104 Chapter 104: The Godmother
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"The wish of wanting everyone to be happy is merely a fairy tale!"
-Archer, (Fate/stay Night)
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<{Bat Cave, under Wayne Estate}>
<(Bruce Wayne POV)>
"You think Gordon believed your words when you told him about your guards acting as snipers and killing all those criminals to protect you in a last-ditch effort?" Alfred curiously asked while meticulously dusting the Bat computer in my bat cave.
"I believe, he did. I mean he didn't exactly have any real reason not to. After all, I didn't benefit from what happened in the mall in any way at all. In fact, if not for my news channels, websites, and newspapers heavily circulating the news of how the newly hired Wayne Security force might have saved everyone's lives in the mall by 'making the hard decision', I might have had to face heavy public criticism." I nervously laughed as I remembered how heavily and seriously Vicki had been driving that particular media campaign. She was like the female version of J. Jonah Jameson, only more aggressive and a LOT sexier.
"Yes, Ms. Vale really has exceeded all expectations. I heard that she even won this year's Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting because of how she fearlessly covered the entire news on Falcone and his terror in Gotham along with how his reign ended after a certain masked 'antihero' came into the scene to do for the people what the government and its genuine heroes couldn't." Alfred said while giving me a small knowing smile. "Seems like she genuinely admires this hero of hers."
"Antihero... A hero is someone who can be the symbol of hope and love for the masses. An antihero on the other hand does whatever he wants without caring about consequences. Being a hero is probably a lot harder than being an antihero. And neither me nor the Dark Knight are heroes Alfred... Anyway, why are you cleaning the cave yourself? I told you that M-O can do it, right? That's literally why it was made." I exclaimed while pointing toward the small cleaning robot obsessed with sanitizing that was plugged into its charging station in a corner beside the Wall-E model I had once designed. Both of them of course were inspired by the Pixar film of the same name.
"I haven't yet succumbed to old age, young master, I remain quite capable of physical labor, especially after being bolstered by that serum of yours." Alfred lightly chuckled as he stopped dusting servers of the Bat computer and moved on to clean the sofa. "And as for why I like to clean the cave myself sometimes. Your automated cleaning robots are indeed efficient no doubt. However, there are occasions when the subtlest traces of grime and dirt find refuge in the most inconspicuous of corners, necessitating a more hands-on approach. It is then that one must be willing to delve into the depths and get down and dirty to remove that dirt... just like an antihero." Alfred imparted his wisdom with a self-satisfied grin.
"So, an anti-hero is as much as important as any hero out there because sometimes the world needs people who can go to any lengths to do what is needed, not what is wanted... However, don't even think for one minute that I am advising you to continue your antihero work, Master Bruce. I'll be much more relaxed if you just quit all this and do what all young billionaires do with too much money in their hands. I think at this stage, I can even accept a few teenage pregnancies than you going after another drug cartel." Alfred said with a bitter smile.
"Unfortunately for you Alfred. I always make sure to have a plan B, C, and D. So, no teenage pregnancies in this house... Well, at least not any that I don't myself want." I joked with a straight face.
"That is not a funny joke, young master. Anyway, is that what you have been working on for the last few days?" Alfred asked pointing at a half-finished car that looked more like a tank than an actual car. "It looks like a... war machine. Are you sure that you want to drive that on the streets of Gotham? Imagine if someone managed to steal that or perhaps carjack you?"
"... You are underestimating me too much. Plus that is just one of the things I have been working on. In fact, I have been making an entire line of cars just for me, correction, an entire line of bat-themed cars for me, correction, an entire line of bat-themed cars, planes, choppers, bikes, and submarines for me. Actually, Alfred, I have been meaning to ask you, what do you think about a Power Rangers-style giant mech made up of bat-themed vehicles? Do you think it would be over the top?" I asked as I gestured to the various types of partially made vehicles lying beneath the platform where we were standing.
"I don't know a lot about movies and shows, but is that a Transformers?" The amused butler asked not even bothering to answer my question.
"Hmm? Oh yeah, I started constructing that about a month ago but I couldn't finish it. Turns out I still lack a few things to complete the model... Plus, I could not decide if I wanted a car-type or a plane-type Transformers." I hummed like it was a complicated question that I still hadn't figured out.
"Your family would have been proud of how much of a genius you are, young master..." He uttered out of nowhere, looking like he was reminiscing about the past.
"Yeah, I know. But still, thanks for saying that Alfred... Also, I still have a family you know. And you are part of it." I answered back with a confident smile.
"Thank you, Master Bruce. It has been my pleasure to serve you and your family." Alfred nodded with a happy smile. "So, what's next? Are you going after another cartel?" Alfred finally asked after taking a deep breath to gain his emotions back in control.
"No, not really. I don't think the drug cartels and gangs would try anything too big for the foreseeable future. Most have been shaken after the Falcone incident and the shootout at the mall. I think they will first fight among themselves to grow quickly rather than take over more of the city or increase their illegal dealings and risk law enforcement stepping in. Honestly, I have been hoping that Black Mask and his 'faceless' gang can dominate most of the Gotham criminal underworld since that would make my future plans much easier." I revealed.
And that would probably be what would happen too since Black Mask had stopped any expansion plan, he had after the mall incident and had instead been focusing on making his criminal family stronger by integrating all the other smaller gangs in Gotham into his own. As for how he was free? Well, he was able to escape police confinement the very same day he was arrested.
Turns out that the vehicle that was carrying him and his gang to the GCPD headquarters never made it to its destination. It 'mysteriously' crashed on its route resulting in the entire gang being able to escape.
"Well, it is good to hear that you won't be putting yourself in danger..." He sighed with relief.
"Yeah, instead, I would be hunting all the psycho criminals, rapists and murderers in the city." I finished with a big grin.
"..." Alfred. "What did I even expect?" Alfred seemed to deflate like a balloon.
With the fall in organized criminal and gang activity in the city, independent criminal activity has been recently spiking. Crazy freaks who had been laying low due to the fear of criminal families have been slowly coming out of hiding. And these weren't just normal criminals too. They were the worst of the worst. From straight-up serial killers to thieves who liked to burn people while stealing their money, they were the most tainted filth of this corrupted society who needed to be stopped before they increased in numbers and power thinking that they could do whatever they wanted in this city. They needed to be made examples of.
I personally have been spending a lot to develop this city so that I can call it a decent hometown one day, so that I don't have to watch people getting murdered and mugged in every dark alley I pass by, and no motherfucking mentally imbalanced piece of shit is going to ruin that for me. That was what, I wanted to make Alfred understand but unfortunately, our conversation was abruptly interrupted.
"Hey Alfred, there is a letter for you from London." Selina hopped towards us in an excited sprint with a sealed letter in her hands. There was an unusual smile on her face as she passed the letter to the butler while sending a wink in my direction.
"A letter for me? Must be one of my old friends from England." He smiled as he calmly took the letter from her hands and began to read it. But as he read more and more of the letter, his face slowly changed from a startled to a nostalgic expression and to again a surprised expression. I even thought that there was even a hint of a blush in there somewhere.
"What happened? Did the queen of England write to you or something?" Selina joked, trying to tease him.
"Huh? No, I never gave her my... wait, why would the Queen write to someone like me?" The butler chortled with a voice that sounded a little nervous to me for some reason. "No, it's your Godmother Bruce. She is coming back from London, and it seems like she wants to meet you."
"Wait, I have a Godmother?"
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