"If they could use this energy properly, that would be acceptable. The Lantern Corps is, in na, upholding cosmic law and order. But in truth, they are entirely enforcing their personal will. They are keeping the peace that they want, rather than striving to improve the lives of the other races."
"For instance, not long ago, we sold a reactor. It's rather rudintary and barely more advanced than human industrial civilization. I'm not joking when I say it essentially functions like an internal combustion engine."
"However, we inserted a mini Lantern Furnace into it, making the reactor into a perpetual motion machine. This race bought the augnted reactor in order to tackle the disastrous cold wave on their only planet."
"In the past, when a cold wave struck, they requested aid from the Green Lantern Corps, but their request was dismissed. The reason? Their sector was too remote, and there was no Green Lantern responsible for it, and the others Lanterns were not allowed to deviate from their pre-assigned duties."
"Yet we all know that this is only an excuse. The true reason is that this race's planet holds no potential for future developnt due to its state of barrenness. Its entire population is less than one billion. Its inhabitants lack both special abilities and strong willpower. Moreover, no one from their planet has ever beco a Lantern."
"To put it bluntly - they just weren't valuable enough." Hal's tone contained a hint of sadness as he muttered, "According to the Guardians of the Universe, they are supposed to maintain cosmic peace and order, but they only maintain the peace for those they deem valuable."
"What I can't accept is their definition of 'valuable'; it includes prosperity, strength, and especially obedience - the last one being a priority."
"They expect everyone to tolerate a stranger with formidable energy roaming their territories freely, deal with all the possible issues caused by his recklessness, hold their tongue when he brings disaster, and also praise him publicly among the stars in order for them to be deed worthy of protection; otherwise, they are abandoned."
"This is not the true justice, nor the peace that I pursue." Hal shook his head and said, "Clearly, humans aren't valuable enough. Humans will never submit to them, and once we start to rebel, they will try to exterminate us. By then, we'll be labelled as the criminals who disturbed the peace of the cosmos, so we must prepare in advance."
Shiller continued, "We hope to find talent among the pan-human civilization - within all groups and races that have contact with humanity. We plan to arm them with weapons and equipnt enhanced by green lantern energy and organize our own ard forces."
"But the problem is, this energy is too overwhelming. So far, nobody has had the confidence to contain all the energy after the ssage has been spread."
As Lucifer was about to speak, Shiller interrupted him, "I know what you want to say—Batman. But have you ever considered that this energy could get corrupted if placed in Gotham? Gotham is unique."
Lucifer pondered for a mont before asking, "So you want to ensure the safety of this energy?"
"In fact, we hope to store this energy in your bar. Everyone who knows about this incident and ets soone suitable will refer them to your bar. You can further investigate and screen them, and pass this energy to them in the most appropriate way."
"At the sa ti, you have to test if they can utilize this energy properly, like assigning them tasks."
"This will solve the offseason problem of your bar perfectly. You need to identify the potential talents from the custors who visit."
"Not only do you have to equip them, but you also have to assign them tasks. You will et people of all sorts, see how their lives take a turning point here, going towards the light or descending into darkness."
"Their destinies are not entirely up to you, but they are related to you. You don't have to be responsible for them, but you can enjoy watching."
"I've told you, I hate psychologists." Lucifer took a sip of his drink, placed the glass on the table, glanced at Hal and said, "Show around the town tomorrow, let's pick a good location for my bar."
As night fell, the temperature of Seashore City dropped significantly. Hal squatted in front of the fireplace, extinguishing the flas while Shiller made his way down the stairs. Raising his head, Hal asked, "What's the matter, professor? Why aren't you sleeping?"
"Oh, I wanted to make a phone call."
Hal pointed at the phone on the table nearby. Shiller walked over, glanced at his watch, and precisely when the minute hand pointed at a specific mark, picked up the phone and dialed a number.
As soon as the call connected, in addition to Alfred's warm greeting, there were also soft moans and gasps of anger from Aisha, a boy's shrill screams, and the sound of furniture collapsing.
Shiller, looking at his nails, waited for a mont before a panting voice on the other end picked up, "...Hello?"
"Hello, Mr. Thomas, I gather your arm holding the phone is bleeding. You should probably bandage it promptly."
"I don't have anything significant to say, I just wanted to point out that you've been thoroughly deceived. This Gotham is completely different from what you imagined, and your Batman is defeated. Goodnight, sir."
Thomas was left in a daze when the dial tone rang out from the receiver. He couldn't hold back any longer and hung up the phone harshly, standing still, taking several deep breaths.
No matter how many tis, when Batman is defeated by Joker, he can't help but get blinded by rage.
Then, Thomas lowered his head looking at the deep bite marks on his arm, which almost exposed the bone. He inhaled sharply, looking at three children holding Aisha on the couch, grinded his teeth and said,
"Soone needs to explain to , exactly what's going on here? Since when does Bruce have an illegitimate daughter? Also... why are her teeth so sharp?!"
"Oh, congenital tooth malformation. She's too young for correction surgery, and we have a diagnosis from a dentist..." Dick explained nervously.
"Then why are her pupils vertical?"
"Iris heterochromia. We have a diagnosis from an ophthalmologist." Jason said confidently.
"Is she only capable of screaming and not speaking?"
"Childhood autism, we have a diagnosis from a psychologist." Tim said innocently.
"Okay, final question, who is her mother?"
At this mont, Alfred stepped forward and looked sincerely at Thomas,
"Sir, to put it simply, a passionate youthful enjoynt, an accident, a heart-broken mother, and their innocent illegitimate daughter..."
Thomas covered his eyes.
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