Chapter 26 – A City in Chaos
Gotham trembled.
It wasn't the kind of chaos that came with supervillains unleashing monsters or masked lunatics holding hostages. No, this was something worse.
The city's foundations—its money, its power—were collapsing in real time.
With Sterling Voss eliminated, his financial empire crumbled overnight. Accounts were frozen. Hidden assets were exposed. Corrupt officials who had lined their pockets with his money suddenly found themselves under investigation.
And then came the panic.
Stocks crashed. The banking sector staggered. The city's most powerful elite scrambled, trying to secure their wealth before it disappeared into the void. But it was too late. The entire network had been compromised.
Ibrahim Al-Farooq stood in his office, watching the news unfold. Screens flickered with breaking reports. Headlines flashed across every channel.
"Financial Kingpin Sterling Voss Found Dead in Secure Bunker – Suspected Court of Owls Hit."
"Gotham's Darkest Secrets Exposed – Unraveling the Corruption Behind the City's Power Structure."
"Mass Arrests Begin – Politicians, CEOs, and Crime Lords Face Federal Charges."
Ibrahim let out a slow breath. The war was reaching its peak.
But he knew this wasn't the end.
A knock at the door.
He turned.
Standing in the doorway was his closest ally in this fight—Detective Elisa Montoya. She looked exhausted, her usual sharp eyes weighed down with sleepless nights.
"You really did it," she said, stepping in. "You broke the system."
Ibrahim exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Not yet."
Montoya crossed her arms. "Voss is gone. The financial network is collapsing. The feds are sweeping through the city. What else is left?"
Ibrahim turned back to the screen. The Court of Owls symbol flickered in the background of an intercepted message.
"They are."
Montoya's expression darkened.
"We always knew this fight wasn't just about money," Ibrahim continued. "Voss was powerful, but he wasn't the mastermind. He was just a tool. The real architects of Gotham's corruption are still out there. Watching. Adjusting."
Montoya sighed. "So, what's next?"
Ibrahim's fingers tightened into a fist.
"We take the fight to them."
Before Montoya could respond, Ibrahim's phone buzzed. A private number. No caller ID.
He hesitated for half a second before answering.
The voice on the other end sent a chill down his spine.
"You should have stopped, Al-Farooq."
Ibrahim's grip on the phone tightened. "And you should have stayed in the shadows."
A low chuckle. "The city's on fire. Do you think that makes you the hero?"
"I don't care about being a hero," Ibrahim shot back. "I care about justice."
The voice was quiet for a moment. Then—
"Good. Because justice is coming for you, too."
The line cut.
Ibrahim lowered the phone slowly.
Montoya frowned. "Who was that?"
Ibrahim's jaw clenched. "The Court just declared war."
Lightning flashed outside. Gotham rumbled.
And the real battle was about to begin.
To Be Continued…