Chapter 771: Bruce? Not Really Familiar! (Part 1) (Patreon)

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After the typhoon, the morning brought a slight improvement in the weather. The dark clouds that had covered Gotham dispersed somewhat. Following a night of fierce winds and heavy rain, the air became unusually fresh.

Jason, standing by the window, stretched lazily, moved his neck a bit, and woke up Sliphead, who was still asleep in bed. Sliphead, getting up, asked while washing up, "Are you going for breakfast today?"

"Of course, the canteen at this school is quite good," Jason patted his chest and said, "I'm growing, need to eat more."

"I won't go today. I didn't quite understand the transmission structure the teacher talked about yesterday. I need to go early to ask the teacher," Sliphead, holding his books, was about to leave when Jason stopped him, saying, "Hold on, let me get you something. Do you want a burger or a wrap?"

"Give me a wrap, but without sauce, it's too salty," Sliphead replied, walking out. Jason, standing behind him, shook his head, saying, "Quite a peculiar guy, with peculiar tastes."

Suddenly, he covered his forehead, saying, "Oh my, the transmission structure... What did the teacher emphasize yesterday?"

Realizing it was still early, Jason sat on his bed, murmuring, "Sometimes, I envy him for finding something he likes to do."

With his hands behind his head, leaning on the pillow, he said, "... What do I like? Fixing cars? But I steal tires just to sell them for money. Do I really enjoy tinkering with those mechanical parts?"

Jason shook his head, seeming a bit puzzled. Suddenly, he leaped up, reinvigorated his body, and said, "Jason, you don't have that luxury. You can't just lie down and count money. Let's go."

Soon, Jason arrived at the canteen. Because the technical college classes started earlier than those in the main campus, most of the people having breakfast in the canteen were technical college students.

They all knew these two relatively young newcomers. Jason waved and greeted them.

Jason had good social skills, able to fit in anywhere, thanks to his experiences in the lower depths of Gotham.

You see, in a place like Gotham, to become the leader of a children's gang, one needed not only intelligence and courage but also high emotional intelligence.

In a sense, managing children was more difficult than adults. They made more mistakes and required more effort to settle issues. At the same time, it had to be done in a way that didn't make other children who hadn't made mistakes feel unfairly treated.

The gang led by Jason, the "Rolltail Gang," was well-known throughout a whole street because their leader had more leadership than others. He could always handle unimaginable troubles, ensuring the safety and interests of his gang members.

While Sliphead stole Batmobile tires to practice his skills, Jason did it just to earn money to support the gang. His later assistance to Sliphead was merely out of loyalty.

Actually coming to school to study car repair didn't ignite much interest in Jason.

With his food in hand, Jason planned to find a quiet place to eat. Then, in the corner of the canteen, he saw a familiar figure, Schiller.

Normally, the teacher's cafeteria and the student canteen were separate. However, since the main cafeteria didn't open early, and the chefs hadn't started working, Schiller had been eating in the student canteen these days.

No students sat near Schiller, but the diagonal seats were crowded. Many people feared him, worried that he might find them displeasing and freeze them with an umbrella.

However, Jason's approach was unique. He found being frozen quite fun, so he wasn't afraid of Schiller at all. Holding his plate high and happily, he walked over, asking, "Professor Schiller, can I sit here and eat?"

Schiller looked up at him and said, "Of course, what do you want? A burger? Why is there also a wrap?"

"Oh, that's for Sliphead," Jason shrugged, placing the plate down. "He said he didn't understand something about the transmission structure the teacher talked about yesterday. So, he's already in the classroom this morning asking the teacher."

"He's a good student, suitable for this profession," Schiller nodded. "In the future, he'll become an excellent automotive engineer."

"Really? Do you think so too?" Jason asked after sitting down, picking up the burger and taking a bite. "What about me? What do you think I'll do in the future?"

Schiller chuckled, finding it amusing that Jason, despite being a child, always liked to make himself look like an adult, appearing both serious and ridiculous.

"It's because I don't know what I want to do that I'm asking others. Sliphead wants to invent cars with me, but honestly, I don't have any special interest in cars. I steal Batmobile tires just to sell them at a high price," Jason sighed.

"Do you really want to earn money?" Schiller asked.

Jason shook his head, saying, "Actually, I don't need that much money. But there are many kids in the Rolltail Gang who can't go out to work. I have to earn as much money as possible to support the gang."

"But now it's much better," Jason revealed a smile. "The older kids can sell newspapers, cigarettes, or deliver things. The younger ones can go to the daycare, where they not only don't charge money but also provide a meal. Otherwise, I can't get away. Those little troublemakers will surely cause mischief when no one is watching."

Seeing him again displaying an adult-like worried expression, Schiller found it extremely interesting. He asked, "So, do you want to lead a gang?"

Jason hesitated for a moment and said, "I don't know what it means to lead a gang. Is it about developing a gang to the strongest? But, I..."

Jason hesitated for a moment, as if contemplating. Then he said, "I don't know if what gangs do is right. Everyone does it, so I can only do it too. But I don't like robbery and want to avoid conflicts as much as possible..."

"I don't know if I have the courage to send the children from the Rolltail Gang, who grew up with me, to the frontline of a shootout, to get hurt and bleed for me to earn money."

Schiller looked at him, feeling somewhat surprised. Not because of his viewpoint, but because Jason's ability to express himself far exceeded what his age should have. He could articulate certain questions that should be quite bewildering at this age very clearly.

Many people feel certain emotions but don't know where those emotions come from. Others know where the emotions come from but can't express them in words. Some people, despite having the ability to express emotions through language, are reluctant to do so due to their personalities.

The process of moving from feeling to expression involves overcoming many obstacles. Generally, it requires an increase in ability through understanding of things and accumulation of experience. However, some people are naturally gifted.

They are more sensitive to their own and others' emotions and can express the emotions they perceive with very clear logic. The process from feeling to expression flows smoothly for them without hindrance, making it a rather special ability.

Schiller cut a small piece of steak and put it in his mouth, asking Jason, "In an environment where everyone doesn't do good things, are you willing to go against the tide and be the one doing something different?"

"How do you distinguish between good and bad?" Jason asked again. "I don't want the children in my gang to go hungry, so I steal tires and sell them. I've read in newspapers that stealing is wrong, but I can't watch the Rolltail Gang's children go hungry."

"They go hungry because their parents don't care for them. And their parents might not care for them because they either died in a gang shootout or were oppressed by the gang, leaving them with no time to take care of their children."

"So, stealing the gang members' tires is just asking for compensation for nurturing the children. I don't think it's doing something bad."

Schiller stared at Jason and said, "What about stealing Batmobile tires? You know that Batman is a vigilant who stops criminals."

"That's because he's rich," Jason said very straightforwardly. "Losing one tire is probably not even equivalent to one meal for him. But if that tire can be sold, the Rolltail Gang won't have to worry about meals for two months."

"Do you think rich people deserve to be stolen from? Or, in committing the same crime, do you think crimes against rich people should be forgiven?"

"I don't know," Jason answered. "I often wonder, why are some people rich?"

"I'm curious. Where does money come from in the world? Newspapers say money is printed by banks. Then why can't banks print more and let everyone have money?"

"Why do rich people, knowing that for them, a nice piece of jewelry or a sculpture might provide several months of meals for the poor and children, still refuse to give that money? Is it because they don't see it, or because they don't care?"

Schiller smiled as he watched Jason, saying, "If you were a rich person, would you be willing to give your money to the poor?"

"I'm confused because of that," Jason shook his head. "When I was poor, I hoped that rich people would do more, but when I fantasize about being rich, I think about buying a big house I like or going on an adventure in the West. Is it normal to think like that?"

Jason took another bite of the burger and said, "Newspapers never talk about these things, but the books Sliphead showed me don't tell me either. They only talk about how the engine operates."

"But... can making the engine run faster really prevent everyone from going hungry?"

"Do you want everyone to not go hungry?" Schiller asked.

"Of course!" Jason raised his voice, staring at Schiller. "No one in the world wouldn't want that, right? Everyone would think it would be great if everyone could eat and afford what they like, right?"

Schiller asked again, "Do you think achieving this is through stopping bad things or promoting good things?"

"Can't we do both?" Jason shrugged. "Anyway, it's just a fantasy. I think it's entirely possible to do both—on one hand, prevent criminals from committing crimes, and on the other hand, reward those who do good things so they'll do more good things."

"How do you think we can stop crime?" Schiller asked again.

"I don't know, but I just know that throwing all the criminals who have already committed crimes into prison doesn't seem to work."

Jason pursed his lips and said, "Gotham has been doing this for so many years, and there are still criminals. Before, you could say the police didn't do their job well, but since that police chief named Gordon came, the efficiency of the police has been quite high. But Gotham is still in this state."

Those who had finished their burgers, Jason propped his face up with one hand, saying, "I don't know why, but my intuition tells me that prohibiting bad things and encouraging good things should actually be the same thing. But I don't know what that is."

Schiller's eye contact became brighter, but Jason glanced at the clock on the wall and said, "Oh, my God, it's almost time for class. I have to go study the car transmission system again..."

"I'll leave now, Professor. We can talk another day."

"Wait!" Schiller stopped him, saying, "I really liked something you just said..."

"What?" Jason asked with some confusion.

"Making the engine run faster can't prevent everyone from going hungry, at least not in the short term."

"What can then?" Jason asked instinctively.

Schiller smiled and looked at him, saying, "If you want to know the answer, I suggest you switch majors."

"Switch majors? Switch to what major?"

"Psychology."

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Next Chapter>>Chapter 772: Bruce? Not Familiar at All! (Part 1)