Chapter 81 Morality Has No Morality

News of the Wayne couple's resurrection quickly spread throughout Gotham.

To die and come back to life—what an alluring phrase (though Thomas Jr. doesn’t think so).

Countless eyes were fixed on Wayne Manor, trying to uncover some deeper secrets...

"So why are you back so early? I thought you wouldn't leave Wayne Tower until at least seven." Bruce sat on the sofa and looked at Thomas, who had just returned and looked a little disheveled. "I was just about to call and ask if you needed Alfred and me to drive to Wayne Tower to pick you up."

Thomas Jr. has just returned from the Wayne Enterprises. The news of the Wayne couple's return to Gotham was so shocking that it even overshadowed the Gothamites' awe and fear of Thomas Jr. himself, resulting in all exits of Wayne Tower leading to the outside world being completely blocked.

Even Wayne Manor was not spared. Some of the more timid people who didn't dare to confront Thomas chose to come to Wayne Manor to confront Bruce and the Wayne couple.

Fortunately, Bruce and Thomas Jr. have upgraded the security system at Wayne Manor to an almost pathological level; otherwise, there would probably be more people sneaking into their garden than insects.

“I’m very touched,” Thomas said, taking off his coat and sitting down heavily next to Bruce. “So what’s holding you back?”

“Alfred thought you’d call us yourself if you really needed our help,” Bruce said with a hint of schadenfreude. “He was obviously very prescient.”

“Yeah, thankfully I was able to come back in time for dinner,” Thomas snatched Bruce’s coffee, glanced at it, and put it down again. “Although it was a tough process, I still managed to leave work on time.”

"The extra-strong black coffee is undrinkable," Thomas thought to himself with dissatisfaction.

“I’m sorry, we all decided to postpone dinner to wait for you, so you’re actually back early today.” Bruce picked up his coffee cup again and took a sip. “How did you manage to get around them? I just glanced at the live TV, and the crowd around Wayne Tower was denser than in a zombie apocalypse.”

“Yes, so I had to resort to some special methods,” Thomas said, trying to search the table for something edible, but he failed; clearly, Alfred wouldn’t tolerate a table full of snacks. “I was originally planning to use Night Owl’s stealth plane to create some explosions to disperse the crowd…”

Bruce looked at him warily.

"Then I gave up and went straight back in the stealth plane that I brought back from the Owl Court last night."

The dead are not a big deal, although Thomas cleverly refrained from saying this to Bruce's face: "...after all, if something is blown up, I'll have to pay for the repairs myself."

Owls, owls again.

"...So have you figured out how to deal with those who want to extract something from you?" Bruce put down his empty coffee cup. "We have to say something that will convince most people. Right now, we're only surrounded by Gothamites, but in a while, people from all over America and even the world will be coming."

"Of course I've thought it through. How could I possibly bring them back unprepared?" Thomas replied confidently.

This was somewhat unexpected; even Bruce didn't know how to convince those crazy people to stay away from their homes.

"Very well, so what are you planning to say?"

"I'll thank Superman from Metropolis next door at tomorrow's press conference," Thomas said, quite pleased with his plan. "Then I'll increase some charitable contributions in Metropolis to build credibility... Most people believe Superman is omnipotent, and that's the most efficient and effective way."

What an evil idea.

Bruce sat up straight, looking at Thomas with a serious expression: "You should know what this will lead to."

“Of course I know,” Thomas Jr. leaned back on the sofa. “We’ll face much less pressure, and the Gotham City Bridge won’t have to contend with the onslaught of vehicles from all over the United States…”

"And Superman will face even greater pressure as a result, which could lead to very serious consequences."

"So you're worried about a Kryptonian being kidnapped, sliced ​​up, or morally blackmailed?" Thomas asked Bruce thoughtfully.

“Don’t you think this behavior is a bit out of line?” Bruce began to reflect on his parenting of Thomas, and then he suddenly realized that he had never really educated Thomas. “Superman has absolutely nothing to do with this, and from any perspective, he shouldn’t be involved.”

Yes, I certainly know that from a moral standpoint, it's wrong to drag innocent people into this; in the long run, it might create a powerful enemy; and from the perspective of all humanity, it might cause us to lose a powerful ally…

But these are not things that a morally bankrupt, anti-human supervillain should be considering.

It's even more absurd from a long-term perspective. Thomas Jr. doesn't even plan to live to the beginning of next year; all he has to think about now is how to ensure his own humanitarian well-being before he dies...

“Alright, since you object,” Thomas waved his hand, “I’ll announce to the reporters that it’s some kind of unsolved mystery, and then have someone put this mysterious story into the book.”

"Why are you being so agreeable today?" Bruce looked at him with considerable suspicion. Then, as if realizing something, he asked anxiously, "Will bringing them back have any negative consequences for you?"

"What are you thinking?" Thomas Jr. retorted. "You actually think I would sacrifice myself for someone else's happiness?"

Do I appear to be such a virtuous and self-sacrificing person?

Okay, probably not, but...

Bruce didn't really believe in Isaiah Thomas's morality (no matter how much you filter him, it's impossible to think he's virtuous after spending a lot of time with him), but he believed in Thomas's desire to die.

"Don't worry, I still have things I want to do, so I can't die right now."

How could I possibly feel at ease? This statement clearly means that once the goal is achieved, I will not linger in this world for even a second longer.

"Don't forget what you promised me."

“What… Oh,” Thomas Jr. suddenly realized, “I remember now.”

But you're in your twenties now, and you have family and friends...

“It’s alright now that you remember,” Bruce quickly changed the subject. “Besides, there’s something else I was thinking of asking you yesterday.”

Yes, Batman wanted to interrogate Thomas yesterday, but his plans were disrupted by Halloween gifts.

"What do you want to ask?"

"What exactly is going on with Night Owl?"

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Author's note: If Thomas's plan were actually carried out, the Metropolitan reporter would probably be standing in the audience listening to him give Superman all sorts of buffs.

òvó: Yes, Superman can bring people back to life.

Puff pastry: ??? I can't!

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My carefully prepared meal was stolen; I'm tempted to steal it...

I had already finished my shared meal and they still stole my takeout! I ordered takeout after class late at night, wanted something to eat, and it arrived a few minutes late and they stole it! Are they even human?! I was so worried I searched the outside for ages, checking every single takeout bag, before I finally realized it had been stolen. [crying emoji]

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Not enough words, I'll add an extra chapter on Sunday. Let me be a little strict today! [crying emoji]