Sharp, rapid footsteps echo in the brightly lit corridor. The vibrant green of broad-leaved plants in front of the corridor's full-length glass curtain wall adds a touch of life to the high-tech metal walls.
Anyone who visits the Wayne Building for the first time would exclaim that it seems more like an alien base than a corporate building.
Yet, one cannot deny that this precise yet un rigid, cool yet vibrant style, truly evokes awe.
When Amanda Waller appeared around the corner, her expression showed no hint of relaxation, but rather a furrowed brow, her body language betraying that she didn't want to be there at all.
But in this world, no one can refuse an invitation from Bruce Wayne. No one has in the past and no one will in the future.
When Amanda stopped in front of the office door, she took a deep breath. She knew that this time, she was not meeting a student from Gotham University or a protege of Schiller, but the rightful head of Wayne Enterprises, unmatched in scale, scope, and wealth.
It needs to be reiterated, when Bruce Wayne invites someone for a conversation, even if it's about his lunch, one must strive to infer the intentions of this conglomerate tycoon from his few words. Amanda is no exception.
The employee leading her stepped forward and gently knocked on the door. A deep, muffled "come in" was heard from inside.
As Amanda entered, Bruce, wearing a shirt and suit pants, was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the city.
He is tall, charismatic and handsome, the perfect embodiment of people's opinion of him - "A business genius and a charming playboy".
"Miss Waller, please have a seat," Bruce gestured to a chair beside the coffee table in the reception area. Waller sat down expressionlessly and undid the buttons of her long suit coat.
The attendant approached, intending to take the handbag she was carrying, but Amanda ignored him and placed her bag on the table.
Bruce motioned the attendant, who, after bringing coffee, turned and left the spacious top floor, leaving only the two of them in the office.
"I've heard you've been having some trouble," Bruce got straight to the point, "I believe Wayne Enterprises can provide assistance, and at the same time, you might be able to do me a favor."
"You're more straightforward than most businessmen I've met," Amanda retorted.
Bruce understood her hidden meaning, these negotiation tactics were common in the business field. It seemed like she was praising him, but it was actually to make clear that she has many other allies and is not at a loss for help.
"I'm well aware that in addition to the support of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, you've also won the approval of many in the military. Even in Congress, some would like your project to serve them. You're an excellent manager and salesperson, but I think that no one in this world could refuse to hear my proposal," Bruce put his hands on the table, fingers crossed, leaninng forward, in an aggressive posture.
He's an incredibly strong man, so when he adopts such a posture, Amanda unconsciously leans back until she is up against the chair back. This is an evasive reaction.
"Mr. Wayne, I know why you asked to see me today," Amanda stared into Bruce's eyes, "No beating about the bush, our prison and testing facility house your former mentor, and you hope to broker a deal to free him and prevent any harm to come to him. However, I must tell you, that's not going to happen."
Amanda leaned a little forward, looking at Bruce's face and said, "My parents and brother were victims of a grisly serial killing. I bear an unbearable grudge against every serial killer in the world including your former mentor, and mine, Schiller Rodriguez."
"No one in this world can stop me from taking revenge against them. It's my mission to make them suffer, and I don't care if anyone backs me or not, I don't need any more support. The brutality of these criminals is my biggest argument to persuade everyone."
"No ordinary person should empathize with such criminals." Amanda's eyes were ice-cold as she continued, "They see us as livestock, we must see them as enemies. Nothing is off-limits when it comes to dealing with them."
As Amanda finished speaking, she wasn't sure if she saw a hint of complex emotion in Bruce Wayne's eyes, like a student looking at a classmate who always scores lower but has now surpassed him.
What shocked Amanda was Bruce's first words: "Miss Waller, I believe you are right, I feel the same way."
While Amanda's expression became one of surprise, Bruce gave a subtle smile. He continued to lean forward, staring at Amanda and said, "Therefore, I'm not asking you to release Schiller."
"Then what are you trying to do?" Alarm bells were ringing for Amanda.
Actually, Amanda was not scared that Bruce would try to bribe or corrupt her. As Amanda herself said, many people support and aid her in her experimental project. Even though these supporters might have ulterior motives, Amanda's main motivation is pure revenge.
From any perspective, she had justice and morality on her side. Her painful past makes it impossible for anyone to accuse her of treating serial killers with such cruelty.
As she said, ordinary people should not feel any empathy for these criminals. Rejecting, detesting, and hating them is normal. If someone feels sorry for them, it's in another sense Stockholm syndrome.
Or rather, serial killers aren't just anti-morality or anti-law, they are anti-human. Every human being has the responsibility and obligation to bring them deserved punishment.
"I sympathize with your ordeals and comprehend all the measures you've taken in prisons. But frankly, this isn't a sustainable model, Miss Waller, you simply aren't capable of executing this experiment,".
Startled, Amanda widened her eyes, glaring at Bruce, she yelled, "What did you say?!!".
"I said, I fully understand your intent, which is quite normal; it's human nature to loathe these serial killers," Bruce said, spreading his hands slightly. "I think the method you've come up with is fine. These serial killers have no human rights, not because anyone deprived them of it, but because they themselves surrendered it."
"They consider themselves superior to humans, thinking they're not social beings or even part of the human race. Naturally, they forfeit the human rights they're entitled to. They rejected their rights, so there's nothing wrong with your treatment of them."
"The only problem is, you can't possibly suppress them forever with the methods you're operating, you absolutely can't do that."
"Why?!" Amanda raised her voice, " I've meticulously prepared this for over a decade, and everything is progressing smoothly. What right have you to deny my years of achievements?!"
"What did you do to Schiller?" Bruce suddenly shifted the subject.
Amanda paused, looking into Bruce's eyes, she said, "No matter how much you try to conceal it, your only interest is Schiller."
"Of course, it's crystal clear how special he is, he's the leader of the flock. To master the flock, you must master him first."
Listening to Bruce, Amanda snorted, "But I'm afraid you wouldn't have that chance. He was taken into the operating room for modification surgery just yesterday, and whether he can move around, and let alone stand, is now solely up to me."
"So, did he bow his head to you?" asked Bruce.
Amanda's expression suddenly froze.
She recalled yesterday's scene, the man was cut open, his flesh tear apart, and nearly had his spine removed, he lost nearly all his blood and was at death's door.
He lay helplessly on the operating table, but was still up there, criticizing Amanda, calling her talentless and incompetent.
Unquestionably, this ignited Amanda's fury. The rage was merely delayed, not gone. And now that she came here, Schiller's prized student dared to say this to her again.
Amanda took a deep breath, she was on the brink of a meltdown. She stared icily at Bruce and declared, "I don't need him to kneel before me! These damned criminals won't bow to anyone, they are unrepentant."
Bruce shook his head and said, "It's just because you haven't found their weaknesses. By the way, do you truly believe your restrictive measures can keep them locked up?"
Amanda gazed at him in silence while Bruce rested his elbows on the desk, his hands folded under his chin, speaking in an extremely assured tone.
"Miss Waller, I understand. The outcome of your years of hard work fills you with immense pride. You believe it's foolproof, guaranteed to yield a result."
"Right now, my denial of your efforts seems as if I'm trying to snatch away your achievements, but in fact, if that were my intention, I wouldn't have notified you."
Bruce looked down and continued, "You should know that Wayne is more than a business conglomerate, or rather, Wayne Enterprises is now much more than this."
"Heavy industry and military industry, vital to the nation, are the foundation for our standing. Essentially, Wayne Enterprises is a super complex conglomerate, larger than the military-industrial complex."
"Moreover, Wayne Enterprises is a family business, although I do have a certain responsibility to some shareholders, most of the power is still in my hands."
"No one would oppose me offering a substantial fund in the name of charity, enabling the Federal Anti-Violence and Anti-Terrorism Department to achieve something in a rather new prison."
Amanda's face grew darker and darker but Bruce just nodded and said, "Yes, I know this project is of great importance within the FBI. Many people are expecting results, therefore, I'm not planning to interfere with it in such a crude way."
"I just hope the project can go a bit smoother. Wayne Enterprises can patch up the loopholes in this project, perfecting it. Please believe that in dealing with these criminals, we share common interests."
Looking at Amanda's slightly shaken face, Bruce gave a smile, and said, "You are my senior in a way, so when I say you're incompetent at doing something, you might feel offended. But that's not what I meant."
"How about we make a bet?"
Seeing Bruce's calm demeanor, Amanda realized there's nothing she could do. In order not to have her hard work brutally taken away, she stepped back and asked, "… What do you want to bet on?"
"You think that serial killers like Schiller will never bow…"
"Then let's bet on whether I have the capability to make him bow."