Bruce Wayne is a selfless man. Compared to proclaiming justice, personal feelings don't matter much.
He still doesn't like Atreus. After all, there's nothing about this illegitimate child that makes him likable.
On the other hand, Bruce has to admit that the kid did a great job.
Unmanned and autonomous control technology has always been a shortcoming of Wayne Enterprises. While Iron Man already has his own AI, J.A.R.V.I.S., most of Wayne Enterprises' products still rely on manual control.
In fact, during the last incident with the nuclear fusion reactor, if Iron Man hadn't stepped in to throw it out of Gotham, it would have been Batman testing his newly installed autopilot technology.
Bruce was prepared—if the autopilot program failed, he'd sacrifice himself to throw the reactor out of Gotham.
With this fully autonomous mech, combined with the program, it's hard to say if they'll catch up to Iron Man in the field of AI, but at least they'll close the gap.
This gift was something Bruce couldn't refuse, whether for personal or professional reasons.
However...
Bruce still didn't like Atreus.
This little punk clearly has a "flexible moral compass." From the Osborne incident, to the chaos at Wayne Enterprises, and just now with Hammer Industries—each time Atreus saved innocent civilians from villains, Bruce saw it all.
Sure, Atreus's actions were all good deeds, but Bruce can't stand that this little bastard knew the other party had problems and still went to short their stocks. Yes, he dealt with the villains, but he also drained the blood of shareholders and investors, fattening his own pockets.
Bruce doesn't deny that he used to be driven by money—after all, wealth can grant you a lot of power—but Atreus's methods have tainted what should have been a righteous cause with the disgusting stench of greed.
This kind of "justice" was unacceptable to Bruce.
Looking at the slightly smug Atreus, Bruce coldly warned in a low voice, "If I ever catch you committing a crime, Batman will be your enemy."
Catch me?
Well, then don't get caught.
Atreus shrugged indifferently. "Come on, old man. You can't beat me, and I have no interest in inheriting your mantle as Batman."
Bruce would never know about the joke that you have to lose your parents to become Batman.
Thinking of Kratos or the newly emerged so-called "mysterious white mech," Bruce's face darkened even further. He knew this little punk had gotten stronger again.
As Atreus walked out humming a tune, he ran into the old butler, Alfred.
"Good day, Master Atreus."
"Good afternoon, Alfred," Atreus smiled and greeted the old butler. "Oh, right. I made some extra money recently. If you need anything, I can send some over."
The old butler immediately knew it was Hammer's money. He smiled politely, "Even if that money might be used against you?"
"So what? Your master will never know what other cards I have or what my limits are. Even if he becomes my enemy, what can he do with outdated intel and garbage tech against me?"
The old butler wasn't upset. He bowed slightly, "At the very least, young master, you have inherited your father's generosity and kindness."
Atreus just smiled, said nothing, and left with ease.
As the old butler watched Atreus's vehicle disappear into the distance, he sighed, "The kid's still filial!"
"Is he?" Bruce appeared next to the old butler like a ghost.
"A father who raised a child without love, without care. And yet, the child not only didn't seek revenge but saved his father's business. Even as an outsider, I find the kid impeccable. As for his rebellion... there's an old saying: 'If the son is uneducated, it's the father's fault.'"
Bruce was left speechless.
So after all this fuss about Atreus, it turns out it's still my fault?
Thinking about it... yeah, that might be the case.
Bruce Wayne regretted it deeply. If only he'd been more careful back then, all this mess wouldn't have happened.
On the other side, as Atreus left and looked back at Wayne Manor, he felt no sense of belonging.
Bruce had misjudged him. If the time ever came, Atreus definitely wouldn't become a "father killer." But... without his wealth, would Batman still be Batman?
Atreus made up his mind—to test the limits of Bruce's tolerance, and keep dancing right on the edge.
What Atreus didn't know was that his latest creation—a so-called Gundam mech—had caused chaos at S.H.I.E.L.D.
Nick Fury had planned to send agents to visit Atreus's home, but after receiving orders from higher-ups, he had to mobilize a large team to investigate every possible enterprise in the country.
Congress loved playing military bids during budget approvals. Of course, they hoped a military contractor would step up and claim responsibility, going toe-to-toe with Stark Industries, a company they didn't like.
But after days of waiting and hinting at several "suspects," including Wayne Enterprises, they got nothing.
Now both Congress and the Department of Defense were panicking.
This mech, which could potentially become a mass-produced industrial product—whether manned or unmanned—might become a threat to the country or even the world.
After the big military contractors, like Wayne Enterprises, had intentionally or unintentionally denied involvement, the Department of Defense grudgingly threw money at Tony Stark, asking him to develop more War Machines.
No one expected that the real culprit, Mr. Atreus, wasn't, as those paranoid government officials thought, planning to overthrow the country. Instead, he was busy researching Helen's situation.
"Atreus... Lord Atreus, do you really want me to try this?" Helen still held onto some hope.
"Of course!" Atreus commanded firmly.
Helen had no choice. She gritted her teeth and stepped into the same Gundam-inspired metal suit.
The pink metal shell emitted a faint celebratory aura amidst its coldness.
The mech was modeled after the Aegis Gundam Rouge.
Due to the rush, it didn't even have flight capabilities. According to system evaluations, it was merely an exoskeleton system that provided a 20-point strength boost and 50 points of armor.
This was partly Atreus's sense of humor and partly his anxiety.
He kept thinking—what if a zombie apocalypse broke out in this world? At least his loved ones would have some protection. And that's why he kept pestering Tony to make new mech suits for Helen and the Black-and-White Canary.
But just as Helen was putting on the mech suit, Atreus looked at the brand-new version of Gundam Girl, and suddenly, his DNA activated.
Then, he remembered a famous quote from a certain "emergency food" named Paimon: "It doesn't fit! No matter how you think about it, it just doesn't fit!"
Damn it! I hate Athena!