"You made him like this? What did you do?" Clark raised his eyebrows and asked him.
"Not much. Isn't it because Brainiac stopped research on phones? The agricultural science research center didn't have space for me, so I had some free time. I was originally thinking of developing the Dark Knights... you know, like I mentioned before, find a few dying Batmans, use Barbados' dark power to save them, form my own team, and cause some havoc in the Multiverse."
"I was planning to actively recruit them, but fate had it that someone came to me. Night Owl somehow sent a message to the dark multiverse, which I intercepted. So I decided to take advantage of the situation and contracted him as a follower using Barbados' authority."
"I tampered a bit with the dark power I gave him, making it both inherently polluting and uncontrollably volatile. Based on his abilities, he shouldn't be able to suppress this power at all; it's only a matter of time before things go wrong."
"But I didn't expect him to be so bold, conducting teleportation experiments the moment he got the power. He failed to control the power, and the array was wrong too, causing an explosion. It seems like they blew up their entire base, almost punching a hole through the cosmos."
Clark took a sharp breath and said, "I originally thought the time-travel experiment Brainiac had Barry do was crazy enough, but I didn't expect someone even more daring."
Bruce waved his hand and said, "That's a different matter. Brainiac dared to let Barry infinitively reverse time because I'm here. He deliberately used time travel to increase the universe's instability, giving me an excuse to send more Angels to watch over our universe. Also, I could thicken our universe's walls a bit."
"So it's all to scam Heaven for funding?"
"Not exactly. No matter what we say, our importance hasn't surpassed the Prime Universe. There are at least two hundred Angels watching over the Prime Universe, while we barely have a hundred, so we're far behind."
"No worries, you're worth a hundred of them," Clark chuckled and said.
"But now our universe's walls are much thicker than the Prime Universe's. Barring any accidents, it's basically impossible for anyone to break through the walls and invade us by force."
"That's indeed good. I also fear that one day we'll suddenly be invaded. Those guys from other universes are so competitive; their Justice League operates 24/7." Clark shook his head and said, "Let's continue talking about Night Owl. What happened to him afterward?"
"I thought blowing up his base would keep him busy for a while. Didn't expect the dark power to affect him more than anticipated. He broke off with the Evil Alliance and then stupidly cursed Superman, resulting in him being hunted by Wonder Woman. I guess he was completely at a loss, which is why he came to me for help."
"If you don't help him, won't he be doomed?"
"Not necessarily. Even if I don't save him, other Batmans will definitely help; they all want to rescue him." After thinking it over, Bruce said, "I feel it's also going to happen soon. After all, that electronic lifeform, which once tried to invade our universe, has probably caused quite a bit of trouble in other universes. They're probably due for a meeting. Once the meeting's over, they'll realize that the electronic lifeform once had a run-in here in our universe. To find the universe capable of defeating him, they will definitely go to Night Owl to get a hint..."
Just as he was saying this, Bruce was startled because a communication from the Primary Universe Batman came through.
"Hello? It's me. What's up? What? You're looking for a universe with a super artificial intelligence? Super Brainiac? My goodness, are you sure you're not talking in your sleep?"
"You ask me? How would I know? What do you mean I'm running around the universe aimlessly? I haven't been to other universes in a long time. Besides, when it comes to loafers in the universe, I'm not on the list. Our universe is pretty safe, so me having downtime is only natural. But some Batmans in certain universes being idle is just off-putting."
"I'm not hinting at anyone, believe it or not. Anyway, I really don't know anything about a Super Brainiac; I've never even heard of it. Go ask someone else."
Ending the communication, Bruce exhaled deeply. He looked at Clark and said, "Those Batmans really got some nerve, trying to put all this on me."
"Did you fool them?" Clark asked a bit worriedly, "What they're looking for must be our universe's Brainiac. Even though he's been busy as the god of agriculture lately, he's almost certainly deserving of the Super Brainiac title."
"Who says that? Our universe has Brainiac, they're looking for Super Brainiac. In terms of electronic lifeforms, program names are precise; there's no mistake about it. I honestly haven't heard of a Super Brainiac." Bruce shook his head to the point of leaving an afterimage.
Clark helplessly shook his head with a smile and said, "Then who do you say is the out-of-place loafer?"
"Of course, it's the Injustice Batman. We've got to find someone to take the blame. Now the Batmans have probably figured out that such a universe exists, and if we don't want them to trace it to our place, we have to redirect them to the Injustice League's universe."
"Do you think they'll figure it out?"
"Of course. The Injustice League's universe being invaded by Brainiac isn't a secret. Of course, neither are we. But since our universe rebooted, they probably wouldn't think after the reboot Brainiac is still ruling Earth, it's a blind spot in their thinking."
"And the Injustice League is just odd. They were invaded by Brainiac, even if they can repel him, the post-war reconstruction has to be done, right? The political system once destroyed by Superman has to be re-established, doesn't it? The global structure needs to be re-distributed, right?"
"But that Injustice League Batman is idling like he has nothing to do, not at all like he's in post-war condition. Maybe Batman hasn't reacted yet, so if we remind them, it's like helping them move forward, isn't it?"
Clark thought for a moment and said, "But during our universe's counter against Hai'er and the subsequent Brainiac, there were two pairs of Batman and Superman present. Even if they didn't stay till the end, they know the inside story. Especially the Injustice Batman, what if those Batmen find him and he betrays us?"
"He wouldn't do that. He wouldn't even let other Batmen discover Brainiac of their universe, because once found out, his universe might be considered Batman's activity base. He can't stand so many Batmen flaunting around him."
"Also, you know the Superman of his universe has just started to recover a bit. What if seeing so many Batmen again triggers him to relapse? That would be a huge mess."
"But it's not that easy to hide, is it?"
"It's a bit easier than our side," Bruce said, "After all, over there is just post-disaster reconstruction, and Brainiac's interference isn't that strong. Completely hiding Brainiac and saying it's the result of Batman or Superman's efforts, though slightly exaggerated, isn't impossible."
"Not so on our side. The entire multiverse knows our Justice League clocks off at 6:30 PM. Telling them we rebuilt like this in a year after restarting, no one would believe it, not even room for excuses."
Clark sighed deeply, "It's all because other universes' Justice Leagues work such long hours. Should we pretend too, and delay till 8 PM?"
"No chance. Brainiac is watching you, recently he's launching a conservation campaign. Taking water and electricity from the base and not working, he'll easily kick you into the Atlantic."
"There's nothing we can do then." Clark shrugged, "Clocking off at 6:30 PM, I already feel it's a bit delayed. Really don't know where they find all that work to do."
"You better stop saying that. Brainiac is already displeased with us as an illegal society, if he dissolves the Justice League one day, that'll be interesting."
The same sunset, another universe presents a different scene. Injustice Batman, who had been lazily wasting time in Wayne Manor, was now busy and frantic.
"Quick, quick, Clark! You need to run for president right now, swiftly express your political views, quickly announce the Kent Bill, then quickly pass the bill, then speedily head to Washington and sign off over twenty thousand policy and tax documents with your name. Go!!!"
Injustice Superman, dragged out of bed, looked puzzled. After a long time, he finally came around and looked at Injustice Batman, "What?"
"Use your super brain!!!" Injustice Batman roared at him, "Other Batmen are coming to find me! We can't let them discover Brainiac's presence, so everything he's done is credited to you. You're now the greatest president in American history!! Go take office!!!"
In pajamas, Injustice Superman was packaged from head to toe by people sent by Injustice Batman and Brainiac, then baffled, he was pushed onto the presidential plane, watching helplessly as Injustice Batman and Brainiac fabricated a history and used Brainiac's supercomputing power to change all data.
In the new history, there was never any supercomputer, after Brainiac was defeated, he rolled back home directly. Instead, it was the suddenly awakened Injustice Superman who took legal means to win the election successfully and unleashed at least 50% of his super brain power, rebuilding America and the world to the current state.
"I just have one question," Injustice Superman barely used 1% of his super brain then said, "Why is it me and not you?"
"You previously ruled Earth with violent methods, I couldn't stop you. Suddenly just running for president and succeeding like this, do you think that's reasonable?"
"Uh…" Injustice Superman was somewhat at a loss for words.
"It's you because you have a record. You previously ruled Earth, though it was a chaotic rule, it shows you want to be a ruler. It was a mistake in approach before, but after going through a catastrophe and reflecting, you took the right path and succeeded. Isn't that very reasonable?"
Injustice Superman pursed his lips, shook his head, "That's not reasonable. Who expects a tyrant to tax the rich at 90%?"
"Only a tyrant would tax the rich at 90% and still have them obediently pay, isn't it?"
Injustice Superman found himself unable to refute again, so he said, "I'll say I'll try my best, but I think we'll get exposed."
"Don't worry, it won't happen. This is just the first link." Injustice Batman held up a finger, "To explain why I've been unseen during this time rather than actively governing the Earth, I decided to let you imprison me."
"...Huh?"