Volume 9: Fate of Destiny After Chapter 63’s retirement day, the much-anticipated battle for the cape should begin, right?
"Oh, it's a pity that we didn't fight."
Zha Kang sighed and said to Mason beside him:
"I love watching women fighting the most. Really. The atmosphere was so exciting but they still didn't fight. It's boring. Too boring."
"Just look forward to it."
Mason pushed Zack and signaled him to go and help Zuckerberg prepare for the magic rehearsal.
As a master magician, Zuckerberg is very strict in this regard. If any unexpected problems occur in the performance two days later, Zuckerberg will probably be skinned alive.
"What just happened?"
The old butler, who had just arranged the chef and banquet affairs, returned to the hall and felt that the atmosphere was not right. He looked puzzledly at the mysterious vampire who was standing by the window holding hands and whispering with Ertong, and asked Mason again.
The captain blew out a smoke ring and said to the old butler with a smile on his face:
"The bad news is that Ms. Talia can't be the maid of honor for the not-so-nice Aunt Catwoman, but the good news is that we've found a replacement.
Lady Selina, the Baroness from Scarlet Castle, will take Talia's place. Don't worry about her clothing, I will take care of it."
"Well, that's a good feeling."
The old butler was relieved immediately. He took out his cell phone and said:
"Then the security problem that's giving me a headache can be eliminated. Can you go to the Batcave for me? Mason, Master Wayne has been staying there since this morning. I should inform him to get ready for rehearsal."
"Okay, I'll be right there."
Mason nodded.
He knew that the old butler was not deliberately shirking his job, but wanted Mason to meet with the master alone. Perhaps the old butler had a premonition of something and thought that Mason could solve all these problems.
A few minutes later, Kara and Zedd flew over with Little Joe, who were also members of the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
As for Xiao Qiao, he will be a flower boy together with Damian in two days... Although it is not appropriate to be a flower boy at their age, Selina's arrangement leaves Damian speechless.
Kara, Harley and Quinn were pulling Selina to try on clothes, while Barbara was standing beside them, giving them advice with an envious tone.
The boys had no chance to join in the girls' conversation, so Ertong could only chat with Zod about future plans. When he heard that Zod was going to spend time looking for General Zod, Ertong immediately said he could go along.
He really should take some time to refocus his life so that he doesn't get lost after leaving Team K's combat career.
Mason did not participate in these discussions. He went down through the castle's secret room and entered the Batcave with ease. As soon as he came down, he saw the old man in loose clothes deleting various files in front of the Batcomputer. On the platform behind him, the Batmobile and Batfighter were covered with protective tarpaulins.
The heavy door of Batman's collection room has been locked and will be sealed permanently. The various battle suits collected by the master have been placed in boxes, probably to be transferred to other places.
"Are you really planning to retire?"
Mason asked:
"Even the Batcave has to be demolished?"
"Selena has her own ideas about what to do here, she's going to build a gym here and move her large number of cats here.
For me...
This arrangement is also possible.”
The master responded while typing on the keyboard:
"I am about to return to my other identity that has been neglected. As a billionaire in Gotham, if people were to find out that I have hidden so many dangerous things in my basement, it would definitely cause unnecessary public opinion."
He paused here, then added in a more serious tone:
"If I'm going to say goodbye, I have to do it thoroughly. I know Thomas and Martha won't move back until I've completely dismantled these things.
I can only choose one between my own justice and my family. Only by completely giving up the identity of Batman can I ignore the indelible blood on Thomas and Martha's hands.
Batman lost.
In the end, he lost to the man under the mask.
Bruce Wayne's selfish desire for family destroyed Batman and brought about the Dark Knight's undoing."
"Your statement makes me feel that your psychological problems can no longer be delayed."
Mason plugged a piece of data hardware into the Batcomputer's street corner to execute a program to completely format the Bat database. While the program was running, he complained:
"If you continue to maintain this dual personality, sooner or later you will be driven crazy by yourself. You are Batman! With or without the battle suit, you are him.
That's not your personality trait for self-protection; it's just an overly stubborn way of life you choose.
But considering that your father is an excellent surgeon who is proficient in various physical calibrations, and your mother has mastered the unorthodox way of psychology, I don't think this will be a problem that affects your life.
The only thing you have to worry about is your love life with Selena.
You are not an ordinary couple, so don't use the ordinary marriage model to restrict each other, but I don't have much experience in this area, so I won't share it with you. "
As he spoke, he walked to the pile of boxes under the gaze of his master. Mason reached out and opened the top box, and what came into view was a complete set of bat suits sealed inside.
He reached out and touched the clothes he had made himself. After a moment of silence, he asked:
"About your successor..."
"I have no idea."
Bruce Wayne leaned in front of the Batcomputer, picked up a cup of coffee, and answered in a charming man's voice instead of the hoarse tone of an old man:
"Grayson, Jason, Damian, Tim and Barbara, they are all so good and have their own established and unbreakable beliefs. It is quite difficult for me to choose one among them.
Perhaps they should be allowed to decide for themselves who owns the suit.
A battle for the cape, as you would say?"
"Hmm, that's a good idea, that would be interesting."
Mason grinned, closed the lid in front of his eyes, turned back and said to the master:
"But you seem to have overlooked one person. The one who is most qualified to inherit your legacy, the one who has just saved countless worlds, the one who has eliminated the interdimensional evil organization, the one who has already begun to pay attention to his competitors and has made countless plans.
You really don't want to consider me?"
The captain took out a black switch from his bosom, shook it in his hand, and said with squinting eyes:
"You know that if I press this button, all my competitors will lose their combat effectiveness in an instant, right? They all have monitoring devices and some pretty dangerous gadgets that I left behind.
Perhaps I should be more proactive and show you my ability with an efficient opponent elimination so that you can make the right decision."
"You are indeed the best fit, Mason. I don't deny that."
The master put down the cup in his hand, looked at Mason and said:
"But will you stay here?"
"Of course, Gotham is my home. I'm a local through and through. Where else would I go if not here?"
Mason replied in a dumb way, and then heard the master sneer.
Although he has decided to retire, the brain of the world's best detective is obviously not ready to enjoy retirement life. He said to Mason directly:
“You disbanded Team K, disbanded the Star Club, and announced to everyone that it was all over, but the fire in your eyes has not gone out. Although I have no evidence, I can confirm that you have no intention of stopping.
You have to walk the last part of the way alone.
Maybe after my wedding with Selena, it will be your time to leave. You will leave here and may not come back for a long time.
However, Gotham needs a Batman who is willing to stop for it and stay with it forever.
This city is a difficult lover. It won’t allow you to be fickle, let alone fall in love with someone else. Therefore, you are not suitable.”
"I didn't intend to hide it from you."
Mason shrugged, not feeling any resentment about his plan being exposed. He was playing with the lights-out lighter in his hand, which was a "gift" sent back by Zack after the old wizard Shazam died.
In the dim light of the Batcave, the Captain sat on the boxes containing the Bat Armor and said to the Master:
"I cannot ask my companions and my comrades to continue taking risks with me any longer. They have already fulfilled their duties and performed their work beyond the limit in the apocalypse.
This is where they end up, and where it ends for you and Selena.
But not mine.
I could not feel happy or satisfied stopping here while the dark ones were still whispering in their lairs and the last stain had not yet been wiped away.
Although Old A is dead, my enemies are still there. In order to prevent them from doing something dangerous at the last moment, I feel it is necessary for me to take the initiative and put a perfect end to my story.
I know that even if I leave it alone, the Council of Hope will collapse in time, but I would rather do it myself.
As a human being, you must always see things through to the end and never forget your original intention. I once said that those culprits who caused the various tragedies in the Dark Ages must pay with blood.
I'm dead serious when I say this, no kidding.
But you don't have to be so pessimistic.
I will be back. ”
Mason grinned and said:
"I promise that I will come back before Selena's baby is born."
"I have no doubt about your victory."
The master shook his head and said:
"I'm not worried about your safety, I'm just stating this, just like what I told you before the operation began, I can feel that everything that happens here is just the starting point of your life.
For you, this means the end of the beginning, but we may not be able to accompany you into your next story.
I just wanted to say this to you as I am about to retire. You are the best Robin, you will definitely have an extremely bright future, and I am honored to witness your growth and to help you.
And Selena...
You know her past.
After everything she's been through, she's already considered you a real family member, and you should say goodbye to her before you leave."
"She'll cry."
Mason sighed and said:
“It would definitely be very troublesome if Catwoman cried, and I don’t intend to accept one farewell after another and confession after another. All kinds of blessings and concerns for me will make me very stressed.
I will leave quietly and then come back quietly to give everyone a surprise.
So if they ask me, just say I'm on a private journey to figure out my life and my future.
Also, about what you said...
Although you have been thanking me all the time, I actually want to tell you that in all these experiences, it was definitely not just me who gave you all kinds of help unilaterally, you gave me a lot of feedback.
When I first arrived, I was alone facing an uncertain fate and the pressure of survival, but with you by my side, I am no longer afraid of the storms of fate.
I have gained a lot along the way, and the support and warmth you have given me far exceeded my imagination, which means a lot to me.
So there is no need to spend time saying thank you.
We complement each other.”
The two people in the Batcave fell silent, as if they had nothing to say, but it wasn't awkward at all.
Just as Batman and Robin worked closely together, they quickly packed up everything that needed to be transported away from the Batcave, and even dismantled the Batcomputer under the wielding big wrench.
This natural cave with a vast underground area is about to return to its original appearance. The bats hanging upside down in the cave were not disturbed during the whole process and just watched it all quietly.
Like a silent witness.
They have witnessed the birth and rise of Batman, witnessed his victories and failures over the years, and will eventually witness the end and conclusion of the Batman story.
It is said that life is a circle. Perhaps the life of bats is also a unique circle.
"Then this cape will be used as a prop in Batman's battle."
Mason took off the tattered cloak from the back of the completely scrapped Hellbat armor, folded it together and handed it to the master. The latter hesitated in his hand, and after a moment he spoke:
"If you have any regrets, why not get involved?"
"No need. My participation is not that important."
Mason waved his hands and said:
"And it's too much of an insult for me to compete with them. You know I know all the weaknesses of those guys, and I have a lot of tactics and plans in my mind to deal with them, each of which can make me win easily.
This is destroying other people's gaming experience and is an act that must be condemned.
Therefore, as the champion of the last Batman Hunt Contest, I declare that I forfeit the opportunity.
Anyone who wants the title of Batman can do so. It is a heavy responsibility and a life full of fatalistic tragedy. Even for a savior, it is too heavy.
And I think you may not have time to think about these things.
Ah Fu is still waiting for you to go upstairs to change your clothes and rehearse the wedding. You are already ten minutes late. If you don't go, your housekeeper will be furious. "
The captain spread his hands and said innocently:
“It will be hard for me to escape the wrath of the Butler Man who has a Super Alfred Protocol in his hand, so I suggest that we hurry up and go up.
Oh, yes, there is one more thing."
Mason went into the elevator with his master, and as the ladder slowly rose, he said to his master:
"Little Morgan's father, Tony No. 7, will probably come to your wedding as well. He is very unhappy with your son's emotional harassment and pressure on his daughter.
You have to find a way to respond gracefully, so that what happened between you, Selina, and Talia doesn't happen again with Damian. Let me tell you, he has completely inherited your good genes in this regard.
That guy is extremely popular with women."
"That's their problem."
The master shook his head and said:
“I still haven’t found the perfect way to get along with Damian. If I interfere, he will definitely be unhappy, and it will not be good if there is a family dispute.
Martha really dotes on him..."
"I advise you to be more careful."
Mason said:
"Little Morgan is not without a background. She has the entire Stark family backing her up. If something really goes wrong, the small Wayne Group will probably suffer a cross-dimensional joint business attack.
Maybe you will become penniless overnight and end up sleeping on the street."
“Even if I go bankrupt, my personal assets are enough for me and my family to live comfortably for ten lifetimes. Do I still need to spend money on things like houses and cars?
Shouldn't someone have prepared for you before you were born?"
The master said darkly, causing Mason to roll his eyes.
Okay, you have money and you are right, okay?
Discussing bankruptcy and sleeping on the street , isn't that asking for trouble?
"Click"
The moment the elevator left the bat cave, the noise of the collection room being permanently sealed startled the "well-informed" bats. They began to spread their wings and fly around in the cave, making a lot of unique noises that made Mason and the master look back at the same time.
"Goodbye, Batmobile, goodbye, Batfighter, goodbye, angel investor who started Team K's career, my dear Bat-Treasure, I will miss you."
Mason said, waving his hand.
Bruce Wayne holds his cape and looks at his base.
It was the proof of a life that had once existed and the memory that was about to be sealed. He reached out and pressed the switch. All the lights went out at that moment, returning to dead silence. Only the sound of bats was still echoing.
Then, a faint whisper came from the darkness:
"Goodbye, Batman."
