"Back then, this place was primarily a colonial economy. Due to an accident, I began dealing with the mob, who took interest in my connections with the wealthy Englishmen. They hoped I could serve as a mediator, helping them to expand their power."
"I didn't want to get involved in these whirlpools, but I had no choice. If I had to pick one, I would choose the one with the most potential - Falcone."
"Later on, many people discovered that Gotham was not as good as they had imagined and the wealthy Englishmen gradually withdrew from here to other more prosperous and potential places."
"The main legacy they left to this city was the manor district and this cathedral. Under my persuasion, they collectively sponsored the establishment of this place, and I became the only priest in this cathedral."
"And what happened after that? How did things ended up?"
"When the upper class that maintained a steady order suddenly departed, those with the most bullets in their guns were the ones to fill these upper structures. Falcone and his Twelve Families were such people. They caused upheaval for a while and then took over here."
"Falcone was once an excellent partner because I knew he was different from the other mobs. He wanted to create a new order here — a violent one, but still better than no order."
"I did everything I could to help him. I thought the mob was just temporarily substituting for the drained upper classes. One day, Gotham would return to normal."
"But I didn't expect that everything would spiral out of control. After Falcone and his mob family took over the city, it became a real city of crime. From twelve mob families, there sprouted 120, then 1200. Eventually, everyone in this city was part of a mob or a criminal."
"Evil spread here and I was powerless. I believe Falcone might have felt the same. Many people might think he's the one who made Gotham go bad, but I know that's not the truth."
Finally, the priest looked up at the surrounding church and said, "There are not many buildings left from that era. I am grateful they left such a place for me, a sanctuary."
"So why didn't you leave? Even if you can't return to your homeland, you could have gone to a cathedral in Metropolis. There are many more clergy there, and life isn't too bad."
The priest said, "You don't understand. I not only witnessed how evil gradually infected this city, but I was also deeply involved."
He crossed himself on his chest, prayed under his breath for a moment, then said, "The greatest truth I learned from this is that this city only embraces those who originally belong to it. Those who genuinely wish to save this place will have to leave eventually because they don't belong here."
"So all of this, what is it for?"
"I don't know, but I've always believed my choice was right. Falcone and I were guardians of this city, not destroyers."
"In your eyes, the godfather may seem successful. He ruled the Gotham underground for 40 years, but I know, Falcone and I both understand that we are merely failures, spinning an unstable order out of a sinful abyss just to protect ourselves."
The priest shook his head, "Sadly, I am just an ordinary man, merely one who has lived longer than others. What I know might be less than what Falcone knows, or perhaps Falcone himself does not know the real answer."
As the sun gradually set, the shadows of the tables and chairs in the church stretched longer and longer. The light streaming through the stained glass windows began to wash over Bruce.
Eventually, the old priest said, "I can only guard a piece of His kingdom here. After my death, this sanctuary will dissipate like countless hopes once dissipated in Gotham."
"From the group of people back then, only Falcone and I are left. We're old and perhaps when we meet our Lord, all the remaining order in this city will cease to exist."
"Do you believe there's a possibility of establishing a new order?"
"Countless people have tried, but they've all failed. Falcone succeeded only a little, but it was just a temporary delay. Probably no one can delay it any longer."
Accompanied by the priest's somewhat sighing voice, Bruce fell into contemplation again.
Whenever he heard stories about his hometown's history, Bruce could not feel nostalgic like a returning traveller would.
This is because the story of Gotham from beginning to end is filled with absurdity and despair. All that happened here have no cause or result, even people who lived through that era couldn't clearly articulate it.
On this mysterious journey to uncover Gotham's history, the parts of the time machine are always interrupted by hazy fragments. Whenever Bruce wants to repair this old projector and uncover the truth within, there is always something stopping him.
Bruce, who walked out of the church, began to contemplate the question Shiller asked him. The priest's answer was that there might not be a chance for this city to have a new order. After the older generation dies out, it will descend into complete darkness.
He suddenly thought of a strange analogy, but it felt very apt.
All the evil in Gotham, and all the criminals living here, are like grains of salt poured out of a salt shaker.
This is a salt shaker that will never empty. The person holding this salt shaker is patiently pouring out some sparkling grains of salt, like an angler patiently making his bait.
Bruce, who had just come of age, learned a fact earlier than others from his professor, from Falcone, from the old priest.
Gotham becoming what it is today is not simply a natural evolution. The target of avenging criminals that he once held might never be achieved, and Gotham might never be completely saved because the salt shaker in the sky of Gotham will never empty. The salt grains full of evil are transparent and wind-swept, just like the never-ending light rain in Gotham.
But this did not make Batman feel defeated. Rather, it allowed him to develop ambition earlier.
Batman did not want to keep flying around these grains of salt thrown out like alms, like a foolish fish circling around bait, hoping the current sweeps some scraps to fill its belly.
What he wanted to do was to directly crush this salt shaker, or like he once did to Louis - appear behind him like a bat, let the shadow envelop the complacent person with the salt shaker, instilling fear until they tremble.
And then, get the salt shaker and all the grains of salt in it.
If there must be a salt shaker in the world to contain all criminals, then this salt shaker better belongs to Batman.
It must belong to Batman.