"...I told you long ago, that freak was no good." A fat man leaned back in his chair, picked his teeth with a toothpick, and said, "Saving people unconditionally in Gotham—don't you think that sounds absurd?"
The other gentleman sitting opposite him was thinner, but the details of his cufflinks and watch showed that he was wealthier than the fat man. He cleared his throat and said, "That is exactly what worries me. I have no prejudice against gangs. In shipping, I have seen plenty of local gangs. As long as they are well fed, my ships are safe."
"But what I fear most are those unemployed youths who gather in little groups. They refuse to study properly or hold decent jobs, spending all day thinking about petty theft. Sometimes they even cause major trouble. Ever since the mast of one of my ships was blown apart by them, I have forbidden anyone under twenty from getting near my vessels."
Beside him, an extravagantly dressed noblewoman dabbed at the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief and said, "Yes, those little hoodlums are the most frightening. If you ask me, Batman is just like them."
"I know that sort of talk is popular in university clubs. Those naïve boys think that playing hero makes them heroes, so they can do whatever they want without restraint. I disapprove of that most strongly. A young lady of the Goth Family would never worship someone like that."
The fat man across from her chimed in, "Exactly, madam. Everyone knows your daughter is the best brought-up young lady around. But from what I can see, that Batman has no such good intentions. They say he saves people, but who has he actually saved?"
The fat man speared a piece of matsutake with his fork,