Metropolis Lostbelt (VII) Eavesdropping

Fujimaru Ritsuka was filled with regret.

She shouldn't have boasted and caused both of her followers to leave; nor should she have thought it was lucky that such an important person was here.

If she could, she would shamelessly drag Merlin over; if she could, she would get as far away from the administrative center as possible the moment she heard that an important person was coming.

Then she wouldn't have met the legendary Lostbelt King, the ruthless, cruel, and tyrannical Mr. Kal-El, nor would she have been bold enough to follow him to the place where Batman was imprisoned.

Fujimaru Ritsuka carefully pressed her invisible cap against her left hand. Hades's cap had only one flaw: it couldn't mask sound, but as a human, she couldn't stop breathing.

Even if the sound was very soft, Superman's super hearing would definitely pick it up clearly. But fortunately, Merlin had cast a spell on her before they arrived, which prevented her from being exposed immediately.

Merlin's magic has a time limit.

Just as Fujimaru Ritsuka was pondering, a violent sound suddenly erupted in front of her. She leaned forward from around the corner, and in the vast, empty prison, besides herself, only two Batmen and an enraged king remained.

Perhaps due to the historical context, this Lostbelt prison far surpasses the places she had previously stayed in, as well as the places other Chaldea members had been; its high-tech feel is overwhelming.

The walls were pure white with a silvery sheen; there were two pupil locks; robotic guards; 365-degree surveillance with no blind spots; and living supplies that looked like they were prepared for mental patients.

Even Batman would find it difficult to come up with a way to escape in a short time.

But now Fujimaru Ritsuka regrets it even more. If she had brought one more Servant, she might have been able to take Batman away right now.

Because the angry king in front of him was chatting with Batman, and as he spoke, his eyes shot out scorching beams of light, physically burning through the prison doors he had used to prevent Batman from escaping.

What a perfect opportunity.

You see, if you had learned to give up, Fujimaru Ritsuka would never be standing here today.

But she didn't make any rash moves, because Batman didn't move at all. She didn't know why, but she trusted Batman's judgment.

“I still stand by what I said.” Bruce Wayne, who was clearly in better condition, showed no fear of Superman’s heat rays and calmly repeated his point of view in a hoarse voice.

“I do not agree with your ideas and methods, and I have absolutely no interest in joining an organization of dictatorship and tyranny.”

"Ha, why should I?" Superman crossed his arms, his icy gaze and oppressive aura pouring down on Batman. "Under my rule, the global crime rate is 0.01%. That's a record you, Batman, will never be able to achieve in Gotham!"

So, what gives you the right to deny me?

Batman is like that, and the damned resistance is even more so!

“Superman, you’ve strayed from your original intentions long ago.” This Lostbelt Batman stated quietly, the emotion in his words not being a dead ashes, but rather a burning ember in the dead of winter, long and hopeless.

The person targeted by the words can still feel the burning pain, but the flames themselves are no longer hot and intense.

"You suppress them with fear, making them live in constant fear, day and night, and depriving them of their freedom and right to knowledge."

Batman sighed. "Do you really think this is for their own good?"

“You’re being a bit too tactful.” Bruce raised an eyebrow, or perhaps his mask had been removed, revealing a more explicit emotion in his deep blue eyes.

He wasn't young, but his arrogant and boastful manner made him resemble a hot-blooded and fearless college student. He retorted sharply, "Are you raising humans in captivity?"

"...!" Superman became even angrier, his massive body approaching the unarmed Batman step by step, making Fujimaru Ritsuka break out in a cold sweat. "You're trying to provoke me, but it's pointless."

He took a deep breath, as if he had come up with a brilliant excuse, and said righteously, "Humans are cowardly, stupid, and ignorant. I am doing this for their own good."

Bruce did not immediately refute Superman's words; he simply stared intently at Superman. Batman, on the other hand, had deep blue eyes like clear water, reflecting all of Superman's flaws and selfishness.

Superman's desire to persuade others to surrender has vanished under the light of this mirror.

"You're defining humanity, believing that human civilization is utterly worthless. Superman, you overestimate yourself, and that's your fatal flaw."

Fujimaru Ritsuka, who had been eavesdropping, fell silent.

She began to doubt one thing: even as a Servant, would Kirshtalia really obey such a Master?

Would Wodym, the idealist who proposed that all mankind should become gods and almost succeeded, submit to a dictatorial tyrant?

No. Even if they only met and got to know each other in battle, she could still be so certain.

Either there's something unspeakable about this, or the core of this Servant isn't Wodym.

But it's too early to think about these things. She should be more worried that if Superman doesn't leave soon, Merlin's magic will expire!

But fate is unkind; premonitions are always more accurate than good ones.

Fujimaru Ritsuka could clearly sense the signs of her magic fading. When Superman looked in her direction, she immediately held her breath and dared not move.

She felt her heart pounding, and it beat even faster as Superman's gaze slowly swept over her and landed on the wall behind her.

One second, two seconds...

Superman turned around in confusion. His super hearing seemed to have caught a faint breath, but it was also as if it were his imagination. However, he didn't check and casually turned his head back to Batman.

He didn't believe the resistance forces could break into his prison with Batman. If they could, why didn't they do it months earlier instead of waiting until now?

Deep down, modern Superman looks down on humanity as a weak group.

Therefore, he could never have imagined that there was actually a human girl hiding just a wall away, eavesdropping on his conversation with Batman.

“Ha, I knew those rebels wouldn’t give up on you.” Superman raised his chin. “They’ll fight tooth and nail to get you out of here. Even if they can’t get into this prison, they’ll be waiting for you at the execution ground.”

He seemed to have regained his good mood, but more like he couldn't wait to get back at Batman, "But who knows that you chose not to go out?"

Batman's lips twitched, and his voice lowered, "You can joke about the lives of everyone in Gotham, but I can't!"

"..."

Ah, although it's great to hear a lot of free information, is Superman really that talkative?

Does he really not plan to leave and still want to stay here?!

Just as Fujimaru Ritsuka resigned herself to her fate and was about to use Command Seals to hold out, Superman suddenly turned and left, his dark red cape billowing in a sharp arc in mid-air.

She immediately followed, and before she could completely out of Batman's sight, she couldn't help but look back, and there he was, smiling.

After leaving the administrative center, she quickly headed towards the meeting point, even calling on a servant to drive her. Superman stood in the square for a few seconds, his chaotic heartbeat preventing him from capturing the fleeting inspiration.

After gathering, Fujimaru Ritsuka didn't rest and recounted her recent discovery in a rapid-fire manner.

"Thump!"

"What the hell is this?!" Before Ritsuka could finish speaking, Jason jumped up, knocking over a chair, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Superman's idea? To bury Gotham's underground with bombs, playing with the entire city?"

He abruptly turned to look at Dick, who was floating, and said, "And you, how come you're not surprised at all when you hear this news!"

Dick gave a bitter laugh. "I've already said it." His eyes were filled with pain. "The Supermen here are ruthless killers."

He wanted to give Jason his usual dashing smile, but it looked awkward and even more bitter.

“Or maybe this was just a way for him to deceive B, but B couldn’t gamble, so he won.” He shrugged and exhaled a breath of stale air, like every numb person in Gotham.

"Wait, wait!" Fujimaru Ritsuka interrupted the two, "I still have something to say."

Following this conversation, Superman explicitly stated that the idea originated from Kirshtalia, and he could not deny that some of his thoughts were influenced by that guy.

“This isn’t right,” Debit was the first to object. “Fujimaru, you must have discovered something.”

“Yes.” Fujimaru Ritsuka blinked. “If Batman angered Superman to prevent him from being present tomorrow and give the Rebels a chance, then Woodym’s goal is simply to make Batman come to him.”

"Good heavens, dealing with smart people is exhausting," she thought to herself. But regardless of Wodym's thoughts, they had a more important matter to deal with: "What about tomorrow? Should we try a different approach?"

“If possible, I still don’t want to get into a situation that’s too passive.” Nightwing rubbed his temples, took out his headset from his pocket and put it on. “Oracle, something big has happened. How many rebels have you contacted in Gotham?”

—

On the day of the execution, the damp air carried a faint moisture, and thick clouds once again blocked the sunlight, allowing moss to thrive in the dark corners.

A light rain enveloped the entire city of Gotham, turning the white expanse into a scene resembling a funeral banner tied in advance.

Fujimaru Ritsuka stood in the square of the administrative center.

She was surrounded by spectators who had come to watch the execution, each of them bearing a similar numbness on their faces, like trees that had long since withered in the winter night.

They didn't actually have to come. Whether they hated Batman and wished him a terrible death, or they had received help from Batman and were hoping for a miraculous turn of events.

In the end, it was all just wishful thinking, because they couldn't change anything. But those people still came.

"Sister... are you here to see Batman too?" A little girl tugged at Fujimaru Ritsuka's sleeve and asked softly. Her sensible face still held the curiosity of a child.

Fujimaru Ritsuka seemed to have been pondering her words for a long time before turning around, bending down slightly, and looking at the little girl who was only half her height, asking in return, "Do people who come here have other purposes?"

"I don't know," the little girl said honestly, "but my sister is different from us."

It's different. Ritsuka looked down at her clothes, then at her surroundings. Everything was black and white, nothing out of place. She tilted her head. What was different then?

“It’s eyes,” the little girl said, as if marveling at how an adult could be so oblivious. She repeated, “It’s eyes, sister.”

They were eyes burning amidst a pile of dry wood.

"Even if there are many, many people blocking your way," the innocent voice still rang in Ritsuka's ears, but the surroundings grew quieter, and the sound of her feet scraping the ground became clearer.

"I can see my sister right away."

I can see you immediately too.

Fujimaru Ritsuka suddenly raised her head and met a pair of gentle blue eyes.

The owner of the blue eyes had long, shimmering golden hair, and his familiar white uniform was elegant and appropriate. His pure white cloak fluttered with his steps, making him appear both aloof and dashing.

It is a textbook example of a perfect image and facade.

His eyes, however, held a smile as he looked directly at Fujimaru Ritsuka, inadvertently revealing a dry humor unique to Kirshtaria.

Even though we've become enemies again, Fujimaru Ritsuka thought to herself, "Without warning, without hostility, why are you looking at me with the same eyes you use to look at an old friend?"

Through Chaldea's communications, Kadoc silently gazes at his former captain, a genius who can never be surpassed, and someone who truly keeps Group A in his heart.

Kirshtalia, in the Greek Lostbelt, brought astrology to life. The ultimate magic of astrology lies in transforming celestial bodies into one's own magical circuits.

Although he could only use a spell like Planetary Bombardment three times, he still didn't want to make an enemy of this guy. Kadoc rubbed his hair in frustration.

The other members of Chaldea also looked displeased after noticing the gaze directed at them by Wodim. But they were even more puzzled by his decision not to take any action and instead walk directly onto the podium.

Is this the same Wodim who greeted them with a grand celestial magic spell?!

There must be something fishy going on here.

Meanwhile, Fujimaru Ritsuka lowered her head.

The moment she saw Wodim in person, she felt as if she had returned to the Atlantic Ocean. But something seemed different; the Wodim before her was more…lively?

On stage, Kirshtalia spouted platitudes, while Wonder Woman went to fetch Batman as planned. Ritsuka and the others' plans also went on—

Nothing has changed.

In the past few days, the entire Gotham resistance has been mobilized. Taking advantage of the already turbulent Gotham, they are hiding in the crowds, searching for the shadow of bombs.

Perhaps humans are indeed small and foolish, but when they unite as one and are determined to accomplish something that must be done, the power they unleash can overwhelm the authority of God.