Judged on resilience alone, Gotham probably ranked among the best in the country, if not the world. Though only a few days had passed since the disaster, the rumble of diesel engines filled the air, with people following behind, swinging pickaxes and shovels to clear obstacles from the roads.
The first roads repaired led to the hospitals, power stations, the Industrial District, and Gotham's largest funeral home. To prevent widespread plagues and infectious diseases, Li Jie had ordered everyone to dispose of the bodies as quickly as possible.
"But... isn't that a little too heartless?"
Kara watched truck after truck roar past, loaded with bodies, grief written across her face. "If their families want to remember them..."
"Burning them is better than packing them into foundations as building material."
Li Jie flipped over a chunk of concrete by the roadside, turning its protruding rebar away from the street, then dusted off his hands. "Don't worry. I told the cremation facilities to dump everyone's ashes together for efficiency. Anyone who wants to pay their respects can go scoop up a box."
As he spoke, he pulled a container of chewing gum from his pocket and offered it to Kara. "Some of you in me, some of me in you. Now that's true unity among the people of Gotham."
"That's just too..." Kara shook her head helplessly, tipped out a few pieces, and popped them into her mouth to chew. "But there's something else... we've been able to buy fewer and fewer supplies lately."
"Mm."
Li Jie nodded in acknowledgment. After discovering that they couldn't intercept the Kryptonian girl, the Federal Government had responded swiftly by issuing the bulk commodity procurement restriction act, forcing them to pay more to work around the procedures when buying supplies in other states or cities.
"It's