The Main Universe Superman hurriedly returned to his universe but didn't find Batman in the Justice Hall. Not at the Outpost, nor the Batcave. Finally, he saw Batman's figure at the dock. The other had just dealt with a thug who robbed disaster relief supplies.
The Primary Universe Batman knocked the thug down with a punch, then punched him twice in the face, twisted his arm and handcuffed him, and pressed him into the police car.
The Main Universe Superman flew over and landed slowly beside him. And the Primary Universe Batman turned to look at him, wiped the rain off his face, and remained silent.
"I didn't intend to use you," he suddenly said, "I just thought you should know about this."
"I definitely should know. You seem much calmer." The Main Universe Superman looked at him and said, "I thought you would avoid me."
"There's no need for that."
"You always do. You told me about this just to get rid of me. You thought I would stay there for a long time and not return, so you would have what's called time to think alone. Are you disappointed to see me back?"
These words should have been somewhat aggressive, but the Primary Universe Batman still couldn't sense the slightest questioning tone. Superman is always good at phrasing questioning sentences as if they are genuine concern and greetings. While someone else is the opposite.
"Why did you come at this time?" The slender figure standing by the window turned back, looking at the Primary Universe Batman shaking off the rain from his cape at the door, "How's the post-disaster repair going? Not too chaotic, right?"
"It's fine. A few people tried to cause trouble. The electronic life lost power a few times, but it's nothing major. Joker stopped an assassination by Penguin Man's subordinates, saving his life. The higher-ups haven't fallen into chaos yet. How about you, Doctor?"
"Not bad. Nemocine is asleep, I'm confirming next week's appointments." Shiller walked to the sofa and sat down, not even raising his head, "You came to me so late, you must have encountered some trouble."
"Doctor, let's skip the part where you pretend not to do Mind Reading Technique and directly talk about your opinion."
Shiller sighed softly, closed the phone directory, glanced at the Primary Universe Batman's eyes, shook his head, and said, "I really can't solve this. Wait for the next person who comes to you."
"Why?"
"Don't feign ignorance." Shiller looked at him and said, "Even if you don't admit you are Bruce Wayne, you are him. You own the property of his social identity, so you're a big capitalist. Any justice-minded person thinking of the poor is a Damocles sword above your head, including Superman."
"As Batman, no matter how much money you spend on your equipment and then go help the poor and fight crime, it won't help you avoid judgment because your money gives you choices whereas not having money gives the poor no choice. When they have choices, you don't. It's a basic law of society."
"If you were a fool, I might try to concoct a set of hypocritical social rules to comfort you. But you're too smart for that; I can't craft lies that would completely fool you. So this kind of therapy is meaningless."
"The brilliance of a good psychiatrist isn't in telling you what you can avoid but in telling you what you must bear without causing you to break down. These are clearly the burdens you must bear."
"Aren't you worried I'll break down?"
"You won't. These are things you've already thought through; it's just that judgment day existed only in your imagination before, but today you're seeing reality. And you aren't really saddened by your own fate; you just don't want the Judge to be Superman."
"He wouldn't do such a thing," said the Primary Universe Batman, "and I can't force him to even if I'm willing."
"You always underestimate him. I'm not saying he could just do such a thing now, but rather you seem utterly unable to imagine that he could refuse you for a very legitimate reason. Can you?"
The Primary Universe Batman opened his mouth and said, "But he didn't refuse him."
"I'm not really capable of Mind Reading; at least tell me who are these two people."
"Injustice League."
Shiller paused for a moment before continuing, "What you envisioned is that on the day you face judgment, you hand everything over willingly, even though such a terrifying end, you'd accept it. Then you convinced Superman not to stop it all. But did you ever think, what if he persuaded you instead?"
"How would he persuade me?"
"Indeed, you think all this is just. If such a day truly comes, you might indeed not resist, provided the other party can bring happiness to the vast majority of people worldwide; you wouldn't mind even if you were locked up as a supercomputer. But all this, in Superman's view, might be wrong. Once he's firm on this, he could surely persuade you."
The Primary Universe Batman clearly did not believe it; he said, "But this is right. What's wrong with it? If someone can bring about a fairer distribution method for the world and has the ability to ensure it is fully implemented, then they can indeed bring happiness to most humans on Earth. Isn't that Superman's ultimate goal?"
"In theory, yes. But is Superman someone selfishly seeking profit?"
"Even if he's not, he can't say this is wrong. Hence, he can't persuade me."
Shiller smiled without speaking. The Primary Universe Batman rare felt a slight tension and said, "You have such faith in him?"
"Go on." Shiller pointed to the door and said, "As I said, regarding this issue, psychological treatment is useless. You might as well spend the time moving a few more sandbags at the dock."
Walking down the road with the Main Universe Superman, the Primary Universe Batman snapped back to reality. He shook his head and said, "I'm glad you are back. Nothing to be disappointed about."
"You look like you have something to say."
The Primary Universe Batman stopped walking, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "What would you do if one day I became like that?"
"Of course, I would save you."
"What if I deserved it?"
"Why would you deserve it?"
"Don't you think Bruce Wayne deserves it?"
The Main Universe Superman shook his head.
"Then, what role should Wayne Enterprises play in a fair society? Continue to stand high above?"
"Of course not. If we followed his taxation method, Wayne Enterprises would quickly go bankrupt. You might become a pauper."
"I mean," said the Primary Universe Batman, looking into the Main Universe Superman's eyes, "don't you think Bruce Wayne should pay for the past injustices?"
"Who knows," Superman sighed, "I know I can't really say things like 'it's not your sole fault,' nor can I say 'societal responsibility can't be placed on you alone,' because many times you do have choices. You enjoy more wealth; naturally, you bear more responsibility. What you personally give to the poor can never match what Wayne Enterprises takes from them. It's a guilt that can't be redeemed. Therefore, you think if there really were a judgment day, any punishment you receive would be deserved—for not saving more, for not saving everyone."
"But you got one thing wrong. If a judgment day really comes, it wouldn't be just one person judging you. If that person were me, I'd give up; if it were someone else, I'd stop them. Because that's not fair."
"Why?"
"Even if I've brought happiness to everyone, I can't claim to represent the will of the people. If someone believes they've done the right thing and thus grants themselves endless power to represent others, they're not a hero but a tyrant."
"That's the issue with your self-sacrifice. If you think that's correct, and thereby grant yourself the power to represent people's will, believing everyone wishes to see you reach such an end, that's arrogant, that's wrong. Of course, I'd stop you."
"Why wouldn't they want to see me reach such an end?"
"Because it's not normal; it's cruel." The Main Universe Superman looked at him as if he were an idiot, saying, "You might go bankrupt and become a pauper, even heavily in debt or serve time in prison, but becoming a brain soaked in a vat? Come on, that's inhumane!"
"Batman, your arrogance lies in your apparent refusal to believe that normal people are the majority in this world. Do you really think that if a judgment day comes and a global referendum were held, everyone would vote to put you in a formaldehyde jar just because you were once rich?"
"...Wouldn't they?"
"Haha." The Main Universe Superman sounded as though he'd heard an absurd joke and said, "If I listed two options: one being putting Bruce Wayne in a formaldehyde jar, the other letting Bruce Wayne immediately fly to their home and give them a kiss, do you believe that 90% of people worldwide would choose the latter?"
"Why?"
"Because you're good-looking. They would want a kiss from a handsome guy, rather than a body specimen that has nothing to do with them."
"But my brain…"
"Not everyone has a brain. Most humans in this world would usually choose the latter between the brain and their lower half, because they love themselves more, know better how to indulge, and are more selfish."
"And because of that, they are kinder than you imagine, as they're more emotional, more willing to consider whether putting someone in formaldehyde is too cruel, and whether the person pushing this could one day apply the same to them."
"Do you know why the Superman of the Injustice League doesn't dare to announce to the world his brain control of Batman? Because he knows most people wouldn't agree and would call him a perverted madman. It's not that he can't, but he doesn't dare."
"So, you can voluntarily let Wayne Enterprises go bankrupt, or accept without resistance that tax laws redistribute your wealth, but don't voluntarily offer your brain as a communal computer. And I stop such inhumane acts not because I'm unwilling to strive for a fair society, but because it's abnormal. Understand?"
The Primary Universe Batman suddenly realized, Shiller was right again. Because Superman truly persuaded him.
"You have a superpower," the Primary Universe Batman said, "the superpower to remain normal at all times."
"That's not a superpower." The Main Universe Superman looked very helpless and said, "Being able to remain normal at all times is because I'm a normal person. It's not something that takes effort to do."
"Well, it's a superpower."
"It's not!"
"It is."
"Why?"
"Because I'm Batman."