Chapter 2: Batman, the organization has decided to let you be the deputy chief of the police station
"The Gothic language of the people of Gotham?"
Bruce chewed on the words over and over, seemingly frozen in place.
"Mr. Wayne, I understand your love for Gotham, your dedication to justice."
Li Yang's voice was calm, not affected by Bruce's emotions.
"However, fighting violence with violence will not solve the problem, it will only keep the cycle of violence going.
What we need is the rule of law, order, and the joint efforts of all citizens.
Your problem is that you overly believe in the ability of the individual, ignoring the power of the masses, making the mistake of individual heroism."
"Individual heroism? The people?"
Bruce was dumbfounded.
"There's nothing better than learning from one's mistakes. Mr. Wayne, it's not too late to turn back. Accept the reform of the city hall, the organization still believes in you."
Bruce felt his mind getting more and more confused. He shook his head vigorously and finally came back to his senses: "What's wrong with me?"
"What's wrong with you?"
Li Yang stood up from the sofa and turned to look at the city behind the floor-to-ceiling window with Bruce.
"Mr. Wayne, have you ever thought about where the roots of Gotham's dark forces lie? *
Bruce was deep in thought, and after a long time, he slowly spoke.
"When I was young, I thought the root cause was the gangs. That's why I've been fighting the gangs tooth and nail, putting them in Arkham Asylum one by one.
But criminals are like weeds. They never get rid of them.
I later learned that in the shadows of Gotham, there was the Court of Owls. They're Gotham's power elite, secretly controlling everything in Gotham.
It's a massive organization, so armed and wealthy that even I can't completely eliminate them."
"You can recognize this, already very good."
Li Yang nodded in approval, but his next words made Bruce fall into silence again.
"......... But it's not deep enough. Bruce, do you still not understand that the root of Gotham City's evil is actually your Wayne Group!"
Thunderbolt like a sentence, directly exploded Bruce's brain, he subconsciously raised his head, eyes a blank.
Li Yang lit up a cigarette and said slowly.
"The four families led by the Wayne Group occupy more than 80% of Gotham's wealth.
You monopolize the economic lifeblood of Gotham, but you refuse to take social responsibility.
You enjoy a life of luxury, but turn a blind eye to the suffering of the underclass.
You are like a huge vampire, lying on top of the toiling masses, greedily sucking everything from them.
"But, we, Bruce, tried to argue, but found our voices trembling.
"I know, you may say, you are also doing charity, and helping those poor people."
With a wave of his hand, Li Yang interrupted Bruce's words, "But compared to the wealth that you have extracted, those poor alms are just a drop in the bucket.
Mr. Wayne, you're actually still bothered why criminals are repeatedly caught?
The unemployed workers, the homeless, are the breeding ground for criminals!
If you take away one criminal today, ten debt-ridden families will go bankrupt tomorrow.
In order to survive, husbands have to steal, wives have to become prostitutes.
Mr. Wayne, I'm not defending them. But I must remind you that it is you, the Wayne Group, who set them on the path of crime!"
Bruce couldn't say a word.
He felt that something sacred in his heart was slowly collapsing.
Li Yang turned around, pressed his shoulders with both hands and said in a serious tone.
"Old Wei, it's not too late to turn back."
Bruce sat down on the chair somewhat disheveled: "What should we do?"
Li Yang inhaled a deep breath of smoke, and slowly exhaled.
His gaze seemed to penetrate the floor-to-ceiling windows and saw farther away.
"I need your money and weaponry.
First of all, take out at least fifty percent of the Wayne Group's annual profits to start a welfare fund to alleviate social unrest."
Bruce raised an eyebrow: "And then what?"
"Recruit a group of excellent police officers, arm them with high technology, and create a team that is strong enough to fight against the gangs."
Bruce thought carefully about Li Yang's proposal.
First, take at least fifty percent of the Wayne Group's annual profits and start a welfare fund to alleviate social unrest."
Bruce raised his eyebrows: "And then what?"
"Recruit a group of excellent police officers, arm them with high technology, and create a team that is strong enough to fight against the gangs.
Bruce seriously thought about Li Yang's proposal.
Although he had been persuaded by Li Yang, but with his character, he would never unconditionally agree to everything the other party asked for.
"Mr. Mayor, I can force the board of directors to provide the money. However, who will supervise this money?
As far as I know, more than half of the people in the finance department of the city hall are colluding with the gangsters.
Who can guarantee that the money won't end up in the hands of gangsters?"
"I'll guarantee it!"
Li Yang's eyes gleamed: "The city hall will set up an independent supervisory committee, composed of representatives of the public, business leaders and legal experts, to ensure that every penny is used on the knife edge."
Bruce nodded: "The money thing is fine, but the formation of a new police force .........
I think you will not be unaware that the police department has long been infiltrated by the gangs into a sieve.
I am most worried, is the Wayne Group's advanced weapons, will eventually fall into their hands."
"You can rest assured on this point."
Li Yang twisted the cigarette out in the ashtray, and for the first time, a smile appeared on his face.
"Mr. Wayne, City Hall has decided to invite you to become Deputy Chief of Police."