"American" is a fake concept.
Ignoring the natives, "American" in the traditional sense should specifically refer to the redneck hicks who support the Republican Party.
Or it could also refer to the upper-class minority elites who support the Democratic Party.
Neither group had any necessary connection to the juvenile offenders at Alpine Juvenile Detention Center.
These kids had no country, no race, and possibly no concept of family. They lacked love, lacked education, had no moral values and no skills to make a living. Others saw them as garbage, and they saw each other the same way. At least in the detention center they had a roof over their heads. Once they left and returned to society, the only fate waiting for them was to be devoured by the various forces of the dark world until not even bone scraps remained.
Even so, they weren't completely worthless.
Compared to the old oily bastards in Gotham whose worldviews were already set and unchangeable, they still retained their last bit of wealth—the hot blood and innocence of youth.
To completely subdue this group of little bastards, violence alone wasn't enough.
Bang bang bang bang bang—
Gwen emptied the magazine into the sky, casually tossed the gun aside, returned to the platform, picked up the microphone and announced loudly, "It seems we've temporarily reached a consensus. Of course I know you're not convinced in your hearts. You don't know who I am, what benefits I can give you, or what my goal is. Are you worried I want to use you as cannon fodder and send you to your deaths? Don't get excited, everyone. Ask yourselves honestly—besides being cannon fodder for others, what other use do you have? Relax, you have no use value!"
The truth hurt.
"Harley Quinzel… can I call you Harley?" Gwen raised her hand and pointed at the blushing blonde with twin tails. "I remember who you are now. You have excellent grades and even won a medal in the world gymnastics competition? If nothing had gone wrong with your family, you should be going to college instead of being sent to this shithole, right?"
This was from the documents Gwen had casually seen while chatting with Mr. Steve on the roof of Wayne Tower. Among the few children Mr. Steve cared most about was this little beauty. Because she was pretty, Gwen had taken an extra look.
Harley pinched her fingers, looking shy and a little embarrassed. "The past isn't worth mentioning. I just had a small misunderstanding with my family…"
"It's fine. I don't care. Listen—" Gwen slammed the table hard and shouted, "My codename is Ghost-Spider. I know you can only remember the word 'spider.' That's fine, I don't mind that either. As your current boss, I'm going to hand out some benefits to those who sincerely support me! Meow! Little Meow, come out! You're my trusted subordinate. I already have two lieutenants. I want you to be number three, specifically in charge of leading the newbies who were just sent in!"
Little Meow squeezed out of the crowd with a displeased face, raised her hand and flipped Gwen the middle finger. "Meow your sister! My name is Selina Kyle!"
"She's shy." Gwen waved at her, then turned back and continued, "Alright, Harley, Floyd, Selina. When I'm not around, you three will manage these kids. I don't have many requirements—just make them obedient. Now let's talk about benefits—I can take the three of you out to have fun and treat you to KFC. Mr. Paul shouldn't have any objections. He's a smart, good-hearted man."
"I can!" Harley nodded, raised her hand, looking obedient.
Floyd remained unmoved.
Meow… Selina raised a second middle finger.
"Very good. Harley, you're with me!" Gwen stepped onto the table of the platform and raised two fingers in a V. "I'm now announcing two welfare plans. First… last night I paid a visit to your cafeteria and felt the stuff you eat now is really disgusting. What the hell is all that garbage? Our first goal is to improve the cafeteria meals! Anyone who supports me gets to eat meat!"
The square fell completely silent.
Everyone was stunned.
Gwen raised her arm and shouted, "Everyone who supports me right now, raise your hand! Let me see your hands!"
In a wave, almost everyone raised their hands. Even the cool-acting Floyd raised his hand with a stiff face.
Meat held irresistible temptation for kids this age. Upper-class families who could eat meat every day definitely couldn't understand this feeling.
"Then the second benefit is—I plan to set up a projection system here and play two hours of movies or cartoons for you every night!"
"Oh yeah!"
Cheers and excitement erupted below.
The happiness of adolescents was that simple.
If Gwen could also get beer and weed, these kids would probably kneel down and call her Mommy.
But that would lose the original intention of saving them.
"My God, I can't even imagine!" Harley rushed to Gwen's feet, covering her face and squealing. "In this place we can only read the Bible. I'm so sick of the Bible! Miss Spider, can I request Tom and Jerry?"
"I think that's fine." Gwen squatted down, leaned close to Harley and whispered, "Are you willing to help me pick out the videotapes?"
"I… I would be honored!" Harley was so excited her eyes were misty with tears. "R-18 is okay too?"
"R-15 is fine too." Gwen raised a finger and said seriously, "In exchange, Harley, I need a group of loyal, obedient subordinates. Before I get the projection equipment, can you pull together such a team from the girls' section?"
"No problem, Boss!" Harley nodded hard. "There are talents here. Smart, beautiful, or strong girls—you can have as many as you want! But Boss, I think we should have an… um, organization name? Like the Spider Family?"
"No family! I'm allergic to that word!" Gwen tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Spider Club. What do you think? I can make a spider mark to stick on everyone's face later…"
"Cool—! I think it's awesome!" Harley gave a thumbs-up and squealed, but she quickly calmed down, glanced at Floyd standing in the distance, leaned close to Gwen and whispered, "What about the boys' side? Boss, I have to warn you—men can't be trusted, and they won't trust… us. Especially that Lawton. It's not that we don't get along. Actually I quite like him. But you should be careful not to let him get a gun. He's really good at shooting people in the back!"
"Don't worry." Gwen patted Harley's head. "I'm pretty good at handling little boys too."