Starting from scratch, Batman crushed my dream of getting rich

Chapter 430 A Better Mom

Ma Zhaodi knew what Bruce wanted to ask.

It wasn't "Gotham City in another world," nor was it "the Wayne family in another world." There were only two people he wanted to ask.

Did he have parents in another world? Thomas Wayne, Martha Wayne.
A strict father and a loving mother, two relatives he lost when he was young, a nightmare he can never escape.

Bruce certainly wanted to know if there was a world where his parents could survive in the alley and spend their old age with their son, and if there was a world where Wayne's family of three could find happiness.

No, not at the moment.

Ma Zhaodi's answer was straightforward: "The other world doesn't even have Gotham City, and in the two worlds I've been to so far, Bruce Wayne's fate is basically the same."

"You becoming Batman is predetermined in 99% of parallel universes."

Batman remained silent for a long while.

"Ninety-nine percent?"

"The last possibility is worse, and you wouldn't want to know."

What if I insist on knowing?

"Then I'll tell you."

After a while, Batman's voice never rang out again.

Ma Zhaodi sighed. Every time he helped someone, he would realize that there were always other unsatisfactory and sad things in the world.

He went into the bathroom to wipe his face, then turned around and took the biscuits out to walk towards the dormitory for homeless children. With the children with him, he would sleep better.

"Old Ma! You're back!"

Solomon Grandi, born on a Monday.

As he expected, the mischievous kids were overjoyed to see him and the cookies he brought, and even though they hadn't seen each other for more than a month, they didn't feel any resentment when they met again.

Ma Zhaodi patted the big, muscular Grandi. He looked much cleaner now. The children often bathed him and even made him a set of clothes—the fabrics were a mixed bag, making them look colorful and ugly. But he probably liked them very much. Now he was very careful with everything he did, afraid of tearing them.

"Jason, why aren't you asleep yet? Didn't I tell you to make sure they were in bed by 10 pm?"

Jason didn't seem to have changed much, but when he heard Ma Zhaodi's question, the joy and excitement on his face immediately turned into guilt.

"Oh my god, we stayed up all night to catch up on lessons!"

Ma Zhaodi raised an eyebrow and looked at Grandi to the side.

Honest Grandi glanced at the television instinctively before nodding frantically, indicating that Jason was right.

"You didn't stay up late watching cartoons?"

"No no."

Ma Zhaodi is certain that if he were to touch the television now, the casing would still be warm—this seems to be a common trick used by parents across the country, something they learn without being taught after having children.

Old Ma slept soundly and didn't wake up until the next morning. In the end, it was the children who woke him up.

“Old Ma, Old Ma.” Jason shook his shoulder. “Mr. Bruce is here to see you.”

"Why are you looking for me again?"

Ma Zhaodi scratched his head, got up, and went to open the door.

There were two people standing at the door: Bruce and Barry's mother. "Let me introduce you. This is Mr. Ma Zhaodi, and this is Ms. Nora Allen."

Bruce then took the initiative to introduce the two parties.

“Batman entrusted this lady to me yesterday, but she insisted on going back to Central City, and I remember Old Ma just came back from Central City.”

Bruce explained to Ma Zhaodi in front of Nora: "I was busy with work this morning, and Ms. Nora said she wanted to go for a walk, but when her protectors weren't looking, she borrowed a phone from a clothing store on the street and called her home."

Ma Zhaodi's eyes widened instantly, like copper bells.

"It's connected??"

"Get through."

Are you saying that in a parallel world you don't even change your phone number? So perfunctory?

Ma Zhaodi turned to look at Nora Allen and found her scrutinizing Bruce and herself with a wary and cautious gaze. This was not hard to understand. Nora Allen was in her thirties at the time. In the middle of the night, a superhuman broke into her home, stabbed her, and witnessed her son being kidnapped by another superhuman—at least from her perspective, he was kidnapped rather than rescued.

When she woke up, she found herself in the eerie and gloomy Gotham City. The unfamiliar city, the unfamiliar environment, and the unfamiliar people made her feel unsafe. Bruce couldn't let her go to Central City right now, otherwise the two Barries would have to share a mother, and things would get even more complicated. So, of course, she suspected that she was being held captive, and it was only natural for her to call her family for help.

The only problem is that she might really become the mother of two Barrys.

"Then why did you come to me?" Ma Zhaodi asked. "This matter doesn't seem to have anything to do with me."

“You are so familiar with Central City, and you have two friends there. In that case, it would be very appropriate for you to take Ms. Nora to Central City again and send her home.”

"Where the hell is Barry? What did Barry say on the phone?"

“He said he would pick up Ms. Nora as quickly as possible,” Bruce replied. “However, the plane and train tickets from Central City to Gotham are all for tonight, so we might as well take Ms. Nora directly there.”

"You're being a bit naive. When was the call made?"

About half an hour ago.

"Nabari is almost here."

"?"

Seeing the astonished look on Bruce's face, Ma Zhaodi couldn't help but scratch his head.

"Not necessarily, not necessarily. If he still has any sense, he'll probably wait until tonight—but I don't think it's very likely that Barry will remain rational right now."

“What are you talking about?” Nora suddenly spoke up: “The person on the phone is not Barry at all. My son is still a little boy. I have never heard the man’s voice on the phone before.”

"I don't know why, but Henry helped the person on the phone lie to me. He told me that it was Barry."

“Ms. Nora, as I’ve already told you, Barry is indeed an adult and works for the Central City Police Department,” Bruce replied. “But since you have doubts, I’ll have Old Ma accompany you; he can guarantee your safety.”

But in reality, ensuring safety and such things are secondary. Ma Zhaodi knows that there are some things that only he can explain to Barry of this universe.

Just then, Bruce's phone rang again.

"Hey?"

"Hello, Mr. Bruce, this is Barry, Barry Allen." The voice on the other end of the phone sounded somewhat uneasy and excited: "I'm in Gotham City now. Where is my mother?"

Ma Zhaodi looked up and stared at Bruce and Nora.

It's clear that Barry is not acting rationally right now.

(End of this chapter)