Bruce's detective intuition is very sharp. He realized that Dali must have some ulterior motive, but he always exercised patience with such people, so he pretended to be cheerful and said, "Really? I also think that outfit is perfect for a banquet. If I can make it through today, I'll get to show it off. Thank you so much."
Bruce was well aware that he hadn't left any good impression on the interviewers in the first round. Although he had good looks, his demeanor was far from distinguished. An organization like theirs had standards, so realistically, his chances were slim today.
But if Dali wanted him to wear that outfit, he would have to make it to the banquet part. If he didn't pass today, there would be no chance. In this case, Dali would surely find ways to make him pass.
"I'm waiting for your toast." Dali smiled and then walked away.
Bruce watched his back, continuing to analyze in his mind. At present, it seemed that Dali was indeed a child from a wealthy family, at least from a state-level affluent family. He was well-groomed, but this only further indicated that his approach to Bruce and gifting him clothes had some hidden agenda.
Soon, Bruce walked to the interviewers. This time it wasn't in the large hall but in a smaller room, closer to the interviewers. In addition to some students, there were a few older-looking individuals, possibly alumni, but Bruce didn't recognize any of them, suggesting they weren't famous.
"Hello, Mr. Wayne. I see on your registration form that your father is a farmer. So, why do you want to join DKE?"
This interview was much more formal, without any bursts of laughter or collective ridicule, focusing on family background and life planning, but albeit more specifically, almost openly asking about his potential network and resources.
Bruce answered cautiously, leaving almost no room for error. The interviewers seemed conflicted because Bruce's appearance was too perfect, like the ideal rich second-generation they desired, and yet it didn't match his family background, creating a dissonance.
In the next room, Dali was clearly in a heated debate, constantly defending Bruce, so loudly that Bruce could vaguely hear him.
"Look at the suit he's wearing. Even if his family's conditions aren't great, he must have wealthy relatives. If he's a local in Chicago, he must have connections..."
"Even if his family background isn't good, his appearance assures that with a bit of resources, he would develop very well, and precisely because he lacks a background, he needs to rely on us; he has to be indebted to us..."
After discussing for a long time, they ultimately just told Bruce to wait beside until everyone finished and had the results. Even the interviewers left before Dali finally came over and sat next to Bruce.
"Did you bring good news?" Bruce was waiting so long he was tired, leaning against the wall with his eyes half-open, casually asking. But then he startled himself awake, realizing this wasn't his persona; he couldn't speak like this.
"I mean, can I expect good news?" Bruce sat up straight, adjusted his collar, and reflexively went to touch his cuff links but managed to refrain.
"You passed," Dali said, "But they still have doubts and might want to set up a probation period for you."
"Probation period?"
"Yes. You can normally participate in Brotherhood activities and even move into the dorm, but during this time, you need to perform well; otherwise, you might not be accepted."
"Oh, alright." Bruce immediately began to act nervous, "How should I perform well? What should I prepare?"
"Just get through the banquet first." Dali patted his shoulder, "After the banquet, there will be a welcome ceremony. Remember not to offend the seniors. If anyone bothers you, I'll help resolve it."
Bruce nodded, smiled at him, and said, "Thank you."
After Dali left, Bruce returned to the dorm, pondering all the way about what these people were up to. Passed is passed, not passed is not passed, yet they insisted on adding a probation period; there must be something odd.
Upon returning to the dorm, he saw Stark, seemingly dazed, sitting on the bed. Bruce approached and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing." Stark seemed worried. He said, "The boss was very satisfied with the motor I repaired, gave me $100 in wages, plus a $20 tip, and even offered new orders. Many people are interested in radars, they ordered five or six, selling them should yield over $2,000, so livelihood isn't a problem."
"You've surely encountered something, haven't you?" Bruce said confidently.
Stark shook his head again, hesitantly saying, "I just feel strange, like someone is watching me, but when I look closely, there's no one there. I wonder if it's because the weather is too cold..."
Bruce immediately sat down opposite him and said, "Tell me specifically."
"Nothing to say," Stark said, "It's just an intuition; I haven't found any clues or evidence, otherwise I would have reported to the police by now."
"Your intuition is usually very accurate, right?"
"Never missed." Stark said, "If someone is watching me secretly, then they've looked at me at least two or three times, and I feel they have malicious intent, but for some reason, haven't taken action."
"When approximately?"
"Once when I went to the store, another time on the way to the lake, and again while talking with someone by the roadside. But no matter where I looked, I didn't see anyone watching me." Stark pressed his temples, "I haven't been here long, it's impossible for me to have enemies, and no one here knows me, following me is pointless."
"Unless they're not following you, but your outfit." Bruce said, "The only change from a few days ago is this outfit, maybe they mistook you for someone else."
Stark frowned deeply and said, "You mean Dali might have offended someone, brought you in as a scapegoat, but I'm the one in trouble?"
Bruce nodded, but Stark asked again in confusion, "We two don't resemble Dali, he's got blonde hair, we're both black-haired, even if our body types are somewhat similar, our appearances are too different."
"Then the scapegoat they're looking for isn't him." Bruce said, "But someone in the Brotherhood who resembles us more closely, Dali is just a runner."
"Who did they offend?" Stark asked.
"Shiller." Bruce laid out the fact that Shiller has enemies, he said, "Someone in the Brotherhood became a target, they realized it, and used the opportunity of recruiting newcomers to find a scapegoat, I was chosen."
"No." Stark said again, "I heard from the Iron Man of the Central Universe that Shiller has mind reading technique, not the superpower kind of mind reading, but a way to understand others from within, even if he doesn't have this ability now, he wouldn't be finding people by clothes, right?"
"But the Brotherhood doesn't know that." Bruce spread his hands and said, "This world actually doesn't have superpower users, everyone is ordinary, would you believe someone can read minds?"
"No superpower users?" Stark was very surprised, "How do you know?"
"Have you seen any content related to superpower users in real life or news reports?" Bruce said, "Although I don't judge by this, I knew before."
Stark thought for a moment and said, "I don't think they'd be so dumb, even without superpowers, any normal person would know that if someone wants to take revenge on another, it's unlikely they wouldn't recognize their enemy. What they're doing, maybe they're just fishing."
"You mean..."
"You see someone wearing the same clothes as your enemy, even the exact same outfit, what would you think? You'd definitely think it's borrowed, being able to borrow such expensive clothes, the connection must be good, or at least they favor him, so eliminating the enemy's good friend is just convenient?"
"Convenient? Do you know how troublesome killing is? Killing another person isn't that simple."
"No, killing a friend's enemy is simpler, because you have no direct interaction, might even have never met, it becomes random killing, hard to trace back to you."
Bruce stared at Stark: "You actually have the nerve to say we're not normal?"
"Precisely because you're among them, you can't clearly understand this group of madmen." Stark didn't feel surprised at all, he said, "People who disregard social rules and morals aren't conditionally evil, just because you did nothing wrong doesn't mean they won't kill you. Those standards they self-promote, like only killing enemies, only killing the wealthy, only killing the guilty, are unreliable, they can find a thousand ways in their mind to make you meet the criteria, then kill you, they're not driven by logic, but by emotion."
Bruce was speechless, he thought for a moment and still said: "But he ultimately didn't take action against you."
"That might be just because he saw through the Brotherhood's conspiracy, didn't want to be fooled, rather than truly having any compassion or principles." Stark shook his head, "This outfit will instead protect me, I guess he might also want to see who wants to throw me into a killer devil's arms."
"Too dangerous." Bruce evaluated, "I must figure out what they're actually trying to do, tonight I'll go have a look at the Brotherhood's dormitory."
"I haven't asked you yet." Stark asked, "How did the interview go today? Did you pass?"
Bruce told him about today's experience. Stark frowned and then said, "Be careful, they're absolutely targeting you, the observation period is a typical suppression tactic, meant to make you comply."
Bruce naturally knew, the so-called observation period is meant to apply pressure, making people dare not resist. He listened to Stark continue saying: "As far as I know, the Brotherhood's initiation ceremony will be wild, that's what I'm saying, they need to have dirt on each other, there will definitely be a target of persecution, I think it might be you."
"I understand, I'll be careful." Bruce nodded and said, "The character style of a small-town boy is too difficult for me to grasp, Clark Kent is really hard to play, if they dare to provoke me, just fine, I won't pretend anymore."
Stark looked speechless: "You've never pretended, you act like the Gotham Madman I know, Battleworld didn't assign you to Joker's gang, it's their oversight."
"Wish I were Joker now." Bruce shook his head helplessly, "At least Jack has a driver's license, I could be earning money driving trucks."