American comics: From Hogwarts to God on Earth

"Are we just going to watch?" Rune asked from the high-rise building outside the courthouse, watching Wayne, dressed in tattered clothes, blend into the crowd.

"This is the young master's personal matter." Afu stood beside Rune, his face serious. "I only hope that the young master can make it to lunch today."

"Come on, you and I both know that Jill won't die at Bruce's hands." Rune had already spotted several guys who looked like assassins. Some had their hands behind their backs, while others had their hands in their pockets. However, they all looked serious and kept glancing around, as if they were looking for something.

If he hadn't been standing on a tall building, Rune wouldn't have realized that these guys were so conspicuous.

"He offended none other than Falcone. That man is currently the biggest mob boss in all of Gotham City," Rune said softly. "The monastery where I lived was spared from harassment by other gangs thanks to him."

"So what's your opinion of Falcone?"

"He has his own principles, but he's still a ruthless man at heart." Rune watched Jill being escorted out of the police car, walking step by step toward the courthouse entrance, step by step into hell.

"I thought you would praise his principles appropriately."

“No, Falcone is a complete scoundrel. He adheres to principles only because he has the means to do so.” Rune looked at Alfred. “But his men don’t. He supported the establishment of the monastery not out of charity, but to select troublemakers from it. The gang needs fresh blood, Alfred.”

"Like killing Jill, he had enough insiders within the police department. Jill should have died straight in jail, but he managed to get to the courthouse and will die here. This is Falcone's demonstration; he's asserting his status, telling the whole of Gotham that he's above the law."

Bang! Bang! Bang!—gunshots rang out, and Jill fell to the ground, dead, riddled with bullets. The shooter remained calm, offering no resistance to the police encirclement; he even dropped his gun and raised his hands. Unexpectedly, however, those previously suspicious individuals turned out to be police officers.

"I thought those unprofessional guys were gangsters' hitmen, but they turned out to be cops." Afu chuckled, then turned and left the rooftop. "At least the young master won't miss lunch today."

Inside Wayne Manor, Rune leisurely ate his steak. The steak was delicious, cooked to perfection, with a hint of smokiness, and simply seasoned with salt and butter. Of course, the most important thing was this piece of meat that cost a whopping $400.

If I had this with rice, I could eat three bowls. Rune thought to himself, trying to maintain his elegance. He didn't want to gorge himself like he hadn't eaten for three days, as that would damage his current image as a calm, wise, and powerful sorcerer.

But Bruce Wayne, standing to the other side, seemed rather sullen.

"What, you want to kill Jill with your own hands?" Rune asked.

“No, Rune.” Bruce shook his head, his knife and fork unconsciously cutting the poor steak. “I was just thinking, if I had fired that shot, what difference would I have made between me and that mob boss you’re talking about?”

He said with a worried look, "You're right, I am trying to be above the law."

“It’s different.” Rune said coldly, “You are a victim’s family member, Bruce. You killed him precisely because of the proverb, ‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’ You have more right to judge him than the so-called law. When the judge sentenced him to life imprisonment, did he ask your parents if they had forgiven him?”

Gotham's criminal law does not include the death penalty; the maximum sentence is life imprisonment, and generally, a person only serves about 20 years, with the possibility of a reduced sentence for good behavior. Therefore, in some different timelines, by the time Bruce becomes Batman and finds Jill, Jill has already left prison.

Rune wasn't just trying to comfort Bruce; he also hoped that future Batmen would abandon the so-called "no-kill principle." The Joker used this principle to nearly kill Jason Todd and paralyze Barbara Gordon from the waist down.

Bruce remained silent after hearing Rune's words, his head lowered as he cut the beef, his eyes vacant.

For the next three days, Rune spent his time practicing magic and practicing the Patronus Charm with Dumbledore, while Bruce was doing something else entirely.

However, on the morning of the fourth day, Bruce made a major decision.

"If I don't try to understand the people at the bottom, I'll never understand their decisions. I want to understand why they commit crimes, and I want to find a way to overcome my fears." Bruce looked at his butler. This wasn't the first time Alfred had opposed him, but it was definitely the most resolute one.

The argument was so loud it seemed to echo throughout the entire manor. Rune couldn't offer any advice; he knew he was about to witness the birth of a great hero. Of all the heroes, Bruce Wayne was the only one willing to willingly abandon everything to gain a deeper understanding of ordinary people's lives.

"At least take it with you, young master..." Ah Fu finally gave in.

Bruce dared not look directly at Alfred, fearing that the emotions in Alfred's eyes would bring him to tears. He fled the manor as if he were escaping, still wearing a fine suit.

"Young Master is only twelve years old..." Afu turned around and wiped away his tears. After the young master left, he could finally indulge himself a little.

Rune didn't know what to say. His heart was pounding, and he felt his blood boiling.

Why do people admire heroes?

Rune didn't know, but he suddenly realized that he had become accustomed to not believing in his own power, and accustomed to having someone who could step in and solve everyone's problems.

So why can't I be a hero?

Can I...can I become the hero that everyone trusts and supports?

But the scenes of heroes being betrayed in the comics flashed through his mind, and Rune's blood suddenly turned cold. "At least," he thought, "I can become someone the heroes can trust; I can do what they're not good at..."

A glint of light flashed in Rune's eyes. He could understand some villains, such as Lex Luthor and Poison Ivy, but what he couldn't tolerate were those who openly enjoyed the fruits of heroes' struggles and demanded that they continue to sacrifice, such as Amanda Waller in most universes.

What to do? Only kill!

Having found his purpose, Rune's heart stirred. He took out his wand and resolutely chanted the spell he had recited countless times before—

"Expecto Patronum!"

A whistling sound echoed through the manor from within the white mist…