"A last resort?" Alfred walked into the warehouse, shaking his head, "No, this can't be called a last resort. This is merely a way to ensure personal safety and that the task is carried out smoothly. Come on, pick something you like. How about this gun?"
Merkel swallowed hard, saying, "During my time at Butler School, I heard that the confrontations of the previous generation were much more intense than they are now. Those individuals were certainly far more formidable than people today. However, I didn't expect things to have progressed to this extent."
"You are correct. The confrontations of the previous generation were indeed more intense. This is not just reflected in the quantity of weapons, but also in the understanding of our duties."
"If you only see yourself as an agent and a spy, you will never be able to use means beyond that role because you're always worried about whether you've revealed your identity or leaked information."
Merkel's expression reflected his confusion; he said: "But I still have to take those factors into account. If I become too negligent and expose my true identity, my employer will also be implicated…"
Alfred caressed the gun barrel and said, "Over the years, it's not like the FBI or CIA haven't tried to penetrate this city and this manor to capture their targets."
"But over all these years, only the group of agents that targeted Professor Shearer had the good fortune to succeed. Why do you think that is?"
Merkel paused. Then, he showed a guilt-ridden expression and said: "Because I failed to fulfill my duties…"
"No, Merkel," responded Alfred. "It's because you still don't view yourself as a butler, especially not a butler in Gotham."
Alfred explained while holding a gun: "How could you be a butler in Gotham without having your own arsenal? Even the cheapest new mansions on the outskirts of the South District have a small storeroom for keeping weapons for their butlers."
Alfred sighed,"Imagine that during the invasion of the Federal Bureau of Investigation agents into the manor, you were in the middle of maintaining weapons. Owing to excessive fear, an accidental misfire results in manufactured fertilizer for the manor's garden. Then who could they blame? They could only blame Gotham for being a rotten city."
"You dutifully and conscientiously pretend to be a Gothamite, but realistically, there are no cautious Gothamites, and certainly no rational Gotham butlers."
"The moment the federal Bureau of Investigation agents kicked down the manor door, showed you their badges and revealed their identities, you should have immediately drawn a gun from under the couch and knocked down the person who kicked down the door."
"You should have told them that Gotham abides by its own rules. Regardless of who wants to visit the manor, if they don't send an invitation or bring a gift, they should not expect a banquet and fine wine, only bullets."
Alfred turned to Merkel and said: "You should be grateful that you are not from the previous generation. Otherwise, the moment you try to reason with them, you would have revealed your weakness, and the individuals I've dealt with would have shot you as soon as you began to argue."
With a click, Alfred pulled the trigger of an empty gun. Merkel instinctively flinched, and Alfred started speaking again:
"I guess your employer wouldn't blame you. He is a very tolerant man, but after all, you are the butler I recommended. If you couldn't complete the tasks within your role, I'm afraid that would embarrass both your school and the Pennyworth family."
Merkel lowered his head and said firmly, "Yes, Mr. Pennyworth, I understand. Tomorrow, I'll tidy up the underground storage in the manor and prepare the defensive means a Gotham butler should have."
Alfred nodded and tossed a weapon to Merkel. He picked up an old-fashioned double-barreled shotgun and said, "Let's go, find Shearer, and tell him face to face that you can be a good butler."
As the two of them prepared to leave the basement and exit Wayne Manor, a figure suddenly appeared at the entrance of the manor. She tapped on the gate anxiously.
Alfred handed the gun to Merkel, adjusted his clothing, and went to open the door.
Seeing the somewhat familiar face of Zatanna outside, Alfred hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Zatanna Zatara? Is it Miss Zatara?"
"It's me… Oh, Alfred!" Zatanna called out the butler's name. Seeing this white-haired old butler, the urgent words she had been about to blurt out got stuck in her throat.
"… Alfred, how have you been?" Zatanna asked caringly, while Alfred, looking at her somewhat weary expression, replied, "I'm well, miss, but you seem tired. Why don't we go inside and talk?"
Alfred led Zatanna to the main hall of Wayne Manor. However, Zatanna was too preoccupied with her thoughts to sit down. She was considering how to explain the current state of Bruce to this old butler.
When she had initially arrived at Wayne Manor with her father, Little Bruce had just lost his parents, and it was the old butler who had been caring for him. Zatanna knew that the relationship they share is not father and son, but it's even closer.
She really didn't know how to tell a father about his son's predicament. Zatanna took a deep breath, gathered all her courage, but she was interrupted just as she was about to speak. Alfred looked at her and said, "You're about to deliver bad news, aren't you?"
Zatanna was taken aback, but then blurted out, "Yes, Bruce... his current condition is not very good. I'm planning to save him, but I need some help..."
"Where is he now?" Alfred asked.
Zatanna's face contorted in pain. She couldn't bring herself to say the word "Hell" because she thought this old butler wouldn't be able to understand anything related to mysticism.
If she were to say that Bruce was now in Hell, it would be as good as telling Alfred that Bruce was already dead. And saving his soul from Hell would sound like a preposterous story.
"You want to say he's dead?" Alfred looked at Zatanna and asked. Zatanna paused, then sighed and said, "Mr. Butler, please bear with what I am about to say next."
"I'm not drunk, nor am I talking nonsense. This is all true, even though you might find it hard to accept it. Well...Bruce's spirit is now in Hell, the Hell as understood by common knowledge."
While saying this, Zatanna didn't dare look at Alfred. But when she slowly turned her head back, she didn't see any shock or contempt on Alfred's face.
"So, how did he get there?" Alfred asked.
"He...he jumped off the cliff at the edge of the Human World and Hell, which is..."
"The Edge of Hell?" Alfred reminded her.
"Ah, exactly, the Edge of Hell. He jumped off the cliff there... Wait a minute!!! " Zatanna's eyes widened as she looked at Alfred, asking: "How would you know about the Edge of Hell??!!!"