Natasha wore a silk blouse with a half-high collar, paired with a dark pencil skirt and wedge shoes. Her red hair was pinned up with a pearl hairpin, and a few strands fell on her shoulder. She held a file bag in one hand and adjusted her glasses with the other, knocking on the door of the President's Office.
"The results are quite pleasing, Mr. President," Natasha said with a smile. "The test flight of the newly equipped sky carrier went well. The ceremony process of each country went smoothly. Most countries behaved, and those who tried any tricks were taken care of by us."
Standing by the window, Arkham Batman turned around and his eyes glinted with admiration as he saw Natasha's attire. Then he walked forward and took the file from Natasha's hand.
"There's another thing: The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that their coffee machine is too outdated and they want to apply for funds to get the latest model of an Italian coffee machine."
"Such trivial matters are worth bringing to me?" Arkham Batman raised an eyebrow, looking at the file, and said, "Just let them report it themselves; how much can a coffee machine cost?"
"If the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation were still Shiller, then it wouldn't cost much because he usually only drinks the fastest brew. But now the director has become Shiller, and he needs a new type of coffee machine with 249 flavors. The overall budget for the experiment to implementation is about 5 billion dollars."
Arkham Batman nearly spit out his coffee. There were too many points worth questioning in this statement, he didn't know where to start. After his brain froze for a moment, he picked the least important question: "Why 249 flavors?"
"Because American coffee isn't included; he hates the taste of dishwater."
Arkham Batman opened his mouth, finally regaining his thoughts, and then said: "What do you mean the FBI director went from Shiller to Shiller?"
"Literally. Since they deny being different people, I can only use the same name to refer to them. In fact, it went from 'agent' to 'Greed'."
"Greed?" Arkham Batman frowned.
"It's the 'Shiller' of my universe, all the legends about Shiller you've heard in Battleworld were concocted by him." Natasha shrugged and said, "'The agent' went to my universe to investigate Ultron's origin, so he was called to take the position."
"I know who he is," Arkham Batman said, "He's the one who got me into the presidency; I still owe him a lot of money. But this time, I'm not hiring him; surely I don't have to pay his salary?"
"Of course not."
Arkham Batman barely relaxed before Natasha said: "No one needs to pay him a salary because he will take what he wants himself — coffee machine?"
"5 billion is too much," Arkham Batman said, "I can give him a maximum of 1 billion, and he has to include American coffee, I love that."
"Then he'll ask you for 10 billion, Mr. President," Natasha shook her head and said, "And, of course, if you don't give it to him, he'll find ways to get it himself."
"What can he do? Most of the taxes have been drained by Nick, and next year's military budget will be reduced due to the fiscal deficit. Money is simply absent; no one can do anything."
"Then you've underestimated him, Mr. President. Greed is like an insatiable beast; if you don't feed it, it will inevitably bite somewhere else…"
At this point, the dedicated line phone rang. As Arkham Batman picked it up, his expression changed.
"What? Amazon? He went to Amazon… the Queen gave him? And Wonder Woman… tourism agreement? Okay, I understand. I'll handle it."
After hanging up the phone, Arkham Batman sighed deeply and said to Natasha: "He went to Amazon to persuade the Amazon Queen, utilizing the key he held to open visits to Mount Olympus, and helped them sign visa-free tourism agreements with Asian countries, at the same time securing a huge consultation fee."
Natasha couldn't help but laugh, covering her mouth with a fist, "That's certainly a huge profit, who doesn't want to see where the gods once lived?"
"He even successfully persuaded Wonder Woman to hold back the enraged War God, half enticing, half forcing him to stand at the entrance of Mount Olympus and sell tickets. In less than three days, they earned 200 million, clearing the previous scandals of Amazon. If this continues, Diana will have to become sworn sisters with him."
"So, are you going to approve the funding?"
"Forget it," Arkham Batman said, "He's so capable, let him earn it himself, I'm genuinely out of money."
Natasha smiled again and said, "Let him earn the money isn't without its costs. I hope you can remain so relaxed when the time comes."
Before he could finish speaking, Superman rushed in angrily, shouting at Arkham Batman: "Batman! How could you do this to me?!"
Arkham Batman paused, looked at him, and said: "What did I do to you?"
"How could you instruct Moon Knight and Green Lantern to take the Green Lantern Corps to haul away and sell Krypton's debris?! That's my home! How could you do this?!"
"Cough cough cough…" Arkham Batman was choked.
Before he could explain, a figure walked in. Shiller smiled at Arkham Batman and then said: "Sorry, Mr. Kent, you left in such a hurry, I didn't get a chance to tell you. The cosmos recycling plan for waste star planets is the recent task of the Green Lantern Corps, and Krypton is included in the list. I'm very sorry. I negotiated with them and actively secured 60% of Krypton's recycling funds for you, plus 20% of cosmic universal funds converted to Earth funds as compensation. Could I have your bank account number?"
A cascade of financial terms left Superman slightly dizzy, he said: "So, why are you doing this?"
"To preserve the cosmic environment. Too many abandoned planets block space routes and could become hiding places for all kinds of cosmic criminals and interstellar pirates. Especially some once advanced interstellar civilizations, once turned into pirate bases, will pose a great obstacle to cosmic police like Green Lantern, and be detrimental to cosmic peace. So, upon my suggestion, the Green Lantern Corps initiated the 'Innovative Civilization Sector' action. Your home planet Krypton is also within the realm of recycling and cleanup, which unfortunately must be cleared."
Upon hearing that it might endanger cosmic safety, Superman was somewhat hesitant. Shiller continued: "Whether you accept this recycling fund or not, the planet will certainly be cleaned. However, if you accept it, perhaps you can invest this money in space, and if Earth enters the interstellar era in the future, this fund can also help the human race through the impoverished pioneering period."
Superman immediately caught his meaning and said, "Is that a lot of money?"
"Of course. Although your home planet is already very dilapidated, the Kryptonian civilization back then was very advanced. Even just preserving less than one-tenth of the machines would attract many primitive civilizations eager to spend a big sum to buy them for research. Initially estimated, the recycling funds you can get will be around 6 billion Universal Coins— the market price for an ordinary small spaceship is about 2 million Universal Coins."
Superman gasped. Then he asked, "You said some of it could be exchanged for Earth funds, what is that?"
"Because you are currently recognized as the only official Kryptonian resident. The previous was relocation compensation, and the latter is a living allowance to compensate for the loss of not having a home planet to return to. According to regulations, those with a new home can convert this part of the funds into the local currency."
"Approximately how much money?"
"Around 5 billion US dollars."
Superman staggered for a moment.
"However, to prevent local currency inflation, we will also negotiate with the authorities to convert these funds into materials or commercial subsidies. Currently, considering partial tax exemption, agricultural equipment subsidies, and farm product sales subsidies for Kent Farm, totaling 5 billion US dollars. So you don't have to worry about the origin of this money."
"Wait a minute," Arkham Batman reached out and said, "negotiating with the authorities? Isn't Kansas State in America?"
"Of course it is. At 3 AM last night, Congress urgently passed the subsidy application, and the National Security Agency has already contacted the Department of Agriculture and the IRS to ensure that the subsidies are in place and will not affect national security."
"So I'm this president who knows nothing?"
"No, I've already submitted the subsidy application for replacing the coffee machine at the FBI to you."
"Exactly 5 billion?"
"Yes, but it has absolutely nothing to do with the subsidies for Kent Farm, just coincidentally the same figure."
"I only have one question," Arkham Batman said, "The fiscal deficit is already very serious, how can I approve it for you?"
"If you are referring to the recently submitted fiscal condition report from the Treasury, then there is no need to worry. The Minister of National Security, in consideration of national security, has guided the Treasury to make some macroeconomic adjustments to the fiscal condition report."
Arkham Batman paused, "Are you saying the report is fake?"
"It's real, just with some macroeconomic... adjustments."
"Alright, I get it. So it's not that there's no money now, but even if I calculate it myself, the money is almost exhausted..."
"You don't need to worry about this, you just need to sign."
Arkham Batman sighed and said, "Ever since Nick Fury came, I can't even figure out if I have money or not anymore."
"That's exactly his role," Shiller said with a smile, "For someone as smart as you, if you have money, you will definitely try to use it in the most meaningful place. But if we want to use the money, we have to keep you unclear whether you actually have money or not."
"So what do you plan to do with the money?"
"Earn more money."
"How to earn?"
"Engage in some macroeconomic adjustments."
"Then you tell me first, what does macroeconomic mean..."
Arkham Batman had barely finished speaking when he heard a "click" from the window behind him. He turned his head, two Batman darts flew from his hand, and two plumes of black smoke vanished in an instant.
"Ninjas from the Assassin's Union," Shiller said, "Superman."
Without needing him to say, Superman turned his head to look at a spot next door. Arkham Batman was just about to press the security button when he heard a voice from behind him, "Don't be too agitated, Mr. President."
An Asian woman with long, black hair walked in from the windowsill. Arkham Batman squinted his eyes, recognizing her—although he had never met her, he had heard of this woman's great fame in other universes—the mother of Batman's only son Damian, the daughter of the Assassin's Union leader Leixiao Gu, Talya Ogu.
"Hello, Ma'am." Arkham Batman didn't panic at all. As far as he knew, Talya must have used some tricks to have Damian, and now that he was prepared, he certainly wouldn't fall for it.
Yet in the next second, Talya's words hit Arkham Batman like a heavy blow, leaving him dumbfounded:
"Giving high-interest loans to the Assassin's Union, Mr. President, you're more impressive than I imagined."