In the flickering light of the Green Lantern Headquarters' core control center, Hal sat quietly in front of the screen, looking at the information displayed.
Just recently, his ring had informed him that he could download the information he needed into his ring and call on the Green Lantern energy at any time to transmit it directly into his brain.
Yet Hal didn't press the confirmation key.
From birth to maturation, Hal had always seen himself as a good person, not the kind of saint who always puts others first disregarding his own feelings. He has had petty disputes, quarrels with his parents, conflicts with friends, but his belief to help the weak and rescue those in need was deeply etched in his marrow.
Over the years, many people had benefited from his help. He had saved children from drowning and stopped robbers on the street. Even when he himself wasn't well off, he had helped beggars on the street. He wasn't a universal savior, just an ordinary good person with a conscience.
Therefore, when faced with many important decisions, he felt hesitant and lost.
Earth was his home, where everything he loved resided. He believed that he should do everything he could to protect it.
In the early days of becoming Green Lantern, the excitement of his newfound superpower had led him to impulsively upload a large amount of information to the Lantern's network. When he finally came to his senses, he felt a pang of guilt.
So, when Shiller approached him, hoping for his cooperation to extract some energy from the Lantern, Hal agreed.
As a Green Lantern, he knew better than Shiller that the Lantern's energy was renewable. Even if Shiller drained half the energy from the Green Lantern Headquarters, given enough time, the energy would eventually replenish.
But now, standing before the core control center's top-secret information, Hal realized that what Shiller wanted was far more than just energy.
Shiller wanted the entire Green Lantern Corps.
Only now did Hal see the whole picture clearly.
In the beginning, Shiller sent Hal to Green Lantern Corps for help and bring back a small team with him, so that these lanterns could witness the danger of Gotham and be trapped in there.
When they were deeply mired and their energy was about to run out, they would certainly call for help.
In this way, most of the corps' fighting strength would be dispatched to Gotham. When they landed, Shiller would use other methods to defeat them, putting the Green Lanterns, including the legion commander of Green Lantern Corps, in danger of being wiped out.
At this very moment, Hal would step forward to save the day, preventing disaster and rescuing the others from imminent danger.
Essentially Shiller had brought together numerous powerful supporting characters, only to make Hal - the protagonist - stand out and reap the credit.
This achievement would not only elevate him past the novice stage of being a Green Lantern, making him a formal Lamp Hero but also catapult him to a prominent position within the Green Lantern Corps, bypassing the lengthy process of accumulating merit, studying abroad, and stepping into the core in one stride.
At this thought, Hal sighed inwardly. He remembered Alfred's words at the Mayor's Manor.
"When we need a spy to ascend high ranks, we usually do three things."
"Firstly, we destabilize the region making most of the top brass preoccupied with quelling the chaos."
"Secondly, we make other agents cause some trouble, which only the spy can fix, offering him an opportunity to rise."
"Thirdly, we eliminate one or several significant figures in the elite during the chaos, making room for him."
"Afterwards, we no longer have to coerce them into accepting the spy's promotion and let nature take its course."
"If it does not succeed this time, we wait patiently for the next opportunity. In an organization with such complex personnel relationships, there's always a chance for the right person to ascend to the right position."
Hal suddenly realized the absurdity of the fact that Alfred had given him the answer before the event started.
Everything Shiller did had a trail. In their field, these methods are as fixed as mathematical formulas, refined and summarized after countless trials and errors.
Hal did not know if the Green Lanterns knew about these tactics, but there was no doubt that Shiller's plan had succeeded.
The only uncertainty left was his decision.
Hal sat at the table, staring at the cool light reflected on the smooth surface from the screen. The data flowed, dots blinked like stars reflected on a lake.
He knew that the reason Shiller hadn't told him everything was to give him a choice.
Hal didn't understand why Shiller would take such a risk, entrusting the outcome of an operation with such substantial manpower and resources to his solitary decision.
Could he really make such an important decision? Could he truly carry the burden of expectations and choose the future of Earth?
Batman had the same question.
Within the manor, he sat upright on the sofa, his back stiff and unwilling to lean against the chair. He asked:
"Actually, you could very well have done all this on your own. You too possess the Green Lantern Ring, you're a member of the Lantern Corps, and your performance and abilities far exceed those of Hal. More importantly, you would undoubtedly choose Earth."
"Why are you so sure?" Shiller countered.
"Because if it weren't so, you wouldn't have planned all this."
Batman's answer was spot on. Shiller had gone to great lengths and taken the roundabout way to elevate Hal, simply because he hoped someone would take control of the Green Lantern Corps and have them side with Earth.
But Batman's question was also valid. Shiller could have easily done the same. He could have orchestrated such a grand event, making himself the protagonist. When all the Green Lanterns were defeated and in disarray, he could have emerged as the hero who saves them and enter the power core of the Green Lantern Corps amid everyone's adulation.
Batman had no doubt that Shiller would do better. Although Shiller often claimed to be a mere mortal and admitted to being inferior compared to Hal, the intuitive strongest willed man in the world.
But his method without requiring much force was destined to be. To the contrary, the techniques of manipulative power struggles were more important.
Batman believed that if Shiller successfully entered the leadership core of the Green Lantern Corps, then, in no time, Oa Star would become a subsidiary of Earth.
"Batman, I believe I have mentioned this to you before, you overly pursue efficiency. You stick too steadfastly to goal-oriented methods, so much so that sometimes, you overlook the collateral benefits," Shiller said as he put down his wine glass and explained.
"Indeed, if I did it myself, the efficiency would be much higher, and I would not even need to direct this drama. I only need to follow the usual procedure, report and train at Oa Star, and I could soon climb to the top ranks of the Green Lantern Corps."
"However, if it were so, I would still be myself, and to me, this would only be a task, providing neither gains nor challenges, nor any excitement. As I have already sided with Earth, this event wouldn't change anything for me."
"But Hal is different, he is still inexperienced, but his potential is limitless. More importantly, he has not been brainwashed by the Green Lantern's so-called beliefs of peace and justice, and there is room for him to change."
"Since there is an opportunity to train a die-hard supporter for Earth, why not?"
Constantine on the other side of the couch asked: "The question is, how can you be so sure that Hal will choose Earth? Yes, he is an Earthling, but the power of the Green Lantern is so strong and comes at no cost. What if he is tempted?"
"If I'm not mistaken, he's probably at the Green Lantern Corps headquarters now, possibly finding some secret information. But wasn't he previously such a believer in the Green Lantern Corps' principles? How could his stance change so abruptly?"
With a smile, Shiller picked up the decanter and poured himself some more wine. Watching the golden liquid flow slowly into the glass, he calmly said, "Don't tell me you think yourselves to have been perfect since birth."
"Of course, I...." Constantine was about to admit, but seeing Batman narrowing his eyes at him, he swallowed his words.
To cover up the awkward moment, Constantine coughed a couple of times and then asked, "Okay, even if we aren't perfect from birth, what are you trying to convey?"
"I am saying that we can give him some time. When he realizes the crux of the matter, he will stand with his brethren more firmly than anyone else."
"The crux of the matter…" Batman intentionally drew out his words, which was not common, apparently because he was reminded of something. He said, "I recall that you told a story last time, that not long after the birth of the universe, a race named 'Guardians of the Universe' appeared..."
"Correct, I remember, I should have also told you that they are a race of wisdom, although they are not always so wise."
Batman seemed to understand something. He said, "Any intelligent creature can't be absolutely selfless."
"Up to some extent, the smarter they are, the more selfish they are. That's because the intelligent can more clearly analyze the cost-benefit of something and achieve the maximum result at the lowest price."
"But defending justice, maintaining peace, helping the weak - these are tasks that require great efforts but yield almost no return."
"Many call the heroes willing to do these things 'fools,' because their actions do indeed seem foolish."
"They spend their own money, energy, and time on those weaklings who should be none of their concern. This is not in line with the theory of risk investment."
"Because this is not an investment." Batman interjected, "If you wish to get a return, don't bother being a hero."
These words drew Constantine's side glance. He paused, shrugged his shoulders, and as if talking to himself, said, "Well, you all are heroes, only I am a scoundrel... I am indeed a scoundrel, I want return."
"Of course..." Shiller changed the topic, "Although this spirit is commendable, full suffering is not advisable either. Return can inspire heroes to exhibit greater strength. Therefore, my job is to talk about something practical behind this great spirit..."
"Let's cut to the chase." Shiller took a sip of his drink and then said, "I don't need to do anything to guide Hal to percieve them negatively because what they represent has never been justice, nor is it fair."
"There is no real justice in the universe, only power exists. And since everyone is powerful, I hope we are more powerful."
Meanwhile, at the Green Lantern Corps headquarters, Hal ultimately did not press the confirmation button. He just stood up, gazing out the window at everything on Oa Star, then turned around and left the core command center.