Chapter 825: The Way to Break the Stalemate (Patreon)

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In general, students who participate in the second round of internships are those who aspire to secure employment in Gotham. Otherwise, they would have already found jobs in other cities by now.

To work in Gotham, one cannot avoid dealing with gang members. While academic prowess is important, one must first learn how to handle the unique patients here to safeguard their own lives.

Therefore, choosing Arkham Asylum as the location for the second round of internships was not a problem. There are indeed not many mentally ill patients here, but students can still learn a lot about surviving in Gotham.

Schiller had already informed all the patients here that a group of students would be coming for internships soon, and they should answer their questions honestly when presented with case files.

As long as they are human, they all have some psychological issues to varying degrees. Even if they are not typical cases, they can still provide some valuable experience.

Schiller did not expect to see Bruce here. Clearly, Bruce could not have established a gang in such a short time.

Since he hadn't truly formed a gang, his presence here was obviously a result of some deception or trickery.

It seemed that he had become more resourceful than Schiller had imagined. However, Schiller didn't need to worry about him now; he wouldn't have enough credits to graduate.

After all, he had participated in the second round of internships, even if it was in the capacity of a patient.

Soon, Bruce found himself surrounded by his former classmates, who asked him various questions in a somewhat awkward and inexperienced manner to assess his current psychological state.

Bruce could only dutifully play the role of a young gang leader who had just taken over and answer their rather pointed questions.

Schiller waited nearby and after a while, he glanced at his watch and said, "I'm going to visit other groups now. It's almost lunchtime. When it's time to finish, you can all go down for lunch together. You don't need to wait for me. I'll be in my office handling some matters."

With that, he left, and Bruce's gaze was fixed on Schiller. Clearly, he had some things he wanted to discuss with Schiller. However, before he could find an excuse to leave, his classmates surrounded him again.

Bruce was eager to talk to Schiller, but unfortunately, these students from the three groups were all outstanding graduates and candidates. They had a strong passion for learning and were eager to compete for the title of outstanding graduate. Catching a patient like Bruce was a rare opportunity, and they wanted to gather enough information to gain an advantage.

While Bruce dealt with them, he kept an eye on the door. Finally, when it was close to lunchtime, the other students left, leaving only Evans behind.

Bruce was in a hurry to leave, but Evans stopped him and said, "Which territory are you the boss of? I haven't seen you before."

Bruce touched his mask and replied, "Your Excellency Godfather, my territory is near Wayne Tower, and I've taken over recently. It's normal that you haven't seen me..."

Evans squinted his eyes and asked, "Wayne Tower? That should be the territory of the Twelve Families. Have you eliminated any of them? Haven't their families caused you any trouble?"

Bruce sighed and said, "Your Excellency Godfather, aren't you hungry? The restaurant is downstairs. Would you like me to escort you there?"

Evans became even more puzzled. Although he wasn't the Godfather himself, Alberto was, their memories were shared. When the old Godfather retired and Evans officially took over the Falcone Family, everyone praised the new Godfather.

Seeing this strange stranger before him, who seemed more concerned about Professor Schiller than anything else, Evans didn't know whether to call him fearless or just plain foolish.

Bruce didn't have time to engage with Evans; he had too many questions for Schiller. So, he walked quickly towards Schiller's office.

Evans found it strange, so he followed behind him. Bruce wanted to shake him off, but he was worried that Schiller might leave early, so he didn't pay much attention to Evans. The two of them rushed into Schiller's office one after the other.

In the office, Schiller was reviewing the initial diagnosis reports submitted by the students. When he saw the two of them enter, he pushed up his glasses and said, "You're here? Please have a seat."

"Evans..." Schiller first gestured to Evans and said, "Call your elder brother out. We need to talk."

Evans hesitated for a moment, but then he saw Bruce take off his mask.

Actually, at this point, Bruce's facial injuries had almost healed. Apart from looking slightly thinner, his original appearance was still recognizable. Evans widened his eyes in shock and said, "Bruce?! What are you doing here? How are you... I mean, how could you..."

"Alright, don't be too surprised," Schiller reassured him. He said, "Our Mr. Wayne here is quite interested in the second-round internship. So, he volunteered to become a patient. In the afternoon, you'll have to treat him as well. Now, call your elder brother. We have important matters to discuss."

Seeing Schiller's serious expression, Evans didn't say anything. He nodded and, after a moment of hesitation, changed his expression. He said to Schiller, "Professor, were you looking for me?"

"Please, have a seat," Schiller pointed to the chair in front of him. He said, "I heard that even the Twelve Families have changed their stance. Is that right, Your Excellency Godfather?"

Alberto shook his head and said, "The title doesn't matter. They show me respect because I've taken full control of all the industries of the Falcone Family, and the old godfather no longer holds any power."

"And we owe this to someone..." Alberto looked at Bruce and continued, "To a madman wearing the Red Hood, driving a truck full of children, who stormed into the North District and confronted the old godfather."

"For the past forty years, Gotham has never seen such audacity. So, the old godfather felt that the time was ripe, and his rule had to come to an end."

"That night, he called me into his room and we talked for a long time. It was with me, not Evans."

"We hadn't had such a heart-to-heart conversation in a long time. I should have been happy..."

Bruce looked at him, and Alberto's face became serious. There was no excitement about wielding great power.

He heard Alberto say, "The situation in Gotham is worse than I imagined, or rather, the situation of the Twelve Families is worse. We're on the brink of collapse, just a hair's breadth away."

Bruce and Schiller both raised their eyebrows. While they had a deep understanding of Gotham, they hadn't actually ruled Gotham. They didn't have much insight into the upper echelons of Gotham, the Twelve Families.

Upon hearing Alberto's words, Schiller asked, "What's going on? Can you explain?"

"Perhaps you've heard of it," Alberto began, "The eldest daughter of the Spencer Family has been in a fierce conflict with her recently returned younger brother. Ross Spencer can't do anything about it. If this continues, the Spencer Family's industry will inevitably split, and the Twelve Families' reputation will be tarnished."

"What exactly happened?" Schiller frowned and asked, "A few days ago, I heard my neighbor say that there was a violent conflict at Old Spencer's birthday party, and someone got hurt."

Alberto nodded and said, "Correct. I happened to be there..."

As he recounted his memories, the lights in the ballroom gradually lit up, and gang members in suits and leather shoes walked in from the red carpet, standing at the entrance to adjust their ties, tapping their feet lightly before entering the brilliantly lit hall.

"Hey, Charles, you old rascal, you're still alive! Come over here, we haven't seen each other in how many years, it must be sixteen or seventeen..." Old Spencer approached, patting the back of another old man, saying, "Time flies, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, you damned old squirrel. Back when we were hanging out at the pier, you said that someday you would host a grand birthday party and invite me over, and then have Marina dance a Persian dance with me..."

The man known as Charles, an old man, shook his head and said, "Two months ago, Marina passed away. Fortunately, her grandson was quite filial and held a Catholic funeral for her. Neither of us could make it..."

Old Spencer also showed a nostalgic expression, saying, "Marina was the most beautiful girl in the young faction back then. It's a pity she entrusted herself to that damned Frenchman..."

As they reminisced, they walked towards the center of the hall. At this moment, Old Spencer pulled a young man with red hair towards them, and he introduced him to Charles, saying, "This is my son. When he was born, both you and Lily held him, and you even said he was a robust little colt."

Charles patted the young man on the back and said, "It's been so long, and your son has grown so big. Come on, let's go over there and talk..."

They changed their seats, but at this moment, a series of footsteps echoed down the staircase. A woman dressed in a gorgeous evening gown descended, her beautiful red hair cascading like a waterfall, and her stunning face exuded an imposing aura.

As soon as she descended, Old Spencer and the young Spencer beside him changed their expressions. However, more guests crowded around her, offering endless compliments.

"That damned ***..." Young Spencer muttered under his breath. But at this moment, Old Spencer glared at him and said, "Shut up, you idiot. That's your sister!"

"My sister?!" Young Spencer raised his voice and said, "She's just a *** who wants to snatch the Spencer family's industry!"

Charles, who was standing nearby, glanced at Young Spencer and in a place where Old Spencer couldn't see, he showed a disdainful expression.

Then he looked at the woman at the center of attention, squinted his eyes, rolled his eyes, and seemed to be calculating something.

Charles was also an experienced gang boss with a long history. Although his family's influence had waned, they still held a significant position in Gotham.

His wife, Lily, was Old Spencer's distant cousin, and the two families had always been in contact. Therefore, they were very familiar with each other's situations.

Old Spencer's eldest daughter and son did not share the same mother. The mother of the eldest daughter, Freya Spencer, was Old Spencer's first wife, who had passed away. Old Spencer had remarried and had a son with his second wife.

The second wife was an outsider, a French actress from the West Coast. When the younger son was born, Old Spencer found that he was extraordinarily talented and had an exceptional intelligence. He had initially intended to keep him close and nurture him.

However, his second wife, who was not originally from Gotham, insisted that her son attend the best university. Old Spencer, swayed by her tears and tantrums, sent him away to study out of town when he was in high school. It had been seven or eight years since then, and when he returned, Gotham had changed dramatically. No one recognized him anymore.

Old Spencer did not like his eldest daughter, so he did not groom her. But she was highly talented, and with her extensive social network and charm, she was well-known among the ladies and young women of Gotham. Her social connections were very strong.

This presented a problem because when Old Spencer's favored younger son returned, he found himself at a disadvantage against his sister. With his knowledge of economics and management gained during his years away, he had a good grasp of managing the family business, and many people were willing to follow him. On the other hand, due to her deep roots and extensive social network, some people were inclined to support his sister.

In a situation where one side was very dominant and the other side was very weak, it would have been fine. However, it was the fear of the two siblings being evenly matched and engaging in constant conflict. One day, one would force the other to give up their shares, and the next day, they would disrupt each other's production lines. The Spencer Family's industry was being torn to pieces.

Old Spencer had a poor relationship with his children, and he hadn't been close to his favored younger son, who had been away for so many years.

Alberto sighed and said, "Old Spencer's younger son is a greenhorn who came from out of town. He doesn't understand the rules of Gotham at all. That day, at the banquet, he couldn't control himself and wanted to physically confront his sister."

"Miss Spencer is no pushover either. She had just finished her nails, and with a quick motion, she accidentally scratched her younger brother's eye, leaving him with a one-eyed look..."

"This has created quite a mess. The entire Spencer family has become a laughingstock among the Twelve Families. A younger son trying to physically fight his sister at his own father's birthday banquet, only to end up injured. What was supposed to be a pleasant celebration turned into a bloodshed within minutes. It's a disgrace to the family's reputation."

"In the past, the Godfather might have intervened, but now, the Falcone Family is busy making money. Who has the time to meddle in such family disputes?"

"They no longer want to be part of the Twelve Families. Some might still aspire to join, but I even said that the Spencer family's decline could create space for the Oswald family. I have high hopes for Copperpot..."

Schiller and Bruce exchanged a glance, realizing that the questions they were both pondering seemed similar. Schiller was the first to speak up, saying, "Is this kind of situation common among the Twelve Families?"

Alberto furrowed his brows and replied, "From what Evans and I remember, such situations have become increasingly common in recent years."

"The Twelve Families are often financially well-off, especially the families of the leaders. They go on vacations every year, and their homes are equipped with family theaters and movie collections. Children raised in such households often desire to venture beyond Gotham."

"In a rapidly evolving gang landscape, if you have a gap of a few years away from Gotham, you might return to find that you no longer recognize anyone. If there are other children in the family, it becomes even harder to compete with the heirs."

Alberto shook his head and continued, "Many second-generation gang members who like to explore outside are agile thinkers with innovative ideas. They aspire to reform. However, the current majority of mob bosses, who belong to the older generation, don't like these inexperienced greenhorns."

"They want to maintain the existing order, so they actively suppress these individuals by supporting other heirs within the family. But the other side doesn't give up either. In recent years, family conflicts have been on the rise, and the old godfather can't intervene in every matter. Many issues can only be resolved by the parties involved."

Alberto's expression turned serious as he said, "This is why I feel immense pressure. Since taking over, many of the younger generation hope that I can abolish these rules and grant them freedom. But many of the older generation believe that I should represent them in upholding order..."

Bruce inquired, "What are your thoughts on this?"

Alberto nodded and replied, "If you were in my position, you'd see things more clearly. Those greenhorns who don't follow the rules can bring significant trouble. They act impulsively, disregarding consequences. On the other hand, the children raised within the system are often too rigid in their thinking, lacking adaptability."

"If I had to choose a side, I'd lean toward the more intelligent ones..." Alberto sighed and rubbed his temples, saying, "Dealing with people who have never had formal education is challenging. It's as if we're not speaking the same language; their understanding abilities are severely lacking."

"For instance, in the logistics industry, those who have never had formal education and live solely by the rules can't comprehend why road renovations have to pass through their territory or why their businesses might be affected. They can't see things with a long-term perspective; they only care about short-term gains and losses."

"Those with higher education tend to be more reasonable and willing to sacrifice immediate interests for long-term benefits. However, they are often arrogant, believing they are always right, and everyone else is foolish."

Schiller chuckled and said, "This is not just a problem Gotham faces; it's a global issue. Enforcing rigid rules on society can stifle creative thinking, but allowing everyone to act without boundaries can lead to chaos."

"These days, I've been pondering this issue," Bruce interjected. "If the lower class lacks educational opportunities due to the daily struggle for survival, Gotham's upper class, due to its unique gang rules, the fast-paced competitive environment, and rapid turnover, also lacks education. The uneducated lead the uneducated, trading everyone's future for current prosperity."

Schiller nodded and added, "People in Gotham have received education, but it's often focused on societal rules and practicality, lacking systematic education. The drawback is that there's no stable upward trajectory for talent, and overall thinking and logic skills don't improve."

"And now, this situation persists because Gotham holds geographical and industrial advantages. However, in the long run, weaknesses will surface, especially when science and technology undergo explosive growth, strengthening connections among people. Failing to keep up with the times and breaking the chain of interests might plunge the entire city back into chaos."

Schiller glanced at the calendar and said, "It's 1990, and I believe the situation I described isn't too far off."

Bruce and Alberto both furrowed their brows. These two individuals were the least likely to leave Gotham. While other gang bosses could amass enough wealth and escape, the two of them couldn't abandon the city.

Bruce took out a piece of paper from his pocket and said, "I hope to elevate the education level of Gotham's people, but this is not a simple matter."

"To improve education, people must have access to it. To provide access, we need to ensure that they can sustain themselves beyond the time spent on education."

"To achieve this, they need to earn more money in less time, which requires more and better job opportunities. To create these job opportunities, we need to develop industries and boost the economy. But to develop industries, we need various skilled individuals, and to have those, we need to enhance education."

Bruce sighed, feeling like he was trapped by an unbreakable cycle. "Short-term money-making industries do exist," he added, "but they are unhealthy and can't develop into long-term industries. They can't offer stable employment, and the money earned is not invested in education."

"In truth, we've had a good start. Gotham's current economic situation is excellent, relying on the accumulation from the previous era. But now, the majority of wealth funnels upward through the gang system into the Twelve Families. However, this class doesn't invest in education because they don't need it to benefit from the gang system. They won't spend money unnecessarily."

"The problem now is that if I were to use violence to overthrow the entire gang system, it wouldn't be the wealthy who suffer the most; it would be the people at the bottom. Mob bosses can leave anytime they want, having earned enough money to live lavishly in other cities."

"But if the gang system collapses, those who can't leave, no longer adhering to the rules, will want to acquire enough interests. The only way for them is through warfare. When everything becomes about seizing, the unarmed ordinary people will be the biggest victims."

"That's the problem..." Schiller took a sip of water and said, "Many might think that Gotham is already rotten, but in reality, it hasn't hit rock bottom yet. The gang rules may seem cruel, but they maintain stability and ensure that most people can survive. Though life might be tough, at least they can live."

"Once the rules collapse overnight, capital and the economy will be drained from the city entirely. That's when Gotham will truly be in chaos."

Schiller gazed outside, seemingly envisioning the future. He continued, "At that time, various lunatics will take the stage one after another. This place will become an eternal, lawless hell. Neither Batman nor any other hero will have the capacity or means to address the root problem. They'll merely be putting out fires one by one."

Bruce clenched his fist on the armrest, understanding Schiller's meaning. If Gotham were compared to a person, his current state was akin to the earlier incident when Bruce had fallen into a chemical vat.

His skin had been corroded away, revealing muscles and bones, his appearance grotesquely altered. For an ordinary person, having their skin tissue completely corroded would almost certainly be fatal.

However, forty years ago, someone had administered a lifeline to Gotham, aligning it with the trends of the times, establishing the gang system, preventing the wound from festering and infection.

Four decades had passed, and the power of this "medicine" was waning. While it had saved Gotham's life, it came with addictive properties. Once its effects wore off, not only might the injury worsen significantly, but withdrawal symptoms could also emerge.

Looking at it now, the wound hadn't yet reached the internal organs, but if things continued as they were, it would gradually rot away from the skin to the bones and internal organs. At that point, even performing individual surgeries wouldn't salvage the situation.

Performing comprehensive surgery on a person who had already decayed completely, from skin and bones to internal organs, was beyond Batman's capabilities. Bruce Wayne couldn't do it either, and combining their efforts wouldn't change that.

Many people might criticize Batman, a comic book character, for sticking to fists rather than finding alternative ways to save Gotham. However, at least in Schiller's current perspective within Gotham, Batman's actions later on might not have been due to a lack of willingness to change, but rather because it was already too late.

The order imposed by the gang system was still an order. As long as there was order, it wouldn't rot to the core. But when Batman became Batman, Gotham's gang system had already reached its limit, and the era of madness was on the horizon.

Why were there so many madmen in that era? It was because the soil here had ceased to be fertile ground for order and had turned into complete chaos. There was no education, no economy, no culture, no upward mobility, and no way out.

In that time, even if Wayne Enterprises were the wealthiest corporation in the world, in such a system, it would be nothing more than a pipe dream for a private enterprise to try and save a city of this magnitude.

No company in the world would dare to claim that they could save a war-torn New York. The costs of rescue, construction, resettlement, and later education and development would bankrupt even a smaller country.

There are few instances in the world where things go against the tide. The majority of historical cycles tend to descend uncontrollably towards the bottom. Once the cost of saving something falls below a certain threshold and surpasses the cost of destruction, it is almost doomed to be destroyed.

What Batman could do in that era was to barely keep Gotham above that threshold, to prevent the evil here from overflowing. If the madness here escalated too far, his only path left would be destruction.

"Although I don't necessarily agree with the idea that Batman can save everyone individually, as I find it somewhat pessimistic, I will never say that you can't save Gotham this way or that way..." Schiller took a sip of water and said, "No company or individual in this world has the ability to save this city."

"Before, I used to delude myself, thinking that one of my identities could save Gotham," Bruce slowly spoke, "But after delving deep and understanding the truth of this city, I realized that even Wayne Enterprises and Batman combined would find it extremely difficult, not to mention being a decade too late."

"Now, let's talk about our current goals," Schiller redirected the conversation, lightening the heavy atmosphere.

He said, "My goal is to create a normal learning atmosphere in Gotham, where family education, societal education, and school education complement each other rather than hinder one another. The most important goal among them is systematic education."

"Even if we don't implement compulsory education for all, we should at least create an atmosphere in Gotham where being educated is not looked down upon, unlike the current situation where education is a source of shame. It's unbearable for any teacher."

After Schiller spoke, Alberto chimed in, "The Falcone Family is currently at the top of the pyramid, but we all know that this cannot last. Many shortcomings have already surfaced, and this system is no longer suitable for the present era. Once the pyramid collapses, those at the top will fall the hardest."

"I hope that the Falcone Family can land smoothly, even if we no longer hold a rule-like status. I hope my father can enjoy his retirement."

After Alberto's remarks, Bruce fell silent for a long time before speaking, "I just hope that this city becomes better, or rather, more normal. I don't want it to continue rotting."

"I hope there won't be so many tragedies, and that everything will move towards a brighter future, never returning to the darkness."

The three of them fell into silence for a moment, and then Schiller spoke again, "So, we've reached a consensus that Gotham's system needs fundamental change, right?"

Both Alberto and Bruce nodded, and Schiller continued, "Now, let's look at the difficulties we face. I believe there are two main challenges. First, if we use overly violent methods to completely overthrow the underworld's system, it will plunge the city into chaos for a long time."

"The second challenge is that once we begin the reform, the investment in terms of manpower and resources will be enormous, and there's no turning back. If we decide to halt the process midway, the sunk costs will likely never be recovered."

"I think there's another challenge," Alberto added, "While the state legislature has never bothered with us, and we've never paid them much attention, if we make significant changes here, won't they have objections?"

Hearing this, Bruce thought Alberto had a change of heart, but then he heard Alberto say, "So, before we embark on reform, should we create some seats in the state legislature and then resort to bribery?"

"Let's not rush into that; we can address it after the overarching strategy is settled," Schiller said, rubbing his chin.

Bruce felt out of place with their discussions; he had a bad feeling about this. He realized he was in the minority on a moral level, and if there were a vote, he might not have the upper hand.

"There's another challenge," Bruce began, "We may believe that we're doing this for the good of the people of Gotham, but they may not necessarily see it that way. Both the lower class and the criminal gangs may vigorously resist if we try to disrupt their status quo."

Schiller nodded, taking note of this point. The three of them continued their discussion and ultimately categorized all the issues into these three main challenges.

"Let's start with the first point. If we want to reform, it's undoubtedly like stabbing the heart of the criminal underworld. They will surely resist. What do you think is the best approach?" Schiller posed a question.

After some contemplation, Alberto said, "I believe we should avoid using excessively violent methods. While I lean towards a quick, precise, one-strike solution, if we provoke them and trigger a strong counterattack, it could harm not only the inner circle but also the general populace. Once we damage the foundation, it will be challenging to recover."

Bruce paused for a moment before saying, "I know my view may seem radical, but I believe violence might be the only means."

"Have you not considered that under these rules, where the majority of people are connected to the criminal gangs in one way or another, an overly violent approach will inevitably lead to a strong backlash..."

Bruce paused for a moment, seemingly hesitant about whether to continue. After a long pause, he decided to say, "To fundamentally deal with this issue, we must violently overturn the system from the grassroots."

"To eliminate class disparities..." Bruce hesitated again, realizing that his words were becoming too explicit. He paused for half a moment but then continued, "If we want to eliminate class disparities, we can't rely on top-down reforms. Those who control the resources won't willingly give them up. Only violence may work."

To Bruce's surprise, Schiller remained calm. He looked at Bruce and said, "In a way, you're right. But the problem lies in who you are. Are you a member of the working class?"

"I..." Bruce hesitated again. He had never been associated with the working class in his life. Schiller continued, "The reason violence is the only way to eliminate class contradictions is that capitalists will never wake up. Do you think you've awakened? Must the Wayne Family be torn apart completely to nourish everyone else with its 'corpse'?"

"Or do you think the people who tear apart the Wayne Family and distribute their 'corpse' will be fairer and more capable than you?"

Bruce fell into deep thought for a long time and then spoke, "I hope that I'm the one to change Gotham, not just because I want to control this city but also because I distrust others."

Bruce took a deep breath, and though no one could tell, his voice had a very slight tremor. He said, "Alfred often tells me that people can change, and I can't wait for a savior to emerge from the lower class. I can't expect them to remain steadfast."

"You can certainly do this yourself," Schiller concluded. "Moreover, you underestimate yourself too much, to the point of overestimating the difficulty of this task."

"First, you are not a Gotham's lower-class civilian, nor are you a gang leader. These two experiences serve merely as steps for you to understand Gotham's structure, not the whole picture."

"If you were really from these two backgrounds, you would first need to free yourself from the constraints of class and then lead your peers in breaking the rules, striving for a ruling position before initiating comprehensive reform."

"However, from start to finish, you are Bruce Wayne and Batman. When these two identities are combined, you can skip that entire process."

"Skip it?" Bruce furrowed his brow.

But Schiller suddenly changed the topic, saying, "Gotham has used up almost all its cards, but there is still one extraordinary card left to play."

[Read at www.patreon.com/shanefreak, and thanks for the invaluable support!]

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