Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics

Wayne Manor was permeated with an awkward atmosphere.

Batman put down his hand which was reaching for his cell phone for the sixteenth time—Dick Grayson was not coming back.

What would it have been like if Alfred were here? Perhaps he would have cheerfully poured a cup of tea for the pale knight or even taken his coat to iron, persuading him through the door to greet each visitor with a sincere attitude.

Alfred always enjoyed the bustle, as if managing such a large manor alone wasn't enough, hoping for more people to come and trouble him. He was deeply saddened when Jason left without saying goodbye, and Dick's arrival made him happy.

But Batman was never a man good at making friends. Bruce Wayne wouldn't hold his lively parties here either. On every night that Batman was away, Alfred would watch over the empty manor alone, hoping that tomorrow would bring something different.

Even if it was the Joker who came today, as long as he was willing to sit down and have tea, Alfred would chat with him. When he was alive, Batman would have found it ridiculous, but now that he was gone, Batman wished to see this ludicrous scene with his own eyes.

The pale knight didn't bring much personal baggage, but he did bring a multitude of documents—things he needed to deal with recently, especially the chemical pollution issue in District X15 that required many documents to be reviewed.

Not wanting to disturb Batman too much, the pale knight stayed in the guest area to the back right of the living room, while Batman watched the news on TV in the front.

He heard the news broadcaster on the television narrating the mayor's several policies addressing pollution.

Initially, Batman just watched casually, never expecting the Joker to come up with any effective strategies, but after hearing the first policy, he didn't feel like changing the channel and listened very seriously.

"…All of these are first-hand reports obtained by our station's reporter during an interview with the mayor's assistant this afternoon. It is said that the mayor plans to implement the above policies within the next half a month…"

Batman slightly lowered his eyelids, glanced towards the back of the living room, and in that moment, he recognized the pale knight's governance capability anew.

Nearly all of the policies he proposed stemmed from improving the living quality of the common people, and it was clear that they would be very effective—far from empty talk. But half a month seemed too tight a deadline; he probably didn't have enough manpower and funding.

Batman had also been involved in the incidents at the time. He knew that Maria had intentionally damaged the pipes to guard against him, and felt that he had a responsibility in this.

Should he help push these policies forward?

Batman went through all the policies in his mind one more time and couldn't find any flaws. Essentially, if these could be executed, they would not only safeguard Gotham citizens but also significantly increase trust in this city government.

However, helping the Joker with this matter still made him feel quite awkward. If the Joker was right, then what about him?

Casting aside the messy thoughts in his mind, Batman still dialed Lucius Fox's number, briefly explaining the environmental policies he saw on the television.

"…I think it might benefit the daily lives of the surrounding people, and we could offer help to the city government when necessary. What do you think?"

"I am glad you think so, Bruce, it's time to bounce back. I will continue to monitor the implementation of these policies and assist when necessary," Lucius Fox said in a firm voice, which offered some relief to Batman. He knew not everyone had deserted him—Lucius Fox would be a steadfast supporter.

"But have you heard? The mayor has cut the benefits for city government employees, and they are very discontent."

"What is there to be discontent about?" Batman did not realize the anger in his own voice as he said, "If it wasn't for their continuous aid to those with ulterior motives, the finances of the city government and Wayne Enterprises wouldn't be in the state they are now—it's just a drop in the ocean compared to what they obtained through improper means."

That said, human nature is greedy; once they could take more, they are unwilling to settle for less now. The city government might face some instability soon.

Batman's brows furrowed.

He initially thought the pale knight's excuse, that the city government was going to close, which is why he needed to work from here, was simply a pretext and had some other scheme in mind. However, he did not expect that Lucius Fox also thought the city government might run into problems.

Batman had to trust Lucius Fox's judgment because his old partner hardly spoke in vain—if he spoke like this, he must have sound reasoning.

But if the government shut down, what would happen to those policies? If they couldn't be implemented soon enough, they would surely be obstructed by some people, like countless other beneficial proposals that vanished silently into Gotham's night.

What exactly was the pale knight up to?

"I also watched the evening news, and I must admit, our new mayor is quite capable. The policies he proposed are not extreme but carry tangible benefits—it's very likely they can be pushed through," Lucius Fox's voice rose again.

"Do you think it's possible?" Batman asked.

"Yes, he used some tactics as cover, making these policies appear not to touch the core interests of the upper class. It may even boost their reputation. Even if only half are executed, it would still be a good thing for the residents nearby."

After a few seconds of silence, Batman said, "If the city government has problems, these policies won't be able to be executed."

Lucius Fox fell silent too, then Batman spoke up, "Don't count on the city government; let's do it ourselves."

"Alright," Lucius Fox said, "I will do my utmost, but I'm only confident I can carry out half, as the city government and the upper class are both friends and foes—they still think they can persuade the pale knight to work for them, so they will make concessions in this area."

"But we have a purely competitive relationship with them. In recent years, they have banded together to suppress Wayne Enterprises. If we step in, they will not let it go."

Batman fell silent again, aware that the sigh he released sounded utterly despondent, but he also knew that in the face of such a situation, anyone in the world who could sigh only once could be considered to have a strong will.

Fox suddenly spoke up, "Have you heard anything from the Gotham Police Department?"

"What?"

"James met with several wealthy individuals, they seemed to be discussing issues related to funding for the GTO."

"You had predicted that the GTO would face funding shortages, and I even warned Nightwing, but he didn't listen." Batman said, "What are they planning to do?"

"I too find it astonishing, but our old friend seems to be planning to sell the GTO."

"What?!" Batman sprang to his feet and said, "Lucius, now is not the time for jokes!"

Batman is often a superhero, but he is also a successful businessman, possessing the keen business acumen of a merchant.

In that moment, he realized if Gordon owned the GTO, it was as if no one did, because Gordon could not be corrupted. But if Gordon didn't want the GTO, then whoever acquired it would become the new King of Gotham.

"Before you rang me, I was already investigating this matter." Lucius's voice came through the phone, serious, "I can't be sure who persuaded the stubborn James, but they did succeed. James chose to play his best card at the perfect moment."

"The new mayor has taken office. Although they already control 90% of the city government departments, the mayor is still the mayor. If he remains steadfast, many things can become very troublesome."

"They've realized the pale knight is not someone who is easily swayed. Perhaps they've also prepared many methods to tame him, but all this takes time. During this period, no one can guarantee their industries function smoothly at the official level, which makes them feel at risk."

"If James chooses to throw out the GTO at this time, it would definitely trigger a mad scramble among all parties because the squad's capabilities have been proven before, and it is independent, not under the jurisdiction of the Gotham law enforcement or military. It's a powerful private militia capable of greatly ensuring their industrial safety."

"And I've also heard that James has made major concessions. He's even allowing members of the squad to accept private employment, which means that whoever gets this team can use it to cause trouble for their competitors."

Batman then slowly sat back down, his tone revealing his perplexity; this didn't seem like Gordon's style.

"You can say that again. But before, I had my sights set on our new mayor, and somewhat neglected recent movements from James. Now, our focus isn't on why he suddenly had a change of heart, but rather on who will ultimately get their hands on this Sharp Blade."

"It must be us." Batman asserted without a second thought, "We can't let others have the GTO, otherwise they will surely use this blade against us. Wayne Enterprises cannot afford any more setbacks."

"But you must also consider the cost of acquiring it; first is a significant sum of money, and second are the ongoing maintenance costs, and if you're not willing, we can't use it to create trouble for our competitors, which means the cost-effectiveness will be lowered."

Batman fell into contemplative silence, and Lucius always knew when to give him space, so he also remained quiet.

"We can only choose one." said Batman, "Support the mayor's new policy or acquire the GTO."

"Yes, our funds probably only suffice for one of those actions."

"So what's your recommendation?"

"I would lean towards the latter, but I know you want both. Give me some time to think of a solution, and you should also make a decision quickly."

After hanging up the phone, Batman sat in silence, weighing the pros and cons.

"On the truck transporting the cargo." Bruce said to Shiller, "Those wealthy people getting the GTO, even if used for mutual strife, could endanger civilians, right? Or make it harder for civilian resistance."

"You're thinking too much. They won't be able to get their hands on the GTO."

Bruce looked at Shiller, full of doubt, saying, "Isn't your purpose to let them get their hands on the GTO, so they can cut at each other?"

"If they cut at each other, the money would just circulate among them and not enter my pockets."

"I don't quite understand." Bruce said, "You always seem to be very good at quickly overturning your previous conclusions."

"That's only because you haven't calculated comprehensively enough." Shiller said, "For example, you've overlooked a key factor here."

"What?"

"Batman." Shiller said with a smile. "No action from James Gordon can be hidden from Batman. If he learns that Gordon is selling the GTO, what do you think he'll do?"

"Batman won't allow that blade to fall into others' hands." Bruce was very sure, "Setting aside his controlling nature, it would also be because if others got it, Wayne Enterprises would be in danger."

"Right, he won't allow it."

"He also has the capability to acquire it." Bruce continued, "Although Wayne Enterprises has been struggling lately, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse; they should still be able to afford it."

"Normally, they could." Shiller suddenly smiled again, then turned to Bruce and said, "But what if there's a plan that could benefit the public more, waiting for his funding?"