Gotham City, Wayne Manor.

  “So, there really isn’t anything like… pig up power shards, making a big se to gain shock value, or those all-enpassing system shops?”

  Reid, holding a cup of tea brewed with Alfred’s vast knowledge, was arguing with his absurd system.

  “System, you o uand, as a system, you should strive for improvement too. Even if it’s not for me, don’t you want to stand tall in front of other systems? Shouldn’t you help me out?”

  “Think about it—if one day you meet your fellow systems, and all their hosts are out there holding the sun and moon, plug the stars, having saved tless lives... Meanwhile, your host is still rolling around in the sewers of Gotham City. How embarrassing would that be?”

  ......

  But no matter how much Reid pihe system remained silent, though Reid himself seemed to be enjoying the versation.

  After all, the secrets of traveliween worlds and the system could never be shared with ahe only one who could talk to him freely was this system.

  ‘It’s just that the system’s voice is kind of hard to listen to. Why ’t it have a cute loli voice?’

  Reid thought to himself, but just then, the system suddenly spoke.

  [Host, I’m truly sorry my voice isn’t the cute loli one you wanted.]

  “Ah? You heard that, system? Well, how about giving me a new role card then...?”

  Reid looked expetly at the system panel that suddenly appeared in front of him, but the response he received was still disappointing.

  [Sorry, host. I don’t have fellow systems, and I don’t feel inferior to them. The system rules are what they are. Once you’ve pleted Alfred’s role mission, new cards will be unlocked naturally.]

  “Eh… stubborn as always…”

  Reid sighed, deg not to press the issue any further. Just then, the sound of helicopter bdes buzzing outside Wayne Manor caught his attention.

  “Oh, guests are here.”

  Reid quickly activated Alfred’s role-py card, transf from a handsome young man with blonde hair bato a dignified English gentleman in his seventies.

  With a wave of his hand, he gracefully but swiftly opehe grand doors of Wayne Manor.

  Standing at the entrance, with a broad smile on his face, was Tony Stark, one hand holding out the tea cup he had previously taken.

  “Thank you, Alfred, for the tea. It’s helped me uand a lot.”

  Behind Tony, a Wayne family vehicle was being lowered by a helicopter.

  It was clear that Tony had alsht back the car that had almost beeroyed by the Winter Soldier and had it repaired.

  Reid o himself in satisfa. His pn was going smoothly. It seemed Tony had mao recile with the other party before Howard could intervene.

  Tony Stark, iing Howard’s teology at just 21—Reid couldn’t even imagine what the world would be like when the Hulk appeared in 2008.

  "Would you like to e in for a chat, Mr. Stark?"

  Although it seemed that Tony had no iion of ing in, Reid, still pying the role of Alfred, politely asked.

  "No, I have urgent matters to attend to," Tony replied. "However, the date for my mother's funeral has bee. Alfred, you must e. And..."

  Tony paused, looking around the grand Wayne Manor.

  "If you wish, Alfred, I help you with any troubles within my power. Just say the word."

  ......

  After expressing his thanks, Tony didn’t linger, reb the helicopter to leave Gotham City.

  Back at Wayne Manor, Reid received what was, for now, his best prize: Tony’s voluntary help.

  “The listing of Wayerprises is iable. Everyone w within Wayerprises will not allow the pany to tio dee. So, the focus isn't on Earle, it’s on Wayerprises' downfall.”

  Upourning to the manor, Reid began s through the current intelligence.

  “The internal forces in Gotham City ’t be used, except for the Fale family. The current head of the family was once saved by Thomas Wayne, so they’re willing to help the Wayne family resist other external forces. As for the other families, even Martha’s side of the family, they’re all eager to see Wayerprises fall so they take over.”

  “Therefore, bringing in outside forces is the only choiow, the external forces have been secured. With Wayerprises partnering with Stark Industries, the twest ons glomerates in America joining forces will be both sides and prevent Wayne Enterprises from tinuing its dee.”

  The pn had already made signifit progress. With Tony's support and Alfred's line of unication, Tony would no longer eain thoughts of abs Wayerprises. And with Howard still alive, as long as they reached a partnership, Wayerprises would be stable for the few years.

  "However, this doesn't mean..." Reid muttered to himself. "Other people just be ignored."

  Previously, Earle wasn’t the primary obstacle to Wayerprises, but now that the main obstacle had bee with, Earle’s influence was being more apparent.

  Earle held siderable sway within Wayerprises, and Alfred’s role as a mere butler had no real deaking power within the pany. Even with the Stark family bag him, it wasn’t enough.

  Earle and his followers wouldn’t abandon the idea of listing the pany just because of the Stark partnership. On the trary, as Wayerprises thrived, they would be even more determio pursue the listing.

  "To vihem to abandon the idea of listing Wayerprises, ventional methods won't work."

  Alfred’s position on paper was still just that of a butler. No one would take him seriously, especially given the current situation where the Wayne family heir had disappeared. Alfred had no real standing in Gotham.

  Reid leaned bato the soft chair, not realizing when a deck of pying cards had appeared in his hand. As the packaging ehe cards fell one by oo the flradually, only the final card remained in his hand—the Joker card, the trump card of the 54-card deck.

  With a thoughtful expression, Reid stood up and walked toward the bookshelf, revealing a secret passage to the manor’s basement. The Batcave hadn't been formed yet, but if there was something to be dohis hidden pce was the perfect location.

  'Earle and his followers will never give up on listing Wayerprises...'

  Reid removed his bck suit and white gloves, walking over to a basin filled with a white liquid.

  'Gotham won’t care about an ordinary butler...'

  Reid submerged his head into the white liquid. When he lifted it again, his face had turned a ghostly pale.

  **

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