"I hope you don't mind but I brought along my own butler and closest friend..he was wanting to meet you both but I insisted he wait outside...I hope it's alright? He's aware of everything." Bruce said as Sebastian escorted Alfred Pennyworth to the table. "I did instruct him to bring along any of our findings...he hacked into the GCPD database to find any criminal record and to monitor Joker while he was being booked." Bruce explained.<br/><br/>Alfred had a folder with case files and photographs, "Lieutenant Jim Gordon was made Commissioner today, it seems you'll have a close ally with the head of the GCPD now...which should prove useful...since you've been in close contact with him throughout this ordeal."<br/><br/>"He wished me to inform you that he's calling off the hunt for the Batman, and said that was Loeb's idea in the first place." Alfred said to them, it occurred to the England natives that Alfred sounded British as they did.<br/><br/>Opening the case file on the table, Alfred read the notes: "From the information gathered from the GCPD....he's got no prior criminal record, no fingerprints...he apparently burned them off, no name or other alias. What we DO know is that last night he broke into Roman Sionis' apartment, killed his girlfriend and proceeded to ambush him and impersonate him to seal the hit on you."<br/><br/>"Where are the remaining assassins?" Bruce asked.<br/><br/>"In hiding, it would seem. However there is something you should know...District Attorney Harvey Dent never made it home last night. It's possible he's being held hostage somewhere." Alfred stated. "Then we need to find out what he's after...." Bruce said.<br/><br/>"With respect Master Bruce...perhaps it's not as simple as you may think. The organized crime in Gotham is one thing....this is an entirely different beast."<br/><br/>"It's no different than anyone before..." Bruce sipped his tea.<br/><br/>"That's just it, Master Wayne....it is."<br/><br/>Bruce's skepticism was evident, until Alfred spoke again:<br/><br/>"A long time ago I was in Burma working for the local government....they were trying to buy the loyalty of the local tribes by bribing them with precious stones, but their caravans were being raided by a bandit. So we went looking for them....but in six entire months we never met a single person who traded with him."<br/><br/>"A few weeks later I came across a child playing with a ruby the size of my fist....the bandit had been throwing them away."<br/><br/>Bruce looked confused, "Then why'd he steal them?"<br/><br/>"Because he thought it was fun of course. Some men aren't looking for anything logical....like money...and they cannot be bought, bullied or reasoned and negotiated with. Some men seem to just want to watch the world burn."