Batman's Withdrawal Notice

On a morning in Gotham City that was neither clear nor warm, the chilly early morning wind and damp fog crept through the window cracks onto the balcony, condensing into a string of small water droplets that sparkled under the light.

Schiller sat at his own desk in the office, looking at student papers. After a while, a document was tossed over from the next desk. Schiller shifted his gaze from the assignment in his hand, turned his head, and began to read the document.

"Campus alcohol ban? What little genius got themselves into trouble this time?" Schiller asked.

His colleague Anna, standing by the water cooler waiting for it to fill, said with her hands on her hips, "Clearly, it's our genius new principal. I'd say less genius and more clueless."

Before Schiller could ask further, Principal's assistant, Mrs. Maffei, waddled in after knocking. "Professor Schiller, the principal wants to see you."

As soon as Schiller stood up, Mrs. Maffei came up beside him. She gently patted his arm and whispered, "He's quite something. You should be careful."

Schiller arrived at the principal's office. The new principal had only arrived a few days ago. His name was Sheldon, Sheldon Smith. He was a white man who supported the Democratic Party. It was rumored that he had been a leader in the academic affairs department at Princeton University. For some reason, he decided to come to Gotham University to be the principal.

As Schiller walked in, Sheldon tapped on his desk, gesturing for him to sit down. He was a very typical white leader, appearing energetic, like a lion. He said, "I assume you've seen the document I sent out. Yes, the campus alcohol ban is imperative."

"I really don't know how this school could allow brewery trucks to drive directly to the school gate. It's absurd. If this is the mess the previous principal left behind, I will definitely clean it up, starting now!"

"You know, in situations like this, we have to take a firm stance. Based on your resume, Professor Schiller, I think dealing with a group of children won't be any harder than dealing with those serial killers, will it?"

Schiller understood the implication behind his words: While I want to make a splash as the new official, you need to be my tool.

Schiller smiled and said, "Of course, of course..."

Then, his tone cooled slightly. "In fact, dealing with anyone in this world is no harder than dealing with those madmen from the serial murder cases."

The principal heard the warning in his tone. He wasn't stupid, at least smarter than the previous principal. He said, "I've heard about the previous disturbances at the school, but that has nothing to do with me. This place needs a new order, and it needs new management."

Schiller revealed a smile. "Your ambitions are grand, to establish a new order in Gotham. I simply must applaud that goal."

"Not Gotham, but Gotham University. This will be my territory. I don't want to say any polite words about being responsible for the students. I just want to say that the former principal was a cowardly idiot, so he's gone. But I'm different from him!"

As he spoke, he made various aggressive gestures, occasionally tapping his fingertips together on the desk for emphasis, a typical American politician's style.

Schiller glanced at his watch. "My class is about to start. However, since it's a task assigned by the new principal, I will definitely complete it perfectly."

With that, he left. The new principal watched his retreating back, his expression not good. His intuition told him that this person would not be easy to deal with.

The next day, a notice of withdrawal was delivered to Bruce Wayne's desk.

It read:

"...Due to your repeated instances of drinking on campus and organizing parties with alcoholic beverages, it has been confirmed that at least 50 students have consumed alcoholic beverages purchased by you. I regret to inform you, Mr. Wayne, that we will be canceling your student status. You must vacate the student dormitory within three days. - Professor Schiller Rodriguez."

The next day, Sheldon was in his office, clutching his forehead. It was clear he was a bit panicked. He said to Schiller, "What I wanted... was firm, yes, firm indeed, but, I mean, not this firm. This is too firm..."

The new principal cursed inwardly, What kind of lunatic is this? How dare he issue a withdrawal notice to the heir of the Wayne family? They are the biggest benefactor of Gotham University! Funding Gotham University with billions of dollars a year!

Without the Waynes, what's the point of me being principal anymore!

And I heard Bruce is always messing around, behaving very badly. He doesn't seem like an easy person to get along with at all. Isn't he afraid of offending the richest man in the world at all?!

Schiller maintained his emotionless smile. "I believe that to correct an error, one must go to extremes. If we dare to expel even Bruce Wayne, then absolutely no one will dare to disobey your alcohol ban, will they?"

Sheldon opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word. It was difficult for him to describe his complex feelings now. He couldn't find any words to refute Schiller. In fact, what Schiller said made perfect sense.

Who at Gotham University drinks the most, dares to drink during the day, and dares to act wildly after drinking, if not Bruce Wayne? And Schiller was right, if Bruce was expelled, then other students would surely be as obedient as quails.

But the problem was, which private university principal would dare to expel their own board chairman???

The principal didn't dare, but Schiller did. He wished Bruce would just get out of here quickly. Otherwise, if Gotham University suffered from the Joker one day, it would be another big problem.

Sheldon wiped the sweat from his forehead. "First, let's take back this withdrawal notice..."

"I never take back letters I've written. However, as the principal, you can make a phone call and have him personally deliver the letter to my office."

Schiller also tapped the desk, imitating Sheldon.

"Mr. Principal, I am a teacher. Do you expect me to bow and scrape to students who make mistakes? How to please the board is the principal's job, not mine. My duty is to teach and educate. I don't care if he's a Wayne or anyone else. No one can run wild in my classroom."

"Also, please tell him for me that if I smell even the slightest hint of alcohol in my classroom in the future, I will directly kick him out. Don't say I didn't warn him."

Crazy! Crazy! Sheldon thought.

What kind of lunatic is Schiller? Why does he always have to go against Bruce? That's the richest man in the world!

"Your stubbornness shocks me," Sheldon said after a moment, his face grim. "I hope you can maintain this tough-as-nails style."

Schiller smiled and said, "I will. In fact, in countless serious cases, I have faced those vicious psychopaths and madmen. Compared to them, Bruce is like a newborn foal. I hope he can stand before me before he learns to run."

The principal looked at Schiller. Schiller's complexion was somewhat sickly pale. His gray eyes, hidden behind his glasses, seemed to be shrouded in an unshakeable gray mist.

After Schiller left, the principal pressed the switch of the voice recorder under his desk. He thought, A spoiled young master could never tolerate such an insult from a teacher. What Schiller said today should best be engraved on his tombstone.

If a withdrawal notice isn't enough to make Bruce furious, then I'll add some more fuel to the fire. I wonder what Bruce will think after hearing these recordings?

Sheldon thought that no matter how capable such an impetuous and young rich man was, he could never defeat the power of capital. The Wayne family had ten thousand ways to make a professor disappear from the world. Even if Bruce wasn't that cruel, he wouldn't let someone who repeatedly insulted him off the hook.

When Bruce received the recording, his expression was very strange. He wasn't angry. Yes, he wasn't angry at all.

In fact, even if this person wasn't Schiller, Bruce wouldn't have been too angry. Because he wasn't as impulsive and reckless as he appeared.

But after listening to the recording, he actually felt relieved. Fortunately, Schiller hadn't thrown any more of those troublesome, difficult-to-answer questions at him, nor had he used that even worse tone he usually used when chasing Bruce for assignments.

Bruce knew this reaction was wrong. How could his standards be so low? Shouldn't he be happier if Schiller praised him?

No, no, what does that matter?

Bruce threw the voice recorder onto the desk and scratched his hair. He had to admit that after listening, he couldn't help but speculate. Perhaps it was because Batman had been doing a good job in Gotham recently, that's why this professor's attitude had changed.

Of course, he was Batman, after all, and soon he began to think about the important matters.

It seemed that the principal's targeting of Schiller wasn't without reason. He appeared to have some extra channels of information that allowed him to know Schiller had participated in the trial of the previous principal.

Bruce narrowed his eyes. To establish order at Gotham University was, in fact, to turn it into his personal domain. And dangerous individuals like Schiller were naturally the first targets.

The next day, Schiller continued his classes as usual, not even glancing at Bruce. He picked up his textbook and began lecturing.

Sheldon, who could control the classroom cameras, couldn't help but frown. Why hadn't Bruce gone to trouble Schiller? What was going on?

Bruce, disguised as a playboy, had caused plenty of trouble. He had beaten up several classmates. While beating up professors was wrong, for the world's richest man, there was no one he couldn't beat up, and no one he couldn't afford to compensate after beating them.

Then he saw an even more incredible scene. When collecting assignments, Bruce actually handed in a stack of papers. Judging by the thickness, he had probably written the full 3,000 words.

When had Bruce ever handed in homework? Which professor at Gotham University dared to accept his assignments? Which course at Gotham University dared not give him a perfect score?

Thinking this, the principal opened Gotham University's credit system. He discovered that for Schiller's psychology class, Bruce's assignment score was less than two points, and his overall grade was at the very bottom. The teacher's comment read:

"As a rich man, he certainly fulfills his duty of enjoying life. But as a student, he is utterly terrible."

The principal's hands trembled slightly. This wasn't some internal website; it was a site all students had to access at the end of the semester. They could clearly see the comments each professor gave them, and they could also leave comments for all professors.

The principal thought this as he scrolled down the mouse wheel. Then, he saw it clearly: Bruce's comment for Schiller was:

"I promise I will complete all my assignments next semester. If I do, can my assignment score be increased to two points? Or even 1.8 would be fine. If I can score above 90 on my final exam, I sincerely hope my credits won't be completely deducted, even if only one point is deducted."

Wasn't this just a variation of "Teacher, please be lenient"?

The principal's face darkened, and he slammed the computer shut. He felt incredibly stifled. So many people wanted to connect with Wayne Enterprises, which would bring them immense benefits, and the principal was certainly one of them.

But it seemed he had no chance. Bruce didn't care if he was the principal of Gotham University; the position was as replaceable to him as changing clothes.

However, it seemed this Professor Schiller had truly managed to control the world's richest man. Sheldon thought, no matter what, he had to get rid of Schiller. To advance further, he needed to hold an irreplaceable position with Bruce, and Schiller was his biggest obstacle.

Meanwhile, Bruce began to feel dissatisfied with this new principal.

When he returned the expulsion notice to Schiller, Schiller had almost written "Get out now" on his face.

Before this new principal arrived, everything had been going smoothly. Both communication with Schiller and cooperation with Gordon were beneficial social interactions for Batman's cause.

Then the new principal suddenly implemented some sort of prohibition, giving Schiller another excuse to expel him. Bruce naturally felt displeased.