Volume 1: Welcoming Gotham Chapter 23 I treat you as a friend, but you want to be my dad?
Mason was severely scolded by Dr. Leslie ten minutes later because the ward was filled with choking smoke and several cigarette butts, which made the doctor think that it was Mason who did it.
The young man suffered a great loss, but he had no way to explain it.
He couldn't say that a bastard wizard smoked here and opened a portal to leave. If that happened, Dr. Leslie would probably doubt whether Mason's mental state was normal.
This fully proves that being associated with Constantine is never a good thing.
That guy is a walking disaster, bringing misfortune to everyone around him.
But the good news is that Mason recovered very well, so he was allowed to leave the hospital at noon the next day. He said goodbye to Dr. Leslie politely, but the doctor coldly suggested that he smoke less.
How come this matter cannot be explained clearly?
"Shall we go straight to the safe house?"
Commissioner Gordon was on leave today and came to pick him up. Mason fastened his seat belt in Gordon's car and joked to him:
"Don't blame me for being too busy, but I really have to pick a good place this time."
“Yes, the last incident taught me a lesson. I can no longer use my connections in the police station, so I used my personal connections to find a more secluded place for you.
Believe me, I will satisfy you, kid."
The director raised his eyebrows and smiled, like a real old man, he turned on the music radio and started the car. After about twenty minutes, they stopped on the side of the road in a nice neighborhood.
Mason opened the car door and took a look. In front of him was a standard American-style house with a strong sense of life.
With a large garden and backyard, a young girl in a wheelchair was planting flowers and trees on the lawn. After seeing Gordon get out of the car, the red-haired girl, who was wearing black-framed glasses like the director, called out sweetly:
"Dad, why are you back so soon? Is this the Mason you've been talking about?"
"dad?"
Mason looked back at Gordon in surprise.
The latter showed an expression of "this is a surprise", patted the young man on the shoulder and said:
"Until the matter of the Assassin's League and the Penguin Gang's pursuit of you is over, you can live in my house. I will protect you personally."
"no!"
The young man refused without even thinking about it.
He glanced at the young girl who was wheeling towards him and whispered to the director:
"Last time they blew up a building to catch me, and a dark wizard is still targeting me. Chief, this is not a joke. You still have family here!"
"Call me Gordon."
The director himself doesn't care about these things.
He didn't explain immediately, but patted Mason on the shoulder and said:
"That's Barbara's advice. Also, don't underestimate my daughter."
He walked over to his daughter with a big smile on his face and hugged her. He then pushed her wheelchair towards the door. After a few steps, he looked back at Mason who was standing by the car with a troubled look on his face. He waved to him and said:
"Come here, Barbara prepared lunch in advance. Do you want to stay there rudely and wait for us to invite you over?"
"I still think this matter needs further discussion."
Mason followed with a conflicted look on his face.
He was feeling mixed emotions at the moment. On the one hand, he was very grateful to Director Gordon for this arrangement.
Regardless of whether the director felt guilty because of the previous safe house incident, it was already very kind of him to bring a dangerous guy like me to his home.
On the other hand, young people are aware of more and more secrets about themselves.
Faced with the newly emerged Star Society and the soul curse that Zha Kang was commissioned to help investigate, the pursuit of the Penguin Gang and even the Assassin's League was nothing.
These secrets that ordinary people cannot imagine are too dangerous and one could easily drag innocent people into them if one is not careful.
As for whether Barbara Gordon was really powerful, Mason never doubted it. The young man couldn't say that he knew the story of the red-haired girl in front of him clearly, but he could only say that it was still fresh in his memory.
After all, she is a figure who has always been in the top ten of the "Sexiest Female Heroes List".
Although this harmless red-haired girl is in a wheelchair now, she was the Batgirl trained by Batman himself before she became paralyzed.
Just like the unfortunate "Robin", this is a "heroic profession" rather than just a title. It is conservatively estimated that Barbara Gordon in a wheelchair can easily knock down two or three adults with her bare hands.
But what's happening with Mason is too big a threat that a paralyzed former superhero can handle alone.
So while Mason was sitting at the table with the father and daughter, chatting and laughing, he was mentally planning to persuade Gordon to find him another seat.
This father and daughter are rare good people in Gotham City, and they should not be in danger again because of their own reasons.
Before he could finish his words, Gordon wiped his mouth after finishing a steak and told Mason, who was introducing oriental cuisine to the curious Barbara, something that almost broke his defense.
"What? Say that again?"
Mason maintained the posture of holding the knife and fork, looking completely dumbfounded.
He sat in his chair, staring at Gordon, and said:
"I may have heard you wrongly. What did you just say? Who is my new guardian?"
"me."
Director Gordon smiled and said:
"You're only 17, Mason. You have no immediate family and your situation is very complicated. The night Batman sent you to Dr. Leslie's clinic, he called me and asked me to take care of you until you turned 20.
I agreed, and the guardianship procedures are now being processed.
Barbara was very supportive of me doing this.”
"Yes."
The red-haired girl sitting next to Mason showed a gentle smile. Her black eyes and pretty face made her look full of the peaceful feeling of an intellectual big sister.
She put down her knife and fork, wiped her mouth, and said to the dazed Mason:
"I learned your story from your father. It's hard to imagine that you grew up in such a bad environment and still had a heart that didn't want to get involved with gangs.
You are really strong and brave, Mason, not to mention you saved my dad and a lot of police officers when thugs attacked the police station.
Batman also thinks you deserve help, and my dad and I will do our best to help you.
It just so happens that little James is in boarding school and doesn't come back usually, so you can stay in his room first. I have already cleaned it for you last night."
"No, that's not it. Let me think about it first. It's a bit confusing."
Mason rubbed his forehead and thought about the whole process. Then, he looked at Gordon and said in a strange tone:
"I thought I had just accepted you as a trusted elder and friend, Gordon, but it hasn't even been a day and you're telling me you might be my 'father'.
It caught me off guard a bit.”
"You can get used to it, Mason. But this is the best way right now, not only to keep you safe, but also to give you a chance to adjust to normal life.
The abilities you demonstrate are dangerous to ordinary people.
If I give you a gun, you can commit a massacre by yourself. As a police officer, I cannot just dump you in a foster home.
That is irresponsible behavior.”
Gordon put on his glasses and said to Mason:
“Also, although my house looks ordinary, it is connected to Batman’s security system.
If you're ever in danger, this is one of the safest places in Gotham, I mean, you have to... Wait a minute, I have an important call."
The chief's words were interrupted by the vibration of his cell phone. He took a look at the number and found that it was a call from the police station, so he got up and went outside the restaurant to answer the call.
Barbara Gordon looked at Mason, who lowered his head.
She turned her wheelchair and came to the young man, patted his shoulder and said to him:
"Mason, I heard you admire Batman?"
"I admire him very much. When I was a kid and got beaten up badly, I would often fantasize about Batman suddenly appearing and saving me from the misery."
Mason rubbed his forehead and said to the gentle girl nonsense:
"Barbara, you are a good person, just like Gordon. I really appreciate everything you and Gordon have done for me, but I am sorry that I cannot bring you any danger. "
His words made Barbara laugh.
The beautiful and gentle girl shook her head while sitting in a wheelchair. She pushed her black-framed glasses, patted her belly, and joked to Mason:
"I've been through danger before. I was shot by the Joker. The vicious bullet shattered my spine and left me in a wheelchair for the rest of my life.
Can you bring more danger to me and my father than the most deranged lunatic in the city showing up at gunpoint in the middle of the night?"
She winked and made a shooting motion.
The smile on her face surprised Mason.
He was sure that the girl was not forcing a smile. Barbara Gordon really didn't care much about the "killing joke" that almost killed her.
"I guess that's probably why Batman asked dad to be your guardian."
The former Batgirl looked at Mason and said:
"At that time, I was too young to protect myself, and ended up becoming a victim of the villains targeting Batman. I was also shrouded in a dark and cold time , but I eventually came out of it with the encouragement of my father and friends.
Just like you are now."
Barbara reached out tenderly and took Mason's hands. She said:
"Mason, Batman may hope that I can help you say goodbye to the past at this moment.
And you can't leave!
I have helped you clean up the room. You can't imagine how difficult it is for a person in a wheelchair to clean up the room. I don't want my efforts to go to waste.
At least stay a few more days, okay?
My father was busy working overtime until midnight, and I was lonely at home alone. "
Seeing Barbara's smile and invitation, Mason felt touched. He pursed his lips and said jokingly:
"My beautiful girl, is it really okay for you to invite a strange man to live in your home so directly? Aren't you afraid that I am a bad person or something?
After all, I am a villain from the Penguin Gang."
"No."
Barbara grinned and brushed her long red hair.
She waved her fist and said:
"My boyfriend is very powerful. If you dare to bully me, you will be in trouble."
"Kids, I have to go to Blackgate Prison now."
Gordon walked into the restaurant with his cell phone, put on his clothes, kissed his daughter on the cheek, and said hurriedly to Mason and Barbara:
"The Penguin bastard started acting crazy and attacking prison staff, and his lawyer said he was suffering from severe mental illness and tried to take him out of the prison for medical treatment.
I asked Arkham Asylum to send a psychiatric examiner to go with me.
That bastard can't possibly get away with the punishment he deserves.
I may be back very late tonight, you don't have to wait for me to go to bed early, Mason! Don't run around, remember? Penguin's men are still looking for you in the city. "
"I know."
Mason stood up and walked Gordon to the door.
He glanced at the restaurant and whispered to the director:
"Leave me a gun, Gordon. You don't want to see Barbara in danger because of me, do you? I've already told you that leaving me here is a terrible idea."
"Come on, you can't beat my daughter even if you have a gun. Don't look down on her just because she is in a wheelchair."
The director shook his head and said to Mason:
"The second drawer under the desk in the study has what you need. I've seen your skills. Please help me protect Barbara."
After saying that, the director strode away.
Mason returned to the restaurant to help Barbara clean up the dishes. When the girl went back to her room to study, he went to Gordon's study and took out a fully ammunition pistol and a very professional silencer from under the desk.
He put the gun on his waist and went back to his room.
"Mason! Are you busy?"
A few minutes later, Barbara's voice sounded from outside the door. Mason, who had just laid down, got up and opened the door. He saw the beautiful and gentle girl holding a sun hat and looking at him, saying:
"The garden isn't finished yet. It's rare to have a strong tenant. Why don't you help me finish it?"
The young man shrugged, walked forward, pushed Barbara and walked out the door.
The two chatted for several hours while cleaning the lawn. In the evening, when they were discussing the serious issue of what to eat for dinner, Barbara, who was sitting in a wheelchair, suddenly pointed at Mason's collar and exclaimed:
"Wow, your lapel pin is glowing, what a cool little thing."
"Um?"
Mason glanced at the Eye of Hell pinned on his collar. A faint light was flickering on it in the evening.
But the thing that Zha Kang gave him would not glow normally. It was warning of the coming of danger! This made the young man's expression serious. He reached out and pulled out the gun from his waist and loaded it.
He said to Barbara behind him:
"Go back to the house! Barbara, find a place to hide and call for backup. Trouble is coming."
The red-haired girl in the wheelchair did not scream in fear when encountering danger like ordinary girls. Instead, she pushed the wheelchair back to the house calmly.
Mason stood guard at the door with a gun in hand, installed the silencer and hid beside the lawn.
He saw several armed guys getting out of a car at the corner across the street and walking towards Gordon's house aggressively.
Mason narrowed his eyes at the ruthless pace and arrogant attitude. The black-clad killer from the Assassin's League that he had encountered once would not be so blatant.
So, the person who came this time was the real Penguin Gang gunman?
Mason was not surprised.
But he felt that Gordon had to review the police station's communications confidentiality. Mason had just been discharged from the hospital at noon, and a gunman came to the door in the evening. The Gotham Police Department had really been completely infiltrated like a sieve.
When Mason saw one of the guys raised his weapon and began to aim, he pulled the trigger decisively.
His level 3 shooting skill allowed him to easily blow the guy's head off at this distance even without using combat assistance, and the feel he developed from killing nearly a thousand zombies in the wizarding world did not disappoint him.
The gunshot caused the man to fall.
Before the guys on the opposite side could react, the second shot followed. In just two seconds, three of the six gangster bosses were knocked down by Mason, and they hadn't even fired a single shot .
The remaining three people were frightened and turned and ran.
Mason was about to fire again, but when he stood up, a car suddenly rushed out from the evening darkness at an alarming speed, and hit the three fleeing gunmen with a precise bang, sending them flying on the spot.
The one that flew the farthest was thrown five meters before landing .
This scene made the young man raise his eyebrows, and then the car window rolled down, and a guy wearing sunglasses waved at him, motioning him to come over.
"Charles?"
Mason walked quickly to the side of the car and looked at the disguised kite man sitting in the driver's seat. He said:
"Didn't I ask you to meet me at the dock?"
"I'm worried about you, Boss."
The kite man grabbed the steering wheel and said with a grin:
"I've been looking for you since you were taken away by Batman, and I ended up running into these Penguin Gang members in a bar where gangs often gather. They were high and were talking about seeking revenge on the traitor.
I knew they were coming for you.
But Boss, these guys are just baits. There are some tough-looking men in black in the back streets, and they are coming soon."
Charles threw his backpack to Mason and said:
"Here's your equipment, do you need my help?"
Mason tied the small leather bag around his waist, waved his hand, took out the invisibility cloak from it and put it on. He glanced at the house behind him and said to the kite flyer:
"You need to leave quickly. Batman is monitoring this place. He might come soon. Hide the box. We will meet at the dock tomorrow afternoon."
"Okay, there are still some of their people in the bar. I'll go back and see if I can catch one alive and find out who is behind this. We can't always live in fear like this, right?"
The kite flyer winked and waved goodbye.
Mason, wearing an invisibility cloak, watched him leave, then looked at the three poor guys who were knocked away, and thought to himself that it felt really good to have a reliable little brother to help.
And what the kite man said is very good.
He had risked his life to escape from the other world not to live in fear!
The next moment, he put on the invisibility cloak, grabbed his own easily used explosive shotgun from the bag on his waist, inserted the powerful double-barreled hand cannon into his waist, and carried the sheathed Sujie Eagle on his back.
Mason stretched his neck and slipped silently towards Gordon's House in the dark.
We have to make this a bigger deal so that Gordon can see the danger.
This way, I don't have to call him "Dad", right?
