I'm doing bidirectional science popularization in American comics

Chapter 94 Fragments of the Crystal of Destiny

Two days later, at the Gotham Circus.

On the eve of the "Flying Grayson" show, Depp said something to Selena Gomez, then got up from the stands and sneaked backstage at the circus.

During this period, Oswald had gathered a number of disgruntled gang members around him. In addition to being used as cannon fodder, these people had another important use: exchanging information about their respective small groups' operations.

Oswald would then compile this information and send it all to Depp.

Last night, a message caught Depp's attention.

"The Tony Zuckerman gang is going to take action against the Gotham Circus tomorrow for not paying protection money."

Depp immediately remembered that these were the guys who killed the parents of the original Robin Dick Grayson!

So, as soon as the circus started today, he brought Selena along to watch the performance.

He activated the Mirror of Introduction and searched carefully, eventually finding the Grayson family near the entrance.

Meanwhile, the Graysons also discovered Depp, a complete stranger.

Dick Grayson

Main ability: Trapeze skills.

Favorability rating: Strangers.

Mary Grayson

Main ability: Trapeze skills.

Favorability rating: Quite favorable.

John Grayson

Main ability: Trapeze skills.

Affection level: Hostile.

Depp felt helpless seeing the Graysons' drastically different attitude towards him, a complete stranger.

Sometimes, a person who is too good-looking may easily attract the attention of the opposite sex, but may also easily be hostile to the same sex.

John Grayson walked over to Depp and said angrily, "Sir, audience members are not allowed backstage. Please leave as soon as possible."

Mary Grayson said, "John, you're too harsh. Maybe this gentleman just took the wrong turn."

Eight-year-old Dick Grayson, who has already mastered impressive flying skills, asked curiously, "Mom, who is this uncle? He's so handsome."

Upon hearing this, Depp immediately felt that Dick was indeed worthy of being the Gotham playboy who would surpass Bruce in the future.

She's always been so sweet-talking, no wonder she's so attractive to men now that she's grown up.

Facing the family's questioning gazes, Depp said, "Who I am is not important, but what is important is whether you refused to pay Tony Zucco's protection money a few days ago?"

Upon hearing this, Mary immediately shielded Dick behind her. If the other party was a gangster who had come for revenge, then no matter how handsome he was, she would no longer have any good feelings towards him.

John, also looking on high alert, clenched his fists silently at his sides and said seriously, "You're one of Tony Zucker's men? Tell your boss we don't need his protection. If he dares to do anything to us, we'll call Detective James Gordon immediately!"

Depp looked at John Grayson, who was making the toughest face while saying the most cowardly things, and burst out laughing.

"I'm not a gangster. I'm here to tell you that it's best to cancel today's trapeze performance."

While claiming they're not part of the mafia, they're asking me to stop the performance?

John was a bit confused by Depp's words. He said, "Are you kidding me? The audience comes here for our trapeze act. Do you know what kind of impact it would have on the circus's reputation if we stopped the show?"

"At worst, we can just get a refund. It's better to lose a little money than to lose our lives!" Depp pointed to the rope in the distance and said, "While you weren't looking, Tony Zuk's men poured sulfuric acid on the ropes used by the trapeze artists."

“Sulfuric acid?!” John said in disbelief.

He looked back at the rope hanging in mid-air. If what the man in front of him said was true, then the rope corroded by sulfuric acid would become extremely fragile.

If my family goes on stage to perform today, they will definitely fall from the sky because the ropes will break!

That's a platform that's thirteen meters high; if someone falls off, they're guaranteed to die!

“How can you prove what you’re saying?” John asked suspiciously.

“Perhaps… a strong gust of wind would be enough to prove it,” Depp said, pointing to the rope.

John looked in the direction Depp was pointing and said with a smile, "Where would a strong wind come from in a circus? Our circus is a closed-off place."

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the rope in the distance swaying wildly from side to side in the wind.

After swinging five or six times, just as Depp had said, the rope actually broke.

Looking at the broken rope, the Graysons felt a chill of fear.

Mary Grayson no longer shielded Dick behind her, after all, the man in front of her had saved their entire family's lives.

Depp discovers through the mirror of his profile that Mary Grayson's feelings for him have gone from "quite favorable" to "hostile," and now to "trust."

John Grayson and Dick's feelings for him have also escalated to the level of "quite favorable feelings".

“Those damn gangsters! Don’t they care about people dying?” John said angrily, then apologized to Depp: “I’m sorry, sir, I misunderstood you. You saved my whole family’s lives!”

“It was nothing,” Depp said casually. “I suggest that you always remember to carefully check the safety of your equipment before going on stage in the future.”

“We will, thank you very much,” Mary said.

The circus ringmaster, seeing the rope had broken, also came running over.

After John told him how Depp had saved them, the circus ringmaster gratefully shook Depp's hand.

"Thank you so much! May I ask your name? From now on, your tickets to our circus performances will be free forever!"

This guy was genuinely grateful to Depp, after all, the Grayson family was the circus's star attraction, and over 90% of the audience came to the circus specifically to see their trapeze act.

If anything were to happen to the Grayson family, not only would he, as the ringmaster, face legal trouble, but the circus itself would also quickly go out of business.

Depp said, "I'm Leonardo Depp, an antique shop guy."

Upon hearing this, the circus ringmaster's eyes lit up, and he immediately exclaimed in surprise, "You...you are Mr. Depp, the founder of Depp Toy Factory? Don't be modest, you are now a very successful and sought-after person in Gotham!"

"You flatter me, you flatter me," Depp said politely, waving his hand. He then gave each of them his business card and left the backstage area.

Back in the audience, Selena asked, "What were you doing just now?"

Depp held Selena's small hand and said, "I didn't do anything, I just saved a few lives."

"I bet it's the Grayson family, the ones who're going to perform trapeze acts?" Selena had just seen the ropes swinging wildly above the circus and immediately guessed that it was Depp creating the wind.

The subsequent breakage of the rope made her immediately realize that someone was trying to frame the Grayson family.

Depp hugged Selena and praised her, "Baby, you're so smart."

At the same time, a system voice sounded.

"The system detected that the host altered the fate of John Grayson and Mary Grayson, saving them from death. The host receives a character rescue reward."

"Since the two are not important characters in the story, you will receive 1 Fragment of Destiny Crystal".

Note: Three Fragments of Destiny Crystal can be combined to form a complete Destiny Crystal.

Chapter 95 Mrs. Grayson's Passion

The next morning, Depp was still asleep when Dick Grayson was taken to the antique shop by his mother.

Grandi led him to the back of the antique shop, in front of Depp's door.

At his mother's suggestion, Dick stayed behind at the front desk to play by himself.

The door opened, and Mary warmly handed Depp the gift she had brought, who was wearing pajamas with his chest muscles partially exposed.

Good morning, Mr. Depp.

"Good morning, Ms. Grayson. Is there something you need so early in the morning?"

When Depp asked her, Mary blushed slightly, looking like she wanted to say something but couldn't bring herself to.

This really scared Depp. "Madam, you have children and a husband. This isn't appropriate, is it?"

Finally, Mary took a breath and stammered, "I discussed it with John yesterday, and we feel that the path of a circus performer is too dangerous. We don't want little Grayson to follow in our footsteps."

Call ~

Depp breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the woman in front of him didn't say anything inappropriate. He led Grayson and her son to the living room outside the bedroom so as not to interfere with Grandy's reception of guests.

Depp asked, "So... what do you mean by bringing Dick here?"

To be honest, Depp felt it would have been more appropriate to send Dick Grayson to Bruce than to send him to Depp himself.

After all, this little guy is the original Robin, and he also has the titles of Nightwing, Gotham's King of Cannons, and DC's most shapely butt.

Upon hearing this, Mary Grayson placed her hand on her ample bosom and gently patted it to calm herself down.

I don't know why, but my heart races whenever I'm around Mr. Depp, especially in this small, enclosed space.

Perhaps... it's because Mr. Depp is just too handsome.

Hmm... her voice is very magnetic, her temperament is outstanding, and she's also very wealthy.

Damn it, what am I thinking?

I'm a married man!

Mary Grayson patted her face and said, "Because of the falling out with the Tony Zuckerman gang, the circus we work for is preparing to move out of Gotham and temporarily perform as a traveling circus."

"Therefore, we want to entrust little Grayson to you. You are the only person in Gotham we can trust."

This was a decision made after careful consideration by Mary and her husband John. On the one hand, Depp had saved their family's lives, so he was trustworthy.

On the other hand, the fact that Depp was able to know about Tony Zuckerberg's actions in advance proves that he has connections in Gotham. Entrusting his son to such an upright and powerful figure was their best choice.

Of course, if Depp disagrees, they will have no choice but to take Dick with them and wander with the circus.

“We will make payments to you every month as part of Grayson’s daily expenses and foster care fees.”

After saying that, Mary Grayson leaned forward, pleading. The loose buttons on her chest popped open under some kind of pressure, revealing a soft, white expanse underneath.

To be honest, if Depp would agree to let Grayson stay at his house, Mary wouldn't mind letting Depp experience her skills.

Well, even if Depp disagrees, Mary really hopes that Depp will try out his various skills.