The renovated Wayne Manor finally caught up with the times in the autumn of the millennium, gaining many modern conveniences while retaining the mysterious charm of an old estate.
After autumn arrived, the entire manor took on an especially ancient, desolate air. The lawns had turned a dull brownish yellow, gray-green vines climbed the brickwork, and the windows glowed with warm light. Inside, however, it was an entirely different scene.
The fireplace burned brightly, its flames illuminating the whole living room. Though the newly divided and renovated Wayne Manor was somewhat smaller than before, the vast spaces of a Gothic castle had inevitably felt gloomy. Now that it had been reduced in size, it instead felt cozy. The old gray-purple and dark-blue decorations had been removed. The carpets had been replaced with brown wool, the curtains with dark red plaid velvet, and the large Italian leather sofas were warm orange. A dried daisy stood in a white vase. Those elaborate old crystal chandeliers had also been removed, replaced by more modern metal chandeliers that retained the Gothic style.
Previously, when residential space per capita had been improved, part of Wayne Manor had been separated off. The main hall, gardens, and living rooms connected to the side corridors remained within the estate, while two independent buildings had been divided out.
Through Bruce's tireless efforts, the Justice League had finally passed Brainiac's review and gained legal status. Those two buildings had also become the Justice League's base—though they were mainly Bruce's laboratory.
In the past, due to financial constraints, Bruce had not had a proper Batcave. Sometimes, he had even needed to borrow Luthor Corp's laboratories for his inventions. It was not that he had not wanted to build one; his finances simply had not allowed it. Most of his money had