The two returned to Wayne Manor with the little gray fluffball, Jiujio. Looking at the palm-sized baby penguin, Alfred could only welcome the newcomer with his usual, well-practiced smile, take the chick for a physical examination, and contact the construction crew yet again.
Wasn't it just a penguin chick? Wasn't it just a penguin chick they had "borrowed" from Oswald Cobblepot?
The backyard already rivaled a zoo anyway. What difference would one more polar ecosystem make? The Wayne Family had more than enough money to afford it.
As for the Cobblepot family's reaction...
It was only a penguin chick. Surely they wouldn't fall out with the Wayne Family over that?
The little merfolk hadn't bought much on this outing, but she had eaten until her belly was round. Once home, she changed back into her fish tail and happily nestled into her outdoor pool, splashing around with little Jiujio after the penguin's checkup.
The little gray fluffball had completely recovered from the earlier fright and kept circling the little merfolk's large tail, chirping excitedly.
All was peaceful here, while Bruce's time was almost entirely consumed by company paperwork and tedious business dinners. On top of that, he had to keep oozing his trademark darling-Bruce charm, flirting with pretty young women to maintain his image as an empty-headed playboy.
My face is going to split from all this smiling...
I want to go back to the Batcave. Even Killer Croc looks more sincere than these people...
What idiot put this proposal together? It looks like someone fished scraps out of a shredder, pasted them together at random, and handed it in...
When will Tim's injuries heal? The company needs him...
Bruce pouted. Bruce was so annoyed. But Bruce didn't dare leave.
Never mind Alfred, the all-purpose Butler Batman at home who seemed so mild and modest but actually held the entire family's fate in his hands-even the formidable man before him wouldn't let him off easily.
Lucius Fox, Wayne Enterprises' Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer, was one of Bruce Wayne's most trusted confidants, and one of the very few people who knew Batman's true identity.
Most of Batman's high-tech equipment, including the Batsuit, the Batmobile, the Batcycle, and the bat-wing-shaped Glider, had been designed and developed by him.
Bruce looked at Lucius, who was watching him intently with a knowing half-smile. Bruce could guarantee that if he dared abandon his work and slip away today, he wouldn't even have to wait until tomorrow. By tonight, Lucius would "regretfully" inform him that some newly developed piece of equipment had run into a "minor problem."
"What is it, my dear boss?" Lucius wore a kindly expression. "Is there something urgent you need to attend to? That's quite all right. Go ahead. It's just that we might..."
"No, nothing at all."
Bruce flashed a huge smile and picked up his pen and paperwork again, his steel-blue eyes utterly sincere. "I love work."
"That's wonderful." Lucius casually delivered another stack of fresh paperwork. "In that case, why not take this opportunity to clear up some of the business that's piled up? After all, catching you in the office building really isn't easy."
Bruce: ᕮ◥▶‸◀◤ᕭ... Go away ☞...
Tim, back at Wayne Manor: Ah, life without work... pure bliss~:ஐ٩(๑´ᵕ`)۶ஐ:*...
The weekend family dinner was a regular gathering at Wayne Manor.
Although everyone had their own work, along with those "little side jobs" at night, Bruce and Alfred still hoped the family could sit down together, share a meal, and strengthen their bonds.
In the end, Jason hadn't come back.
The empty seat at the long dining table never welcomed its owner home.
Dick, who had hurried back from Blüdhaven, laughed heartily and made it his mission to give every family member a big hug. Even when his youngest brother, Damian, mercilessly refused, he still used his height, long legs, and agility to force the boy into a hug, and even snapped a photo on his phone-
Then, cackling with laughter, he darted all over the room as an embarrassed and furious Damian chased him down, trying to hit him.
"Stop! Damn you, Grayson! Draw your blade! Face my challenge like a man!"
"Hahahaha! My dear Rice, you're so cute when you blush! I'm making this my phone wallpaper!"
"Bastard! Delete it! #￥%@#￥..."
"Gahahaha..."
"Grayson! You're finished! You'll bitterly regret offending the future Batman! Stop!"
"Gahahaha... hey! You almost hit my Jim and Juan! This is the world's most perfect ass!"
"￥%@#%@!"
Miaomiao watched in amazement. Wayne Manor really did seem much livelier with Dick around.
Tim, whose injuries hadn't fully healed, sat calmly in his chair, sipping black tea. Because he was injured, Alfred had strictly forbidden him from endlessly chugging coffee these past few days, so black tea had to serve as a substitute.
"Tim?" Miaomiao prompted. "Shouldn't you do something about Damian and Dick?"
"It's fine. Let them wear themselves out." Long accustomed to this spectacle, Tim was entirely unfazed. "This is one of the ways they bond."
As long as he wasn't dragged into it, Tim was happy to watch, no matter who won, who lost, or who got kicked while they were down.
Question: Which of the brothers at Wayne Manor had the most dirt on the others?
Answer: The World's Second-Greatest Detective, Coffee Duck Timothy Drake!
After all, the Third Young Master, constantly belittled for ranking last in hand-to-hand combat talent, was the mastermind behind the scenes whom Batman himself had officially recognized as the one most like him in intelligence and temperament~~~ᘳ▶ι_◀ᘰ
Although this mastermind was still young and had plenty of room to grow, he had long since become an expert at "passing by" his brothers' computers and "casually" making multiple backup copies of their files~~~ʕ⊝ᴥ⊝ʔ~
But soon, Tim could no longer remain a detached bystander leisurely sipping his tea.
Dick and Damian chased each other all over the room. Drawing on the agility he'd honed as a circus trapeze artist, Dick evaded Damian's pursuit with all sorts of unbelievable contortions and routes. Eventually, he was forced to vault across the table in front of Tim.
Bang!
Dick's leg caught the beautiful gold-trimmed porcelain teapot. It jolted violently on the luxurious solid-wood tea table, its lid slipping askew as honey-red tea splashed out.
Tim's breath caught for a moment. He took a deep breath, resignedly set down his teacup, and picked up the towel kept nearby specifically for wiping up tea stains.
He had only just stood when another figure came hurtling past-
"Grayson! Stop!"
Bang!
Crash!
The all-purpose Butler Batman Alfred's favorite gold-trimmed porcelain teapot, along with the teacup Tim had just set down, was smashed to pieces by a sweeping slash of the Fourth Robin's long blade.
The honey-colored tea spread freely across the tabletop like paint flung by an artist, then flowed naturally over the edge to kiss the sumptuous handmade carpet.
In an instant, time froze...
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