Gotham City had always possessed astonishing vitality. Just a few months ago, it had been chaotic as though a war had been fought there, yet in only a few short days, it had once again taken on a thriving, prosperous appearance.
The streets were filled with Christmas decorations. Golden little bells reflected the light off the snow, colorful ornaments on Christmas trees complemented one another, wooden reindeer statues wore red noses, candy canes hung neatly in shop windows, and children weaving through the streets sang Christmas carols.
Batman, who had nearly taken control of Gotham's entire upper class, did not need that much money. He invested part of the funds into the municipal system and simply distributed the rest to ordinary people as Christmas benefits. It was destined to be a warm and joyful Christmas.
Gotham State's operating system was not particularly unusual, because New York State in Marvel, where Greed resided, operated in much the same way. Independent legislative authority and tax policies ensured that the governmental system always gave way to economic development, keeping the city a benchmark for East Coast economic growth and allowing it to drive development in the surrounding underdeveloped regions.
Pale Rider handled government affairs with ease. The only thing that displeased him somewhat was being forced to join hands with Penguin. Gotham, now an independent state, needed a congressman whose words carried weight, and Penguin was the only choice.
Batman was in fairly good condition, though. He was starting to believe what Catwoman had said.
After being arrested by the IRS, all of Batman's weapons had been confiscated, including the Batarang he had so dearly missed. After that, his mental state improved to some extent. Coupled with taking over the upper class's resources and keeping busy for a while, he had not felt