"Alfred, something Dr. Thompkins said has resonated with something I heard at the party this evening. I believe that my Batman project has a serious flaw I was unable to see due to my desperation to seek vengeance." Wayne sat in a comfortable chair in his penthouse drumming his fingers on the chair's arm.

"Master Bruce?" Alfred looked interested as he held a tray with a teapot and cup.

"Have a seat Alfred, I need your input." Wayne raised his hand and motioned at another nearby chair. "This evening I was talking with an actress who said to me, 'Everyone in this room can make or break my career with a single text.' That made me think of what Dr. Thompkins spoke of concerning noblesse oblige. The Batman project has a critical flaw, I have been looking at the problem of crime through an eight-year-old boy's frame of reference. One man taking law enforcement into his own hands. Punching criminals to stop crime."

Alfred nodded and then asked, "Are you now thinking that you shouldn't be involved?"

"No, Alfred, I am thinking that I have mistakenly assumed that crime is a career path. A chosen occupation." Wayne resumed drumming his fingers on the chair's arm, "While it is true that there are many evil men in this world, are they the true cause of all crime? Tell me, Alfred, what do you think causes crime?"

Alfred looked seriously at Wayne and then answered, "I don't think a crime has anyone determining factor... But most organized crime happens because of illegal businesses that are profitable and easy to start and run. I think most of the minor crimes happen due to people not living the lives they see others leading. I suppose you could say that crime happens when someone who can't see a better way decides to improve their life's condition by taking the shortest path they can see to get the results they want."

Wayne nodded and then asked, "Does the Batman stop crime?"

Alfred shook his head and answered honestly, "The Batman project deals vengeance for victims, but it does nothing to solve the problem of crime, no. Just like the police department, you can only react to criminals."

Wayne nodded, "Alfred, I have been using the wrong tool to fix the problems that Gotham City has... I have been using my money and body to fight crime when I believe I should have been using my power and influence. I have been using my fists when I should have been running my family's business."

Wayne stood up and then said, "Alfred, call a meeting for tomorrow. I need Lucius Fox and the heads of Gotham's business families here to talk about making crime in Gotham City a rare event. The kind of rare event the police and the Batman can deal with."

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The next day Wayne made his way to the Wayne Enterprises board room. He walked in and handed a thumb drive to Lucius and said, "This is the plan, I'd like you to take the first look. As of today, Wayne Enterprises will start investing in Gotham City."

Lucius put the drive into the computer and then started to look over the proposal, "Bruce, this plan... You are planning to gentrify Gotham City? Do you have plans to relocate the displaced people to lower-income areas?"

"No, I'm planning to raise the income of every person who wants to work in Gotham City." Wayne smiled. "The ones who choose not to work, well, they'll just have to move to Metropolis if they can't find an affordable place to live in Gotham."

Lucius frowned, "Bruce, that kind of thing..."

Wayne patted him on the arm and smiled, "It won't be as terrible as it sounds, of course, we'll have places for people to live. This plan is about turning Gotham from a place where criminals prosper to a place they'll be afraid to live. It's about cleaning up the streets the only way that truly works, by making people care about them."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Wayne took a seat and then waited for the others to arrive. Soon the room filled with men and women of power and prestige. Once Oswald Cobblepot took a seat Bruce stood up and looked around the room before stopping at Oswald. "Last night my annual charity event was attacked and several people were killed. This morning I took a good hard look at the city and frankly, we have failed as its stewards."

Wayne clicked a remote in his hand then a giant TV rose on the wall behind him, "This is Gotham City." He clicked through several photos from the best parts to the worst. He clicked again and showed Metropolis, "This is right across the bay in Metropolis." He started showing pictures of the Metropolis from the worst areas to the best. The worst areas looked much better than the best Gotham City had to see.

"I have gathered you all here today because I need Gotham City to be safe. Clean. Modern." Wayne walked around the table until he stood behind Oswald. He heavily placed his hand on Oswald's shoulder. "Wayne Enterprises has enough money to burn Gotham City to the ground and rebuild it. So, I don't need your help. I would like your help and buy-in for this project which is why I have invited you here today."

Kate Kane spoke up first, "Mr. Wayne, I was told I would be attending a meeting on stopping crime in Gotham City. This looks more like a bid for Mayor."

Wayne raised a finger in the air and then said, "I did indeed, Oswald, why don't you answer this question for her..."

"Gentrification. He is talking about classing up Gotham City. Make it too expensive for small-time criminals to live. They move away to more profitable places to live and then the police have more time and energy to go after organized crime." Oswald frowned and looked up at Wayne who was nearly crushing his shoulder with one of his hands.

Wayne nodded and then gave another smile, "Wayne Enterprises is also going to raise the compensation for every employee that lives in Gotham City by 25%."

Gasps were heard around the table as each of them would have to match that to retain their best people. Oswald cursed under his breath and then said, "What will you do about organized crime?"

Wayne snapped his fingers and then pointed at Oswald as he shook his finger up and down, "I'm glad you asked me that. Oswald. I'm going to warn them to leave, and then I'm going to remove them."

Oswald looked deadly serious as he asked, "Remove them?"

Wayne smiled and then shrugged, "It would be a shame if these men were to start having accidents, wouldn't it." Wayne took his hand off Oswald's shoulder. "Lucius, what's the annual revenue for the combined businesses under Wayne Enterprises."

Lucius smiled and stated, "As of this morning half a trillion per year."

Wayne nodded and then asked, "What's the GDP of Iran?"

Lucius licked his lips, "454 billion. About half a trillion per year."

Wayne turned and stared into Oswald's eyes, "Removed."

Oswald visibly swallowed, "How long are you giving them?"

Wayne shrugged, "I suppose they should be long gone by... Sundown?"

Oswald slammed his hands down on the table shouting, "You are messing with dangerous people, Mr. Wayne, you better think about your family!"

Wayne squatted down next to Oswald and spoke softly, "Last night as I sat on the Joker's chest watching the life leave his eyes I thought about one of my peers, Lex Luthor who was coincidentally also at the event. Lex Luthor and I make similar amounts of money, why do I just flit around town like a social butterfly when I could have no one saying no to me like Lex."

Oswald suddenly felt a cold chill down his back. He looked at Bruce Wayne as if he was a completely different man. "You're fucking crazy!"

Oswald pushed his chair away and then started backing to the door one hand tightly gripping a parasol in his hand. Kate's voice cut through the atmosphere in the room, "My family is also going to follow Mr. Wayne's plan."

Thomas Elliot spoke up, "The Elliot family supports the Wayne renewal plan." Then one by one the rest of the table raised their voices in agreement.

Oswald fell tripping over his feet but still managed to scramble back away. "You're all fucking crazy, you can't mess with these people!"

Wayne laughed, "Oswa... Penguin, I think you have long forgotten, it's we who are the people that can't be messed with. We've been soft long enough. A wise man once said, 'This town needs an enema!'"

Kate looked confused and then asked, "Bruce, who was the wise man, that doesn't sound very..."

Wayne waved his hand at her like she should go away, "Damn it, Kate, that's not even important."

Oswald finally made it to the door and got up using his parasol, he smoothed his hair back and then calmly spoke, "My Cobblepot family finds this idea ridiculous, I'll be leaving now."

Just as Oswald started to leave Wayne called out, "Sundown, Penguin."