Chapter 68: The Art of Puppeteering - Part 2

Arias's clever use of words had a profound impact on the majority of the people present. Only a select few had the confidence to believe they would emerge at the top in this global game. In any competition, people naturally gravitate towards the prize—provided, of course, the competition is perceived as fair. Even in unfair circumstances, some would still try their luck, unless the penalty for losing was too severe.

This was precisely the situation in the current debate. Many of the suggestions favored the already powerful, and depending on which suggestion gained the most support, others risked making the powerful even more dominant while gaining little themselves. Worse yet, they could lose everything they had worked for if they supported the wrong side.

Such a situation couldn't be left to chance. As soon as Arias finished speaking, the hall erupted into a frenzy. Many agreed that his words carried weight, arguing that the powerful couldn't be trusted with too much control. Others, particularly those aligned with the powerful, argued that Arias's point was baseless.

Once order was restored, Lex Luthor, who had been among those arguing against Arias, took the floor. "Mr. Markovic has made quite an interesting point, but I must ask… for you to bring up such a strong argument, surely you have a solution? Yes?"

Arias recognized what Luthor was trying to do and responded with a confident smile, raising his mic. "For someone who claims to be the most brilliant mind on Earth, I would've thought the answer to be elementary. But since you insist, the solution is simple. We let things carry on as they are. Each respective nation or major organization, including LexCorp, should continue any secret measures they are taking, if any, toward the risk of alien invasion or other global threats."

Luthor's frown deepened when Arias questioned his intelligence, especially since a few of Luthor's rivals chuckled at the remark.

"Bold of you to accuse so many nations and organizations of having secret projects that could very well go against international laws. Do you have proof to back your claims? Furthermore, your suggestion is to allow superhuman and alien crime to continue unchecked, costing the world many lives and trillions in damages each year?"

Lex was clearly attempting to turn the audience against Arias, but he underestimated his opponent. For every question Luthor posed, Arias had a sharp and calculated response.

"Bold of you to misinterpret my words. I specifically said 'if any,' meaning I accused no one. Honestly, Mr. Luthor, if the most brilliant man on Earth can't even comprehend elementary English, then I worry for our future as a species."

"And to answer your questions, are you truly that ignorant? Or just plain foolish? Many lives lost? Costing trillions? You must be joking. If you examine the statistics of the past, yes, there has been an increase in crime and the cost in damages caused by aliens or superhumans. However…"

"It should also be noted that all nations and numerous organizations have made over triple their yearly revenue since the rise of aliens and superhumans. The profit-to-loss margin is actually smaller than when regular criminals ran rampant. So yes, it's costing the world trillions, but thanks to those same superhumans and aliens, the world is making trillions more."

"As for loss of life? The year when the rise began did indeed see an increase in human casualties. However, in the years that followed, the number of civilian lives lost was considerably lower than before. In fact, the majority of lives lost belonged to individuals or criminals who demonstrated superhuman abilities. The statistics I'm referencing are publicly available on numerous sites and have been verified by all global powers. So, I ask you again, Mr. Luthor, are you ignorant? Or just foolish?"

Arias's boldness and unmatched confidence left many in awe. Few people would dare to openly offend one of the world's most powerful men. Lex Luthor was inwardly seething, but he was also shrewd. He knew that continuing this line of questioning would only result in more humiliation. The best course of action was to admit fault and retreat gracefully.

"I see, I was indeed wrong not to consider those statistics you mentioned. It is an embarrassing blunder on my part—ignorance, indeed. But my question still remains: even if there isn't a significant difference compared to the past, human lives must be preserved. So if your suggestion is to leave things as they are, how do we reduce crime and loss of life?"

Though Luthor had taken a step back, his ego wouldn't allow him to concede completely. Lex Luthor prided himself on being smarter than anyone else, and he didn't consider Arias a genuine threat. He believed that by posing his question in a kinder, more thoughtful manner, he could make Arias falter. But he was mistaken.

"I'll take your admission of ignorance as an acknowledgment that you aren't the most brilliant man on Earth," Arias quipped, a smirk tugging at his lips. "To answer your question, I ask all of you to look at Gotham City, the so-called crime capital of the world. Approximately two months ago, I, along with the police commissioner and the late mayor's office, began working toward a better Gotham. In those two months, Gotham has registered the lowest crime and murder rate in the world, surpassing even Copenhagen in Denmark, which previously ranked second in the months prior."

"So, I ask you all, if such results could be achieved by my city, thanks to dedicated policing, exceptional leadership, and responsible citizens, what's stopping other cities from doing the same? I rest my case, your honor."

With that, Arias not only accomplished his goals for the conference but also managed to promote Gotham and his own competence. As households worldwide watched the broadcast, they searched the web to verify his claims, and sure enough, he was telling the truth. Gotham had indeed ranked second for two consecutive months after being dead last for years. This result wasn't planned—it was merely a stroke of luck.

Due to the recent alien invasion, many cities worldwide had seen a spike in crime rates. However, Gotham, which had undergone incredible reform, found itself among the top three safest cities. Those who didn't know the name Arias Markovic before now had it etched in their minds and began seeing Gotham as an ideal place to live, rather than a hellhole where death lurked around every corner.

The impact was most significant in Gotham itself. Arias was already known and acknowledged by many citizens, but some still held doubts. Among those people was Commissioner Gordon, who watched the broadcast in the open area of the Gotham Police Department alongside many other officers.

When Arias credited them, praised them, and revealed the stunning information, the room erupted in cheers. As for Gordon, he felt as though a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. The goal he had been striving so hard to achieve was now a reality. Gotham was now a safe city, and it was largely thanks to Arias.

Both his and the people's trust in their local charming billionaire had grown by leaps and bounds.