American comics: The off-the-charts random transformation

Passerby: What the hell...? It just flew by in a flash!

On the way, Garfield asked, "I can heal Gordon's injuries myself. Whether it's with my qi or my cells, I can restore him to full condition on the spot. Why do I have to take him to the hospital? It's too much of a waste of time."

Tennyson communicates with it through a soul contract:

"First, we want you to keep a low profile; second, we need to reveal as few of our cards as possible to Batman, especially you, to avoid being targeted by him; third, Gordon gave us a reason to leave that place."

Staying there is a waste of time; we'd better leave early and eat something sooner.

"Oh, I see. We've arrived!"

After chatting for only a few minutes, they arrived at the entrance of Wayne Manor. The gate opened automatically after the security cameras spotted them.

"Welcome back, Mr. Ban. Come in."

Ah Fu's voice came from the surveillance camera; he should still be in the bat cave.

"Okay, Afu, get Garfield some food. He's a big eater now, he can eat a ton!"

"Understood, I'll order right away."

Garfield suggested from the side, "I want it spicier. I've been eating a lot of sugar lately, so I want something with a stronger flavor."

"No problem, Mr. Garfield."

………………

In the manor restaurant, Tian Xiaoban chatted with Alfred, while Garfield devoured takeout.

"So, you think the Kryptonians have come to Gotham?"

Tian Xiaoban's expression showed a struggle between wanting to laugh and holding it in. He hadn't expected that his momentary lapse would actually make Gotham even more chaotic, causing a whole host of misunderstandings.

"Yes, Young Master Ban, what's wrong with you?"

"No, I just thought of happy things!"

It's really funny to think that Batman scared himself so much that he was fully armed.

“Gotham is in a mess right now. There are outsiders, people who escaped from Arkham Asylum, and the busy GCPD. The old man can’t manage it all by himself.”

Tian Xiaoban's expression was strange; he realized that Afu wanted him to help.

That's... not impossible. But I won't be the one to help.

"Garfield!"

"What! Can't you see I'm eating?" the cat looked up.

"Interested in helping Batman?"

"Not interested." Garfield turned his head away and continued eating.

Tian Xiaoban immediately took a roundabout approach:

"Meals will be provided! You can eat any food that can be bought with money!"

The cat looked up again: "Deal!"

Tian Xiaoban nodded in satisfaction, and said to Alfred, who was staring in disbelief:

"Look, Batman's all-powerful assistant has arrived. Don't worry, this guy is a magical creature, tough and smart, and can even transform into other creatures to help. Helping Batman get through the crisis is no problem."

"Really?"

Alfred only knew that Garfield could turn into a horse, but he didn't know that it could turn into any other animal.

"You don't believe me? Garfield, come and give your owner a good time for the next few days!"

"What? What are you doing?" The cat-faced man was completely bewildered.

"Transform! Make it cool!" Tian Xiaoban said matter-of-factly.

"The golden retriever one?"

"That's right!"

Garfield swallowed the food in his mouth, took a few steps, and came to an open space.

In a flash of light, the cat transformed into a black-haired boy with a long tail.

Alfred's eyes widened in surprise! What? This cat can turn into a human? But why does its tail look more like a monkey's?

"Drink! Ah!!!"

As Garfield exploded with energy, a whirlwind swept through the restaurant! The moment golden flames erupted from his body, his black hair transformed into towering golden hair, instantly doubling his good looks!

"This!!!" Alfred was so shocked he couldn't speak. Although he didn't know what turning into a blond man meant, his powerful aura clearly indicated he was not someone to be trifled with.

Tian Xiaoban said with a hint of pride:

"Hehe, isn't that amazing, Alfred? With Garfield's current strength, he can do whatever he wants in Gotham. No one can defeat him!"

"Is it ready?" Garfield asked sharply.

"Okay, you can go back to eating!"

"Oh!" His arrogance vanished, and he returned to his black hair and black eyes, transforming back into a cat on his way to the food pile.

"Afu, as you can see, it's quite picky about food. I don't have much time to take it to eat, so... you know."

"Don't worry, Young Master Ban, I'll take good care of it!"

"Okay. Garfield, I'm off now. Remember to be good!"

Garfield continued eating, pretending not to hear, and wagged his tail to say goodbye.

........................

Bang, snap—

After breaking all his bones, the riddle man finally calmed down, because he could no longer move.

"Now, tell me. What is the secret you're talking about?"

It was like a power-on password. The riddle-solving man, who had been in so much pain that his eyes were rolling back, suddenly perked up and gritted his teeth as he said:

"Beware of the Court of Owls, they're always watching your every move."

Peeping at Gotham City from the shadows, hidden in low walls and attics.

He is with me in my home, and he is also present in my bedside.

Do not utter his name, or his claws will come for your head.

This is a dark nursery rhyme that every Gotham local has heard.

But this is also a riddle existing in the darkness of Gotham: those who have heard the nursery rhymes cannot find them; those who have seen them by chance are forced to become one of them; and those who join them will not reveal any information to the outside world.

Batman narrowed his eyes, his mind racing as he continued asking questions:

"The Court of Owls, your escape from Arkham is also related to them."

"Pfft, hahaha, ouch—even the pain can't stop me from laughing right now. Hahaha..."

"It seems to be related to the Court of Owls, but it wasn't the Court of Owls that saved you."

Batman's tone was calm, as if he had already guessed the answer.

The first thing Tian Xiaoban told him about the Court of Owls was that it was related to the deaths of his parents in Gotham.

The Riddler, leaning on his unbroken spine, straightened up and stared into Batman's eyes, saying:

"NONOno, the answer to this riddle is not the Court of Owls, but what the Court of Owls represents!"

Trust me, the penguin will help you solve this puzzle. Hahahaha…”

He just laughed and fainted. His body had reached its limit, and his mind was stretched to its limit. He was in so much pain that he went into shock.

Batman remained silent. Why is the Penguin being dragged into this? Wasn't he missing? Could he also be connected to the Court of Owls?

He checked the Riddler's body. It was alright; although the Riddler's earlier movements had dislocated some of his broken bones, it was nothing serious—Gotham's medical facilities were more than capable of healing him.

He made an emergency call and then walked toward the pile of metal rubble that Garfield had blown up.

He searched carefully and found the riddle:

I have a thousand faces, yet no true form; I hide in darkness, yet I control the light. What am I?

"Shadows. Shadows that are everywhere."

Batman's mind raced. What was it that was ubiquitous and indispensable in Gotham, yet shrouded in shadow?

As he thought about it, his fist hardened. He wanted to wake the riddle-maker up again and beat him up.

........................

The Penguin hung up the phone; it was a signal from his underling, who was monitoring the Riddler.

"The Riddler has been captured by Batman. The plan can begin. Scarecrow, are your things ready?"

"Don't worry, the new type of fear gas is ready!"

The voice was deep and hoarse, and the scarecrow beneath the straw mask had an extremely excited expression.

He's going to unleash a terrifying gas on the entire city of Gotham, and an upgraded version at that.

In the new version, once inhaled, the scarecrow can control citizens gripped by fear. The fear gas numbs their pain, allowing them to charge fearlessly until they themselves perish.

Even Batman couldn't stop it! As long as his fear gas spreads fast enough, taking over Gotham is only a matter of time.

"Very well, wait for my news, I need to go and discuss one last business deal!"

The penguin smiled confidently, as if everything was under control.

"What? At such a critical juncture, you're still talking about business?"

Penguin's words made Scarecrow very unhappy. I spent a whole day working hard to develop a new poison that was about to be tested on humans, and you still want to run away?

"Sigh, should I call you smart or stupid? Here, take this phone. Just wait for the news. You only need to keep an eye on this phone, and as soon as it rings, you can start your plan!"

"Once we know the time, things will be much easier," the scarecrow thought excitedly as the fly rubbed its hands together.

"OK, no problem. By the way, where do you plan to deploy the fear gas first?"

Penguin scratched his chin and said seriously, "The East District and the Diamond District. The East District has more ordinary citizens, while the Diamond District has more wealthy people. Prioritize these two areas; the others can be allocated gradually."

..............................