Ch.38 Harvey Dent

Regardless, the new president's campus alcohol ban is being implemented systematically.

No vehicles or shops sell alcoholic beverages near Gotham University. All parties and gatherings are monitored, and dormitories are searched. Although they don't confiscate high-powered appliances, they find all the alcohol and severely record a demerit.

Of course, these students are powerless to resist. Despite the presence of the supervillain Scarecrow in Gotham University, most of the students are obedient.

However, it is evident that this move affects another group of people.

Everyone knows what kind of city Gotham is. The alcoholics here don't start drinking after work.

The countless alcoholics in Gotham City feed numerous bars and liquor stores, and the annual tobacco and alcohol sales are the main source of taxes.

Of course, you can prohibit students from drinking. But if they don't have addiction, who will the alcohol vendors sell their products to?

The students are easily deceived. Any addictions they pick up during this period can stay with them for the whole life, and drinking alcohol is no exception.

If they start drinking at the age of 20, they will spend tens thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars on alcohol in their lifetime. Every alcoholic spends a large portion of their salary on various drinks.

Meanwhile, the profit from selling alcohol is being pocketed by monopolists. They use these money to continue production, open larger factories, and hire the group of alcoholics for lower wages, only to provide them with two bottles of inferior alcohol after work.

What a perfect industry chain. And all they need to do is to sell some delicious beer near Gotham University at a low price, without calculating any profit. Of course, start with beer, then gradually escalate to distilled spirits and hard liquor.

For hundreds of years, Gotham City has operated this way. If you don't let those people corrupt the students, wouldn't Gotham have turned into a civilized city long ago?

Schiller understands this very well, so he never intends to be a responsible teacher here. This city doesn't allow any clean seedlings to grow; only villains and criminals can survive here.

Transforming Gotham University into a utopia? Don't be joking, those naive graduates wouldn't exist a year in Gotham City.

This is just a large whirlpool enclosing countless smaller whirlpools, and no one can escape from it.

Since Schiller sent Bruce the expulsion notice, the president rarely mentions involving him in this matter again. But he is under tremendous pressure once he disturbs the chain of interests, so he has to find another helper for himself.

"Hello, I am Harvey, Harvey Dent, a lawyer specializing in criminal litigation and arbitration."

Schiller shakes hands with Harvey. Before Schiller can speak, Harvey says, "I have heard about you. You did a great job in that big case in Coastal City. That damn serial killer was brought to justice and is now in prison."

He speaks rapidly, like a lawyer, with a steady tone and firm voice. Then he continues, "But I must say, you haven't performed as well on implementing the alcohol ban at Gotham University as you did in those big cases. I believe saving the future of this city is as important as apprehending criminals, isn't it?"

Just as Schiller releases his hand, he purses his lips and says, "Perhaps."

Harvey senses his reluctance in his tone and frowns. "I have heard some things about you in down south, but it seems like you're not as relentless as the rumors suggest."

"Instead of that, I am more interested in knowing who is spreading my story."

Harvey hesitates and asks, "Isn't it yourself who's talking about it?"

He sizes up Schiller, who doesn't appear to be a shrewd and brave detective nor a fair and rectitude judge. He seems refined, which is consistent with his professional demeanor.

Harvey is clever, so he speculates, "You thinking someone is intentionally spreading your story? But why would they do that? To make you more famous? What's the benefit?"

Schiller invites Harvey to sit down, and he takes a seat across from him. He tells, "Perhaps you only know the beginning of this story. Later, I was set up in a case in Metropolis. Why else would I come to Gotham? It wasn't a good thing. Clearly, they still doesn't want to let go of me."

Harvey hesitates and says, "Sorry, you shouldn't have stood out like that. But it's okay. I am now the legal advisor for Gotham University. I fully support this alcohol ban. Drinking a bit of alcohol is fine; of course, I drink too. But excessive drinking during student years is not acceptable."

When Harvey speaks, his thoughts are always clear, logical, and his tone of voice is firm, giving people an involuntary sense of security. If Schiller doesn't know that he is the later Two-Face, he would never associate him with that coin-flipping maniac.

Two-Face is a complex villain, and he is the only villain that Batman attempts to save. Batman tries many times, but without success. The frustration it brings him might be stronger than being defeated by the Joker.

Because of Harvey Dent, he truly is a good person, Gotham's White Knight.

Batman is deeply influenced by him. Maroni hurts Harvey and drives him insane in the courtroom, which makes Batman fully realize,without violence and authority, law and justice are meaningless.

A despicable and filthy criminal, in broad daylight, harms a fair prosecutor, but he doesn't have to pay any price, and no one dares to prosecute him again.

Schiller places his hands on the table, looking into Harvey's eyes, "Mr. Dent, I believe you understand the situation here better than the new president. You should be aware of how many people's interests you will offend by doing this."

"I'm aware, but I don't care," Harvey responds.

Schiller sighs and takes off his glasses, using the eyeglass cloth to clean them while saying, "Perhaps you are truly prepared to pay the price for upholding justice?"

"It sounds like you have personal experience."

"Of course, because I've been fortunate in life."

"I believe I will be as well," Harvey claims, but he still has empathy. "I won't blame those who give up on this path due to the dangers they face, because they have already done their best. I don't know how far I can go on this path, but in this world, reaching the finish line isn't the only way to win."

Schiller doesn't respond further. He shakes hands with Harvey, and Harvey leaves. It is the first time Schiller doesn't try to disturb or persuade the other person using words.

Schiller has once heard a wise saying: Don't try to remind someone who has been walking in the dark; they are not blind.

So Schiller doesn't attempt to correct Harvey's thoughts, nor does he tell him that his actions are useless for Gotham. Everything Harvey does is right, every choice he makes is just and correct. But unfortunately, this is Gotham.

The White Knight can't save Gotham, and the Dark Knight might not either.

Harvey is indeed a very charismatic person. Unlike the Daredevil Matt, he doesn't prefer to work alone. He is adept at utilizing all the resources he can access, building friendships with teachers and students, and even receiving high praise from all kinds of staff members. Mrs. Murphy praises him dozens of times a day and even wants to introduce her youngest daughter to him.

Even though most students don't like their hidden alcohol being confiscated, they still admire Harvey and consider him a successful and kind-hearted elite figure.

Harvey has only been at Gotham University for a few days and already receives a warm welcome from the majority of people.

The new president, Seldon, becomes even more depressed. He brings someone in to be his pawn, rather than turning himself into a pawn. He just wants to find a scapegoat, someone who can charge ahead while he reaps the rewards of fame and fortune.

But just like Schiller's excessive firmness, Harvey is excessively popular, to the extent that he overshadows almost all the attention.

Not many people know the new president's name, but almost everyone knows the new law advisor, Harvey Dent, a highly educated, high-income, and enthusiastic elite lawyer.

Among the people he gets along with, it also includes the difficult-to-handle Schiller and Bruce. Schiller is willing to chat about life ideals with him because they have similar educational backgrounds and are both alumni of Columbia University, allowing them to reminisce about their college days.

As for Bruce, he feels a special connection with Harvey. They can discuss any topic together, and when it comes to matters of justice, Harvey provides him with different perspectives, which greatly inspires Batman.

In the past, Batman has become accustomed to being stimulated during conversations with Schiller, then silently contemplating afterward.

But Harvey is different. Harvey tries to answer all of Bruce's questions in detail. When Bruce presents a different standpoint, Harvey doesn't sarcastically refute or disrupt his speech rhythm; instead, he listens attentively, expresses his own viewpoint, and analyzes the differences between his perspective and Bruce's carefully. If they can't reach an agreement, they each hold onto their opinions and discuss it again next time.

Nobody doesn't like a friend like that – wise, mature, passionate, empathetic and knowledgeable. This is much better than having discussions with Schiller that lead to headaches.

Schiller is also pleased. With Harvey around, Bruce will finally stop bothering him every day, and the psychological consultation room can finally regain tranquility.

Other than when Gordon comes by a few days later to present him with an invitation, hardly anyone appears there.

Gordon comes to invite him ,because he has been promoted, and it is even a leap of several ranks. It is a worthy cause for celebration.

Gordon doesn't have many friends, and his colleagues at the police department are somewhat envious of him, so he can't invite them. Therefore, he plans to invite Schiller and Bruce for a small gathering.

Bruce introduces Harvey to the detective, and they hit it off. In some ways, Harvey and Gordon are a perfect match. They are very similar, except Harvey is more radical while Gordon is more conservative.

These two get along well, leaving Bruce feeling left out. Schiller holds his wine glass and looks at Bruce standing outside the psychological consultation room, taunting, "Let me see, has this homeless drowning dog finally remembered the garbage dump where he used to live? Should I feel honored?"

"Hey, don't say that," Bruce moans. "Although Harvey is great, I still think you, Professor, are stronger in terms of expertise."

"Thank you for your praise, but all you credits must have been deducted this semester."