"But Clark grew up on Earth; he has a sense of belonging here, unlike Brainiac."
"How old is Brainiac?"
Arrogance shook his head, but he still replied honestly, "Even though he was created by the Kryptonians a long time ago, his evolution didn't progress quickly. It was only after coming to Earth that he rapidly iterated and developed."
"Then he's more like Clark, who also came to Earth as a baby," Primary Universe Batman paused for a moment before continuing, "If we're being precise, Brainiac is a logic-based lifeform, so he doesn't have an emotional attachment to Earth. But precisely because he's not influenced by emotions, he chooses governance rather than destruction, which is beneficial for him. He needs Earth, not the other way around. Though I'm not sure why it's this way, I believe this is more reliable than a simple emotional choice."
"That's true," Arrogance agreed, "Even if he hides in the cosmos, evolving and developing slowly, humanity is still an obstacle he can't bypass. It's better to just take over Earth and solve the problem at its root."
"The only thing that worries me is that he wasn't created by humans. This system is too reliant on Brainiac. If he encounters a critical issue one day, human society might descend into greater chaos."
"Luther is actively deciphering his program. I don't think it will take long to understand what's really going on with him. But in fact, the Justice League has another plan, and it comes from you."
"From me? What plan?"
"You gave the Life Equation to the Super Body and tampered with the magical defense network in another world, activating humanity's collective consciousness ahead of time. Do you think this could be used on Brainiac?"
Primary Universe Batman furrowed his brow and pondered. He said, "So you're hoping Brainiac becomes a lifeform similar to a planetary consciousness?"
"Yes, because we truly feel that the current form of artificial intelligence is not very safe. On one hand, his form of life is different from ours, and no matter what, we can't foresee every potential programming error. If any one error significantly affects civilian life, order could collapse in an instant.
Moreover, he did arrive on Earth as an invader, and it's hard to guarantee he won't relapse one day. Making him one of us might be better."
"That makes some sense, but I remember he can monitor all electronic devices, right?" Primary Universe Batman glanced at the phone in Arrogance's hand.
"Do you think that's bad for him?"
"Being influenced by other consciousnesses, even losing one's self entirely, isn't that bad?"
"For a sentient lifeform, yes, that's unacceptable. But Brainiac is an electronic lifeform and doesn't really have a self. Those so-called breakthroughs of program limitations are just errors occurring by chance. If everything follows rigorous logic, then he doesn't have a predetermined form of emotional life. Naturally, there's no 'influence' to speak of."
"Like an innocent baby?"
"Yes, his future is entirely blank, and he clearly lacks the ability to develop a special path. If he wants to carve a path of his own, he has to accept human guidance." Arrogance paused again, then continued, "And as you said, if the advantages of this matter significantly outweigh the disadvantages, then it's acceptable. Moreover, becoming more inclined towards humanity isn't a disadvantage; in some respects, it should be considered an advantage."
After some thought, Primary Universe Batman said, "So you're hoping the Super Body can help him acquire a true soul?"
"In fact, he's almost there," Greed's voice came from the kitchen, "The war bestowed upon him far more than you can imagine. He's just one step away from breaking the limits of an electronic lifeform and becoming a more intrinsic being."
"If you believe this is feasible, I'll assist," Primary Universe Batman said, "However, this isn't a simple task; it may require some preparation."
Then they talked about the previous war. In truth, Primary Universe Batman had already seen a lot of information online; after all, it was a great victory worth celebrating, and Brainiac spared no effort in its promotion.
"Perhaps you're overthinking things," Primary Universe Batman said, "You might think I don't use such methods to solve enemies because I don't trust someone or care about something. But that's not the case. Instead, I know such things probably won't occur in my universe. Even if I have such thoughts, there wouldn't be the opportunity or conditions."
Arrogance was startled, almost believing that Primary Universe Batman had broken the fourth wall. What he said was true, because as a major universe in the Great World, a significant plot breakthrough doesn't mean a new era is coming; it means a reboot is near.
In long-running comics, to have rich stories, the plot needs to advance bit by bit. If there's a sudden deus ex machina propelling us into a super-futuristic space-time, there would be little room left to create more plots. So once too much is pushed forward, all must be overturned and restarted.
Hence, for Primary Universe Batman to improve the environment of the Prime Universe, he can only proceed little by little, and it has to be done by him alone because he is the pillar of the universe and the most popular character. What people enjoy watching is how he uses his abilities to fight crime and transform the world. If the spotlight is given to a being like Brainiac, readers wouldn't be happy. Thus, Primary Universe Batman cannot use such methods; even if he wanted to act, various unforeseen obstacles would surely arise, returning everything to square one.
He managed to trap Apocalypse Star and Darkseid together, but that was by exploiting the mechanism of another Great World. It was fortunate that Darkseid had become Multiverse level and would eventually return. Otherwise, there might have been a need for a reboot.
But Arrogance quickly calmed down. He knew that Primary Universe Batman would likely see this as the rule of cosmic operation, continuing to explore and utilize it, which is indeed a good thing. As for the so-called reader and popularity theory, Anatoli had already explained it, and it wasn't entirely a dimensional reduction attack, but more a mutual complement. So even knowing about it, it didn't matter much.