Chapter 5: Little Ringo Returns to the Old Map
56.
What we did during those five years...
All I can say is it's hard to say.
Bruce pushed a blueberry mousse over: "Please."
"Thank you." I brought it to me without hesitation, took a bite with a fork, and then my eyes lit up and I gave a thumbs up.
Alfred smiled slightly, looking at me kindly, his tone gentle but proud. "I'm glad you like this pastry, Miss Leona. After all, I made it myself. My eating habits are completely different from those of some people who only drink black coffee and eat energy bars."
Bruce had just picked up the coffee cup when he paused and glanced at Alfu calmly: "I think my eating habits are very efficient."
Ah Fu immediately smiled meaningfully and nodded gently. "Oh, of course. Very 'efficient'. So efficient that every time I see you drinking your sixth cup of coffee in your study late at night, I start to wonder if I should install a drip coffee dispenser for you."
I nearly spit out a mouthful of blueberry mousse, holding the small plate with both hands and almost sliding off the chair with laughter.
Bruce glanced at Alfred, then at me, as if trying to regain some dignity, but in the end he said nothing and lowered his head to take a sip of his black coffee.
57.
Alfred nodded with satisfaction and patted my shoulder gently. "Miss Leona, just enjoy your afternoon tea. Don't worry about some people's caffeine intake."
I tried hard to suppress my laughter, picked up a piece of blueberry mousse, and said happily, "Afu, you're awesome! I'll definitely have your desserts every time I come back! Also, just call me Leona. Adding "Miss" would be too unfamiliar!"
Alfred bowed slightly, his usual smile on his face. "Your compliment is my greatest honor, but I still can't cross the line of professional ethics and call you 'Leona' without adding 'Miss'."
He paused, glanced meaningfully at Bruce, and said in a gentle yet sharp tone, "After all, there has to be someone in this manor who still remembers what the rules are."
Bruce's hand, which had just been raised to hold the coffee cup, froze in mid-air. His brow twitched slightly, and he raised his head, looking at Alfred with some helplessness: "Alfred, isn't that a little... too much?"
Alfred maintained his elegant smile, unfazed by these words. "Master, I'm just reminding you that Miss Ringo—oh, sorry, Miss Leona—is still young and can't rely on coffee and energy bars every day like you."
I munched on my blueberry mousse and nodded frantically, my fork raised high as if cheering for Alfred. "Alfred, that's amazing! This is why I like you! You always get to the point!"
Bruce watched this scene silently and muttered softly, "I now suspect that you two have colluded with each other."
Hey, Dad, no doubt about it, I've decided to join Alfu in uniting against Bruce! You asked when this thing came out, of course, just now!
58.
I have to say, I love this family atmosphere! I would definitely feel guilty if they became reserved because of me in their own home!
Ah Fu is a very nice person. His humor brings us closer together, and his blueberry mousse is so delicious that I am willing to call him the God of Desserts!
Praise Ah Fu, at Ah Fu’s command, I immediately supported him to become the new king of the dessert kingdom!
Well... of course, it might be a China-only edition. After all, the highest praise we give to a dessert is that it's not too sweet.
Something that is too sweet can only be called treacle bread, not dessert! (Explosive remarks)
59.
Okay, let’s get back to the topic.
In the turbulence of time and space, we see the future of many different parallel worlds.
Every Bruce has at least two to unlimited children!
These kids—my brothers and sisters—all had terrible lives! Some had their bones broken, tormenting them physically and mentally day and night. Some were kidnapped by villains and turned into assassins. Some were abandoned by their friends and family, watched over by the entire world... Some worlds were even turned into dogs by Bruce!
Woo--I'm going to have a shadow on my dog!
"Um...Leona, what are you talking about?" Bruce and Alfu looked hesitant.
After all, in their ears, I have been shouting "-beep! It's so terrible, Bruce, you have no idea! -beep beep! I think -beep! It's very miserable -beep! I must protect -beep and -beep beep! You can't die easily, otherwise you will -beep beep beep! Do you understand? You must live a long life, Dad!"
Alas, it's muted.
Alas, the world protection mechanism.
60.
I ate the cake while sighing.
Because later we tried various methods, such as using homophones, different languages, writing, gesturing, typing passwords, etc., but nothing worked! It just fell apart at the crucial moment!
But with Bruce's intelligence, it is enough for him to know that the future will be terrible. He will write different plans from AZ, even to protect himself.
Terrible man.
61.
The next day, I had a good sleep.
The only drawback is that I feel like my memory of the time turbulence has become fuzzy.
All I remember now is that my brothers and sisters were miserable...
Uh...how many brothers and sisters do I have?
62.
The great Miss Leona has arrived at her loyal Wayne Island!
——I even felt that I should stand on the edge of the cliff, facing the sea breeze, with someone next to me waving a small flag with my portrait on it, officially announcing the arrival of this moment.
However, considering that the sea breeze might blow me down, I restrained myself a little and stood silently at the highest point of the island for five minutes, gazing into the distance affectionately, trying to make myself appear more majestic like a lord.
Then, I began to patrol the territory.
62.
According to official data (that is, what Alfu told me and Bruce occasionally added a few words), Wayne Island is 1.4 square kilometers, which is roughly equivalent to 200 standard football fields.
This island is neither too big nor too small. It can at least accommodate a hidden manor, a vast forest, and soft sandy beaches... I think it may lack some secret facilities and security systems that are deterrent enough.
The island has natural fresh water resources, so self-sufficiency is not a problem at all. Coupled with Bruce's abundant financial resources that can arrange the life of a Gotham resident, this place can even be built into an independent small kingdom.
I stood on a small hill, looked around, and nodded to myself: "Well, very good, this land has great potential."
63.
After completing my inspection, I returned to Wayne Manor and sat on the sofa in the living room, legs crossed, holding a cup of lemon tea made by Afford, and announced solemnly:
"I've decided! I'm going to make an unprecedented transformation of Wayne Island!"
I turned my inquiring gaze to Ah Fu who was standing next to me.
Ah Fu stood beside my chair, lowered his head with a smile, and said politely, "Miss, I can't find any reasonable reason to stop you."
—That’s consent! Perfect!
Bruce stood aside, his arms folded across his chest, his brows slightly furrowed, his blue eyes fixed on me: "Leona, are you sure?"
I nodded seriously. "Of course! Dad, don't you think it's a shame to leave such a beautiful island like this? Look, there are forests, beaches, and manors here... but it's still missing something."
Bruce sighed, his voice low and helpless, "Well, I guess you won't stop even if I don't agree, right? Ringo."
Bruce mostly calls me Leona, but sometimes he calls me Ringo (probably because it sounds similar to Ringo). This sometimes means that he really wants to reject me, but he can't do anything substantial to resist.
I smiled brightly, "You're so smart, Dad!"
Bruce held his forehead with his hand, Alfu smiled, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
64.
In my transformation blueprint, Wayne Island must be a place where technology and fantasy are perfectly integrated. It must have the convenience and futuristic feel of high technology, while also possessing the mystery and artistic conception of Eastern fantasy cultivation.
I lay down in front of the huge island map in the study, holding a pen in one hand and supporting my chin with the other, and couldn't help humming:
"When I first went to the Louvre, I didn't feel anything special because I had already met my own Mona Lisa."
Ah Fu stood aside, holding a notebook, preparing to take notes with a gentle expression.
Bruce was standing by a bookshelf not far away, his arms folded across his chest, looking at me with an expression that said, "I'm curious about what kind of magic you can come up with next."
I took a deep breath, tapped my pencil on the map, and announced firmly:
"Renovation plan, start!"
65.
Forest area: Qingmuxianju.
The forest is Wayne Island’s natural treasure, how can we waste it?
I will build several attics suspended in the air deep in the forest, floating in the soft clouds. The attics will be connected by holographic light bridges, and will emit a faint blue light at night (I nodded, colorful ones are also nice).
Then I will build a high platform on the edge of the cliff, which will be equipped with a floating formation. Just stand on the platform and jump lightly, and you can float in the air for a long time and feel the pleasure of riding the wind.
Deep in the forest, I'll also set up some small formations my mother taught me to gather the forest's natural energy, improve the soil, and make plants more vigorous. And then there's the essential farming! I've collected so many strange plants and seeds that my spiritual fields are no longer full.
Of course, I will also raise some spiritual beasts given to me by my master, as well as my alien pets (Bruce: If this thing that looks a bit like a mammoth is your pet...)!
And a giant tree house! I want to plant a giant bionic tree and build a cozy tree house inside, all made of wood, so I can deeply connect with nature.
Ah Fu nodded slightly and wrote it down thoughtfully: "Miss, this sounds... poetic."
Bruce raised an eyebrow. "You're planning on turning the forest into... a wonderland?"
I raised my eyebrows, put my hands on my hips, and said confidently, "That's right! Maybe we can call it a zoo? Hehe, you can meditate here in the future, Dad."
66.
Beach Area: Star Sea Fantasy
The beach is the most romantic part of the island, and nature cannot be overlooked either.
On the beach, I'd build a transparent swimming pool. During the day, you could see corals and schools of fish on the seabed. At night, the pool would switch to a holographic starry sky mode, making it feel like you were floating in an endless galaxy. Maybe I could even build a small cabin and place some portable water-repellent beads or bubble-shaped underwater walking devices inside.
And the extremely romantic tidal illusion array that combines fantasy arrays with technology. When the waves touch the beach, they will form light golden light patterns (this can be adjusted by yourself), like some kind of mysterious rune gently flickering on the sea surface.
At the beach, I will lay a walkway made of moonstone, and when you walk on it, a faint silver light will appear under your feet.
Of course there's the quiet area Bruce so strictly demands, with beach chairs, umbrellas, and a never-ending soda fountain (hopefully it won't turn into a black coffee machine).
Ah Fu's lips curled up slightly: "Miss, a beach like this will be unique on the entire earth."
Bruce rubbed his brows and muttered softly, "I just want to drink a cup of coffee quietly by the sea..."
"Heretic! Who drinks coffee on the beach!" I shouted.
67.
Mountaintop area: Tianshu Observatory
The commanding heights on the island must be impressive.
I want to build a retractable stargazing dome with a transparent top that allows 360-degree observation of the starry sky. It is also equipped with a holographic star map system that can unfold a holographic map of the entire universe with a light swipe!
Hehe! I'll also build a lotus platform floating on the top of the mountain, surrounded by a faint halo of light, and even able to slowly rotate according to the meditator's mind. Of course, there's also the indispensable lighting system!
Halfway up the mountain, I'm going to build a control center that blends technology and fantasy, and set up a formation inside that can control the entire Wayne Island and its surroundings (Bruce strictly requires an illusion formation because he doesn't want the entertainment tabloids to report that Wayne Island has been occupied by aliens). It can monitor the security system of the entire island, and can also be used to store some of my uh... little collections.
Ah Fu clapped his hands gently, revealing an expression of approval: "Miss, the design of the Tianshu Observatory is truly a work of art."
Bruce raised an eyebrow and pointed at the oddly shaped "lotus platform" sketch: "It sounds like your mother would like this place very much."
I nodded and shook my head, raised my index finger and shook it: "Nonono! What I mean is, no one can resist the temptation of being at the top!"
68.
Manor area: Yunmengju
The main house must of course be the center of the entire island.
I'll set up a small spirit-gathering formation in the backyard of the manor, which will not only improve the air quality but also make people feel refreshed. There are also several other small formations, such as those that repel insects, remove moisture, keep warm in winter and cool in summer, and nourish the body and mind (no more worrying about staying up late), etc.
And a hot spring pool with a self-circulating heating system, where you can mix some cleansing fluid. Hmm... maybe you can also raise some koi fish in it to help remove impurities?
And there's the study! I'm going to add some space-folding technology here, turning it into a spiral room of infinite height and size! (I always thought that looked super cool.) Every book in the study will be categorized and stored by the holographic system, allowing any book to be retrieved at any time.
You can also build a small secret laboratory for me, where I will practice Taoism, refine weapons, make elixirs, fly swords, draw talismans, etc.
Oh, and there are guest bedrooms and stuff in the manor.
Bruce's room maintained his usual low-key, luxurious and connotative style, with dark tones as the main color, and was equipped with holographic security monitoring and emergency evacuation system (although he seemed to be hesitant to speak, I still ignored it).
As for my room, it's a starry sky dome with a floating bed! At night, with the stars shining, I'll feel like I'm floating in the Milky Way. It'll also have a snack vending machine and a holographic reading screen! A novel, a movie, and a game all in one! I can't believe how awesome it'll be! (Bruce: ...Ringo, hold back.)
Each room will be equipped with a private bathroom and an automatic temperature control system.
I specifically requested that a small photosynthetic plant be placed on the windowsill of each guest room. It can not only serve as decoration, but also purify the air, cultivate sentiment, and make people feel relaxed and happy.
Well... the latter part can be modified according to the preferences of my younger brothers and sisters.
Of course, there are also indispensable entertainment activities.
Game Room:
The futuristic holographic game cabin can simulate various scenarios - interstellar adventures, fantasy battles, cozy farms, all the games you can think of are here!
An entire wall of interactive touch screens where you can play those Super Mario games you'll never be able to complete.
Of course, there’s also the classic arcade area, like King of Fighters, Taiko no Tatsujin, and even dance mats!
Movie Room:
With the super large screen and immersive holographic projection, movie scenes can come to you from all directions!
The seats are of course zero-gravity space capsule seats that can automatically adjust to the optimal angle.
An entire snack bar with milkshakes, popcorn, chocolate, cola, and a small service robot!
Greenhouse Garden:
I personally carved the Four Seasons Like Spring formation, and the soil dug out from my spiritual field will be filled with exotic flowers and plants from the world of cultivation.
Hitting vine, weeping flower, fire-breathing lotus, running ginseng...
Bruce peeked in from the greenhouse door and commented, "Very...special."
Ah Fu added gracefully, "Sir, the air here is indeed fresher than other places."
Of course I won’t forget the living service area.
Kitchen: A fully automatic smart kitchen, with robots that can automatically cut vegetables, cook and store countless recipes (Afu: Maybe I will be unemployed? Me: No! Afu, your cakes and cookies are still unmatched by anyone!).
Gym: A combination of high-tech fitness equipment and some basic training.
Medical cabin: It can provide high-tech rapid treatment and is also equipped with oriental therapies such as acupuncture and medicinal baths.
Ah Fu's smile deepened: "Miss, this place will become the core of the entire island."
Bruce sighed softly: "Can I understand that... I have no place to hide quietly anymore?"
I looked at him and said, "Hey! You can't say that about me and Ah Fu! We never forced you!"
69.
Of course, there have to be some secret facilities! Every island needs some hidden secret bases, this is standard. While exploring this island, I found a huge underground area that is perfect for a secret base!
Bruce said dissatisfiedly: "Leona, you can't just go to such a dangerous place!"
"Actually, I totally can," I hummed as I answered him, "I saw a lot of bats in there, so I spent a little time taming them... Maybe they'll start throwing fruit props to me regularly soon?"
Bruce rubbed his brows with a headache.
Leona is a child who established her values and experienced countless dangers at an early age. What this means is: she will not be scared by the adults' pretended seriousness. She knows very well what she can and cannot do, so that she appears to be particularly, um... arrogant and domineering.
70.
At Bruce's strong request, the secret base plan was shelved.
But Leona still set aside a piece of land to draw some small teleportation points so that people can quickly reach various areas on the island.
Bruce is so pedantic! He's completely turning into a boring adult like a mushroom! He cruelly deprived the child of the hobby of building a secret base - cold, heartless, and unreasonable!
"Are you introducing yourself?" The hateful man shrugged, covering half of his face with a newspaper, leaving only a pair of smiling blue eyes. "If you are forcing me to give in and allow you to build that secret base, then my answer is still that - no."
Yes, Leona is not afraid of adults bullying children at all, but if adults are determined to refuse, she will accept it reluctantly.
"—Mushroom! You big mushroom! You're just like a mushroom hurrying down the street with a briefcase and a numb expression!"
She stormed off.
And Bruce finally blew the only victory whistle in so many days.
71.
Drones shuttle back and forth in the air transporting materials, automatic vegetation irrigation systems hum in the forest, and working robots diligently turn my blueprint into reality.
As for the cultivation part, I outsourced some of it to the Squidward team! Not the Squidward from SpongeBob SquarePants, of course, but a well-known octopus renovation team in the cultivation world. Each creature has an average of eight arms, making them highly efficient. They swim to the construction site themselves, making it highly discreet. They don't even have to pay for travel expenses or provide food and lodging; they can just jump into the sea and enjoy a buffet.
I can't see any reason not to hire them.
"One, two, three... seven. There are seven people in your team." I circled around them with great interest.
"Actually, there are eight of them," the largest red octopus said, staring at me with its left eye, then right, then left with its right eye. "Our boss... he got married a while ago and hasn't been working for a long time."
"Oh, that's a shame." I patted its slippery tentacles. "Is it the most powerful among you?"
"No," the second octopus—who dyed himself yellow, for goodness' sake—answered. "He's human."
"Then I'm sorry for the preconceived notion." I fed it a spicy crayfish.
It took it with its tentacles and dropped the food into its beak. "It's okay. Many people would think he's an octopus like us—I like the garlic flavor, thank you—but in fact, since he carefully hatched us, he can be considered our 'mother'."
"So you dyed your hair this color, are you cosplaying Calabash Brothers?" I looked at the red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue and purple, and thought that maybe only the eldest brother didn't dye his hair.
"Yes! Finally someone understands us!" A green octopus affectionately patted my hand with the tip of its tentacle, with a subtle chill. "These Americans don't understand our humor at all! God, they even think we support LGBTQ+!"
"They also said I was redundant, damn it! We don't support LGBT at all!" Green Octopus cried while quietly taking away my golden crayfish.
Crying octopus, so cute.
But even so, you can’t use gossip as an excuse to shirk your work!
Go to work.
The seven octopuses crawled away droopingly.
!
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