"Mr. Bruce Wayne, why have you chosen to leave Wayne Manor at this time? Have the Wraith's actions already crossed the Wayne Group's bottom line?"
"Bruce Wayne, look here!"
"Bruce Wayne, if your grandfather had remained at the helm, would the Group be facing such chaos today?"
"Mr. Wayne, there's evidence the Wraith killed over sixty people on the top floor of Wayne Group, most of them employees. Are you prepared to handle the compensation for these casualties?"
"Mr. Wayne, you disappeared for seven years, and now that you've returned, the Wraith appears in Gotham. Could there be a connection between you and this Wraith?"
"Mr. Wayne, a citizen reports that the Wraith entered Wayne Manor half an hour ago and hasn't come out since. What is the true connection between the Wraith and the Wayne Family?"
Bruce had just arrived at the Group's entrance when he was swarmed by a horde of frantic reporters. They had completely sealed off the entrance, even lingering around the bodies of the police officers who had been cut down earlier.
Half an hour had passed, and the corpses were still there—not only because Gordon had struggled to get an elevator, but also due to the press crowding the area. Blood, flashing cameras, and a tidal wave of shouted questions crashed over Bruce. It was overwhelming.
But he ignored it all. The reporters were just vultures circling carrion. Bruce's priority was singular: reclaim Alfred and Wayne Manor from Axel.
Gritting his teeth, he waited until security surged forward, clearing a path through the throng. Only then did Bruce enter the building, expression cold and unreadable.
Upon hearing of Bruce's arrival, the Wayne Group CEO had rushed over from the Iceberg Lounge. Now in the lobby, he called out from a distance.
"Bruce! Coming here now… this isn't good news. Gotham's chaos is far worse than this morning. You should rest and leave the Group's problems to us. The Wraith… the Group has already faced too many threats like him."
"Shut up!" Bruce cut him off, stepping forward. His gaze scanned the CEO, and like Gotham's greatest detective, he instantly parsed the man's evening itinerary: alcohol, women, indulgence. A so-called leader of Wayne Group, disgustingly unfit.
Bruce raised his hand and tapped the CEO's chest. "Notify all directors. Convene a Board and Shareholders' Meeting tomorrow. We need to understand and thoroughly review the current state of the Group."
"But…"
"No 'buts.' You are CEO—your job is to execute." Bruce ignored further protest and strode past him, heading straight for the underground R&D Department.
Meanwhile, on the rooftop, Gordon oversaw the collection of bodies. He received word of Bruce's arrival but doubted it would change anything. He knew Bruce well—Gordon had been one of the first to arrive at Crime Alley after the Waynes' death and had even covered little Bruce with a coat.
But Bruce's development had disappointed him. Prison stints, international criminal records—it had been a rough road. Still, Gordon wanted to see him now, to understand any connection between the Wraith and the Wayne Family.
Gordon sighed, waiting at the elevator. Perhaps Bruce's criminal mind could offer insight.
Meanwhile, Bruce had already met Lucius Fox, head of Wayne Group's R&D. Lucius looked genuinely surprised.
"Bruce, why now? The Group isn't safe, and didn't you already take the individual cave armor I developed this morning? Are you still missing tools for exploration?"
Bruce studied him silently, and Lucius felt the intensity of his gaze. Finally, Bruce spoke softly.
"I'm sorry, Lucius. I need your help immediately. Can I trust you?"
Lucius exhaled, spreading his hands helplessly. "Bruce… I've heard those words before—from Thomas. Whether I trust you isn't the question. Perhaps I should doubt whether you're worthy of my help."
He placed a hand on Bruce's shoulder in a gesture of friendship. Lucius had been Thomas Wayne's close confidant, the man who had built and led the Group's technology R&D in Thomas's era. After Thomas died, Lucius had been pushed out of the executive director role, his department relegated to the basement, like an orphan.
Bruce knew Lucius's history and trusted him completely. He nodded.
"Time will prove whether we are worthy of each other's trust. But more pressing matters await us. I hope these years haven't dulled your skills."
"And I hope your absence hasn't dulled your power and your responsibilities, Bruce. Welcome back. Welcome to your resurgence." Lucius embraced him firmly, then stepped back.
"So, what's our next move?"
"There's only one priority: a full analysis of the entity codenamed Wraith and immediate countermeasures. He invaded Wayne Manor, made it his playground, and forced Alfred into service. We must expel him—not just from Wayne Manor, but from Gotham… perhaps even from Earth."