Merfolk young could not stay out of the water for too long, but that was no problem. Wayne Manor had an enormous indoor swimming pool where the little merfolk could swim.
If she preferred natural water, the winding underground river beneath the manor, in the Batcave, was a fine place to play.
If comfort was the priority, the manor's top-of-the-line temperature-controlled whirlpool tubs, complete with fragrances made from pure botanical essential oils, offered an entirely different pleasure from natural waters.
And Gotham's finest construction crew had already received an enormous order from Wayne Manor: design and build a vast, semi-open aquarium connecting every part of the manor as quickly as possible, while doing as little damage as possible to its original structure.
No, it could no longer be called an aquarium.
It ought to be called a private marine park!
Faced with the construction crew's questions, the elegant old butler, Mr. Alfred Pennyworth, explained with resigned indulgence, "As you know, our young master Damian is an animal enthusiast through and through. He's recently become fascinated with marine life and would like to keep dolphins, orcas, and the like."
Could private individuals keep dolphins and orcas?
Who knew?
But this was Gotham, and the client was Wayne.
That instantly made everything unreasonable seem perfectly reasonable.
"No problem, Mr. Pennyworth. We'll complete the job as quickly as possible. Does Master Damian have any other requirements? We'll do everything in our power to meet them."
This was Wayne they were talking about!
Gotham City had been built on whaling, then gradually shifted to a different economic structure, and many wealthy families had survived to the present day. For such well-known reasons as Gotham City's "wholesome local customs" and "outstanding people and blessed land," its construction crews were among the very best in both skill and speed, and they never lacked work.
But clients like the Wayne Family were universally known for clear requirements, straightforward jobs, generous payments, and prompt settlement. Most importantly, there was absolutely no need to worry about running into some inexplicable disaster halfway through a job and being buried in the construction by the owner, never to be seen again... or anything of that sort.
In short, construction contracts from the Wayne Family were highly sought-after in Gotham. They had to land this one!
Alfred considered it. "Then please install as much play equipment as possible. Oh, and young Master Damian is an animal welfare advocate. Viewing angles aren't important. The experience and comfort of the marine residents must take priority in everything. Understood?"
What kind of requirement was that?
Whether an aquarium or a marine park, the visitors' experience always came first. After all, people went to marine parks to see the animals. If visitors hurried in excitedly only to find they could see nothing but the tip of a tail, they would smash the place to pieces.
Still, the client was the one paying, wasn't he? Perhaps this was simply a personal hobby of his.
In Gotham, you could be unintelligent, incompetent, or even a complete piece of trash, but you had to know how to read the room. Don't look at what you shouldn't see, and don't ask what you shouldn't know. That was how ordinary people survived.
I'm just here to do a job. I'd better keep my mouth shut and earn my money.
The crew leader flashed a broad smile. "Understood completely. Rest assured, the Gotham Construction Crew is absolutely professional. We'll make certain young Master Wayne is satisfied."
"Of course I have every confidence in your professionalism and that of your crew." Alfred smiled and handed over a check. "This is the deposit, sir. Once the work is completed and approved, we'll transfer the other half directly into your account."
The crew leader accepted the check with a beaming smile, then his eyes went wide the instant he saw the figure.
Wait! I know the Wayne Family has always been generous, but! Isn't there an extra zero on this thing?!
"Mr. Pennyworth, this..."
"Rest assured, there is nothing wrong with the check. You may cash it whenever you wish." Alfred gave him a reassuring smile. "We simply want to fulfill Master Damian's wish as soon as possible. Can you do that?"
"Of course! Rest assured! There won't be any problem whatsoever!"
Yes! Of course! Absolutely! Even if we can't, we have to!
Even if Scarecrow releases poison gas again, Poison Ivy goes berserk again, or Joker comes out to set off fireworks all over the city again! We have to make it happen!
The crew leader bowed and nodded as he saw Alfred off, then turned around with a completely different expression. "Hurry up, you lazy bums! We've got a huge order! Get moving! Contact everyone who's gone home on leave! All leave is canceled! We're putting everything into this Wayne Manor contract! Move, move, move!"
An older worker who knew the crew leader well walked over with a cigarette between his lips. "Come on, old buddy. Is that really necessary? It's not like we've never taken a big order before."
"This one's different." The crew leader let his old friend glance at the check in his hand. "Two more jobs like this, and I could retire early, move my family out of Gotham, and spend the rest of my days relaxing in comfort."
His old friend's cigarette fell to the ground. A few seconds later, another fiery voice rang out. "Get a move on! Have you arranged the materials yet?! What are you, a turtle?! The old lady next door with the bad leg is faster than you! Hurry up! Start running!"
Thanks to Bruce Wayne Island's "money power," within just a few days, an enormous semi-open aquarium connecting every part of Wayne Manor had been completed.
The aquarium stretched over a thousand meters, with multiple passages and open areas connecting the manor's hall, dining room, screening room, shared library, game room, and other spaces. A passage led to the outdoor swimming pool behind the manor, and there was even a separate, fully furnished room filled with water!
At the client's request, this project, more aptly called a "water maze" or "aquatic playground" than an aquarium, had been built with the finest materials and workmanship at the greatest possible speed. Though many viewing considerations had been sacrificed, comfort had been pushed to its absolute limit while damage to the manor was kept to a minimum.
Even the designer who had drawn up the plans could not help marveling at the finished result and wishing they could turn into a dolphin and move into Wayne Manor.
Out of sight, Bruce had also called upon his secret team to connect one of the aquarium's passages to the underground river. The little merfolk could swim through it whenever she wished, follow the river into Gotham Bay, and return to the sea.
Through his actions, Bruce told Miaomiao: You're our family, and you have complete freedom.
Meanwhile, Miaomiao, who had been forced to temporarily "hole up" in the Batcave during the construction at Wayne Manor, was happily crunching away with a tub of reduced-sugar popcorn kindly supplied by Alfred in her arms, all while joining Damian in poking fun at the mermaid story in the movie.
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