“Partly, yes, it was initially because of them.”
Bruce Wayne shook his head regretfully.
“More importantly, it's the city itself. Traditional industries and manufacturing have declined with technological advancements and globalization. The city's transformation has failed. While job opportunities are lacking, the wealth gap continues to widen. Insufficient social security and welfare, failures in education and psychological support, all contribute to the increase in crime rates.
And the increase in crime rates, in turn, continues to exacerbate this phenomenon, to the point where crime has actually become part of Gotham's culture. People are numb to the existence of crime, and they've become accustomed to it.”
In fact, Shimizu also knew that Bruce Wayne, or rather, Batman, was trying to save Gotham with both identities.
He relied on Wayne Enterprises to promote Gotham's transformation, to fund education, and to increase more job opportunities.
It had an effect, but even the biggest efforts were useless.
No matter how big the waves you create on the sea, it still won't have any impact below sea level.
To change this city, you must first change the people of this city.
Change their thinking, let them abandon the bad parts of the culture passed down in this land, and then pick up the truly essential parts, only then can this city be revitalized.
It's just that for many people, just staying alive is already an all-out effort, so how can they have the time to care about these things?
But if this city is not changed, their current situation will still not be able to change.
Working hard for tomorrow's bread to fill their bellies.
As for the powerful and wealthy, although most of them are not good people, there are also some who are passable, but Gotham's history has never been written by them.
Only by gathering the power of all the people can we write history and rewrite the present.
Gotham seems to have fallen into a dead cycle. Even someone as resourceful as Batman cannot change it in a short period of time.
Perhaps this is not something that can be accomplished in one generation, but must take decades, or even centuries, to change.
No wonder some people always think about directly destroying Gotham and rebuilding it; that would be even easier.
“You don't need to rack your brains too much. I've noticed that you people always like to carry everything on your own shoulders. Each generation has its own mission. We only need to do what we should do.”
Shimizu looked at the time and said to Bruce Wayne.
“Walt, it's not that I don't believe in future generations.”
Bruce Wayne stared at Shimizu.
No, you don't believe in anyone, you don't even believe in yourself.
Shimizu silently complained in his heart.
“Just like you said, each generation has its own mission, and future generations also have their own missions. Otherwise, it will be like the Gotham of the past, leaving us with countless historical problems.
If possible, I hope one person can do the work of three generations.”
Shimizu took a deep look at Bruce Wayne and raised his glass.
The premise is that these will not affect what he wants to do.
“Also, there is one thing I have to tell you.”
Before leaving, Bruce Wayne left Shimizu with a word.
“I've investigated those things you've done. You need to stop as soon as possible, otherwise, retaliation will come soon.”
Shimizu watched Bruce Wayne get into the Lamborghini, his brow furrowing slightly.
He knew what Bruce Wayne meant.
When the Kryptonians descended, the Congressional meeting voted to pass a resolution to drop a nuclear bomb on Metropolis.
Shimizu never liked taking revenge overnight. That night, he dispatched shadow clones, combining the information from the League of Assassins and from Lex Luthor, to assassinate several congressmen who submitted the request to drop the nuclear bomb, and interrogated others involved from the mouths of some.
Some were killed, some hid well, and Shimizu couldn't find them, so he didn't kill them for the time being.
They wanted to reconcile, but Shimizu didn't give them a chance.
You wanted my life, so what's the point of reconciling?
Now it seems that these people are also afraid, living in constant anxiety.
I just don't know what kind of reaction they will have.
With the status and resources of those people, they can find out that he is the "War Warrior" in the mouth of that superhuman with just a little effort.
There is no mistake in the first place!
Shimizu was not very afraid.
Here in Gotham, he and Bruce Wayne are mutually supportive, and their position is already difficult to shake. They can be regarded as local snakes, and forces outside of Gotham can hardly affect his base.
Shimizu was rather looking forward to it.
Once these people take action, they will definitely leave traces and opportunities will arise.
As for the other wealthy and powerful…
After that incident, because they were worried that they would also die strangely in various "accidents", they had already severed ties with them. Before the outcome of the fight between the two sides was clear, they would not easily enter the game.
They will only help the winner.
After the dinner, Shimizu got into the car and returned to the Vought Tower.
He usually eats and lives here.
Unlike other bosses who eat and live in the company, he lives here simply because his own laboratory is in the Vought Tower, which is convenient for him to manufacture and improve puppets and study technology.
Similarly, after long-term management, the security level here is very high.
Not only are there security personnel patrolling outside 24 hours a day, but some key locations inside are sealed with sealing techniques.
“Chi…”
As the seal was released, a steel coffin was opened, and a large amount of cold air floated out.
Lying inside was a corpse.
The corpse of a Kryptonian.
This Kryptonian was called Nam-Ek, and he was killed by Shimizu. There was also a pit on his head that was pierced with a Kryptonite short sword, and various instrument interfaces were connected to his body.
【Current cell activity, eighty-seven percent.】
Shimizu's gaze moved away from the display showing the data, and he released a faint green light from his palm,贴在了 Nam's body, and began to use the Transparent World to coordinate medical ninjutsu to sense Nam's exact situation.
Not bad.
Thanks to the technology obtained from Mr. Freeze, after returning from the battle in Metropolis that day, Shimizu froze Nam's body like Victor once froze Nora.
This guy's brain was already dead, but the freezing was timely, the body was still fresh, and the cell activity of the body was relatively well preserved.
