So, one might ask, where am I heading to? Well I'm heading to the Dark Knight's mansion.
As for why? The answer is simple: I need to do some weird business with him.
Will he entertain me?...I am sure he will.
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Ahem... Of course, I am not going to do something stupid like blackmailing him, otherwise I won't even know when I disappear from the face of earth.
I believe I can offer him some critical information, and in return, he might lend me the seed money I so desperately need.
To be honest, I'm a little nervous. Not out of fear, but from anticipation. Batman was always my favorite character in the superhero universe. Despite lacking any superpowers, he remains the most dangerous member of the Justice League.
He's a genius, and I deeply respect him for that. But even more, I admire Bruce's mastery of martial arts.
Batman has consistently been portrayed as the best fighter on the planet. I've mentioned before that training in martial arts is a top priority for me. And really, who could be a better teacher than Batman?
I also have one more small wish... to see him behave normally for once, I mean I haven't seen him laugh genuinely without going full Smiling batman on whole DC. But I'll make sure to get him to be a bit normal? Happy? Whatever.
Knowing Bruce's character, I wouldn't hesitate to turn my back to him, though I also know that he would be fully prepared to put me down should I go out of the line.
But such are the wonders of being friends with the Dark Knight himself.
And of course, I'll need allies to realize my great ambitions. Having a genius like him on my side would be invaluable.
It took me over four hours to reach the Wayne mansion. That includes the time spent exploring the city streets and trying to avoid running into the local thugs. Also, I had no idea where the mansion was, which didn't help.
Thankfully, my intuition guided me, and soon I was standing before a large metal gate. Seriously, my intuition is proving to be far more useful than this defective system.
I pressed the Gotham-style intercom and waited patiently for a response.
"Hello, sir. May I know the purpose of your visit?" came a slightly elderly but composed voice from the intercom.
"Hello. I'd like to meet with Mr. Wayne."
"Regarding what matter?"
"I have some information I believe will be of great interest to him. And, I suppose, to his nocturnal alter ego as well." F$ck, I'm heaving seconds thoughts now.
There was a ten-second silence on the other end. "Please, come in."
The gates opened slowly, revealing a luxurious mansion. Not bad... But when I get going, I'll build myself a house even grander than this.
Taking a deep breath, I started walking toward the estate's entrance. Soon, the door opened, and I was greeted by a respectable elderly man in butler attire.
A butler in butler's clothing. Logical? Logical! An involuntary smile of admiration crept onto my face because this was the first comic book character I had met in this world... Alfred Pennyworth. I'd always liked this old man.
He was like a father to Bruce. Without him, there probably wouldn't be the Batman we all know.
Alfred Pennyworth is the one Bruce trusts the most. In short, he's a remarkable guy!
"Once again, hello, sir..." Alfred looked at me with a calm yet firm gaze.
"Alex. Alex Reath," I said with a slight bow, extending my hand. "Sorry, my hands are a bit dirty. Living on the streets makes it hard to stay clean. If you're uncomfortable, we can skip the handshake."
But Alfred, maintaining his composure, shook my hand.
As expected, he wasn't the kind to disdain a homeless person. Once again, Alfred showed the benevolence and respect that made me admire him.
"And you, if I'm not mistaken, are Alfred Pennyworth. It must be challenging to manage such a large house alone, not to mention assisting Mr. Bruce with his demanding affairs."
"I manage well enough, thank you," the elderly man replied with a slight frown.
I followed Alfred into the living room.
"Master Bruce is not home at the moment, but he should arrive shortly. Would you like some tea or coffee?"
"Tea, please, if it's not too much trouble. Forgive me, but I haven't had anything to drink or eat since this morning. Finding food as a homeless person isn't easy," I said with a heavy sigh, spreading my arms in resignation.
A few minutes later, Alfred returned with tea and cookies. Starving since my arrival in this world, I didn't hold back. The bowl of cookies was soon empty.
"These are the most delicious cookies I've ever had. Alfred, did you make these yourself?"
"Yes, I prepared them for Master Bruce, though he didn't get the chance to try them."
"Well, he's missed out," I said with a smile, finishing my tea. "Thank you for the treat. It was incredible."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Alfred said calmly, his gaze softening slightly.
A short while later, a man in his early thirties entered the living room.
"Welcome back, Master Bruce," Alfred greeted.
Wayne gave a slight nod before turning his piercing gaze toward me. The intensity of his look gave me goosebumps. Now I understand why criminals fear him.
If just Bruce Wayne's gaze can freeze you, I can't imagine what it would feel like if Batman himself stared you down.
Despite the palpable aura of darkness around him, I looked at him with admiration. How could I not, standing before the one and only Batman? The Dark Knight of Gotham! The greatest detective in the world!
Okay Alex, no going bonkers over a fictional character who just became real anymore.....what am I even saying....I could barely contain my excitement. Any moment now, I felt like my eyes might sparkle like Po from Kung Fu Panda.
Stop acting dumb and pull yourself together, wimp.
"Alfred, leave us," Bruce turned to his butler.
"This is unnecessary," I interjected, waving my hand dismissively. "I don't mind Alfred staying. One way or another, he'll learn what we discussed. After all, as I can see this whole place is filled with security cameras, and I think he will review these footage later regarding the conversation anyway. So yeah, he can stay."
Bruce paused, clearly considering my words, then sat down on the opposite side of the table. He didn't ask Alfred to leave again. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice calm but sharp.
"My name is Alex Reath. I'm 21 years old and currently homeless."
"You mentioned you had some interesting information for me," Bruce continued, his piercing gaze unwavering. "And you said it would interest my... night alter ego. What exactly did you mean?"
"Isn't it obvious?" I replied casually, meeting his eyes. "I'm talking about the man in the mask and cape. I know you're Batman."
Bruce leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "What makes you think that?"
"Come on, Bruce. We both know it's true. Why waste time debating it? Let's talk business instead. What do you want?"
His eyes narrowed slightly. "You tell me. What do you want?"
"I came here to borrow money from you," I said with a straight face, looking at him like the cat from Shrek.
"So, you're asking for money in exchange for silence?" he countered, his tone cool. "Are you planning to blackmail me by threatening to reveal my identity?"
"Of course not." I replied firmly. "First of all I said 'borrow' not steal and second, it is not hiding your secret or disclosing anything about you to anyone. I just have some important information which I think will interest you very much. Anyway, about the money, I'm not going to keep it, I will return it to you as soon as I become wealthy and believe me that will be real quick. It's a fair trade: I get the starting capital I need, and you get something valuable. You lose nothing because you'll get your money back."
Bruce studied me for a long moment. "How did you know I was Batman? And how do you know Alfred?"
"I'm afraid the answer to that will be... complicated," I admitted, leaning back in my chair. "Bruce, do you mind if I drop the formalities?"
He nodded, granting me permission.
"Here's the thing," I continued. "I don't like lying. I prefer to be honest. I might omit details or crack a joke, but I never outright lie. That said, the truth is... I can't tell you how I know. Let's just say I had a moment of enlightenment. A rush of information flashed through my mind, and now I know. That's all there is to it."
"That's not much of an explanation," Bruce observed.
"It's the best I can offer," I said earnestly. "Just accept that I know what I know, and it didn't come from aliens or mind control or anything crazy like that. Trust me on this."
Bruce's jaw tightened slightly, but he didn't push the matter further. "And what's your goal?"
"First of all," I began, "I want you to know that I'm not here to threaten or blackmail you, and I'm sure that if I even have that thought then I will not see the sun anymore, so yeah, I'm not here for that. I just want to start anew with a bit of capital and since the information I have can be very useful to you, I came here."
"I'm sorry to say but I don't think anyone believe a beggar who just waltzed in their house and said, 'Hey, I have information, can you lend me some money for that and give me a week, I'll return it very soon.'" he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Touche," I conceded. "But give me some time. I plan to become incredibly wealthy. I'll start my own company and live in luxury. Eventually, I hope to become a business partner of Wayne Enterprises."
"You have big ambitions," Bruce said, his tone skeptical. "But you're awfully arrogant."
"There's a difference between confidence and arrogance," I countered. " 'I can do it' is confidence. 'Only I can do it' is arrogance. Trust me, Bruce—I can do it."
Bruce leaned forward slightly. "Let's say you succeed. What then? I hope you're not planning to become another Lex Luthor."
I chuckled. "No, Bruce. I have no intention of fighting Superman or any other heroes. I'm just going to be a normal guy with every luxury in this world. Though with the richest I may search for some power."
That statement made Bruce tense visibly. "Why?" he asked, his voice quiet but laced with steel. "Everyone who seeks power ends up destroyed by it. Some die; others turn into villains. What's your motivation?"
"I want to protect myself and the people I care about," I replied earnestly. "This world is dangerous, Bruce. One Kryptonian could wipe out humanity if they decided to. I refuse to rely on others for protection. I'll handle it myself. And I'll be honest—there's another reason. I don't ever want to kneel before anyone."
Bruce's expression darkened. "Pride, then? Is that what drives you?"
"It's not about pride," I clarified. "It's about self-respect. But don't worry, Bruce. I'm not planning to experiment on people or do anything unethical. I'm a ethical person, and I know what I'm doing. I value your perspective, and in the future, I hope you'll help guide me. You have experience I can learn from."
Bruce let out a heavy sigh, his gaze thoughtful. "What's this information you mentioned?"
"It's sensitive," I admitted. "You'd find out about it eventually, but I can save you some time. Before I tell you, though... what do you feel for Talia al Ghul?"
Bruce's eyes narrowed. "Why do you ask?"
"Because this information is related to her." I said looking at him. "So, tell me—what are your feelings for her?"
"We had some... mutual respect and attraction in the past," Bruce admitted. "But that's over."
I nodded, relieved. My intuition told me he was being honest. "Good to know. Now, about the information… Bruce, years ago, under certain circumstances, you and Talia spent a night together. Does that sound familiar?"
Bruce's expression tightened slightly. "Yes, it happened. What of it?"
"You have a son, Bruce," I said, watching his reaction carefully. "His name is Damian. He's being raised by Ra's al Ghul, who plans to make him his successor."
Bruce's face remained stoic, but I could sense the turmoil beneath his calm exterior. Alfred, too, kept his composure, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of concern.
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