An Unsettling Discovery

Of course, that last part was a joke.

Speaking of which, it's worth mentioning something here.

Many wealthy families often treat their butlers like family or trusted confidants. In such cases, they allow the aging butlers to remain with them, caring for them in their later years.

That's why Alfred still remained at Wayne Manor as a respected elder.

With the milk prepared, they moved on to the next step.

If they were following the protocol of a fancy restaurant, there would typically be an amuse-bouche, an exquisitely plated but scant serving of cold appetizers, and a small cup of soup. Finally, there would be a violinist performing a refined piece of music to enhance the atmosphere.

But this was at home. While it was still necessary to maintain some level of elegance befitting a wealthy household, there was no need to go overboard. So, they skipped some of the unnecessary formalities.

Avery could play the violin, but there was no way he'd ever do something so ridiculous like that.

Tonight's main course was croissants. As Alfred mixed flour, sugar, yeast, milk, and butter, kneading the dough until smooth, he covered it with plastic wrap and set it aside to rise. Meanwhile, he also prepared the evening's main dish: roasted tilapia.

Tilapia is a fish with few bones, tender meat, and high protein content, making it a popular dish on many dinner tables.

Over on one side, Alfred held his "weapon" in hand, skillfully and without any trace of pity, as he dealt with the still-wriggling fresh fish. On the other side, Avery was preparing tonight's dessert: strawberry mousse cake.

This gelatin-based cake is far more delicate than a typical cream cake, with a texture that melts in your mouth, making it a popular choice among high-end desserts.

Avery mixed crushed biscuits with butter to form the base of the cake, spreading it into the container. Next, he prepared a portion of hot milk and stirred in gelatin until it dissolved. After whipping the cream, he combined sugar and cream cheese, then slowly added the milk mixture and cream, blending it all together before pouring it into the mold. Finally, he topped it with sliced strawberries and placed it in the fridge to chill.

As Avery focused on crafting the dessert and Alfred eyed the now-cleaned fish, preparing to cut it with a precise knife, their employer finally returned, pushing open the kitchen door just before the sun had fully set.

"What brings you here? Don't tell me you're offering to help?" Avery asked without turning around, his hands still steadily preparing the meal.

"No, if I were to help, it would surely be a disaster. I think Master Bruce just prefers his meals extra fresh," Alfred quipped, holding up a freshly cleaned fish, its lifeless body twitching slightly.

There was no doubt the fish was dead, yet its occasional convulsions silently testified to how very fresh it was.

"..."

Bruce Wayne locked eyes with the lifeless fish, its bulging eyes seeming to "stare" back at him. His lips twitched almost imperceptibly before he quickly looked away, as if nothing had happened. "No, I just couldn't find anyone, so I figured you two would be here."

"So, what are your plans for the evening?" Avery asked.

"Plans?" Bruce paused in thought, recalling the reporters camped outside the gate. His expression grew serious as he said, "I remember telling someone to have my other estate cleaned up, didn't I? How about we move there tonight while no one's around?"

Although Bruce never fears the media, it was still a bit of a headache to deal with them.

"As you wish, sir. But before that, you should have your dinner. It's almost ready," Alfred said as he slid the marinated fish into the oven.

…

After dinner, they moved into the new estate that very night. Since there wasn't much to pack, they left with a carefree attitude. The only real hassle afterward was the equipment Lucius Fox had stored in the garage beneath Wayne Tower. Many of the items were not easy to transport, especially the Batmobile. That wasn't something Bruce Wayne could let people see.

But of course, that wasn't a problem for Batman, who could always rely on his vast wealth.

He simply sealed everything in a crate so no one could see what was inside. Then Avery personally supervised, making sure a large truck was brought in to haul everything away.

Thankfully, the new home had a basement, so hiding everything wasn't too difficult. The only challenge was making sure the Drake family next door didn't discover Bruce Wayne's secret—that he was, in fact, Batman.

That was the downside of the new estate—having neighbors in such close proximity.

Batman had his grievances about this and became even more eager to expedite the reconstruction of Wayne Manor.

That night, as darkness fell, Batman slipped back to the Williams Children's Home, ready to explore its secrets from a different angle. During the day, he had posed as a potential adoptive parent, asking the children questions to confirm some of his suspicions.

As for the follow-up, well, there wasn't any. The U.S. adoption process is complex. You have to provide medical data, financial records, and family history, and you even have to undergo an FBI background check to ensure you don't have a criminal record. No way a temporary fake identity could pass that kind of scrutiny. Batman would have to be a fool to try.

But just as he silently avoided everyone and prepared to slip into the orphanage's records room to find evidence of criminal activity, he stumbled upon a shocking discovery that filled him with both surprise and fury.

Years later, when he looked back on this case, which implicated half of Gotham's high society, he could still vividly recall the outrage he felt at seeing villains twist the truth and watching judges openly protect the guilty in court.

And Avery's words, spoken with an expression that was somewhere between pity and concern, would forever echo in his mind.

"There's no such thing as true justice in this world. Isn't it all just a means for those in power to pacify and manipulate the rest of us?"