He was nearly one meter ninety tall.
His shoulders were broad like a wall, and his arms were so thick with muscle that they looked heavier than most people's thighs. The tight black battle suit outlined every powerful line of his body. Even without moving, he radiated danger.
Just standing there—
He looked like judgment itself.
"Bat… Bat… Bat-Batman!"
Director Ofe's face turned pale the instant he recognized the figure.
His voice trembled.
His tongue seemed tied into a knot.
"I—I haven't done anything illegal! I'm a law-abiding citizen!"
The blinding spotlight behind the dark figure suddenly shut off.
For a split second, Ofe's vision blurred.
Then—
A hoarse voice sounded directly behind him.
"Tell me."
It was low.
Cold.
Close enough that Ofe felt the faint illusion of breath at the back of his neck.
"Where did you get this?"
Ofe shuddered violently and spun around.
Batman stood inches away from him.
Without warning, Batman produced a photograph and held it up in front of Ofe's face.
It was a clear image of the ice block inside the Orpheus Jewelry Exhibition Hall.
The hope blue diamond.
But Batman was not pointing at the diamond.
Nor at the ice.
He was pointing at the transparent box surrounding it.
The same box Ofe had publicly displayed after the alleged "curse accident."
The moment Ofe saw the photo—
His pupils shrank sharply.
"W-why are you asking about that?"
"Don't answer a question with a question."
Batman's voice grew colder.
Sharper.
"I bought it from a grocery store," Ofe blurted out. His eyes flickered nervously.
Batman's expression did not change.
"Are you certain?"
His tone carried no emotion.
"I've checked every grocery store near your house. And every store near the exhibition hall."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"No one sells that model."
Suddenly—
Batman grabbed Ofe by the collar and yanked him forward.
The force nearly lifted him off his feet.
"If you lie to me again," Batman said quietly, "I'll break your arms and legs and throw you into the sewer."
His grip tightened.
"You can keep Killer Croc company."
Ofe's body trembled uncontrollably.
The threat was not loud.
But it felt real.
He had heard the stories.
He believed every word.
"No! Please don't! I'll talk! I'll talk!"
His resistance shattered instantly.
"That box… was given to me by the Penguin Gang!"
Batman's eyes flickered briefly.
"Explain."
"They said if I didn't use it… if I didn't follow their instructions… they'd destroy the Orpheus Jewelry Exhibition Hall."
Penguin.
Oswald Cobblepot.
Batman's mind began to analyze rapidly.
Why would Penguin interfere with the diamond exhibition?
What was the purpose?
He released Ofe's collar.
"Next question."
Batman's voice returned to its calm, terrifying tone.
"The diamond."
He leaned closer.
"The hope diamond has been displayed at the Smithsonian for decades. No confirmed deaths. No verified curses."
His eyes locked onto Ofe's.
"But it arrives in Gotham—and suddenly someone dies after touching it?"
He paused.
"Coincidence?"
Ofe swallowed hard.
"I… I can't say. If I speak, I'll be killed…"
His voice broke.
Batman stared at him silently.
Then—
Without warning—
Ofe felt something wrap tightly around his ankle.
Before he could react—
His world flipped upside down.
He did not hit the ground.
Instead—
He was lifted into the air.
A rope had been secured around his foot.
Batman had already fired it.
Ofe rose higher.
And higher.
The ground moved farther away.
The city lights shrank beneath him.
Within seconds, he was hanging dozens of meters above the ground.
Upside down.
Blood rushing to his head.
The rope was secured to the rooftop railing.
Batman stood above, looking down calmly.
"Answer my question."
He crouched near the edge.
Then he grabbed the rope—
And gave it a violent shake.
Ofe screamed.
The swinging intensified his fear.
"If you don't speak," Batman said calmly, "I'll cut the rope."
"No! You don't kill people!"
Ofe shouted desperately.
Batman's expression did not change.
"I don't want to kill you."
He tilted his head slightly.
"But if my hand slips…"
He loosened his grip slightly.
"…and you fall…"
The rope trembled.
"…that's just bad luck."
Ofe's breathing became frantic.
Sweat poured down his face.
"I—"
His will cracked.
Batman suddenly untied the rope from the railing.
And let go.
For two terrifying seconds—
Ofe fell.
The rope burned through the edge as gravity dragged him downward.
The wind roared in his ears.
His scream tore through the night.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH—!"
Then—
Batman grabbed the rope again.
Secured it.
Stopped the fall.
Ofe dangled there, shaking violently, tears mixing with sweat.
Before Batman could even ask—
He confessed.
"All of it! I'll tell you everything!"
His voice spilled out uncontrollably.
"Before the exhibition opened, over a dozen men from Penguin's gang came to me!"
"They gave me a sealed box."
"Inside was a stone—one that looked similar to the hope diamond!"
"They forced me to replace the real diamond with that stone!"
"They warned me never to open the box!"
Batman's eyes sharpened.
"Go on."
"I don't know what it is!" Ofe cried. "It's not a diamond. Not any gem I recognize."
His voice shook.
"But it's cursed. It's real. That employee died because he opened the box and touched it!"
"I know it sounds insane, but it must stay sealed! The box contains its power!"
His confession poured out without pause.
"That's everything! I swear! They didn't tell me anything else!"
Batman observed him carefully.
"No additional instructions?"
"None! They only said to replace the diamond!"
A brief silence followed.
The wind howled across Gotham's rooftops.
Far below, traffic lights flickered.
"Where," Batman asked quietly, "is the real hope diamond?"
Ofe hesitated for only half a second.
"I put it in—"
His voice cut off.
Because in that suspended moment—
Even he realized—
That telling Batman might be the only thing keeping him alive.
And not telling him—
Might mean another free fall.
From even higher.
-------------------------------------
🕷️ End of Chapter
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