novelonline Chapter 4132 When the Pumpkin Ripens (4)
Chapter 4132 When the Pumpkin Ripens (4)
Chapter 4132 When the Pumpkins Ripen (Part Fourteen)
The thank-you performance ended without incident. When Pride and Greed got home, it was nearly midnight. Pride was still typing on his phone, "There were security cameras in the theater, didn't you see anything unusual?"
"That's the problem. They didn't just block the surveillance signal; they had a way to make the surveillance appear normal."
"What do you mean?"
“In the surveillance video, the little girl walked out by herself and disappeared after reaching a blind spot. But she couldn’t have walked out by herself. This child is very timid and has never run around, whether at school or at home. During the performance, she clung tightly to her mother.”
"You mean someone tampered with the surveillance video? Who has that kind of ability?"
"So far, the only one I've encountered is Batman."
"You know that's impossible."
"Yes, the case had already occurred before the main universe's Batman arrived. If it wasn't him, then it must have been someone of similar caliber."
"Who do you think it could be?"
"Do you think they'll give up after I repelled the invaders you brought over to invade Earth?"
You mean aliens?
"Only they have this level of technology. Although I have tried my best to innovate the electronic devices on Earth, the generational gap cannot be bridged in a short time. For example, the Blue Beetle can use holographic simulation technology to create realistic images that interfere with the judgment of monitoring equipment, and I am currently unable to crack it."
Whom do you suspect more?
"Darkseid. According to the information Bruce uploaded about the multiverse war, Darkseid has been upgraded, meaning that all Darkseids in the multiverse have become the same. And this Darkseid just suffered a great loss at Batman's hands, so it's perfectly normal for him to take action in the multiverse."
"But all the evidence proves that this guy premeditated this, and may have even started it several years ago."
“That’s not surprising. If he hadn’t been plotting against Earth all along, you wouldn’t have been able to lure him here. I suspect he’s already made arrangements on Earth, and I’m currently trying to uncover his hidden forces here.”
"Is it so difficult?"
“He has a technological advantage, while I also have to be careful not to harm ordinary people. Also, if the investigation goes too fast and pushes him too far, he might carry out a terrorist attack.”
"Consider seeking Batman's help?"
"I will if necessary."
It was another busy night for the police and the FBI. Police lights flashed all night, and the entire neighborhood was turned upside down. Behavioral Science Unit personnel also inspected every inch of the theater's walls. The audience members who came to the thank-you performance also greeted Halloween in trepidation.
Schiller slept exceptionally well that night. The wind had died down, and the neighborhood was quiet, except for a light drizzle when he woke up in the morning. A chill seeped in through the cracks in the windows, and the world was cold and damp.
As Pride walked downstairs, Greed had just retrieved the newspaper from the mailbox, along with freshly baked bread, seemingly bought from the community restaurant.
Today's breakfast was pumpkin again, but it was a simple pumpkin and yellow mustard spread on bread. Greedily, while spreading the bread, I opened the newspaper and soon saw the news about yesterday's theater child abduction case.
The news report was not exaggerated, and even somewhat toned down, perhaps because they didn't want to create panic; Brainiac simply described it as an accident.
"What do you think?" Greed asked.
"The key now is whether the two people we've captured can actually tell us anything. If they're Darkseid's lackeys, it probably won't be so easy to get information out of them."
"Even the most advanced technology needs someone to use it. If they didn't carry those devices with them, how did they interfere with the cameras? By sending signals remotely?"
“That’s what Batman is investigating,” Arrogance said, shaking his head. “I heard that the labs at Wayne Manor have all stopped operating. It seems Brainiac is determined to catch the killer first.”
They were talking when a sound came from the doorway. Greed went over and opened the gate; Gordon looked travel-worn.
When he came in, Arrogance brought him a cup of hot coffee. Gordon downed the coffee in one gulp, steam rising from his mouth, and then said, "Good news."
"Has the murderer confessed?"
“Uh, no,” Gordon said somewhat awkwardly. “Your approval report regarding the transplanting of the chestnut trees has been approved. However, there are some points in Brainiac’s transplanting recommendations that you need to review carefully. I’ve left the documents here.”
After saying that, he took a file folder out of his pocket, placed it on the coffee table, and said, "I have some things to do, so I'll be leaving now."
Gordon arrived and left in a flurry, without even having time for breakfast. Arrogance picked up the file folder he brought and was surprised to find that it contained over 100 pages of paper.
He picked up a few and looked at them, "Jesus."
"what happened?"
"It says that if I want to transplant such a precious tree, I need to follow about 200 environmental regulations and make changes to my existing land, yard and house property."
"So that it will be easier to adapt to being a squirrel?"
“Even squirrels don’t go through all this trouble.” Arrogance sat down, flipping through the regulations page by page, and then said, “So what Brainiac means is that if I want this chestnut tree, I have to take care of it, even if it means sacrificing my own living environment.”
"Including what?"
"I test the soil quality, groundwater quality, nutrient absorption of the lawn, air quality, and sunlight duration. I even have to fertilize the trees regularly to ensure they produce enough fruit for rare animals to eat."
"only these?"
"Isn't this enough?" Pride asked Greed.
“That’s very little,” Greed said. “When my nursing home moved, the district council sent me about 2000 environmental regulations. I was even responsible for the shape of the roadbed a mile away.”
"So you agree?"
"How could that be? I skipped about 1600 useless items and focused my energy on the ones that were actually beneficial to environmental protection. For example, I really had to make sure that the mental patients in the nursing home didn't use slingshots to shoot birds."
"So, of all these regulations I received, which ones are actually useful?"
"What you said is all useful. You do need to have the soil, water, and air quality tested, and so on."
“But this tree used to live less than two miles from me.”
“These tests aren’t to protect the trees, they’re to protect you. If the trees die in your yard after being transplanted, these test results can help you avoid prosecution.”
Arrogance opened his mouth, but couldn't find the words. Greed put down the file and said, "Considering you've probably killed quite a few plants, this step is absolutely necessary. Gotham is becoming more and more normal, so you have to adapt to civilized society."
"Okay, so how do you do these tests?"
“Hire a professional agency. But first, we need to talk to the forest rangers. Although this tree isn't in a natural forest, since your house is close to one, you need to let them know you didn't dig it up.” Greed paused for a moment, then continued, “Then email the local council and ask them to send experts to test it. Before they come, we need to tidy up the yard to prevent them from refusing our application on the grounds of insufficient facilities.”
"I think Brainiac is settling a personal score."
“I didn’t,” Brainiac reminded him. “I did my duty to warn you not to steal the chestnuts. But you completely ignored me.”
"What does this have to do with transplanting chestnut trees?"
“You now need to prove to me that you are not someone who takes advantage of others, because only hardworking people can take care of and protect trees. Considering that you stole chestnuts before, I need some more solid written evidence to prove that you are willing to make efforts for environmental protection.”
"That's just a chestnut tree!"
“It’s a North American chestnut tree, the one you mentioned—a precious tree that was once widespread along the East Coast but is now nearly extinct. It would be such a waste to cut it down.”
Arrogance couldn't help but cover his eyes. Greed, however, didn't care. He said, "Brainiac is quite efficient; at least he's willing to tell you why. My sanatorium, on the other hand, receives over 100 inspections in a year, 80% of which are for no reason at all. Parliament won't tell you why they come to inspect."
"To make it seem like they have work to do."
"The fact that they're sitting in their offices proves they have work to do. They might not even be in it for the money; they might just enjoy causing trouble for others. By comparison, Brainiac is quite pragmatic."
Greed pulled out the document and said, “This has very detailed advice. For example, the fence is too high now; I bet you haven’t fixed it in at least six months. Also, there’s a missing patch of turf in the southeast corner; I was thinking of mentioning that when I first arrived. And that vegetable patch in your backyard—whatever you plant, you need to make it look like you’ve taken good care of it and watered it every day.”
"But Merkel used to water the garden every day, which killed most of the plants."
"Don't water at midday. Also, vegetable gardens and flower fields are different. If possible, I suggest you set up a drip irrigation system, which will also provide water for birds and rodents, enriching your backyard ecosystem."
"That's the problem. First, I don't have that much money, and second, even if I did, I couldn't buy anything here. Where am I supposed to get a drip irrigation system?"
"You'll have to ask Brainiac. If he can't provide those conditions, then those regulations are unreasonable, and you can refuse to comply."
"So, shall we dig up the chestnut tree tonight?"
"Of course not. Putting aside the vegetable patch, you haven't even tested the soil. If the heavy metal levels are too high and kill this protected tree, you'll definitely end up in court."
“I suddenly don’t feel like eating chestnuts as much anymore,” Arrogance sighed.
“You can’t always give up,” Greed said with a shrug. “You have to actually own something eventually.”
"Okay, so where should we begin?"
“First, we need to patch up the lawn in the southeast corner of the front yard. Even if you don’t transplant the chestnut trees, you’ll still get complaints if your neighbors or church members see it. It will seriously damage the community’s image. You can ask Brainiac where to buy the lawn.”
"I'd rather know how that lawn disappeared than where to buy it," Arrogance said, opening Brainiac's software to start searching.
Greed went for a walk and then said, "Your fence is too high, and the fences on both sides overlap, so that corner never gets any sunlight. And you're not using commercial turf, but grass seeds, which won't germinate without sunlight."
"God. Gotham used to be a place where there was no sunshine all year round."
"Fun fact: Cloudy weather doesn't mean there's no ultraviolet radiation. Besides, plants react to changes in the natural environment much faster than humans. If sunlight were to increase, they would also demand a raise."
“I found out, we need to go to a gardening market six miles away to buy grass seeds. Let’s go.”