Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics-Chapter 4282 - 3380: Bloodbath in New City (92)

"Extra, extra! Pharmaceutical magnate Penglage arrested on Lila Street! Federal Bureau of Investigation agents claim they will charge him with obstruction of justice!"

"Today, news of Penglage's arrest has spread throughout every nook and cranny, and the FBI is still conducting detailed investigations into his mishandling of carcinogenic materials. Insiders reveal that he will face at least 27 serious charges..."

"Good evening, dear viewers, the major news today: Penglage has been arrested, and FBI police found definitive evidence of his tax evasion at his residence. National Revenue Bureau officials promise to charge him fully, vowing not to let him escape..."

"Next, let's connect once again with Attorney Dante to hear his opinion on the charges against Penglage..."

News reports showered down like snowflakes across the entire East Coast. Even before Christmas arrived, this prosperous region had already become lively.

After spreading the program investigating Gotham taxes across the entire East Coast, it became America's most explosive hot topic. Everyone was discussing the scandals of the wealthy.

To strengthen their presence and further promote the duty of paying taxes, the IRS cracked down hard, investigating everything that should and shouldn't be.

Normally they wouldn't have enough manpower to conduct such detailed investigations, but thankfully, Shiller had done all the grassroots work for them. Initially, just gamblers wanting to win some money participated, but then it was those who had been bullied and oppressed who joined voluntarily. In the end, even teenagers who did nothing productive all day would go to great lengths to gather evidence, using it as a boast.

There's an old saying: don't investigate everything, because what if you actually find something? This is the current situation in Gotham.

Without knowing, there's no fear. One investigation reveals a shocking amount. No billionaire could possibly be involved in only tax evasion scandals; their evil deeds go beyond anyone's imagination. Once this investigation opened, there was no stopping.

A variety of evidence and leads were submitted to the FBI and the IRS. As the nefarious acts grew more outrageous and the evidence more abundant, both agencies started to tremble.

When they realized they couldn't continue the investigation, it was already too late. The downfall of Carter and Penglage gave countless oppressed Gothamites hope, so they became more active, dedicating all their spare time to gathering information, determined to take revenge for their impoverished selves.

Chandler swore that when he received the order to stop the investigation, he immediately ceased all search activities, but it was already too late.

If the FBI doesn't investigate, then we will. If Gotham TV Station won't report, then we'll go to Metropolis TV Station. If official TV stations won't accept submissions, then we'll go find individual media personalities. If all else fails, we'll go to Clark Kent—nobody can stop us from exposing these people's shameful acts.

More and more scandals were unearthed, the degree of wickedness becoming more and more astonishing.

The investigation into Wayne Enterprises became the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Baville didn't want to stop, but the pirate ship had already set sail, reaching the center of the ocean. If he couldn't charge ahead to the shore, he didn't know about others, but he would definitely be the first to be thrown overboard as fish food.

Just as he promised Bruce, he, together with the special team and FBI agents, knocked on the doors of every high-ranking executive of Wayne Enterprises.

One month before Christmas, police cars blocked Wayne Enterprises. The executives, dressed in suits and leather shoes, were taken away from the shareholder meeting. Looking at the half-empty conference hall, Bruce showed a satisfied smile.

Batman, in prison, watched the live broadcast of this arrest and seeing the list of charges presented by the host, suddenly felt that spending a few more days here wasn't so bad. It would be even better if Bruce could join him.

The investigation into Wayne Enterprises was truly world-shaking. There were not many in the world who dared to take on such big capitalists, and the name Bawell Smith was destined to go down in history.

However, as the investigation deepened and expanded, America's upper-class gradually realized something was wrong. They wanted to investigate taxes to warn those despicable parasites, but they weren't intending to make the scandals known to everyone. It would be disadvantageous for them on the international stage.

They ordered the FBI and IRS to stop the investigation, but still couldn't prevent the spread of the scandals. The cases had even gone beyond being confined to Gotham and started to broadly involve other rich figures and link back to themselves.

With the fire reaching themselves, they, of course, panicked. They rushed to find ways to suppress public opinion and wanted to downplay the situation.

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Unfortunately, this time the driving force behind the exposé was called Clark Kent, aka Superman. Humans can't bribe the sun, and assassination is out of the question. Thus, the situation deteriorated more severely.

After having tried both soft and hard tactics, but with Clark Kent not budging, the Congressmen's spines were thoroughly broken. They had no choice but to turn to the pale knight, asking him to solve the problem at its root.

What does solving the problem at its root mean? In plain terms, it's to have Gotham stop the investigations. Haven't they found enough already? Do they really need to push everyone to ruin?

The pale knight agreed on the surface, but in reality, his strategy was simple—delay.

Once the issues with Wayne Enterprises were mostly settled, Batman was finally released from prison. This marked the end of his leisurely jailtime. What lay ahead for him was an upper-class society that had been utterly destroyed overnight, and their left-over legacy.

Few rich people walked out of Arkham Asylum alive; the upper echelon and ecosystem had completely collapsed. Ownerless assets were like floating sea resources, waiting for those destined to salvage them.

Although most of the essence had already been stripped clean by Shiller, there were still plenty left. Batman, just out of prison, began working overtime to collect the legacy, integrate resources, and ensure that these things would not fall into the hands of villains.

This 'villain' refers specifically to Penguin Man.

Originally, the pale knight thought allowing Batman to control so many resources was a bit dangerous, but when he discovered Cobblepot was also taking the opportunity to grab as much as he could, he immediately ran to the Wayne building, giving Batman all the green lights the city government could offer, expressing that you should eat your fill, better you be stuffed than Penguin Man.

Batman was indeed under considerable pressure.

The upper-class society was swept clean overnight, half of Wayne Enterprises' shareholders were arrested. As the nearly sole survivor, Batman's control over Wayne Enterprises, and even the entire upper class, was unimaginably strong.

The remaining wealthy, to avoid the same fate, practically begged Batman to save them with tears and screams. Since they couldn't have both wealth and power, of course, keeping their luxury and richness was most crucial.

These people had experienced tumultuous times in Arkham Asylum. If the other choice was Schiller Rodriguez, then we think it would be great for Batman to lead Gotham, he's simply too normal compared to Schiller.

Batman had no special feelings towards the crown that fell upon his head unexpectedly. In fact, he was still a bit confused about the fundamental purpose of what Schiller was doing.

Until Congressman suddenly called, agreeing to his terms.

Batman didn't know what his own conditions were, but he was well aware of who proposed them for him. He dialed Bruce's number.

"What did you discuss with Congress?"

"Is it important?"

"Of course, you better not..."

"I said I want to add another star to the American flag."

"What???"

Batman felt somewhat bewildered as he hung up the phone.

The content of Bruce's negotiation with Congress was simple: he requested that Gotham City become independent as a state, incorporating the Gotham outskirts and three other subsidiary cities including Brude Haven within the boundaries of Gotham State. The current Gotham City Government would transform into Gotham State Legislature.

America is a federation, each state is like a miniature country with different laws, ordinances, and regulations—the differences between states can sometimes be greater than those between countries.

It can be said that if Gotham becomes an independent state, it would be akin to the city gaining direct independence. Because the State Legislature not only has legislative power but also the ability to tax, establish military forces, and even make border control and maritime management regulations. Basically, they could do whatever they wanted.

At this moment, Batman realized that the ambition of these two visitors from another world might be much greater than he had imagined. They not only opposed reform, but they might fundamentally oppose the current nature of society.

Because if they only wanted an economic revolution, there was no need to strive for such extensive autonomy. Seeking statehood meant that they wanted to change the very nature of the social fabric.

Batman realized that the star they wanted to add doesn't seem to be white.

But Batman also didn't think Congress would easily agree, because it was simply too absurd. Even if they agreed on the surface, they would surely drag their feet, and in the end, it would come to nothing.

Unexpectedly, the very next day after the news came out, the New Jersey State Legislature initiated a referendum announcing that with a majority vote, they would kick the now disreputable Gotham out of New Jersey to demonstrate their determination not to collude with the corrupt.

Batman didn't need to look or think to know who the hell proposed this idea.

And he did not need to ponder what the result of the referendum would be.

After working continuously for three days in Wayne building, he was very clear that under the situation where almost the upper-class society had been decimated, the assets that fell into his hands were less than 40% of the original, and the remaining 60% were taken away by which middleman.

Over sixty percent of the wealth of one of the world's richest cities, to influence the result of a state's referendum, is indeed an overkill.

Batman was afraid that the next morning when he opened his eyes, Schiller would inform him to become the President.

Finally, three days before the Christmas chimes rang out, Congress and the State Legislature completed all the referendum processes with astounding efficiency and integrity, formally declaring the independence of Gotham State. A new star was soon to be added to the Stars and Stripes adorned with red and blue.

The Gotham tax investigation case also came to a close with this. On the day Baville left, it snowed for the first time this winter in Gotham. As soon as he got off the car, he saw the crowd crammed at the airport, elbow-to-elbow.

They called her "the greatest Tax Officer."

Schiller was waiting for her in the terminal, still with calm eyes and a smile on his face. This time, Baville gave him a hug. Looking at the crowd pressing outside the hall, she said: "Maybe you are right. Only by pointing the gun at the mighty can I gain everything I want."

"I'm glad you think so, ma'am," Schiller walked shoulder to shoulder with her towards the boarding gate. He said, "No matter what your original intentions were, you truly brought hope to this city. I don't know what else I can give you in return, but I can tell you that you don't have to worry about the small flaws in your father's tax matters anymore."

"Believe it or not, I've never been worried. If they want to use that to come after me, that proves they are out of tricks."

"Very confident, ma'am. Merry Christmas in advance."

"Merry Christmas, Mr. Rodriguez."