Chapter 19: The Old Fox Who Plucked His Feathers
Bruce and Luther's business negotiations ended smoothly the next day, and Bruce will return to Gotham to conclude his business trip after another press conference on the third day.
As a reporter, Clark naturally followed Bruce, one of the protagonists of this time, throughout the process. Dick takes Jason to Superman Plaza in the Met, this time buying Jason a Superman ice cream and insisting that he try it. Looking at the tri-color ice cream, Jason finally stuffed a spoonful into his mouth under Dick's expectant gaze, a little cold, but it did taste good, Jason thought as he ate, although he hadn't eaten much ice cream.
"I still don't understand, why do you think Luthor has to find Bruce?"
Jason shoved another scoop of ice cream into his mouth and asked the man next to him who was eating Superman's poop candy.
"What's wrong?"
"No matter how you look at this deal, it's a bit of a loss, he's already invested so much"
Jason doesn't understand business things, but he knows at least one of the most basic truths, which is that a profitable business is a successful business.
From the mouths of Dick or Alfred or even Clark, Jason also has a rough idea of the ins and outs of the deal.
Luthor had been talking to Bruce about the collaboration two years earlier, but Bruce hadn't agreed. Although Bruce did not agree, Luthor started the project, and it is said that he had persuaded the president to obtain a national investment. Then the question arises, now in addition to state investment in this project, the largest shareholder is him, why does he still pull Bruce? If Wayne Enterprises were involved, wouldn't he get less profit?
"Oh, I don't know much about that, but according to Bruce, Luthor wants to dilute the share of the national investment so as to ensure that the project ultimately belongs to him, so he pulls Bruce in, after all, there are not many companies that can dilute the share of the national investment on a large scale...."
",,, don't understand"
"Don't think about it, neither of us is business material"
Sometimes Dick finds it easier to deal with the criminals in Gotham than it is to deal with them in business.
When he first became Bruce's adopted son, Lucius really wanted to give him a position in Wayne Enterprise, so that he could take over Wayne Enterprise in the future. It's just a nice statement, but Lucius is just looking for someone who can take it out when Bruce skips work.
But it was terrifying, and Dick really didn't know how Bruce managed Wayne Enterprises while playing Gotham Baby and making sure to fight criminals at night. Although it was rumored that the entire Wayne Enterprise relied on Lucius, Dick knew quite well that Bruce was not an embroidered pillow.
In a sense, Lucius and Alfred are the same position, except that Alfred is in charge of the part of Bruce's life, and Lucius is in charge of Wayne Enterprises, but it is always Bruce who makes the final decision, and he is the real owner of Wayne's Enterprises.
"Bruce is also strange that Luthor's offer sounds like he is only responsible for paying for it"
Jason shoved another sip of ice cream into his mouth and raised another question, this cooperation didn't seem to be good for Bruce either, in the eyes of a layman, Luthor made it clear that he wanted Bruce to pay for it, and then do nothing, and most importantly, it was better not to share the profits, he could hear that Bruce couldn't not hear it.
"Bruce just made a rough decision to make sure that the project was going to start, and the rest was Lucius's task"
"But didn't Bruce say yes?"
"Hmm... I estimate that it won't be long before Lucius will catch you to go to the company for an internship, so you will know after you go, although some words are composed of the same words, but in another way or in the order of speaking, it is completely two concepts, Lucius will not let Wayne Enterprise suffer, otherwise you think that according to Bruce's method of scattering money, why has Wayne Enterprise not gone bankrupt until now"
"He's amazing?"
Jason hasn't seen this Lucius yet, but I've heard that all of Batman's equipment comes from this genius, and he is also the current executive of Wayne Enterprises, which can almost be said to be the soul of the entire enterprise. I heard that he was originally just a scientific researcher in Wayne's corporate technology department, but Bruce discovered his business talent, and then promoted him directly to management at a young age, and it didn't take long for him to be promoted to president.
"Well, it's super powerful, it's impossible to do business with him without being peeled, that old fox who has plucked his feathers"
Dick smiled secretly as he imagined Lex Luthor's deflated expression.
"Can you throw that guy in jail after this case is over?"
Jason asked as if he had thought of something.
“.... Well, it's hard to say, that guy Luthor is also an old fox, he has set up Clark a lot, although his personality is very rigid and conceited, but he is really smart, and he can run away with the law in the end of several crimes, not to mention those things that can't catch him at all. ”
Dick scratched his head a little hard, Lex. Luthor has an inexplicable hatred for Superman, and it can't be said that it's inexplicable, Superman does spoil him a lot of good things. But that guy was able to take advantage of the legal loophole every time, and it did make Dick have to admire it a little.
"Who is smarter, him or Bruce?"
Jason asked, curiously.
“... To be honest, they should be half a pound and eight taels, but they are good at different directions, it's like asking someone who is good at basketball or someone who is good at playing football who is better."
“... Can he find out who Bruce is? ”
Jason asked with some concern, Batman can easily see through people's identities, if Luthor is as smart as Bruce, then he and Batman will have an intersection in this incident, and it is hard to guarantee that he will not find something.
"Well, don't worry, didn't I say it, that guy has a very arrogant personality and is extremely arrogant. Don't look at Luthor looking good to Bruce on stage, in fact, Luthor looks down on Bruce very much in private. Wayne's, in his eyes, Bruce is a brainless rich generation who has inherited a huge fortune. He's not going to associate Bruce with Batman. And Bruce is also on guard, unless necessary, it's all Superman to deal with Luther"
"Young masters, Master Bruce's press conference has ended, we will leave for home soon, do you still want to stay in the metropolis for a few days?"
Soon a phone call from Alfred interrupted the two of them from their comfortable lunch break.
"Ah Fu, I won't follow the plane, I'll go back by myself"
Dick hurried back to Alfred's words.
"Okay, Master Dick, please be careful"
"Well, don't worry, take me to ask Bruce okay"
"Why don't you go back with you?"
After hanging up the phone, Jason asked curiously.
“.... Well.. How can I say it, after all, I ran out, and I feel like I go back..."
"Very inferior?!"
“... Can you please not say it. ”