. Now that the Horse Talisman had completely repaired her body, her strength hadn't declined too much.

However, Dean was no longer the young officer who had just arrived in Gotham. His Pokémon-enhanced physique and the combat experience he gained in Hoshikudaki had pushed his "strength" and "skills" far beyond those of ordinary people. Without using any other props and relying only on his swordsmanship, Dean was confident he could challenge Batman, let alone Barbara, who was still in recovery training.

Within ten seconds, Barbara was knocked down twice, but she wasn't discouraged. After standing up again, her attack speed and strength increased. She was recovering fast.

Seeing her determination, Dean couldn't help but think of a hatchet swinging down at a young man's head. He wondered if he should say a few kind words to that poor soul.

[Help Batgirl punish the scumbag and get 5 points]

[Accel (Acceleration)]

"Very good! OK!"

Red armor covered Dean's body, and he transformed into motorcycle form.

"Barbara, what's that look in your eyes? Do you think anger alone will help you reclaim what you lost? Stand up and ride me, we still have a scumbag to teach a lesson to!"

Meanwhile, in Blüdhaven, Dick suddenly sneezed.

"What's wrong?" Starfire asked with concern.

"Maybe one of the villains I locked up is cursing me. Don't worry about it," Dick said, gently taking her hand and pressing a soft kiss to her fingers.

"Let's just enjoy this moment of peace together, Little Star."

Some people spent their nights under the moonlight, while others spent theirs sweating through intense training. In the end, everyone got what they deserved—whether it was love, a hatchet, or something else entirely. For Dean, it was points, and that was enough.

---

Later that night, it was time for Gotham's bats to take flight again. Batman invited Dean to a safe house for a private conversation.

Batman handed Dean an instrument that resembled a Dragon Ball radar.

"When a talisman is used, it generates a unique frequency. This radar can detect and track it."

Dean accepted the device but didn't show any excitement. "Batman, I suspect someone is deliberately making sure the Talismans end up in my hands."

The Tiger Talisman had been an accident, but the Pig and Horse Talismans were practically handed to him. The Chicken and Snake Talismans came from Pandora, who had been subdued by Robin far too easily. It all seemed suspicious.

"The one I'm most wary of is Pandora. I don't know how she discovered the connection between the Trigon Demons and me, but she came straight to me with two Talismans and got caught without much effort. There's something off about this. Someone wants me to have these Talismans through Pandora."

After hearing this, Batman thought for a moment before revealing the information he had obtained from interrogating Pandora.

"Pandora's talismans weren't given to her by anyone else. She removed them from a stone statue herself. She also mentioned something important—the stone statue appeared after the magic box was opened."

"After opening it?" Dean was stunned.

The origin of Pandora's Box could be traced back to ancient times, to the era of the gods. But how could the Shendu be inside it? Could it be…

Dean thought about the true nature of the magic box.

Pandora had opened the box and released demons representing the Seven Deadly Sins. Including the Shendu, that made exactly eight demons.

Cold sweat formed on Dean's forehead. "Uh, is Pandora absolutely certain that the demons she released were the Seven Deadly Sins? Please, tell me she's sure."

Batman raised an eyebrow, puzzled by Dean's reaction. "Yes, she confirmed it. Why? What's wrong?"

Dean let out a deep breath. "No, nothing's wrong! That's great, actually. It's really great if it was just the Seven Deadly Sins!"

He had nearly mistaken Pandora's Box for Panku's Box. If that were the case, the situation would have been much worse—the demons trapped inside Panku's Box were far more dangerous than the Seven Deadly Sins.

"Speaking of the magic box, have you placed it in your extra-dimensional storage?"

Dean nodded, then retrieved the golden skull from his system warehouse. "This magic box can manipulate people's minds. It's best not to touch it directly, even with gloves."

The only reason Dean himself wasn't affected was because of Trigon's presence inside him. A mere magic box had no power over the Jinchūriki of Trigon.

"Pandora believes that only those with the purest or most evil hearts can open the box," Dean continued. "But that's incorrect. The magic box isn't truly magical—it's based on technology. It has a special identification system. Only someone from the same universe as the box can open it."

Batman listened carefully before suddenly speaking. "If that's the case, then the magic box cannot remain in your hands."

"Batman?"

"I know you're from other universe different from this one. It's not that hard to make that conclusion. You're from the universe the same as beings like Manaphy And Groudon"

"Wha-"

He doesn't care whether Batman knows that he's not from this universe. Besides he only thought he came from other universe that is within this multiverse of DC. It's better that way than him knowing that he's a Reincarnator.

Dean frowned at Batman's sudden shift in attitude. His first thought was that Batman had been affected by the box—but how? He hadn't even touched it.

Without warning, Batman reached out to grab the magic box. Dean reacted instantly, pulling it back into his system warehouse before Batman could make contact.

Batman's expression darkened, his voice turning authoritative. "Give me the box, Dean."

"No."

The two locked eyes, tension filling the air. One hand hovered over the system warehouse, the other over the utility belt.

"Even if you're Batman, you need to give me a reason why."

"You don't need to know."

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