Phantom Kid in the World of American Comics

”Alfred, your thoughts are all written on your face, no need to say these words to perfume me.”

Bruce caught his breath and finished his thousandth push-up.

This is not his limit back in the days, but his current body supports only this much performance now.

”So, tell me, what happened?”

Bruce stood up, grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from his face.

Alfred had no choice but to tell him about Phantom Kid.

Who knows why Bruce was not even shocked at hearing this news.

”From the moment I knew that Queen Elizabeth would wear the Tamil ruby, I knew as well that he would not let go of this unique gem.”

”Let’s see what kind of riddle he has given us this time?”

Bruce took the paper from Alfred’s hand and looked at Kid’s teaser letter.

”Q, L, G, B, M, K?”

”Interesting, this time the teaser letter is much more cryptic than the last one.”

Alfred nodded and said, “Yes, Master Wayne, I don’t have any good clue at the moment.”

”What is the current location of the Queen?”

”According to time calculations, Her Majesty should be in the State Guest House building now, meeting all the gentry. At night, there will be a grand banquet, inviting Gotham celebrities to it.”

”Including the heads of the upper-class families, right?”, Bruce suddenly asked.

”Yes, sir.”

”Did we receive an invitation?”

”As a matter of fact, the Waynes did receive it, but you don’t need to attend. Since ancient times, Wayne has never actively participated in political activities. This makes us hugely different from the Stark family.”

”Wayne has always only focused on civilians and society, so you don’t have to care about this banquet.”, Alfred said lightly.

”Don’t say that Alfred, Queen Elizabeth is a good monarch, and I think it is very necessary for me to attend this banquet, so… go and help me to get ready, now.”

”As you wish, sir, but I suggest you shave your beard first.”

”Of course!”, Bruce responded, and then proceeded to begin his physical exercise.

Old Town, at Jim Gordon’s residence… in the small townhouse across the street, Barbara took the Gotham Gazette, which she had just bought, and ran to the door of a small house, knocking vigorously on the door.

Soon, Mathison opened the door and stared dead at Barbara, with his eyes halfway closed.

”Hi, beautiful and charming Miss Gordon, don’t you know it’s my nap time?”

Mathison was not expecting that, just not long after returning from the airport, the news started flying all over the place.

It’s only been a few hours since the newspaper was printed, is the printing factory open all the time?

Barbara didn’t care about Mathison’s question, she screamed at Mathison with an excited look on her face: “Look, the third teaser letter from Phantom Kid has appeared, and it was sent to Queen Elizabeth, what you said a few days ago really happened!”

Mathison looked at Barbara waving the newspaper in front of herself and asked, “So what?”

At that, Barbara raised an eyebrow, dissatisfied: “What is that attitude of yours, this kind of thing was said by you, almost like a prophecy, are you not surprised at all?”

”Or is it…”

Barbara wrapped her hands around her head and asked Mathison with a low voice, “You wouldn’t have known all along that Phantom Kid would send out this teaser letter?”

Mathison felt the aggression in her eyes and couldn’t help but sweat. This girl doesn’t even try to hide her suspicions.

«Now is not the time for a showdown, I have to think of a way to calm down Barbara and make her drop her suspicions about me.»

”How could I possibly know what Phantom Kid would do? I just blurted it out the other day and I bet I’m not the only one who thought so.”

Mathison scratched his head and said innocently: “I’m not a detective enthusiast, I am a magic lover. I don’t have much interest in thievery. Why would this shock me?”

Perfect rhetoric.

Reasonable.

Barbara couldn’t find any loopholes, she had no option but to agree: “Well, I have to admit you’re right.”

”Anyway, come in, the sun outside is too dazzling.”

Naturally, Mathison pulled Barbara closer to the room.

”I heard you say earlier that Mr Gordon is in charge of Her Majesty’s security, so he must be very busy these days. I assume you haven’t had lunch today.”

Barbara’s face blushed, she was clueless at cooking. Not even stray dogs could eat the food she made, and Gordon was not at home these days, so she had to live on pizza.

Originally, she wanted to come here to have a meal with Mathison, but he was on a trip with his teacher to learn the fundamentals of magic. In reality, he went to work at the airport and came home late every day.

After surviving on pizza for a few days, Barbara really couldn’t eat it today. She was thinking about going out for a meal with her remaining pocket money, only to see a newspaper about Phantom Kid.

At that point, she didn’t even think about it and rushed to Mathison’s house, regardless of whether he came back or not.

As for Barbara’s brother, James Jr., he usually eats in the high school’s cafeteria.

All this is to be blamed on Gordon’s busy life. Despite that he is the director of the Gotham City Police Department, yet still lives in an Old town’s antique house. His family does not even hire a maid, and usually is strict at limiting Barbara’s and James Jr.’s pocket money.

”Zee-“

Mathison started the oven, brought a pan, and poured oil to be heated. Single-handedly broke two eggs to occupy half of the pan, then put three strips of bacon on the other side to be fried over medium heat.

Put two slices of toast in the Toaster, the eggs and bacon are being fried, then cut a little lettuce for a simple salad.

The combination of meat and vegetables is particularly important.

Finally, he poured a glass of milk.

In this way, a breakfast called ‘lunch’ is ready.

”I’m afraid you’re too hungry, this is the fastest thing I can cook.”, Mathison said thoughtfully. 

   From the time he walked into the kitchen to serve the food on the table, a total of no more than five minutes had passed.

Hungry Barbara, smelling the scent of bacon, eggs, and toasted bread, was appetised.

”Sure enough, you know how to cook. The bacon is fried until it is charred, and the fat is evenly distributed, smooth and not greasy. This is the best fried bacon I have ever tasted.”

After devouring her food, Barbara said with a satisfied look on her face.

Mathison was amused, “What are you talking about, those who don’t know you would think you’re a gourmet.”

”Hmph, I am complimenting yet you’re not happy about it!”, Barbara grunted.

”I’m not only here just to tell you the news about Phantom Kid.”

After a while, Barbara suddenly looked at Mathison, a pair of big eyes bright to the extreme.

Mathison became alert all of a sudden.

”When Her Majesty was coming, I wanted to go see her. It also just so happens that we do not have classes these days and, since you are home today, this proves that your magic lessons are also over… so, will you accompany me to see Her Majesty?”

Barbara stared closely at Mathison, with her eyes sharp, daring him to refuse her invitation.

”Additionally, I want to help dad catch Phantom Kid.”

”This… Well, okay, I will accompany you, I really can’t say no to you.”

Mathison was planning to refuse stiffly but then thought that this perhaps is a perfect opportunity to eliminate Barbara’s suspicions, and changed his mind.