"Setting aside his biological parents, I recall Jason's adoptive father died in prison and his mother died of a drug overdose shortly after," Fang Yuan probed from the side. "Why? Has the plot been changed?"
"I know what you want to ask," Bruce said calmly. "I didn't kill them."
"I simply gave them some choices."
Batman spoke in a low voice, "Many people fall because they are forced by circumstances. If someone can give them a hand, they will burst with vibrant life."
"I created many opportunities for them to get decent jobs, increase their income, or even gave them money directly."
"As long as Jason's adoptive parents seized even one opportunity to improve their family life and get Jason out of his current predicament, I would have let them continue to raise him."
"But they didn't!" Bruce shook his head. "They spent all the money on their own enjoyment."
"Although Willis Todd had feelings for Jason, he was obsessed with his Gang dreams, always thinking he could become the next Penguin. Faced with a job opportunity that could change his fate, he actually gave it up, choosing to trade it for guns and ammunition instead, and was finally killed in a Gang fight."
"Not to mention Jason's mother; she took the money I gave her and immediately bought a large amount of drugs, eventually dying of an overdose."
"And his biological parents don't even need to be mentioned; they never cared that they once had a child."
Bruce Wayne's expression remained unchanged. "Facts have proven that in this World, just like in other Universes, they are not fit to be Jason's parents."
"But according to the normal trajectory, they shouldn't have died one after another in such a short time," Fang Yuan chuckled.
"I only accelerated their circumstances; all the outcomes were their own choices," Bruce explained.
Fang Yuan nodded. He only asked out of gossip and didn't intend to uphold justice for anyone.
After all, he wasn't exactly a man of noble character himself.
"I can only say that being able to manifest a [Dark Halo] on Batman really didn't come from nowhere," he thought to himself.
Listening to Bruce's introduction, Fang Yuan already had a picture in his mind.
Bruce guided Jason's adoptive parents step by step to make choices, offering a multitude of life-changing opportunities, but at the same time, providing convenience for their accelerated fall.
One thought of heaven, one thought of hell.
It's just that they all chose the wrong path.
However, Fang Yuan could already imagine that after Jason's adoptive parents chose the abyss, Batman was likely somewhat relieved.
He certainly didn't want to give up Jason either.
In some versions of the comics, Bruce even spent his entire fortune on lawsuits to fight for Jason's custody.
As for what if Jason's adoptive parents hadn't made the wrong choice, what would Batman have done?
Fang Yuan could basically rule out that possibility.
As fellow denizens of the dark, he understood.
It might seem like there was a choice, but in reality, there were plenty of means to ensure the target chose only one path.
Unless Jason's adoptive parents suddenly had a grand epiphany, it would be impossible to escape the dilemma.
Because if Batman really wanted their family to live well, he could have just intervened directly.
Again, the [Dark Affinity] on Batman didn't come from nowhere.
"Then Arthur can just be the third Robin... wait." Fang Yuan glanced sideways. "You didn't take Tim in too, did you?"
Bruce didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I don't have a collection habit. Tim is being well taken care of by Mr. Drake."
"Sigh, as expected, the third Robin is the most neglected one. Even when Batman is reborn, he doesn't bring him along," Fang Yuan teased, shaking his head.
More black lines seemed to appear on Bruce's forehead.
"You have something to say if I take in a Robin, and you still have something to say if I don't. You're always the one who's right, aren't you?" He was somewhat helpless.
"Exactly!" Fang Yuan admitted immediately, without the slightest hesitation.
Bruce could only shake his head, secretly sighing that he actually still held expectations for Fang Yuan's thick skin.
However, he didn't continue this topic; after all, he wasn't in a position to say anything about Fang Yuan.
Because he was the same way. After confirming his identity from the memories of many Batmen, Bruce only wanted himself and those he cared about to live well. As for the thoughts of others?
Unimportant.
Just like when Okwas was swiftly taken out by Fang Yuan, he even had to praise that it was a good Death.
At this moment, Fang Yuan became even more interested in this World. He resisted the urge to use Cerebro to amplify his Telepathy and open the full map of the World, choosing instead to explore it himself.
Anyway, no matter what, he had Batman as a backup, right?
"Where is the Wonder Woman of this World?" Fang Yuan asked immediately. "Has she appeared yet?"
Bruce was surprised by Fang Yuan's jumpy train of thought and only answered after a short pause, "Themyscira. She hasn't come out since 1945."
"Where is Themyscira?" Fang Yuan pressed.
Bruce gave a string of coordinates. Although the location of Themyscira was mysterious, it certainly wouldn't stump Batman.
But he added, "Don't think about barging onto the island directly; Diana's power is also very strong."
"It's fine, she can't beat me," Fang Yuan said casually, then rubbed his chin. "But that would probably leave a bad impression. Next time, then."
"What about Zatanna? Is there a Zatanna in this Universe?" Fang Yuan continued to ask.
"How does that saying go?" Bruce couldn't help but complain. "Oh right, I'm not a pimp!"
"I don't know Zatanna in this World yet," he added anyway.
"In that case..." Fang Yuan's eyes darted around. "Should I go find Clark? I haven't seen him in a long time."
Superman could definitely take out Apocalypse.
Only then did Batman realize Fang Yuan's true intentions, and he quickly shook his head. "Clark is currently in a critical period of character formation. It's not suitable for him to have too much contact with people like us. Not just you, even I am avoiding contact with him."
"Okaaay," Fang Yuan responded with a drawn-out tone.
Bruce was dedicated to raising Superman as a sunny and cheerful small-town boy. Hearing that even Bruce was keeping his distance, Fang Yuan knew he wouldn't be able to meet Clark for the time being.
"But what do you mean by 'people like us'?" Fang Yuan was somewhat dissatisfied with Bruce's choice of words. "What kind of people are we? The fact that this World can exist today is all thanks to us, alright!"
As a key contributor to the World's reboot, Fang Yuan said this with absolute confidence.
So Bruce had no choice but to ask, "What do you want to do?"
"I just want Superman," Fang Yuan blurted out.
Seeing Bruce's stiff expression, Fang Yuan had no choice but to think it over.
Compared to him, Apocalypse's greatest advantage was his mental power that crushed Professor X. So, increasing his mental power or learning ways to avoid mental shocks would be quite useful.
magic in the DC Universe?
That seemed good too; he could give it a try.
Once he told Bruce his requirements, Bruce immediately frowned.
"Mental power?"
"magic?"
You will get 90 chapter ahead for this fanfiction.
patreon.com /AZofficial