Fortunately, Avery had no intention of implicating his own mentor in the chaos. The Court of Owls had long been an enemy of the Wayne family, and many Waynes had met their end at the Court's hands. Bruce's great-great-grandfather, Alan Wayne, was one such victim, tortured to death by the Court. Avery had documented this fact as well, though he released it slightly later than the other evidence.
As a result, much of the suspicion that Bruce might be the leader of the Court of Owls was effectively dispelled.
However, Batman found no reason to feel relieved.
"Who could possibly have the ability to bypass so many Talons and capture all these Court members in one fell swoop?"
Batman's gloved fingers tapped lightly on the table as he pondered, his mind filled with questions.
If the perpetrator had a force as vast and skilled as the Talons, it would have been impossible for him not to notice such a large-scale operation. But if it was a single individual...
That possibility seemed too remote. At this point in time, when superpowered individuals had yet to openly reveal their existence to the world, even Batman, with his vast knowledge and experience, had not encountered someone capable of such a feat.
Moreover, why would this person so blatantly target the Court of Owls?
Every action has its cause. Was it vengeance or some hidden agenda?
The one responsible for the chaos, however, remained completely unfazed, as if it had nothing to do with him. Calmly, Avery placed a plate of Alfred's homemade cookies and a cup of espresso on the table to help the overworked detective recharge his energy.
"Does it really matter who it is? The Court of Owls doesn't deserve sympathy," Avery said with a smile.
Batman's voice remained steady. "You know that's not what I'm trying to figure out."
As someone who had once been a target of assassination, Batman felt no sympathy for the Court of Owls members, even if he didn't particularly approve of the brutal method used against them. His relentless pursuit of the perpetrator's identity was driven by one core concern: the person responsible was an unpredictable wildcard.
Why were they hunting down members of the Court of Owls? How were they killing them? Were they planning to target others? And most importantly, who were they?
Judging by the ruthless methods employed, it was clear that this individual was no ordinary person and certainly not someone who could easily be labeled a hero. In fact, it was questionable whether they could even be called "good." What if, someday, they used these same methods elsewhere? How could that be stopped?
Batman was determined to uncover everything about this person—every detail. To him, whoever orchestrated such a massacre was a ticking time bomb, their future actions and targets an ominous mystery.
Suddenly, the image of the white-haired, white-robed man he had seen at Harvey Dent's home flashed in Batman's mind. His eyes darkened slightly, a fleeting but telling reaction that no one else could perceive.
"Control issues…" Avery muttered, shaking his head. He understood Batman's obsessive need to dig deeper. But, of course, realizing that desire would not be so easy.
Without further comment, Avery turned around and left.
Batman's gaze briefly lingered on Avery's retreating figure, curiosity flaring, but it was only a momentary distraction. He redirected his focus to combing through various leads and, at last, uncovered a potential clue.
In the dead of night, the dark-clad vigilante moved swiftly and silently through the city, eventually arriving at a familiar location.
Batman infiltrated the site unnoticed, his movements shadow-like, until he reached a certain door.
After the Court of Owls had tortured and murdered Bruce's great-great-grandfather, Alan Wayne, they had established secret bases in every building constructed with funds from the trusts Alan Wayne had founded during his lifetime.
The doors to these hideouts were not protected by advanced technology. This wasn't due to a lack of resources; rather, it stemmed from the Court's arrogance. They believed no one could reach these places without their permission, and even if someone did, they wouldn't leave alive with the secrets contained within. Their adherence to tradition only reinforced this overconfidence.
Batman had anticipated having to overcome a series of complex security measures—fingerprint scanners, retinal scans, surveillance systems, and alarms—before gaining access to the Court of Owls' hidden chambers. Yet, to his surprise, his path had been astonishingly smooth. For a brief moment, he hesitated, unsure whether to step forward with his left foot or his right.
Quickly shaking off the odd feeling, he pushed open the ancient, dust-covered door without further delay.
The first thing that caught his eye was a massive owl statue carved into the wall, wings spread wide in a commanding pose.
The thick layer of dust coating the floor suggested that this place had been abandoned for quite some time, likely explaining the outdated security systems. It was apparent that this base had been established many years ago.
But Batman wasn't there to marvel at the state of the facility or its history. His mission was clear: to locate every hidden base the Court of Owls had scattered across Gotham.
Without wasting time, he exited the chamber and set off for his next target.
...
Meanwhile, the surviving members of the Court of Owls were in a state of shock and fury. Their numbers had dwindled, but not all had attended the ill-fated gathering that had led to the deaths of their peers. This was the primary reason they were still alive.
Yet, as is often the case with those who had not directly witnessed their enemy's ferocity, they clung to disbelief. The remaining Court members were astonished, enraged, and felt their authority had been gravely challenged. But fear? That emotion did not register among them.
Their response was defiance. Plans for retaliation were already underway. They schemed to deploy every Talon at their disposal, vowing to hunt down and gruesomely eliminate the one who dared to challenge their dominion.
What they failed to realize was that many had been waiting for this moment all along.