Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics-Chapter 4285 - 3382: Old City, New Night (Part 1)

Gotham City always possesses astonishing vitality. Mere months ago, it resembled a battlefield after a great war, yet within a few short days, it now presents a thriving and prosperous scene.

The streets are filled with Christmas decorations, golden bells reflecting the snow's light, multicolored decorations on Christmas trees creating a resplendent display, wooden reindeer statues wearing red noses, and candy canes neatly hung in display windows, with children passing through streets and alleys, singing carols.

Batman, who almost controls the entire Gotham elite society, doesn't need that much money. He has invested a part of his funds into the municipal system, and quite straightforwardly distributed another part as Christmas welfare to the common people. It promises to be a warm and joyful Christmas.

The operational system of Gotham State isn't really out of the ordinary, as it resembles the model of Marvel New York State, which is driven by greed. Independent legislative power and tax policies ensure the political system always makes way for economic development, allowing the city to remain an East Coast economic benchmark and thus radiate around underdeveloped areas.

The Pale Knight finds managing political affairs to be second nature, but what displeases him is that he is now forced to collaborate with Penguin Man. As an independent Gotham needs a congressman of influence, Penguin Man is the unequivocal choice.

Batman's condition is fairly alright. He's starting to believe what Catwoman said.

After being arrested by the National Revenue Bureau, all of Batman's weapons were confiscated, including his dearly missed Batman dart. Since then, his mental state has somewhat improved. Also, having taken over the resources of the upper society and having been occupied for a while, he has not felt the sense of emptiness and depression for quite some time.

Shiller is now at Paul's bedside. The big man lying on the bed, looking at his medical report, is shocked to find that his tumor has completely disappeared.

"It's simply a medical miracle," Paul exclaims, "How did you do it? Do you use magic?"

"Magic is someone else's domain," Shiller replied with a smile and a shake of his head, "How does it feel to know that you're the true heir of the Wayne Family?"

"Not much," Paul responds, "I don't know if I would have become someone who could handle so much if I had received an elite education from an early age, but at least I can't now. So, let Bruce Wayne take care of it."

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"What are your plans next?"

"Since Bruce Wayne has returned to his old line of work, naturally, I'll also do what I need to do. Batman might be too busy to make an appearance lately, but Death Angel won't let any criminal off the hook."

"It seems you want to be a superhero?"

"No. The crimes I aim to fight aren't just street-level crimes. Baville gave me a list before he left."

"You work for the National Revenue Bureau now?"

Paul strokes his beard and says, "I'm just finishing the revenge I never completed. There are several top executives at Audine Company I haven't caught yet."

"Well, I hope you don't stir up too much trouble, or Gordon will not let it slide."

Shiller puts down his coffee cup and asks, "So what about Brad, what do you think of him?"

"The same old saying, he's a cunning devil, not a single true word comes from his mouth. He took care of me only for his sick sense of amusement," Paul shook his head, "But considering he did save my life, if one day he's got nowhere to go, I might take him in."

"Then there could be nothing better," Shiller reveals a smile.

In Dr. Tompkins' clinic, Midnight Doctor Piet, holding a medical report, marvels, "It's a miracle, how did he cure so many people's cancer overnight?"

"I suspect it has something to do with the Red Pill," Dr. Tompkins, holding another document, says, "In my research, I considered all possibilities except for magic. But if it's magic, it wouldn't be surprising."

Piet breaks into laughter, "Using drugs as bait to trick people into taking medicine is quite a brilliant idea."

"He's made a good amount of money," Dr. Tompkins says, "Initially, these drugs were sold cheaply, but the price increased later, and they had a substantial shipment volume, squeezing out most traditional drug trades from the market and bankrupting several dealers. That's a good thing, in a way."

In the Wayne building, Batman also holds a research report on the Red Pill. This new drug that can reverse cancer caused by Audine Company instruments was previously a new type of drug that took Gotham by storm.

Thanks to the loose drug policy of New Jersey State, the Red Pill sold well, resulting in the overnight recovery of most patients suffering from radiation-induced cancer.

Yet it wouldn't be surprising if it were Shiller's doing. He's good at turning every good deed into something bizarre.

Batman is currently troubled by another matter: his faithful aide, recuperating from a serious illness, Lucius Fox has handed him a resignation letter, and he is precisely short of hands at the moment.

"You should really reconsider, Lucius," Batman pleads over the phone, "I don't think any other group in the world can offer you the treatment and platform that Wayne Enterprises can..."

Fox, holding the phone, looks towards another Bruce and sighs, "I just need to take a break for a while, Bruce. Perhaps soon I will be able to help again."

After hanging up the phone, Lucius Fox signed the contract. Bruce Wayne showed a satisfied smile, stepped forward, and shook hands with Fox, then said, "Welcome aboard, sir. You'll like the atmosphere at Wayne Enterprises, my employees are much more capable than yours."

"They are too capable indeed," complained Fox. "Though I know leaving when Bruce needs me the most is not ideal, I also bear the responsibility of inadequate oversight inside Wayne Enterprises. It's best I recuse myself while the liquidation is not yet complete."

"Believe me, working for a Wayne is still working for a Wayne."

Fox was noncommittal. He then asked, "What actually has me more curious is, since you come from an almost identical universe, where did that universe's Lucius Fox go?"

Bruce Wayne revealed an awkward expression.

"So this is your real purpose." Shiller pushed open the door of the Arkham Asylum office.

"That's not enough," said Bruce. "You have to help me persuade the Pale Knight to relinquish the Governor's seat to Penguin Man, so that he can smoothly enter Congress and then take over Roy's position as Mayor in my universe."

Shiller rolled his eyes slightly; Bruce's machinations were almost hitting him in the face.

"You're practically the biggest human trafficker in the Multiverse."

"Thank you for the compliment."

Bruce took the comment as a badge of honor and nodded. This was indeed his main reason for being so proactive about the Pale Knight's universe.

Everyone still remembers that due to Bruce's prolonged absence from Wayne Enterprises, the company was left headless. It was heavily struck by the Luther Group, its business scope greatly suppressed and nearly all capable employees were poached.

And that universe's Lucius Fox was one of them; he went straight to Metropolis to develop. Bruce Wayne? No acquaintance there. That man is now the president of the Luther Group.

Even though Wayne Enterprises is almost turned into a Siberian Forest Cat Breeding Base, there still needs to be a capable and loyal Executor. Since he couldn't count on his universe's Fox, Bruce had to dig one up from another universe.

But as the saying goes, since I'm here. As Roy had already gone to the State Council, and Gordon was too indispensable as the Commissioner to be promoted, the Mayor position of Gotham City had been vacant for a long time. Bruce had to turn his gaze to other universes.

Alas, most of Gotham's Mayors were either Penguin Man himself or in cahoots with him. After sifting through the choices, Bruce could only opt for the Pale Knight, who was reasonably reliable.

What? You ask what happened to this universe's Penguin Man?

Let's just say that in the group battle targeting Wayne Enterprises, the highest damage was inflicted by the Luther Group, followed by the Iceberg Group. Now thriving in real estate and entertainment chain businesses, they had no interest in the Mayor's position.

So, essentially, Bruce was here for a headhunting mission. However, if Gotham in this universe was in too bad of shape, then no one could benefit. Pale Knight was especially tied up, so he had to cure the sickness and then poach the vital assets.

Bruce had no worry whether the Pale Knight would agree to leave or not, as the one helping him here was Greed, with a strategy that never relied on others' kindness, but on leaving them no other choice.

Indeed, the Pale Knight had no other choice, for Shiller had persuaded Harley, and Harley was about to give birth.

Previous prenatal checks had shown that Harley was expecting twins. Though it seemed like inhaling poison gas had no significant impact on the children, no one could be sure. Pale Knight needed better medical conditions to ensure the safety of his wife and children.

The era of the Pale Knight's universe was not advanced enough, not even reaching the year 2010, clearly lacking such medical technology. Whereas, in Greed's current Marvel universe, which had entered the stage of cosmic development, medical standards were far superior.

Furthermore, with the experience of Pepper and Scarlet Witch, they had plenty of means to deal with various pregnancy complications; giving birth there would be a better choice.

Alright, this is just the official explanatory version. The truth is, Harley just wanted to have some crazy fun over there with her big belly, and the Pale Knight, concerned for her, could only follow.

After successfully persuading the Pale Knight, Shiller was in the city hall office inventorying his gains from this trip.

He hadn't actually taken any payment this time, because his purpose in helping Bruce was really to prepare for Arrogant and Bruce's later big moves. Strengthening the Gotham of their universe was the best reward.

Of course, he also took a little interest, such as Brad's house. That stingy Devil finally agreed to give him both the drugstore and house on Bourbon Street to prevent Greed from chasing him to other universes to annoy him.

DC's Heaven and Hell transcend universes, and Devils can travel across different Individual Universes, their houses being no exception. This meant that Greed now had a fixed abode in every DC universe; although not every universe had a Bourbon Street, as long as a special magical key was used to open a door, he could enter Brad's house.

Next, Shiller took away all the crystals from the meteor crater beneath Arkham Insane Asylum. This stuff not only had effects on the Human race but also moderately affected other carbon-based lifeforms—it could be a significant weapon if used well.

Additionally, he got some of Batman's blood, along with the spells copied from the underground of Arkham Fortress, he now had contact information for Cthugya. Although Shiller hadn't tried calling yet, given the good relationship between Cthugya and Nya, this object would eventually come in handy one day.