February 23, 1987, Chicago, night time.
In the Chicago Grand Theater, Ms. Tina ended the dazzling and lively dance party. She gently touched her fur shawl, and with the assistance of her driver, she sat into a luxurious car. When she returned to her luxurious apartment, a handsome man with blue eyes wrapped his arms around her waist. Tina said, "Our dance party has just begun, hasn't it, Mr. Bruce?"
The moonlight outside the window shone in, shining on his beautiful blue eyes, partially concealed by his eyebrows shadow. The handsome side profile of the man fascinated Tina. When the man turned around, it was Bruce Wayne.
On an ordinary afternoon on February 20, 1987, Shiller woke up in Falcone Manor's bed. He hadn't forgotten that before he crossed into Marvel, he was resting in the guest room of the Godfather's Manor.
Gotham's mornings were never sunny, but the early morning always brought special inspiration to Shiller. While enjoying breakfast with Falcone and his son, the professor once again received some inspirationand quickly perfected it in his mind.
"What do you think of the future of Gotham?" Shiller asked Falcone.
Falcone shook his head and said: "If you had asked me this question 40 years ago, I would definitely tell you that this city is hopeless. But now I want to say, this city does not need anyone to save it, it is as it is, and it will continue to be…"
"Do you think Gotham needs a new order?"
"Many people have asked me this question, but I can only say that any effort to make this city better will ultimately be in vain, no matter how enthusiastic the beginning, but in the end, it will return to nothingness."
"Why is that?"
"You asked the key, but I don't know the answer."
The Godfather lit a cigar, and the smoke slowly drifted away. He said, "In these 40 years, I have seen determined revolutionaries and saviors with moral boundaries like saints. Among so many people in this world, there are certainly one or two good guys or heroes, determined to save this city."
"They came to Gotham with this idea. You have to admit that even if you knew they wouldn't succeed, you would still be deeply shocked by that kind of determination."
"You may find it funny, but I have indeed been changed by these people. You may wonder how I became the Godfather of Gotham, the biggest mob in this mob city."
"But it's because I've seen these, I've experienced that era, that I know that good guys can't save Gotham, nor can heroes."
"So where are they now?"
"Most of them are dead, and some who were being lucky escaped from here. Those who do not belong to Gotham will eventually leave Gotham. If someone stays, then he must have belonged to Gotham originally."
"Is there such a person? Where is he?"
The Godfather seemed to fall into a memory. After a while, he made the sign of the cross on his chest and said, "I swore to the Lord to preserve this secret."
He did not give Shiller a clear answer, but Shiller already knew who he was referring to.
The next day, Bruce was called into the office by Shiller. Shiller almost never took the initiative to call him over, so Bruce was curious about what Shiller wanted.
They sat down on either side of the office desk, just as they did the first time they met. Shiller asked him:
"Have you ever thought of saving this city completely in a second?"
"Of course…"
"I mean, after you clearly realize what the nature of this city is."
Bruce opened his mouth, and Shiller took off his glasses. He stared at Bruce and said: "I think you should have seen that this city doesn't need to be saved, and it can't be saved fundamentally."
"So what, are you trying to persuade me to stop doing this? To stop being Batman?"
"Of course not, I don't care whether you're Batman or not, I just want to know if you really want to save Gotham?"
"What's the difference between the two?"
"Are you sure you became Batman to save Gotham?"
Bruce fell silent.
"Let me ask you another question, if there is a possibility of bringing a new order to Gotham now, would you be willing to make some efforts for it?"
"Although I have this speculation now, I still can't be sure, what is the essence of this city? Why did it become like this? And is it really unsaveable?"
"Falcone once told me that many people have tried to save this city, but they all failed. Most of them have buried here, but some have stayed, integrated here, and become a part of Gotham."
"Who is he?"
"The only priest in Gotham Cathedral, I think you can go see him and then come back and give me an answer."
Bruce shook his head. He thought Shiller was a bit bizarre.
But he was also very interested in the past stories of Gotham. There are too many mysteries in this city to explore.
At first, his goal was simple. He wanted to avenge all the criminals. But when he learned a part of Gotham, he thought he should also save this city. But when he learned more about Gotham, he felt that this city did not need to be saved.