HBWnovel Chapter 169: Public opinion matters
Chapter 169: Public opinion matters
Chapter 169: Public opinion matters
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"A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with their freedom."
– Bob Dylan, (Interview with Edna Gundersen)
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<{Bat Cave, Wayne Manor, Gotham}>
<(Bruce Wayne POV)>
"Local crime boss Tony Zucco goes into a permanent coma due to brain injury after falling off the roof of his house. Wife agrees to pull the plug on his life support on the very first day." Selina read aloud from the newspaper before taking a quick glance at my face with a questioning look.
"What? Haven't you heard? Karma is a bitch. He should have been prepared to be able to fly before messing with the trapeze ropes of the Flying Graysons. Fortunately for the performing couple, I was able to save them from death but unfortunately for Tony, it was too late for Batman to stop his fall... I guess anyone can make a mistake when it comes to calculating the right time to lock a grappling hook gun." I chuckled. "However, I have to say it was quite a surprise how quickly his wife decided to stop his life support. I guess she really wanted him dead." I shrugged as if the entire thing had nothing to do with me.
"Hmm Hm." She hummed with a knowing smile before moving on to a different newspaper article. "Bruce Wayne, the enigmatic billionaire of Gotham, emerges as a real-life superhero after a daring rescue of a circus troupe from a near-fatal accident, before generously donating a significant sum to the struggling circus." She read with a smile on her face. "I admit there is no one better than Vicki when it comes to painting you in a good light." She chuckled.
"She does what she can do best. That girl is a master at controlling public opinion. She has even learned how to manipulate other news agencies to follow her lead on her articles, thereby giving her the seal of genuineness she needs even when she doesn't have any solid basis for some particular news. In fact, I am more than confident that she will be able to beat Lois Lane this year and win the Pulitzer Prize." I nodded, agreeing to Selina's words.
Vicki was already one of the most famous prime-time news anchors in the country. However, her recent articles on Gotham were only solidifying her place as a brilliant editor and writer as well. A few more years and she could even start influencing the country's politics as well like the bigger news media giants.
"Hey tiger, since all these articles are more or less worshipping the very Earth you walk on, there has to be an article that criticizes you, right? I mean you should definitely have hidden enemies that want to see your public image destroyed or some hater who hates the stupid amount of money you have in your bank account." The cat lover continued, picking up a couple of other newspapers from the pile beside her, "What about articles like that? Why don't they appear in the news that much?" She asked while glancing over the thing with a searching gaze as if she was looking for something particular.
Oh, and obviously, Mary Louise Dahl had no idea about the connection between Bruce Wayne and the Dark Knight. What I as The Dark Knight had informed her was that Batman pulled a favor with a couple of people and got her into a list for experimental treatments in Wayne Pharma who was already developing a cure for people with Systemic Hypoplasia. In fact, not only did she not know about the connection between Bruce Wayne and Batman, but she was also under strict instructions from me to never mention to anyone that Batman was the one who "got her into the list". She was told that this was to make sure that no one could ever find out about the crime she had tried to commit but the truth was that this was just to make sure no one could connect the dots between Bruce Wayne and the Dark Knight. After all, I wasn't ready to have my identity leaked yet.
"However, even though there are not a lot of negative articles about me yet, there will be very soon. A single misstep and I think even the current government might come after me." I chuckled mysteriously.
"What do you mean?" Seina asked curiously while neatly arranging the newspapers in a row, ready to cut the articles she wanted which were mostly about me with a sharp pair of scissors she had in her hands.
"Well kitty, let's just say, I am going to become richer than a LOT of countries tomorrow." A wide smirk slowly made its way to my lips on its own as the words left my mouth. "The world economy will never be the same and we will never have money problems again."
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(A/N: This was supposed to be published two days ago but the Webnovel server crash erased my latest chapter, so I had to work on that and complete it again before publishing this)
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