The Comprehensive Evolution of American Comics.

Chapter 1339

Artemis and Barbara had a smooth journey, crossing the bridge directly to Metropolis, Gotham City's brother city.

Unlike Gotham City, a dark city that always exudes a gothic atmosphere, Metropolis perfectly matches people's fantasies about big cities.

At any other time, if Barbara came to the Metropolis with her best friend, they would definitely talk about things that girls talk about, and discuss where to go for a stroll later.

However, it was definitely not appropriate to discuss these things now. She wanted to find some topics to ease the tense atmosphere, but seeing Artemis' serious expression, Barbara felt that it would be better to remain quiet.

They drove in silence, perhaps because it was late at night, and no police checked their driver's licenses. They arrived at the Justice Hall without incident.

"Follow me."

Artemis got out of the car, carried Dick on her back, and led Barbara to the main entrance of the Hall of Justice.

The Hall of Justice still retains some of the functions of a base, so ordinary people can only enter through the visitor entrance, and only official members of the Justice League can enter the interior.

Barbara was clearly not a formal member; she could only enter the inner area when Artemis led her.

Artemis and Barbara crossed the hall, paused briefly at the door, and after their identities were scanned, hurriedly led the latter inside.

"Don't look around or touch anything," Artemis warned Barbara.

“Normally I shouldn’t have brought you in here, because my requisition of your phone could have made you a target of the mastermind. So I can only take you inside the Hall of Justice to seek help.”

"I know I will be as quiet as those kids who get the good boy badge."

Barbara raised her hand to swear, but Artemis ignored her antics and continued leading the way.

"It's a little weird."

As they walked, Artemis suddenly spoke up, and Barbara's heart, which had just settled down, jumped again upon hearing this.

"how?"

Artemis stopped in her tracks when Barbara asked her a question, and looked at the empty corridor in front of her.

“Normally, the Hall of Justice will have a few people on duty. If I were to bring in someone unimportant, they would definitely come over to check on me immediately.”

"Could it be that the person on duty fell asleep?" Barbara suggested a plausible theory.

“This isn’t the Gotham Police Department,” Artemis said, pursing her lips.

Artemis's reply left Barbara speechless. You see, the Gotham Police Department used to have a terrible image among the public. They were basically a bunch of thugs in official robes, and sometimes they were even more hated than gangsters.

Although the police department has been reformed and its reputation has improved considerably since Batman appeared and her father, Commissioner Gordon, took office.

However, there are still quite a few scabs within the Gotham Police Department. You can't condemn someone just because they're too clean.

If Gordon really did that, he would be sidelined as director in no time, and then either he would be forced to leave in disgrace, or he would be stuck at his desk waiting to die.

You can't just give them a stick; you also need to offer them sweeteners so they'll be willing to work for you.

This has led to a situation where, although there are no longer any employees in the Gotham Police Department who simply collect their salaries without doing any work, there are still a few who collect their salaries but do little work.

So, despite Barbara's desire to defend herself in response to Artemis's reply, she couldn't utter a single word and could only stand aside dejectedly in silence.

"Damn it!" Artemis gritted her teeth. "I hope it's not what I'm thinking."

Barbara didn't know what Artemis was thinking, but judging from the latter's expression, she knew without asking that it couldn't be anything good.

“Listen, Barbara.” Artemis suddenly turned around, almost startling Barbara.

"If I'm right, then you can't walk this path with me from now on."

"What do you mean by this, Artemis?" Barbara asked, puzzled.

“What I mean is that we might be walking into the lion’s den,” Artemis said, handing Dick to Barbara.

"The entire Hall of Justice is completely silent, which means that the enemy has likely already infiltrated the Justice League, and it is no longer safe here."

"I need you to take Dick and get out of here."

"Leave here?" Barbara exclaimed in shock. "But if even the Hall of Justice is no longer safe, where can I go?"

“Go to Smallville, a suburb of the big city. There’s a small farm there. I’ll give you the address.”

Artemis took out paper and pen from Barbara's backpack and wrote down an address on it.

“That’s one of the safest places on earth. Our teacher is there. Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of him. All I can tell you is that he is Asian.”

"You'll be safe once you get there, and everything can be resolved as long as you tell him what happened."

"You keep talking about me, but what about you?"

Barbara took the paper and pen and asked a question, but Artemis simply shook her head.

“I need to confirm whether my guess is correct.” Artemis smiled wryly. “After all, everything I just said was just my guess. If I’m wrong, that’s fine, but if I’m right… at least I need to send out the alarm in time.”

Artemis shook the communication device in her hand and then said, "If the Hall of Justice really falls, then I need to send out the alarm. I need to notify the other superheroes."

Seeing this, Barbara was speechless and could only mutter a single sentence in silence.

"must be careful."

"I will."

Artemis replied with a smile, "I value my life very much, and I will definitely run away at the first sign of trouble."

"Alright, let's not waste any more time and let's go."

Barbara said nothing more, threw her backpack on the ground, and then carried Dick on her back and started to return the way she came.

Artemis, on the other hand, chose a path completely opposite to hers, resolutely heading towards the interior of the Hall of Justice.

Upon arriving at the gate, Artemis verified her identity as usual, and then strode into the open gate.

As soon as Artemis stepped into the room, her heart sank. The entire hall was in a mess, with various kinds of debris on the floor and several familiar superheroes lying there.

(End of this chapter)