"This... As expected of Batman!"
They didn't know how long it had been, but a member of the task force swallowed hard and muttered to himself.
In the silence so profound that a pin drop could be heard, his words acted as a spark, igniting a burst of cheers from the crowd.
The members of the task force were almost in a frenzy.
Unlike the casual onlookers outside, they were New York Police Department officers on the frontlines, burdened with a greater sense of responsibility.
Over time, Batman's repeated interventions had turned the tide and saved New York from countless crises. Surprisingly, the greatest beneficiaries weren't the citizens but the NYPD itself.
Batman's presence had helped the department handle threats far beyond its capabilities.
When it came to Batman's fanbase, the NYPD probably accounted for a significant portion of it.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that two-thirds of the department's officers were diehard, even fanatical, supporters. For many, Batman had become a role model.
Even their chief, George Stacy, could be considered an admirer of the Dark Knight.
Not far away, the four turtles stood together, unsurprised by what had just happened.
They had known, ever since Batman contacted them and sent them into action, that this battle was destined to end in victory.
Though Shredder was powerful, Batman's legendary track record was undeniable.
Even if the four of them couldn't defeat Shredder, it was clear Batman would.
Their only regret was failing to achieve a united effort to fully defeat Shredder themselves.
Still, their contributions to the battle couldn't be ignored.
Without their interference and efforts to disrupt Shredder, Batman wouldn't have had the opportunity to land the decisive blow.
After all, Shredder's silver samurai armor was anything but ordinary.
That said, it was evident that if the fight had continued, the four turtles might have eventually triumphed on their own.
In the end, rounding up the events, this victory could still be seen as a shared achievement!
Amidst the crowd's cheers, a figure in the corner clicked their camera shutter furiously, capturing the passionate scene with a look of pure joy.
Batman had delivered yet another iconic moment.
A single punch had brought Shredder to his knees.
The Foot Clan's leader, the mastermind behind the chaos in New York, had met an end as ignoble as Kingpin's.
Without question, the photograph of this moment would dominate the Daily Bugle's front page tomorrow, easily overshadowing the waning Green Goblin saga.
The Green Goblin incident's aftermath mostly revolved around speculation about the villain's true identity and whereabouts, as well as the internal power struggles it had ignited within Oscorp.
Rumors swirled that Harry Osborn, still a high school student, intended to seize control of Oscorp with the backing of the company's senior members.
His goal? To reclaim the power lost after Norman Osborn's disappearance.
"Oscorp belongs in Osborn hands," some citizens murmured, with many others expressing curiosity and excitement about the potential fallout.
Their enthusiasm for Oscorp's drama even outpaced that of the media, eager as always to fan the flames.
Of course, those were mere side stories.
At this time, Eddie had no idea that George was planning to invite the four turtles to join the New York Police Department Task Force.
If he had known, he would have been torn about tomorrow's front-page headline: whether to run Batman's photos or break this explosive and groundbreaking news.
Eddie remained in the corner, quietly snapping pictures.
"It's over. I'm leaving now," Anton said, withdrawing his fist.
He glanced around at the recovering task force members and turtles, then added with a smirk, "Oh, by the way, Eric Sacks is hanging upside down on the rooftop tarmac. You might want to get him down soon."
With that, he left the Sacks building, disappearing into the shadows between the towering structures.
The four turtles exchanged glances before focusing on the NYPD officers working diligently to clean up the scene.
They removed an unconscious Shredder, whose neck was awkwardly twisted, from his armor, handcuffed him, and escorted him to the prison van.
Afterward, the turtles moved swiftly toward a hole in the wall, intending to leave silently.
As they were about to make their exit, George Stacy, who had been observing them, called out, "Wait!"
The turtles stopped and turned back, watching as George approached them with a sincere expression.
"Thank you for everything you've done!" he said earnestly.
"It's our duty," Leonardo replied calmly. "This is our mission."
With that, the turtles prepared to leave once more.
"Wait! There's more!" George stopped them again.
The turtles turned around, puzzled by what he might say next.
"I have an idea," George began, looking at them seriously.
"Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello... Batman told me your names. Of course, that's not the point. What I want to say is this: I want to invite you to join the New York Police Department Task Force and become one of us! If you're willing, the NYPD would be honored to have you."
For a moment, the turtles froze.
In the corner, Eddie's jaw dropped in disbelief, stunned by what he had just heard.
The surrounding task force members were equally taken aback.
But unlike Eddie, they didn't see anything wrong with George's offer. In fact, they were thrilled.
The turtles' abilities had been on full display during the battle, and their potential as allies was undeniable.
If the turtles became part of the NYPD, the officers would feel far more confident handling their day-to-day tasks.
Most importantly, the turtles' connection to Batman hinted at something even more valuable: a possible line of communication with the Dark Knight himself.
And wasn't that an incredible opportunity?
"What?" Leonardo asked, blinking in disbelief. "What did you just say? Say it again!"
"I want to invite you to join the New York Police Department Task Force," George repeated sincerely.
"We're in!" Michelangelo blurted out enthusiastically, answering on behalf of the group without hesitation.
The other three turtles exchanged glances but didn't voice any objections.
"If we join the task force, will the New York Police Department ask us to appear in some secret identity?"
Donatello hesitated, looking nervously at George. He seemed reluctant to receive a definitive answer.
"No!" George replied firmly. "In fact, Batman suggested we make your identities public. I think his suggestion makes a lot of sense. If New Yorkers know we have a few more 'special individuals' on our side, they'll surely hold the NYPD in even higher regard."
"In that case, we're willing to join the New York Police Department Task Force!"
With that, any hesitation vanished. The four turtles spoke in unison, giving their enthusiastic agreement.
"By the way, Captain George, would you mind coming with us to meet our teacher?" Leonardo asked suddenly.
"Teacher?" George echoed, recalling the mention of a rat by Batman. After a moment's thought, he nodded, "I'll do my best to convince your teacher."
Eddie, meanwhile, was too caught up in his work to care about their conversation.
Having stumbled upon one piece of big news after another, he kept clicking his camera shutter, capturing photos of George and the four turtles in their triumphant and relaxed state.
….
patreon.com/Vks_sh