Chapter 2: The Law is a Weapon
The courtroom remained silent as Ibrahim Al-Farooq walked out, his posture calm and composed. The first battle had ended in his favor, with the judge allowing the case against Wayne Enterprises to proceed. It was a small victory, but in a city like Gotham, small victories were the foundation of change.
He adjusted his coat as he stepped onto the courthouse steps, the cold Gotham air brushing against his face. Reporters swarmed around him, microphones and cameras shoved in his direction.
"Mr. Al-Farooq, do you truly believe a case like this can bring real change?"
"Are you going after other corporations next?"
"What about the vigilantes? Do you think they should face the law as well?"
He raised a hand, signaling for silence. The crowd hushed, their curiosity outweighing their impatience.
"The law is a weapon," Ibrahim said, his voice steady. "But for too long, it has only been wielded by the powerful. That ends now."
A murmur spread through the reporters, but he didn't stay to entertain more questions. The law was about action, not words.
His car was waiting at the curb, driven by Nadia Hussein, his legal aide and closest advisor. A woman of sharp intellect and unshakable resolve, she had been at his side since his early days as a lawyer. As he entered the car, she glanced at him through the rearview mirror.
"How long before they start hitting back?" she asked, pulling into Gotham's chaotic traffic.
"They already have," he replied, handing her a small envelope he had received during the trial. The contents were simple: a single card with an owl insignia and the words, Stay out of places you don't belong.
"The Court of Owls." Nadia's grip on the wheel tightened. "You expected them."
"They've ruled Gotham from the shadows for generations. I expected them the moment I decided to tear the corruption out by its roots."
Nadia let out a sigh. "And the Justice League?"
Ibrahim leaned back, closing his eyes for a brief moment. The League would be a problem. Not because they were evil—far from it—but because they operated outside the law. They made choices based on morality, not legality. That made them unpredictable.
"Right now, they're watching," he said. "Waiting to see if I'm a threat. If I go after corporate corruption and political fraud, they won't care. But the moment I demand accountability for the destruction they cause in their battles… that's when they'll turn against me."
"And what do we do then?"
He opened his eyes and looked at her.
"We remind them that in a democracy, no one is above the law."
The rest of the ride was silent. Gotham's skyline passed by, the city a mixture of grandeur and decay. Somewhere out there, men like Bruce Wayne, Lex Luthor, and Amanda Waller were already making their moves. The Court of Owls had sent their warning. The criminals in high places would try to silence him.
Let them try.
As they pulled up to his office, he stepped out, his mind already preparing for the next battle. Tomorrow was another day in court, another case to fight.
And the war for justice had only just begun.
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