Chapter 21: Dragon meets Bat

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"Being weak is nothing to be ashamed of… Staying weak is !!"

– Fuegoleon Vermillion, (Black Clover)

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<(Richard Dragon pov)>

This is a really big house, even bigger than Sensei's dojo. I wonder what the history is behind this building, just how much blood and tears were used up to make this piece of architectural marvel.

Countless useless thoughts like these began to swirl in my mind as I stood outside the door of the main mansion after ringing the bell on the door. It didn't even make sense, the guards outside at the main gate had already checked my identity and let me in, so the residents knew that I was coming. So, what was the use of placing a doorbell here? Seriously, the rich and their over-the-top security.

"Good morning Mr. Dragon. We were expecting you. Please come in. The young master is waiting for you inside." A man in his late thirties or maybe early forties greeted me after he curtly opened the door.

He was probably the butler of the family, a well-mannered person if one goes by his style of speaking. Even though I had only just met him, I could sense he wasn't a selfish bloodsucker like most of the people I encountered after coming to Gotham.

He seemed like a normal butler at first sight but if one looked carefully at his posture and the thin outline of a fading muscular physique inside that suit of his, one would know that he had some decent combat experience, maybe a military man of some kind.

I didn't reply to his greeting and just silently followed him. I am not here to judge people or find out about his personal history. I am simply here to teach a prospective student if he is worthy enough to be one. Otherwise, I am just here to enjoy a cup of expensive tea.

As we went to the living room which was bigger than my entire apartment, I saw the kid I was supposed to teach. And he was just what I expected him to be, a normal-looking little kid. He didn't look any different than the other hundreds of kids I have seen in my life, maybe a little better looking than the average but that might just be the expensive grooming products that I have heard billionaires like to use.

Although the look in his eyes did seem somewhat different than what I was used to. I have seen a lot of eyes. My master, O-sensei believed them to be the windows to our souls, displaying our true emotions, our true selves to everyone outside. I have seen eyes with looks showing a determination to survive or desire to take revenge or even greed for money and power. But his eyes were different. In his eyes, I saw... absolutely nothing.

They were blank. Not a single bit of emotion was present, just pure intelligence. It was like he was observing me as much as I was observing him, like a predator hiding in the shadows, waiting to see if I was a friend or a foe.

Maybe 'they' were right. He might be different than the others who normally want to learn martial arts from me. But the question was why did they want me to teach him? Why was it so important that they even had 'her' approach me for a 'favor'?

"What's your name?" I ask, not waiting for the butler to start the introductions.

"Don't you already know that?" The kid raised one of his brows in a question.

"I want to hear it from you," I said as I looked him straight in the eyes. I was trying to determine his personality by observing his actions and expressions. I am not gonna teach a kid with a twisted personality who might become a serial killer in the future.

"Wayne, Bruce Wayne. What's yours?" He asked.

"Richard dragon. So, Bruce, I heard that you want to learn how to fight from me..." I began without any dilly-dallying.

"Is that what you were told, that I want to learn fighting from you? Because that's not true. I can get hundreds of teachers for learning how to fight. No, what I want to learn from you is the art of unarmed combat. I want to learn the art from an artist, not how to fight from a fighter." The kid said interrupting me. Although I don't like people interrupting me, I can't help but be impressed at his respect for both me and the skills that I learned from O-sensei.

"And may I ask why?"

"Because I want to, as simple as that. It will be one of the most useful skills that I will learn in my life and will undoubtedly help me in the future in whatever I want to do. Be it surviving, showing off my talents, defending myself, protecting my friends and family, saving others, or crushing my enemies, it will help me in everything." He answered in a matter-of-fact voice.

Saying that I was surprised would be an underestimation of my current mental condition. That was one of the most blatant answers to that question I had ever heard in my life. That question was once asked by my own sensei to me and my peers as well. I remember what we answered that day. I still ask every student that wants to learn from me that same question. But nobody and I mean NOBODY till now has ever given me such a blunt yet truthful answer.

Most answers include serious and grim reasons like taking revenge or being powerful enough to never lose to anyone or wanting to become the best fighter in the world or wanting to protect the weak and innocent but what he answered right now was truly out of my expectations.

"Hahahaha. I see. Fine. But as I already mentioned to your butler, I have some conditions before I agree to teach you." I said after laughing for some time.

"Yeah sure, as long as they are not too stringent or restrictive, I will gladly agree." He said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"It's not. All I want is for you to swear never to ever use the skills that I teach you to kill anyone." I said. It was a very minor condition that most people won't even care for. I think he should be no different since this won't restrict him from anything nor will it affect his future much. And even if he did ever want to take someone's life, he could just spend some money and get a hired gun to do the dirty work.

But this little condition would make sure that he couldn't be used by 'them' in any way as long as he sticks to it. That way any plans they had made regarding him would be useless. Of course, Bruce might break the rule in the future but I think that an individual like this kid doesn't break promises that easily. Also, I don't want a smart innocent kid like him to be ever tainted by the darkness that comes with taking a life.

"No, I am sorry. That won't be possible. I had sincerely hoped that you could be my teacher but I guess I am not that fortunate. But still, thank you for your time." Bruce stood up and lightly bowed as he began to walk away without clarifying his reasons.

I was not the only one surprised as the butler standing beside me was also equally astounded.

"Wait, why can't you agree on that condition?" I couldn't help myself but ask with curiosity brimming inside me. Does the kid want to kill someone? Does he want revenge for something, maybe his parents' murders or something?

"Hmm? Why, you ask? Because it would be a drag. Don't misunderstand, it's not that I want to kill people. I don't. I believe in the statement that every life is equal. But if sparing one life that is my enemy results in him or her coming after my friends, or my family and killing them for revenge or hurting numerous other innocents just because he is an evil psycho who loves to kill, then I would much rather kill that person. Forgive me if that sounds rude. But that is what I believe in" He said like he was stating a general fact.

He didn't sound rude. For some reason, he sounded logical. He sounded right. And I couldn't help but believe him. Even from his heartbeat, I knew that he was most probably not lying. They were his real thoughts.

But the question was were they correct? I didn't know. I myself had taken a few lives before, like when I avenged my sensei or when I fought in the underground ring. So, I wasn't a stranger to killing but I wanted to make sure that my students won't have to go on that road, that they can find a better way, one that I couldn't. But, the question was, did a better way truly exist in every situation?

"I don't know how right or wrong you are in your beliefs, Bruce. Perhaps I would never know, maybe I don't even want to know. But they are your beliefs nonetheless and looking at you, I don't think I can change them that easily.

But I will teach you even if you didn't agree to my conditions simply because I believe that you are speaking the truth, that you will try to avoid useless death or futile killing as much as you can though in return, you will only have two years to learn from me. After two years, I will leave, no matter how little or how much you have managed to learn from me. That's the cost of not agreeing to my conditions." I said with a no-nonsense tone that made sure to highlight the fact that I was not ready for any negotiations.

"Sure. But you have to promise me one thing, Mr. Dragon. You will teach me everything you know in these two years as long as I can learn them or master them. You won't withhold anything from me as long as I have enough talent to learn from you." Bruce said as he too sounded quite serious.

I had only agreed to teach him for two years because I knew that he wouldn't be able to learn or master everything I had to offer under the limited time. That way, even if he did go down a dark path, people would still be able to stop him.

Even geniuses need years after years of training to even begin to comprehend some of the advanced techniques I possess. He might be a genius himself but, no matter how rare once-in-a-century genius he is, he simply won't be able to learn it all, at least not the skills that truly matter like my knowledge of chi.

"I accept. I swear I will teach you everything I know in these two years as long as you can learn and master each subsequent skill and technique I teach before I move on to the next." I swore.

Truthfully, I was feeling somewhat guilty for fooling a small kid like him. But I had no other choice. I can't make him into an absolute weapon for 'them' to use. I couldn't go against them directly and deny training him. If I don't train him, they would just find someone else for the job. But this way, at least I could make sure that he doesn't become the weapon that 'they' always want in their members.

"Thank you, then I'll be in your care from now on, sensei" Bruce bowed to me, this time with much more respect than before.

"We will start your training from tomorrow then, my young student." I bowed back, a little happy to finally get some respect from him.

"By the way, I should mention that a young friend of mine will also join my classes. She is my best friend and lives with me, so you can trust her. I assure you she is the most innocent and pure girl you will ever meet who can't even think of stealing, much less killing." Bruce said as he smiled at me.

Of course, I nodded and smiled back in return accepting his request. Training him will be more important for me of course since that was why I was here but if he wants a friend to learn with him then sure, why not.

But I still wonder, why did he describe his friend, the girl that way? Is she a little angel or something?

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