Knights of DC

Chapter 157 Batman, Rise of the Dark Knight

Foreword: This is the story of Batman, one of DC's greatest heroes. It happened before the Justice League was established and before Superman made his official debut.Because of the bias towards New 52, ​​each hero and villain has an origin, which is more realistic, and the old man was about 33 years old when he formed the Justice League.But the master here is a story shortly after he became Batman. The master here is younger and not as sophisticated as in the later period. For him, the identity of Batman is still a burden or a cover for another identity. Write a special episode once, and the book friends who have read it will give some opinions.

Prologue: Rainy Night

Night, Gotham, Wayne Manor.The old housekeeper, Alfred, was sitting in front of the French windows. Outside, there was a strong wind, thunder and lightning, and the wind and rain.The bean-sized raindrops hit the window with crackling noises, bringing a different sense of rhythm to this restless night.In front of the radio, the Gotham news was playing.

[Today is the 30th day that Batman disappeared in Gotham City. Since Batman brought the Joker and the former prosecutor Harvey Dent, now the double-faced man, to justice in the factory explosion, we will continue to Haven't heard anything about the Dark Knight either.And with the disappearance of this dark knight, the crime rate in Gotham City, which once dropped to a bottom line, has gradually increased. Can we understand this, this vigilante who has always been the most wanted list of the Gotham Police Department The police officer is an important factor in maintaining order in Gotham. Does his disappearance now mean that the city of Gotham is irreparable? Can the incompetent police and government officials give us a reasonable explanation? 】

Alfred turned off the radio, glanced at the room in the attic, took a photo album from the bookshelf beside him, and sat in front of the window to flip through it. The photo album was not thick, but Alfred flipped through it very slowly, because The above is one of the few in his memory, the happiest time belonging to the former young master and current master Bruce Wayne.

In the photo album, there are photos of Bruce as a child with his deceased parents Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne, the appearance of him crying when he was just born, the joy of going out with his parents to catch butterflies, and There are a few photos of Bruce playing with a little girl, and they are also one of the few photos.Looking at these photos that only existed in the past, Alfred was in a daze, and he couldn't tell which era he was in.

"It's another rainy day, Master Thomas." Looking at the pouring rain outside the window, the elderly housekeeper sighed and looked at the portraits hanging on the wall.

It was five-year-old Bruce, wearing a dress and the only portrait of his parents, because it was the first time he was drawn like this with his parents, and the young Bruce seemed a little nervous and anxious, after all, it is not easy to maintain a posture for a long time. Moving is still a difficult thing for a child, so Bruce didn't perform very well, but this is the only portrait of him and his parents.At that time, neither Alfred nor Bruce thought that the accident would happen so quickly and suddenly, leaving the family of three that many people would envy only a five-year-old child and an old butler to support. with.

Back in 1974, Alfred had just retired from the British Special Forces. As an elite of the Special Forces, Alfred had completed many tasks.Infiltrated and assassinated in the enemy's hinterland, and also solved some supernatural incidents. It can be said that as an excellent soldier, with this resume, he can make his way to the sky, and he will be a new star in both military and political circles.

But he didn't, he gave up all the honors and powers at his fingertips, retreated bravely, and came to another country to start a new life.He was tired of the days of holding a gun to deprive others of their lives, even if this person was heinous.When he first came to Gotham, many local gangs, businesses, and nightclubs were interested in his skills. They wanted Alfred to be their bodyguard, but Alfred refused. In the end, he chose Apply for the position of steward of the Wayne family, the most influential family in Gotham City.

No one would have thought that this executioner, who once had bloody hands on the battlefield, with a thick British accent and looked like a gentleman, would choose a job as a servant, but the person in charge of the interview happened to be the only owner of the Wayne family, Thomas .Wayne.After seeing Alfred, he only asked one question: "Why did you choose to come to me." With the ability of the Wayne family, it is easy to find out the information of each applicant, and Alfred also I have no intention of falsifying my resume.

Because in his opinion, that bloody job is also a part of his life, and he has no reason to veto it.

"I just want to know if someone like me has a second chance to start." Seeing Thomas looking directly at him, Alfred replied neither humble nor overbearing.

"Then, congratulations, Alfred, you've been hired." With a smile on his face, Thomas stretched out his hand to welcome Alfred.That year, he was 27 years old, and Thomas Wayne was also 27 years old.

In the days that followed, Alfred began to be the steward of the Wayne family and began to be in charge of everything in the Wayne Manor. As a former member of the special forces, he was still one of the best. Alfred played many roles, but the steward, Obviously not one of them.At the beginning, Alfred was very awkward in management. He was used to using everything at hand as a weapon, and it was difficult for him to put these things at hand where they should be used as tools.

As his master, Thomas Wayne did not blame him, but taught him how to manage. This young master, who should have enjoyed the greatest power in Gotham City, taught him a lot like his best friend, which made him Alfred was puzzled.Because his master put the enterprise aside most of the time, he ran to the slums to open a private clinic, providing free treatment for those who could not pay the high fees, and even allocated a large amount of money from the enterprise. The money was used for road planning and construction in Gotham City.

"Why did you do this, Master Thomas, you should be the group of talents at the top." In his spare time, Alfred once asked Thomas this question.

The young Thomas, who was in possession of an incomparable wealth at a young age, just showed a simple and honest smile to Alfred, looking at the new road that was being built by the construction team contracted by Wayne Enterprises outside, and said with emotion: "I'm a doctor, Alfred. As a doctor, all I can do is cure diseases and make bad things better. Now. I'm just doing what a doctor should do."

Alfred's memory of Thomas' words was particularly deep, and he was full of respect for his master who was both a teacher and a friend.And this kind of time has passed for a full ten years, and Alfred has also stayed in Wayne Manor for a full ten years. Ten years have transformed him, the former commando king, into a competent old housekeeper. Arranging everything in Wayne Manor in an orderly manner, and in the past ten years, he saw Thomas find his true love, Martha, a kind girl, and he was also the best man at Thomas' wedding.

In the end, he watched the heir of the Wayne family, Bruce Wayne, fall to the ground. The loud cry made him feel that his life had become brighter. He was also invited by Thomas to be Bruce Wayne's godfather.As a man who is not yet married, being the godfather of a child is a light in life for Alfred.

In the later days, Alfred tried his best to take care of little Bruce. When Thomas and Martha gave free consultations to the poor in Gotham, Alfred had to learn how to change little Bruce's diaper and master the bottle. The temperature during breastfeeding, Alfred can say with confidence that the five years of taking care of little Bruce's growth are definitely the happiest five years of his life, if there is no such thing.

It was a rainy night, just like the heavy rain now. After a busy day, Alfred took the written resignation letter and prepared to go to bed. The 15 years in Wayne Manor gave him a lot, and Thomas also knew that he It shouldn't keep Alfred tied around like this, he needs a new life, so he asked Alfred to resign, and Alfred is ready to do the same.

"Ding bell!" Just as Alfred was about to turn off the lights and go to sleep, the phone in front of the desk rang quickly, an unknown number, but Alfred had a bad feeling at this time that the call would not be too serious. Good news for him, but he still took it.

"Yes, this is Alfred." After connecting the phone, Alfred felt that he was ready, but the news from the other end caught him by surprise.

"Mr. Alfred, we are the Gotham Police Department. At ten o'clock tonight, Thomas Wayne and his wife were shot dead. Only one child survived. We need you to come over."

The phone slipped from his hand, and the simple-looking phone hit Alfred's instep, but he didn't notice it at all. Only the words echoed in his mind, Thomas and his wife were shot.He never thought that this kind-hearted couple would end up like this. They had been doing good deeds all the time, but they were shot to death in the alley like this, just for a pearl necklace!Alfred's brain stopped thinking, and he fell powerlessly to the ground, knocking down a row of books.

"Yes, I have to go to the police station! I have to go to the police station quickly!" The blow made Alfred react, he hurriedly took off the windbreaker from the hanger, took the umbrella, and Alfred hurried out of Wayne Manor, drive to the police station.

Along the way, Alfred arrived at the scene of the crime in just 15 minutes.The couple who had treated him like family just lay there, white cloths covering them, broken pearl necklaces strewn all over the floor.And his godson, Bruce Wayne, was on the ground, picking up one by one regardless of the muddy rain. The rain hit his face, and his expression was so numb.

And a police detective held an umbrella over his head and didn't stop him, because he knew that this was the little boy's last insistence.Alfred didn't dare to look at the faces of Thomas and his wife. He stepped forward, took the police detective's umbrella, and put a trench coat on little Bruce.

"Master Bruce, I'm here." Alfred tried to keep his tone as light and gentle as possible, and said next to little Bruce.

"Alfred?" Little Bruce Wayne turned around stiffly, looked at his godfather, hugged him without saying a word.What he needs at this time is not some comfort, but a strong shoulder for him to lean on.

Alfred knew, so he didn't say a word, no matter how sad he was in his heart at this time, he must also remain strong in front of little Bruce.The police detective on the side didn't say anything, and after passing the umbrella to Alfred, he began to ask, "Mr. Alfred Pennyworth?"

"Yes, it's me."

"My name is Jim Gordon. I'm sorry this happened, but we will find out."

"I hope so." After living in Gotham for so long, Alfred had already gotten to know the city well, and after saying something politely, he left with little Bruce.

Driving back to Wayne Manor, along the way, little Bruce wrapped his windbreaker and looked out the window without saying a word.Back at the manor, the servants had already fallen asleep. The Wayne Manor, which was supposed to be full of life, was now like an empty city, quiet, strange and scary.

Taking little Bruce back to his room, the extremely nervous little Bruce was lying on the bed with the pearl necklace he picked up and stringed in his hand, without saying a word.With a sigh, Alfred was about to turn off the lights and close the door, so that little Bruce could have a good sleep.

"Alfred?"

"Yes, Master Bruce."

"Can you leave the lights on? I'm afraid."

"Of course, Master Bruce." Alfred didn't turn off the lights, and didn't leave. Instead, he found a chair and sat down beside little Bruce, watching him fall asleep, and then he was still having nightmares even after falling asleep. He covered himself with the quilt.

Alfred knew that from the moment he sat down next to Bruce Jr., there would be no chance of handing out that resignation letter, and in fact, he didn't need to hand it out either.After that, Alfred became the lifelong steward of the Wayne family. He stayed in the Wayne family for ten years, 20 years until the end of his life. He also watched the little Bruce in his memory leave Wayne Manor and come back again. Instead, it was a young man with eyes full of anger, a dark knight who belonged to Gotham.

After closing the photo album, Alfred looked up at the paintings on the wall. Thomas and Martha in the portraits were still looking at him like this, as always. "I'm sorry, Master Thomas." After muttering in a low voice, Alfred got up, took the prepared dinner, and quietly walked up to the attic.

　Originally, I wanted to post the master's episode at once, but looking at the word count, it is impossible without a million words. Happy New Year, everyone.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)