The next day.
The entire Los Angeles Police Department was in chaos.
In just one night, a mere overnight, thirty-eight people in Los Angeles were dead, all dried up as if their blood had been sucked dry or, more accurately, as if the blood in their bodies had been evaporated by some mysterious force, leaving them real mummies with skin clinging to bones.
Without needing analysis, it was clear that these thirty-eight people were killed by the same perpetrator.
The Los Angeles Police Department pulled up surveillance footage, only to discover a figure with a flaming red skull, clad in a leather outfit, riding a motorcycle that also blazed with intense flames, appearing as if it could explode any second, emerging from an alley and wiping out these thirty-eight individuals in one night.
Although the deceased were not exactly upstanding citizens—mostly members of Los Angeles gangs, including several leaders—the clustered and identical nature of their deaths posed a huge problem.
All the gang organizations in Los Angeles believed someone was targeting them, and several powerful gangs had already united to put up a joint bounty of two million dollars for the killer, dead or alive.
As for the Los Angeles Police Department, their actions were no slower than the gangs.
"This guy dressed up as a skeleton on fire, even if we have to turn Los Angeles upside down, we need to find him! Remember, we need to find this person before those gangs do!"
The Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department commanded, banging the table.
Meanwhile.
The media got wind of this news.
News flooded Los Angeles, quickly climbing to the top of the trending searches.
Super killer wipes out thirty-eight gang members overnight.
Skeleton man? Is it a superpower or a disguise?
Gang vendetta? Street hero?
News flooded the city of Los Angeles, buzzing into the ears of all city residents, and even neighboring cities, including New York, began reporting on the incident.
Eddie, handling his daily work, saw the news and, knowing Anton was in New York, even called to ask if Anton was aware of the incident.
Anton told him not to worry about it.
Eddie understood immediately.
"Batman v Superman" production set.
Anton leisurely inspected the work in the set-up studio, occasionally pulling out his phone to check the latest news on this super murder case published by the Los Angeles Times.
The police indicated they had some leads but could not disclose them yet they planned to hold a press conference once the case was solved.
However, the actions of the Los Angeles gangs were much faster than the orderly Los Angeles Police Department.
They had already sent people to Los Angeles Chinatown.
Because the last known location of the Ghost Rider on his motorcycle was in Chinatown.
Los Angeles, the City of Angels, might not be Anton turf, but Anton wasn't without influence and informants here.
Don't forget, Batman, in some ways, also shelters the Continental Hotel in New York.
The Continental belongs to the High Table.
The High Table underground power extends throughout the world.
Los Angeles is no exception.
Among the gangs, many members are under the High Table.
For Anton, finding out what the Los Angeles gangs are up to is much easier than knowing the moves of the Los Angeles Police Department.
"Chinatown?"
Anton pondered for a moment, planning to take a stroll in Chinatown.
He had tried calling Johnny, but it went unanswered.
Recalling last night events through Constantine memories, he guessed that Johnny, transformed into the Ghost Rider, probably wasn't in the habit of carrying a mobile phone.
That meant he'd have to search the hard way.
After all, unlike Mephisto, Anton didn't have the constraint of a contract to locate him.
Fortunately, Chinatown wasn't large, and Anton had the High Table providing intelligence.
Johnny was fairly well-known in Los Angeles, so finding him shouldn't be too difficult.
With that thought, he left the film set.
Los Angeles, Chinatown.
Old Dad Antique Shop.
Afternoon.
The antique shop should have been open, but it was unexpectedly closed.
Surprisingly, the door, which was of bulletproof glass quality, was now shattered, with the two door frames barely hanging together.
A large Asian man, resembling a sumo wrestler, was carefully sweeping up the glass shards with a broom that looked like a toothpick compared to his size.
"Old Dad, how is that person doing?"
A ten-year-old Asian girl, standing excitedly beside a frail, white-haired old man, eagerly asked in Chinese.
"I found out his identity, his name is Johnny Blaze. He a motorcycle stunt performer who has broken ten world records. He a legend in the motorcycle stunt world!"
The girl clenched her fists, mimicking a boxing pose, and excitedly said, "But his fans would never imagine that their idol is actually a demon… The killer who murdered thirty-eight gang members last night was this Johnny Blaze."
"Oh dear, Jade, be careful, you're almost hitting my antiques."
Old Dad hurriedly shooed Jade to the side.
"That bastard smashed so many of my antiques, I'll make him pay double the compensation."
While speaking, Old Dad looked at Tru: "Tru, go see if that man has woken up, if he has, make him pay."
"Old Dad…"
Tru shrank his neck, showing a timidity that did not match his large physique: "I'm scared."
"Scared?"
Old Dad was furious: "What there to be scared of? It daytime, the Spirit of Vengeance generally doesn't appear during the day."
"The Spirit of Vengeance, the Ghost Rider?"
Jade jumped over excitedly again: "Old Dad, was everything you said yesterday true? The Ghost Rider punishes the guilty, so he killed so many gang members, and he even wanted to kill Tru yesterday… Is Tru a guilty person?"
"The Ghost Rider eyes tolerate no sand, he won't tolerate any sin."
Old Dad explained: "Jade, in this world, most people have done some wrong things at some point.
Tru used to work for Walong, and under Walong command, he did many wrong things, of course he was guilty.
But now he has reformed, and District 13 has pardoned Tru mistakes, so Tru is no longer a guilty person!"
"Then why did the Ghost Rider want to kill Tru?"
Jade didn't understand.
"Because the Ghost Rider forgives no one, even if the person who did wrong has made amends for their actions…"
Suddenly, a voice reached their ears.
The three turned their heads to look.
"Uncle Long?"
Jade eyes lit up when she saw the two people at the door. She excitedly shouted again and ran over, clinging to one of them like a koala, then turned her head and asked:
"Who is he?"
"Uh, I don't know who he is, but he said he here to buy antiques."
Jackie Chan scratched his head, lifted Jade down to the ground, and turned back to the blond man beside him: "Right, I forgot to ask your name, sir."
"John."
The blond man said: "John Constantine."