Chapter 140: Victor Fries

Under Ma Ma Zhaodi's intelligence, the Gotham Renovation Project officially broke ground.

Wayne Enterprises submitted the renovation and construction plan for Gotham City and, leveraging its sheer scale and network of connections, moved straight to push it forward. The two warring criminal factions, unable to stop fighting, naturally had neither the time nor the interest to concern themselves with this grand plan that did not immediately affect their war; the only trouble was that officials were being sent to prison too frequently, and no one dared to step in to fill the vacancies, dragging down the efficiency of the administrative system.

However, Harvey, Gordon, and Bruce were all very patient; Gotham had been sick for so many years, and now there was hope for improvement, so they did not mind waiting a little longer.

The prisoners in Wayne Prison soon faced a major reshuffle; the prison classified them meticulously, tallied the jobs they had held before incarceration and the skills they possessed, and quickly began contracting them out by category to perform labor they were relatively proficient at. The city, which had previously suffered from vacancies due to the influx of people into Wayne Prison, now had those gaps filled by the sudden appearance of prisoner labor.

Of course, this gave most ordinary prisoners more opportunities to go outside, and the channels for escape increased significantly.

Take the conversation between the following two prisoners, for example.

"Want to run?"

"Run? Are you stupid? Do you think Gotham City right now or inside Wayne Prison is better?"

"At least after we run out, we can cook our own meals at home."

"What about work? Hygiene? Medical care? Living expenses?" The companion in the prison uniform sneered: "Or do you want to keep working as cattle and horses for those gangs outside?"

"I can still take a walk on the street."

"Brother, do you think what we are doing right now is what?"

The two prisoners walking on the street exchanged a glance, then looked at the traffic and crowds around them.

"Damn it, Wayne Prison just lets us run out on our own to work."

"I guess the prison is too lazy to waste energy and money renting a car just for two people, but this is pretty good—our time outside is only half an hour left, we really need to hurry up and get back to the prison before roll call."

"Thinking about it carefully, if the wages could reach normal levels, actually life inside the prison isn't bad."

"I don't know, Wade; I feel like since entering prison, the money I've saved seems to be more than what I've spent."

"So do we count as being in prison or not?"

"So do they count as being in prison or not?"

Chief Gordon looked at the Gotham Renovation Project blooming everywhere, then at the prisoners who had been subdivided and outsourced to various Wayne projects across Gotham City, and couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

"Gotham City has many industries; the industrial structure that originally relied on gangs needs a major overhaul. I can understand this; it is a long-term project we have to do, and we must do it."

At this moment, he subconsciously looked at Ma Ma Zhaodi on the side; the design of the prison system was originally proposed by him: "But punishing evil and promoting good is what justice is called."

"This is called labor reform, Chief Gordon. If the environment of Gotham City itself forces people to rely on doing evil and cooperating with gangs just to survive, then a large part of their main culpability should be attributed to the environment itself. This is also one of the reasons I do not advocate for Wayne Prison to actively abuse ordinary prisoners; they are both perpetrators and victims."

Chief Gordon pondered his words and rubbed his big beard.

"Old Ma, I must remind you; I have seen countless criminals. Some people's circumstances are indeed worthy of sympathy, but some are simply pure villains; the punishment they deserve is indispensable—this is also to vent anger for those victims and their families."

"Punishment for criminals will definitely come, Chief Gordon. We are just letting them first rebuild a social environment where victims of crimes can live well, which is also a form of compensation to them."

"And then?"

"Then, after the renovation project is completed, the Wayne Private Prison will cease operations. The profits during this period will be used to complete the renovation projects; new factories, new companies, renovated buildings, and large-scale projects like attracting investment will all be used to replace the economic industries and jobs left vacant by the gangs—I don't understand these things well, but these are ultimately long-term major undertakings that require the strength of most people."

Harvey on the side nodded: "That is true. If Wayne Enterprises didn't take on this task, and without the combined financial support from those bastards, I really wouldn't be sure such a grand plan could actually be implemented."

"Gentlemen, don't go off-topic." Chief Gordon tapped the table: "Where is the punishment?"

"My first sentence: Wayne Prison closes, Chief." Ma Ma Zhaodi replied: "Then the remaining serious criminals inside will have to spend the rest of their prison time in public prisons or other private prisons. By then, the gangs will surely be finished, and no one will bail them out. As for compensation to the victims' families, it will be deducted from the portion of their long-term labor remuneration that was suppressed, serving as additional economic compensation for the victims."

"Most minor criminals who have completed their reform will have returned to Gotham City by then, and the city's operations will not be affected." Bruce added: "A long-term blood-transfusion plan will not cause too much turmoil."

Harvey Dent flipped the coin in his hand and nodded as well: "A very clever move."

"There is one more thing; can you propose enacting the death penalty bill in this state after the reconstruction is completed?"

The breathing of the three men halted, and they all turned their heads to look at Ma Ma Zhaodi who had spoken these words.

"Some people put down their butcher's knife and want to become Buddhas; it is because they do not understand what 'putting down the butcher's knife' means—killing requires a life in return, owing debt requires repayment; only after settling the debt of sin is it truly putting down the butcher's knife." Ma Ma Zhaodi shrugged: "This is the tradition of our place, and also the wisdom of our ancestors."

Harvey listened to Ma Ma Zhaodi's suggestion, and a strange light shone in his eyes.

Seeing his expression, Chief Gordon suddenly suspected that he himself was the conservative one.

Bruce remained silent, as if thinking seriously.

Just as the atmosphere was becoming somewhat strange, Bruce's phone suddenly rang; this conveniently timed rescue call was from the butler.

So he took out his phone and answered.

"Alfred?"

"Young Master Wayne, the matter entrusted by Mr. Ma Ma Zhaodi has some leads."

"Found him?"

"Yes, a bank in Gotham City was robbed this morning. The ice traces left at the scene were very special, and we have thereby locked onto a derelict building."

Ma Ma Zhaodi saw Bruce speak briefly and then hang up the phone.

"Old Ma, Alfie has found the person you were looking for."

"Who?" Chief Gordon subconsciously asked.

"Mr. Freeze—Victor Fries."

(End of Chapter)