Today, Gotham was still overcast.
The engine noise abruptly ceased, and the car came to a steady stop.
Gwen reached out and pushed open the car door; a cold wind, carrying the scent of damp earth, blew into her face.
She jumped out of the car, her black leather shoes stepping onto the mottled flagstones.
Looking up, before her was a private cemetery.
Most of the tombstones inside were old; although regularly cleaned, time had weathered them so much that the inscriptions were almost illegible.
Amidst them, only one brand-new tombstone had a crowd gathered around it.
The pastor stood to the side, holding a worn Bible, his gaze slowly sweeping over those present, his expression solemn and sorrowful.
"Lord, we entrust the soul of Douglas Keller to you," the pastor's deep and solemn voice echoed through the cemetery. "Mr. Douglas, he was a pure and kind man who, throughout his long life, always upheld the justice and goodness within him. He treated everyone around him with sincerity, whether family, friends, or strangers, always offering his unreserved help."
"His life was one of dedication. In his work, he was diligent and devoted, pouring countless efforts into the development of the Wayne Group and the prosperity of this city. He was like a beacon, illuminating the path forward for those around him, guiding everyone with his wisdom and courage. His love for his family was deep and passionate; he was a solid support for his loved ones, shielding them from wind and rain with his warm embrace." The pastor's voice choked slightly. "But such a gentleman, he just died! Decapitated by a robber!"
"He is a man worthy of our eternal remembrance; his spirit, like the immortal tombstones in this cemetery, will forever stand in our hearts. His departure is a great loss to us, but his kindness and goodness will forever shine brightly in our memories!"
The guests standing around had varied expressions; some bowed their heads in silent mourning, tears welling in their eyes, while others appeared sorrowful but were actually indifferent.
Of course, what others were thinking didn't matter; Gwen, for her part, recalled all the sad events from her two lifetimes.
However, when she remembered that her parents weren't dead and seemed to be quite happy living on a farm, she almost broke character.
The pastor slightly raised his hand, signaling for silence, and after clearing his throat, his voice rang out again: "Next, let us invite the future heir of the Wayne Group, the descendant of Mr. Douglas—Miss Gwendolyn Wayne—to come forward and share her precious memories with Mr. Douglas."
The scene fell silent, and everyone's eyes searched through the crowd.
Gwen took a deep breath, forcing herself into the right emotional state, and slowly stepped out of the crowd, walking towards the grave.
After stopping, she looked around, her gaze sweeping over the faces, some sad, some curious, and slowly began to speak in a mournful tone: "Mr. Douglas was a respected elder."
"On my path to growth, he gave me countless care and guidance. His wisdom, like the stars in the night, guided me forward; his kindness made me understand what responsibility and commitment mean. Although he has left us, his spirit will forever inspire us!"
After finishing her speech, Gwen nodded slightly, turned, and stepped down from the platform, immediately followed by a round of applause.
It wasn't that Gwen's speech was particularly brilliant; it was simply out of respect for the Wayne surname.
And after this speech, which the Keller family had temporarily added, the funeral continued, and everyone began to lay flowers.
The guests came forward one by one, offering flowers and bowing in respect, intensifying the mournful atmosphere.
Among those present to lay flowers, whether their sorrow was real or feigned, everyone except Gwen was unaware that the body in the coffin was not Douglas Keller's at all.
And the real Douglas Keller was currently enjoying "top-tier service"... Douglas's consciousness gradually cleared from the haze. His eyelids were as heavy as if filled with lead, and it took him a great effort to slowly open them.
What met his eyes was an unfamiliar scene; the air was filled with an indescribable metallic scent, making him instinctively frown.
He tried to move his body but was startled to find his limbs completely unresponsive. Looking down, his hands and feet were tightly bound to a cold restraint bed with thick straps.
Where was this?
Douglas urgently scanned his surroundings. The room was dimly lit, with only a faint light filtering through the frosted glass in the direction of the door.
The dark gray walls around him, illuminated by that faint light, emitted an unsettling metallic sheen.
He felt as if he was in a sealed cage, everything around him, even the light coming through the door, remained unchanged.
Douglas tried to struggle, but the restraints on his limbs and waist were tied very securely, not even making a sound when he struggled.
Once he determined he couldn't escape, he simply stopped struggling.
Since he had been kidnapped, the people who kidnapped him must want something from him.
Someone should come to communicate with him soon, he thought.
That's what he thought, but Douglas waited and waited, and no one came.
The light from outside the door and everything inside the room remained unchanged; he felt as if time had forgotten him.
After a long time, Douglas didn't know how long, still no one came to him.
He finally couldn't take it anymore.
"Is anyone there…?"
At first, it was just a soft call, but no one came for a long time.
"Is anyone there?" His voice grew slightly louder, but he heard nothing but his own echo.
"Is anyone there! Is there anyone at all!" This time, he finally couldn't control himself and shouted at the top of his lungs.
One could tell that his mental state was on the verge of collapse at this point.
"Someone! Someone!"
"What do you want? What do you want! Speak!"
After a burst of impotent rage, he fell silent.
Just as he was at his most disheartened, a Shadow suddenly flickered at the nearby doorway.
Immediately after, the door opened, and two people walked in.
When Douglas clearly saw the two people who entered, he couldn't help but be stunned.
The two were clad in form-fitting armor, whose lines were smooth, reflecting a metallic luster under the light from the doorway.
And although it was a full suit of armor, the joints were designed for easy movement.
It was just that Douglas hadn't seen "Super Beast Armored Warriors"; anyone who had would find it familiar.
Because the White armor was quite similar to Fengyao's.
Of course, the most striking part of their attire was the emblem embedded in their chests.
It was a pale purple hourglass-shaped emblem, with purple light slowly flowing within the hourglass.