"Perfect timing, Peter." Shiller poured Peter a cup of hot tea. Seemingly uncomfortable, Peter, who was sitting on the edge of the hotel bed, took a sip of the tea, only to wince as it scalded his mouth.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Shiller looked at him disapprovingly and said, "What's the matter? Slow down, no one's competing with you."
Peter broke into a fit of hacking coughs, then wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his cardigan. He slumped back in his chair and said, "I just wanted to co over and see if things were heading in the right direction."
He then straightened up like a corpse being electrified and said, "Really, Doctor, having a superhero's identity exposed is a terrible thing. They can't handle the pressure from both criminals and the public at the sa ti. I've been through it, so I know how unbearable it can be."
Shiller, looking at the troubled expression on Peter's face, put down his tea cup, sat across from Peter, and began, "Peter, there's an old eastern tale about a kingdom in the throes of war, with a young emperor and a powerless empress dowager."
"A general was tasked by the emperor to quell the unrest on the frontlines. On his way there, one of his subordinates said to him, 'The nation is in turmoil, and our strength is waning. The emperor is immature and can't effectively lead. Even if we fight to the death, no one will know about it.'"
Peter's attention was gradually drawn in. He rembered that during his clinic visits, Shiller would always tell him interesting stories about things like a man buying jewelry, returning the pieces, but keeping the box instead, or a man dropping his sword into water, then marking the spot on the boat instead...
"So, what happened next?" Peter asked.
He had thought this would be a story about a brave general placating his troops and leading them to serve their country. But, to his surprise, Shiller took a different turn.
"They tailored a yellow robe, a color only the emperor could wear, and draped it over the general. They said, 'The current emperor is but a child, and there's nobody trustworthy around him. Why don't we head back to the capital first, make you the emperor, and then together we can suppress the rebellion...'"
Peter spat out a mouthful of tea.
"But this wasn't the end," Shiller continued.
"When the general returned to the capital, all the ministers were very nervous. During his eting with them, he took off the yellow robe and tearfully explained to the senior ministers how the soldiers had coerced him into becoming the emperor."
Peter choked on his tea again.
"At this point, another general stepped forward saying, 'In any case, we can't accept orders from a child. Soone has to be the emperor. Why not you?'"
"And so, the general beca the emperor. That's the end of the story."
Peter coughed till he was red in the face, and he took a while to catch his breath. He covered his eyes and said, "What kind of crappy story is this? What were these people thinking?"
"Didn't they leave the capital to fight a war? How did they find ti to make clothes during the campaign? If the general didn't want to be the emperor, couldn't he have just refused on the spot? Why did he wait until they returned to the capital?"
"Why did the ministers, knowing he was intending to usurp the throne, et with him? Weren't they afraid they'd be killed? And, he voluntarily wore the robe without taking it off. What is there to cry about?"
"Too perceptive, Peter." Shiller praised as he blew on his tea, "You've perfectly grasped the essence of the story."
Peter was a little taken aback. Following Shiller's lead, he started considering the possible answers to these questions.
"If it's an ancient Eastern scenario, the combat would likely involve horses," Peter began, sifting through his historical knowledge. He said, "Even if they were on foot, they probably wouldn't carry scissors and thread for tailoring. After all, soldiers are not tailors, so the clothes would have had to be made before they left the city."
"If the particular colored clothing could only be worn by the emperor, the fabric would be hard to co by, and they'd have to be secretive about making it. Probably very few dared to do it, and it would take a while to find a tailor."
"Given these circumstances, this couldn't have been a spur-of-the-mont decision. They would need at least three months of preparation. That's why he didn't take off the clothes on his way back."
"The ministers who bravely t him, despite knowing he was about to rebel, must have been in cahoots with him. After all, they wouldn't know beforehand whether he was sincere or forced. Logically speaking, it's highly unlikely he was forced."
"If they were really loyal, they'd know it was a death sentence to et with the rebellion's leader. Shouldn't they have hurried to inform the emperor, so he could rally his forces to resist?"
"So...." Peter concluded, "This general and his troops who left the city, as well as the ministers who later t him, must have colluded. They were putting on a show."
"The soldiers acted impulsively, the general was forced into it, and the ministers were oblivious. Hence, no one in this affair was accountable, they were all victims, who couldn't be criticized."
Peter heard applause coming from the seat across him. Shiller applauded while shaking his head, "Perfect, Peter."
"Is that what really happened in history?" Peter asked, sowhat surprised. He knew that many of the eastern stories Shiller told him were true historical events.
"No one knows." Shiller shook his head, "History is written by the victor, and even if it isn't, errors are bound to creep in over thousands of years. But the truth doesn't matter, Peter. Do you think you're a clever person?"
"Um... I guess I'm smarter than others in so ways."
"You're being too modest, actually you're quite astute, Peter. The conclusions you've drawn are ones that most intelligent people would reach. What's more, they're even better than you at conspiracy theories."
"They are good at deducing the process from the result. Usually, whoever benefits from an outco is likely to be the hidden instigator."
"However, there are tis when we can reverse use this kind of thinking to push soone into a position they're not supposed to be in."
Peter leaned forward, eager to know exactly how this worked.
"When you beco the theoretical sole beneficiary of an event that has yet to occur, people who anticipate the future will think that you must be the one leading it."
"Because if the event happens, you would benefit greatly. Why wouldn't you do it?"
"Just like that General. Even though he hadn't actually rebelled when he put on the yellow robe, it's easy to imagine that if the rebellion succeeds, he'll be the emperor. He's the greatest beneficiary, so you would think he must have been planning it all along. These series of events are just him performing."
Peter pondered and nodded, saying, "I can't deny that when I made this judgnt, I indeed thought if he succeeded, he would be the emperor. Who could resist such a temptation? It's normal to have preditated plans, right?"
"So, those who hold this view would aim their spears at the alleged beneficiary beforehand, even if the event hasn't actually happened or the supposed beneficiary hasn't gained any benefits yet. They want to eliminate their opponent in the cradle."
"Once they make their move, they're bound to harm the person's existing interests. For self-preservation, he would strike back. The mont he retaliates, his ambition is confird."
"People will think, 'See? It really was his conspiracy. Why else would he fight back?'"
"If this person fights back a little too quickly or hits a little too hard, it becos even harder to justify. Everything will be attributed to his early preparations and huge ambitions."
"Drawn swords and aid crossbows will inevitably turn into a real battle, and once it starts, it won't easily end."
Shiller slightly raised his head, a hint of coldness flashed through his smiling eyes. He gently put down his tea cup and said, "Once a bloodthirsty wolf has tasted the wonderful sensation of tearing a piece of flesh off its prey, it will never allow peace. In the end, only one side can survive, and I believe that will be Bruce Wayne."
During this late autumn, a storm recklessly brewing over the wide-open Arican plains charges boldly into the harsh winter. Yet this autumn, a different storm rages even more fiercely than a genuine hurricane.
You can be a successful businessman, or a successful politician, or a backroom manipulator of a great country, or a heroic defender of justice.
But you cannot simultaneously be a successful businessman, a successful politician, a backstage helmsman of a nation, and a real hero.
No such person can exist in this world, because he is destined to defeat everything, walk a wide and free path devoid of ditches and deep rivers. The snakes, worms, rats and ants that forrly lived in these cracks would not permit such a thing to happen.
In this autumn, Wayne Enterprises, once the symbol of this country's splendor and prosperity, suffered an unimaginably powerful assault.
Important business partners from various sectors unreasonably broke off contracts. Competitors who were already rubbing against each other started brutally attacking without hesitation. The Congress anded the Anti-Trust Act 15 tis within two months. Volus upon volus about military tactics, each one bears a different na.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation continuously discovered that five major shareholders of Wayne Enterprises were involved in economic and national security cris. The military accused Wayne Enterprises of colluding with terrorists to wage war in order to increase military orders. Several newspapers and dia outlets owned by Wayne Enterprises were exposed for fake reporting, and the editors-in-chief were jailed one after another.
Subsequently, import and export channels for raw materials within Wayne Enterprises' industrial sector were blocked, and many batches of exported goods destined for third-world countries were found to be non-compliant or violating local anti-dumping laws.
Then, Wayne Enterprises factories worldwide were accused of labour exploitation and environntal violations. Under the pretext of Wayne Enterprises factories infringing upon human rights, all land lease and tax incentives policies were canceled.
Finally, Bruce Wayne himself was accused of 67 charges related to sexual assault and harassnt in two months. Thirty of them were from won, 27 from n, and 10 from underage children, involving 13 states including New Jersey, Maryland, and Colorado.
More than 200 news dia outlets reported nearly a hundred tis within two months that Bruce Wayne was arrested and jailed, over 60 tis that his foster son had passed away, and 12 tis that Mr. and Mrs. Wayne were resurrected.
More than 70 incumbent and retired local district attorneys insinuated in dia interviews that Wayne Enterprises had interfered with the judicial process through personal threats. The ntioned potential number of interfered cases exceeded a thousand.
Dumping, monopoly, job occupation, sexual assault, murder, personal threats. Overnight, Bruce Wayne was toppled from his pedestal.
In the storm's eye still lay the connections of the Batman Family. What used to be re tabloid speculation was now sweeping through major dia outlets, each person elaborating on it passionately with assurance.
They cornered Bruce Wayne.
But what they didn't know was that, when faced with adversity, the only one capable of turning the tides was Batman.
They wanted Batman to no longer be a God.
But what they didn't know was, when Batman broke the last shred of procedural justice, he didn't fall from grace, but reclaim his rightful place amongst the Gods.
When they say Batman has the ability to overthrow this country, of course, he does.
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