Unspoken Plans and New Bonds

However... that wasn't entirely certain, was it? Avery casually recalled the defensive weapons hidden throughout Margaret's house. If it had been an ordinary person sneaking into her villa instead of him—a wizard with peculiar abilities—it's quite likely that Margaret could have killed her intruder instead.

She was very cunning, cautious, but ultimately unlucky.

"Her death is strange. I suspect she was silenced," Bruce said after reviewing the details of the event. He had also checked the surveillance footage from the previous night and found no one suspicious except for the witness. After thinking for a moment, he shared his conclusion.

He was right.

Avery thought to himself, while silently noting that the person who carried out this "mission" was sitting right there in the same room—someone with whom Bruce had even shared an... intimate connection.

It wasn't that Avery deliberately hid this fact from Bruce; he was simply planning to eliminate all of these otherworldly people anyway. Bruce probably wouldn't agree with his methods, so Avery figured it was best to finish the job first before discussing it.

He wondered if Bruce would fly into a rage and throw him out when he eventually found out. But even if that happened, it wouldn't matter too much. Avery already knew what these people were after. Although he hadn't quite figured out why they specifically wanted someone to keep an eye on Batman, it didn't really matter anymore—after all, their days were numbered.

Once he wiped them all out, they wouldn't be able to carry out their plans, whatever they might be.

His past experiences had taught him one thing: dead people are always the safest bet.

In some ways, Avery gave Bruce plenty of leeway—provided he didn't resort to outright disobedience.

This difference in philosophy would eventually lead to conflict between them, though it would ultimately be resolved. After all, no relationship is without its disagreements.

But that's a story for another time.

Avery snapped out of his thoughts and remarked, "It seems this woman got what was coming to her."

Bruce nodded, then moved on, pushing the incident further down his mental list of priorities. He had been keeping an eye on Margaret, intending to bring her to justice, but now that she was dead, there wasn't much more to worry about. Apart from investigating the details of her death later and looking into a few other loose ends, it wasn't worth giving it much more attention.

Although Bruce didn't condone solving problems through killing, he didn't have the energy to devote time to investigating the death of someone who had essentially gotten what they deserved.

Moreover, it was likely that Margaret's powerful backers had played a role in her death. Even if he uncovered the full truth and gathered all the evidence, it still might not be enough to take them down. There were too many political complications involved. In comparison, focusing on dealing with the gangs threatening the everyday lives of Gotham's citizens seemed far more pressing and practical.

Bruce opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, a small figure entered the room, prompting him to swallow his words and quickly switch the screen on his computer.

"Dick? What are you doing here?"

"I heard voices, so I came to check," Dick said, standing awkwardly in the hallway leading to the dining room.

Since Bruce had already decided to adopt this child, he was fully prepared to take on the responsibilities of being a father. He set down his now-empty plate and smiled at the clearly nervous Dick, saying, "I see, my apologies. That was my fault. I shouldn't have left you alone."

"So, would you mind telling me what you've been up to in your new home today?"

Hearing his adoptive father sincerely apologize and express interest in his day, Dick visibly relaxed. Avery who are watching from the side, raised his eyebrows ever so slightly, while Bruce remained as calm as ever. Even Batman occasionally showed a softer side when dealing with children—unlike someone else, who only offered polite, insincere smiles. That kind of superficial attitude couldn't possibly go unnoticed by a child with sharp instincts.

Bruce glanced at Avery out of the corner of his eye. Avery, looking innocent, met his gaze before collecting the dishes and heading into the kitchen, leaving the new father and son alone to bond.

Bruce Wayne wasn't called Gotham's Prince for nothing. There were plenty of rich people in the world, but what set Bruce apart was that he wasn't just wealthy—he was also handsome and carried himself with grace and charisma. These three qualities combined made him a beloved figure among Gotham's high society.

Although he might have a reputation for being somewhat of a slacker—often using board meetings as nap time—most of the women who adored him were after his money or his looks. Whether he was successful or not, or whether his partying habits affected his health, were concerns only for close friends or family—not something the women in his social circles cared about.

In the past, Bruce could charm any woman with ease, and now, if he wanted, he could just as easily win over a child. Before long, Bruce and Dick were having a lively conversation, with Bruce even promising to take Dick on an outing in a few days.

Avery, observing their growing connection, felt a sense of relief. He had initially worried that their shared tragic experiences might bring up painful memories, but instead, it seemed to help them bond, as if they were finding comfort in each other. It gave him a sense that as long as things didn't get worse, progress was being made.

Soon, it was time for Bruce to make good on his promise.

With Batman's involvement, Tony Zucco didn't last long. In fact, Avery played a major role in bringing Zucco down. He skillfully downplayed his offensive abilities in front of Batman and instead focused on providing support for him and doing his job diligently. Zucco hadn't yet been imprisoned because there wasn't enough solid evidence against him—nothing that could definitively put him behind bars for hundreds of years.