I'm doing bidirectional science popularization in American comics

Although it was already night in Gotham City, the streets were brightly lit, as if it were daytime.

Do not!

Compared to the gray fog and overcast skies during the day, Gotham at night, illuminated by lights, is much brighter.

That's right, what illuminated Gotham wasn't just the lights, but also the fire...

Since the Depp Corporation publicly declared war on the world, Gotham, the foundation of the Depp Corporation, has immediately been engulfed in war and madness.

After acquiring Wayne Enterprises, Depp Corporation, as the sole leader in Gotham City, along with its years of operation and pro-people policies, naturally won the love and respect of all Gotham residents.

Even when Depp decided to go against the world, the people of Gotham City still responded without a single person standing up to oppose him.

Of course, even if some ignorant little fellow tries to stand up and object, there are only two possible outcomes for him.

They would either be trampled to death by the crazed citizens of Gotham City, or, while on the verge of death, be rescued by the man hidden in the shadows, protected under his black bat wings.

The people of Gotham, incited by Depp, have now completely gone mad.

They envision the Depp Group completely dominating the world, and Gotham City becoming the center of the planet.

Of course, we also look forward to a world where, as Depp said, there is no crime and everyone can eat and dress well without worrying about money.

Depp stood on the top floor of the four-times-expanded Depp Building, with Selena Gomez and Mera standing on either side of him.

However, Selena and Mera now seem to be just two loyal subordinates of Depp, rather than a couple or lovers.

There was no love in their eyes, only a mechanical calm.

Furthermore, Depp is not currently wearing the Mirror of Introduction, suggesting that... he has never owned this item.

Looking down at the frenzied Gotham City and its inhabitants, Depp's lips curled into a slightly manic smile.

"Let this world feel pain..."

Depp thought to himself as he slowly disappeared into the darkness.

Selena and Mera also disappeared along with him.

However, the two of them exchanged a glance before disappearing, their eyes filled with confusion.

Compared to their previous comments, their puzzled expressions made them look completely different from their previous mechanical demeanor, as if they had suddenly come to life.

The revelry in Gotham City continued, with Depp's fervent supporters waving flags and marching tirelessly through the city's streets and alleys.

This atmosphere was especially fervent on Naihe Island.

On a street somewhere on Naihe Island, many people in work clothes, led by a leader, raised their hands and sang songs of support for the war.

The leader, like the others, appeared to be a worker who had just finished his shift at the factory.

He held up a two-meter-long flag with Depp's image and the Depp Group logo on it, representing the camp they supported.

Suddenly, a black bat dart spun from a distance and flew toward the flag held high by the leader.

Click!

The batarang easily grazed the flagpole and eventually embedded itself in the wall not far away.

The flagpole broke and crashed downwards.

Just as everyone gasped in surprise, a black shadow swept across their heads as if blotting out the sun. Then, he picked up the broken flagpole and climbed up the wall.

"Batman! It's Batman!"

"Quick, shoot that guy down! Mr. Depp said Batman is our enemy, Gotham's enemy!"

"Yes! Batman wants to stop our common cause, he wants to stop Gotham from becoming the center of this world!"

As they spoke, everyone pulled out various items from their pockets and threw them at Batman.

There were leftover apple cores, smelly socks that had somehow escaped, and empty glass bottles.

Before those things could hit him, Batman nimbly changed position again.

After the sound of the grappling hook being pulled back and forth was heard, Batman appeared on the balcony on the other side of the wall.

Then, Batman gently rubbed the flag between his hands, and a flame instantly ignited the cloth banner, burning it to ashes, leaving only a flagpole emitting black smoke.

"Look at yourselves now!" Batman said in his deep voice. "How are you any different from those criminals? Except that the battlefields of your crimes have become other cities and other countries around the world!"

"And you really should take a good look at who that man sitting on the throne of the Depp Group is! He's definitely not the Depp I know! You bunch of blind people!"

But Batman's voice was drowned out by the roars of the crowd, and no one responded.

"You guys are really crazy!" Batman shook his head helplessly, then flicked his cape and leaped away.

Batman is busy tonight.

Or rather, ever since Depp bared his fangs and began his plan to rule the world, Batman has never had a day without work.

Along with Batman, the Gotham-born superheroes who refused to submit to Depp mobilized to organize a parade and celebration for the madmen.

Among them is Dick Grayson, who has grown from young Robin into Gotham's number one playboy, known as Nightwing.

The current Dick Grayson has long since shed his title as Batman's sidekick and has made a name for himself entirely through his own abilities, even founding an organization that rivals the Justice League: the Teen Titans.

As the leader of the Teen Titans, Dick Grayson, who yearns for freedom and peace, naturally would not agree with Depp's plan to conquer the world.

Therefore, the Teen Titans, led by him, along with the Justice League led by Bruce, became a mainstay in the fight against Depp.

The fact that the superheroes broke and destroyed the symbols held by the protesters who had been leading Depp's reign of power did not cool their feverish minds; instead, it strengthened their resolve to support Depp.

They were convinced that Depp was the only true god who could help them escape their oppressed lives!

Because they had never been treated so fairly before joining Depp's company.

They were oppressed, humiliated, and used as tools that could be thrown into the trash heap at any time in the factory.

Now, although they are still workers and the most basic members of the company, their situation is completely different from before.

Now, their wages and rest are guaranteed.

They will be regarded as the most respected working people.

Even their leaders cannot punish them as they please.

They felt that after decades, they had finally become the masters of their own lives.

And all of this is thanks to Mr. Depp!

So when Mr. Depp says he wants the world, what reason do they have not to support such a person?

Mr. Depp gave us self-respect and life, so we are willing to give the whole world to Mr. Depp first!

They don't even see this as an invasion or deprivation of other countries or races in the world.

In their view, this is a complete liberation for the people who are currently suffering.

Let them, like ourselves, become the masters of their own lives.

Although the process was somewhat brutal and authoritarian, these were all sacrifices that could be made, weren't they?

Inside the bat cave, many heroes gathered together; some were angry, some were filled with sorrow, and some were numb.

Dick Grayson sat in the chair, breathing heavily.

Sweat still glistened in his ear.

For an ordinary human being like him, a night of continuous activity is an extreme drain on physical strength.

After all, he wasn't one of those superhumans who could fly or dive, nor was he like Bruce, who had already transcended all limitations.

“This is not going to work!” Dick stood up and said to everyone, “We can’t stop any of Depp’s plans like this, and we can’t even stop the people of Gotham.”

Beside Dick, Green Arrow, with his arm around Black Canary, nodded and said, "That's right. Even if we stop their march today, when night falls tomorrow, they'll be marching again with newly made flags, the paint just dried. We can't change their minds, we can't change their hearts."

Wellen stood up and said, "I agree with you, Dick, but I want to reiterate one point: that guy isn't the boss at all!"

The current Wellen is much taller than he was fifteen years ago, and he also has a giant tail that is nearly two meters long.

He continued, "Although he smells exactly like the boss, I can smell that his soul is completely different from the boss's. If the boss's soul exudes the fragrance of tender bamboo, then this guy's soul is like a pile of dog excrement, stinking to high heaven!"

“Why didn’t Selena and Mera notice that they were together all along?” Black Canary asked.

Upon hearing this, Dick helplessly shrugged and said, "No, they haven't slept in the same room for many years. They've been like this since before I was even an adult. I can't even tell if they're a couple. If you think about it, I haven't seen them do anything intimate for about fifteen years!"

Upon hearing this, Bruce finally stood up, his expression puzzled, but his mind was racing with thoughts.

"Could it be... that Selena and Mera already discovered Depp's problem, or even... that they discovered it fifteen years ago?"

Bruce voiced his guess, which immediately drew gasps of surprise.

"If they really discovered Depp's problems, why did they never tell us and instead so firmly help him rule the world?"

Wonder Woman asked.

Upon hearing this, Bruce said in a deep voice, "Perhaps they are doing it to protect us."

"Protect whom?"

Wonder Woman shakes hands with the Lasso of Truth, exuding heroic spirit.

Bruce glanced at the woman with the blood of a true god, then said, "They're protecting everyone. They're keeping this secret, even if it's to protect us from being killed by that Depp, it's also to protect Depp. Maybe... they can't be sure if killing this guy will actually kill Depp too."

Upon hearing this, Zatanna snapped her fingers and said, "You mean, Depp's true consciousness is very likely imprisoned somewhere in his body, and that imposter Depp has taken over Depp's body?"

“Yes, that sounds like… possession.”

Bruce's deep voice cast a shadow over everyone's faces.

But at the same time, Dick, with his wildly imaginative mind, said, "Does that mean that as long as we can get Depp's consciousness out of that body, we'll win this war without a fight?"

"If our analysis is completely correct, then it is indeed possible that this is the case."

Bruce said this, but he wasn't very optimistic.

He knew Depp's strength better than anyone else. If even someone as powerful as Depp could be suppressed and possessed by this person.

And he hasn't been able to break free for fifteen years, so just how strong must this guy be?

Shaking off these negative emotions, Bruce said to everyone, "Today's operation was a complete success. Everyone can go back and get some rest."

With that, Bruce took off his cloak and walked deeper into the Batcave.

Upon hearing this, everyone left the bat cave and returned to their own lodgings.

Deep inside the Batcave, Bruce removed his tightly bound mask and heavy battle suit, then plopped down on the bed that Alfred had prepared.