"Bruce, I neither oppose nor support what you just said."
Lucas looked at Bruce calmly.
"Because that kind of situation will never exist in the organization I'm part of. So it has nothing to do with me."
He paused for a moment.
"And you just said that I might lead humanity to destruction?"
At this point, Lucas's smile suddenly disappeared.
A faintly playful look appeared in his eyes as he stared at Bruce.
In a tone almost like an interrogation, he asked:
"So your subconscious assumption is that if you were humanity's leader, then humanity would definitely prosper, right?"
Bruce replied calmly,
"Sorry, but I never said that, nor did I imply it."
Lucas folded his arms and narrowed his eyes.
"Do you take everyone here for three-year-olds?"
"Or do you think I'm someone easy to fool?"
His voice gradually rose.
"Or do you believe that Bruce Wayne has the authority to question me on behalf of all humanity?!"
Even though they were inside a virtual space, everyone present felt an overwhelming pressure.
For a moment, no one even dared breathe.
Nick Fury was deeply shaken.
If Lucas weren't already known for having little interest in power, that speech would already sound like the beginning of a strong dictatorship.
And Bruce Wayne was truly ruthless.
He was confronting Lucas head-on—and even trying to weaken Lucas's authority within the Guardians.
Fury knew that Lucas had created an organization called the Guardians.
But in Fury's view, it was probably just a group meant for communication and coordination among the planet's protectors.
Everyone looked toward Bruce Wayne, waiting to see how he would respond.
---
"I don't represent all humanity," Bruce said calmly.
Perhaps because he knew they were inside a virtual space—meaning Lucas couldn't truly harm him even if he became angry.
"What I'm asking is this," Bruce continued slowly.
"If one day you suddenly lose control… start killing people… or decide to rule the world…"
"How could I possibly stop you?"
"Compared to your power, humanity is extremely fragile."
"With a single strike, you could destroy a country or sink an entire continent."
"In that situation, who wouldn't be terrified that you might one day lose control?"
"Even the most precise machine has a chance of malfunction."
"Let alone a living being with emotions."
Then Bruce said something shocking:
"Unless you're willing to reveal your weakness to me."
"So that if something ever happens, we would at least have a way to restrain you."
"Of course, I can also reveal my own weakness."
"Everyone here could use it to restrain me as well."
No one expected Bruce Wayne to be this direct.
If anyone else had said something like this to Lucas, they would probably have already turned hostile.
Who was Lucas?
And who was Batman?
It was like a minor official confronting a prime minister and saying:
"We must know each other's weaknesses so we can restrain one another in case you try to overthrow the throne."
Yet… no one could completely deny Bruce's logic.
Because if Lucas ever went insane, even Clark might not be able to stop him.
For Lucas to slaughter humanity would be as easy as eating or drinking.
---
"Hahaha!"
Lucas suddenly burst into laughter.
He had long expected Bruce to say something like this, so he wasn't surprised—or even angry.
"If you're so capable," Lucas said with a grin,
"Why don't you go eliminate all the nuclear weapons capable of destroying humanity?"
He had already prepared his response.
"Do you think those governments have better control than I do?"
Lucas sneered at Bruce.
"But I do."
"First, nuclear weapons can't threaten me."
"Second, I can destroy them before they're even launched."
"And even if they are launched, I can still deal with them easily."
Then he looked directly at Bruce.
"Can you?"
Bruce fell silent.
The representatives of the five world powers also remained silent.
Lucas continued:
"How many years has humanity possessed nuclear weapons?"
"Don't you have any idea?"
"Why didn't you go solve that problem yourself before lecturing me today?"
Bruce began frowning.
"You spend all your time watching the petty criminals of Gotham and nearby cities."
"You never consider the security of the entire world."
Lucas suddenly raised his eyebrows.
"Let me give you a very realistic example."
"When that massive earthquake struck California, how many people did I save?"
"If I left that number to you…"
"You couldn't accomplish it in one lifetime—or even several."
Bruce's fists clenched tightly.
Lucas snorted coldly.
"Don't tell me you're just an ordinary human and lack the ability to do those things."
"Don't forget—you're rich."
"Even if you donated just ten thousand dollars a day, you could help countless starving children in Africa."
"That would be far easier—and far more efficient—than beating up criminals in Gotham."
"Of course, maybe the Wayne Group already makes donations."
"But that has nothing directly to do with you personally."
Under his mask, Bruce's face began twitching slightly.
Lucas continued mercilessly:
"Because I know something."
"Your so-called crusade against crime… your so-called heroism…"
"It's nothing more than self-redemption for the twisted heart you developed after your parents died."
"NO! That's not true!"
Bruce slammed his fist on the table and roared.
Everyone was shocked.
The calm and composed Bruce Wayne suddenly exploded with anger.
Lucas only sneered.
He knew that Bruce's parents were Batman's greatest weakness.
"Yes, maybe you're not."
Lucas sat down again as he spoke.
"I might destroy humanity? I might go insane? I might lose control?"
"Bruce… look at yourself right now."
"You're far more dangerous than I am."
"You're far more likely to go mad and lose control."
"And you want me to reveal my weakness?"
"So that if you lose your mind someday, you can kill me and do whatever you want?"
"What right does someone like you have to lecture me?"
"What right do you have to question me?"
Buzz—
Bruce Wayne's body suddenly blurred and distorted.
Then he vanished from his chair.
"Ridiculous man."
Lucas snorted coldly.
He had expected Bruce to cause trouble.
But someone as intelligent as Bruce wouldn't normally provoke him so directly.
That's why Lucas suspected something.
Everything that just happened might have looked foolish…
But in reality, it was likely Batman testing him.
After all, Bruce Wayne's intelligence was legendary across movies, comics, and games.
If Lucas had taken everything literally, he might as well admit he'd never watched a Batman movie in his life.
....
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— Translator-Sama