Chapter 3952

Natasha wore a silk shirt with a semi-turtleneck, a dark-colored hip-hugging long skirt on her lower body, and wedge heels. Her red hair was pinned behind her head with a pearl hairpin, with a few strands falling onto her shoulders. Holding a document bag in one hand and pushing up her glasses with the other, she knocked on the door of the President's office.

"The results are quite gratifying, Mr. President," Natasha smiled and said, "The test flight of the newly commissioned Helicarrier went very well, and the observation processes of various countries didn't have any problems. Most countries were very well-behaved, and the few that tried to pull some tricks were also taken down by us."

Arkham Batman, standing by the window, turned back and, seeing Natasha dressed like this, showed a slight look of amazement. Then he stepped forward and took the documents from Natasha's hand.

"There is one more thing; the Director of the FBI reported that their coffee machines are too outdated, so they want to apply for funding to replace them with the latest Italian-style coffee machines."

"Is such a trivial matter worth reporting to me?" Arkham Batman raised an eyebrow, looking down at the documents as he spoke, "Just let them report it themselves; how much could changing coffee machines cost?"

"If the Director of the FBI were still Shiler, it really wouldn't cost much, because he usually only drinks the kind of coffee that grinds the fastest. But now that the Director has changed to Shiler, the new type of coffee machine he needs, which has 249 flavors, has a total budget from experimentation to implementation of about 5 billion US dollars."

Arkham Batman almost spat out his coffee. There were really too many points worth questioning in this statement, so much so that he didn't know where to start. After his brain crashed for a moment, he picked the least important one to ask: "Why 249 types?"

"Because American coffee isn't included; he hates dishwater."

Arkham Batman opened his mouth, finally regained his train of thought, and then said: "What do you mean the Director of the FBI changed from Shiler to Shiler?"

"Literal meaning. Since they deny being different people, I can only use the same name to refer to them. Actually, it changed from 'Agent' to 'Greed'."

"'Greed'?" Arkham Batman frowned.

"He is the 'Shiler' from my universe; the vast majority of the legends about Shiler you've heard in the Battleworld you're in were created by him," Natasha shrugged and said, "'Agent' is going to my universe to trace the origin of Ultron, so he called him over to fill in."

"I know who he is," Arkham Batman said, "He's the one who put me in the presidential seat; I still owe him a large sum of money. However, I didn't hire him this time; surely I don't have to pay his salary, do I?"

"Of course not."

Before Arkham Batman could breathe a sigh of relief, he heard Natasha say: "No one needs to pay his salary, because he will take what he wants himself—the coffee machine?"

"5 billion is too much," Arkham Batman said, "I can give him at most 1 billion, and he has to add American coffee; I love drinking that."

"Then he will ask you for 10 billion, Mr. President," Natasha shook her head and said, "Of course, if you don't give it, he will find a way himself."

"What way could he find? Tax revenue has basically been emptied by Nick, and next year's military spending will have to be reduced due to the fiscal deficit. No money means no money; no one can do anything about it."

"Then you underestimate him too much, Mr. President. Greed is like a beast that never knows satisfaction; if you don't feed him, he will sooner or later bite off a piece of meat elsewhere..."

Just as she was saying this, the dedicated line phone on the side rang. As soon as Arkham Batman picked it up, his expression changed.

"What? Amazon? He went to Amazon... The Queen gave it to him? Then Wonder Woman... Travel agreement? Okay, I understand. I will handle it."

After Arkham Batman hung up the phone, he let out a long sigh and said to Natasha: "He ran to Amazon to lobby the Amazon Queen, used the key in his hand to open the ruins of Mount Olympus for visits, and also helped them sign a visa-free travel agreement with Asian countries, taking the opportunity to ask for a large consulting fee."

Natasha couldn't help but laugh out loud, covering her mouth with her fist and saying: "This is definitely going to make a fortune; who wouldn't want to see the place where the gods once lived?"

"He even successfully persuaded Wonder Woman to stop the furious God of War, half-coaxing and half-forcing the God of War to stand at the gate of Mount Olympus to sell tickets, earning 200 million in less than three days, and also cleared up the previous scandal of the Amazons. If this continues, Diana will be swearing brotherhood with him."

"So are you going to approve his funding or not?"

"Forget it," Arkham Batman said, "Since he's so capable, let him earn it himself; I really have no money left."

Natasha smiled again and said: "Letting him earn money isn't without a price; I hope you can still be this relaxed when that time comes."

Before he even finished speaking, Superman rushed in angrily, shouting at Arkham Batman: "Batman! How could you do this to me?!"

Arkham Batman paused and looked at him, saying: "How did I do what to you?"

"How could you direct that Moon Knight and Green Lantern to take the Green Lantern Corps and drag away the wreckage of Krypton to sell it?! That's my old home! How could you do this?!"

"Cough, cough, cough..." Arkham Batman was choked up again.

Before he could explain, a figure walked in. Shiler smiled at Arkham Batman and said: "Sorry, Mr. Kent, you left too hurriedly, and I didn't have time to tell you. The Space Debris Planet Recycling Program is a recent mission of the Green Lantern Corps, and Krypton will be included in the list; I am very sorry. I discussed it with them and actively secured 60% of the Krypton recycling funds for you, plus 20% compensation for the conversion of universal funds into Earth funds. Could you give me your bank card number?"

The series of financial terms made Superman feel a bit dizzy, and he said: "So, why do you have to do this?"

"To maintain the cosmic environment. Too many abandoned planets will block shipping lanes and may also become hiding places for various cosmic criminals and interstellar pirates. Especially for some interstellar civilizations that once had advanced levels, once they become pirate lairs, it will cause great obstacles to cosmic police like Green Lanterns and is also not conducive to cosmic peace. So, under my suggestion, the Green Lantern Corps launched the 'Innovative Civilization Sector' operation. Your old home, Krypton, is also within the scope of recycling and cleaning; I'm afraid it must be cleaned up."

Upon hearing that it might endanger cosmic security, Superman hesitated a bit. Shiler continued: "Regardless of whether you accept this recycling fund, the planet will definitely be cleaned up. However, if you accept it, perhaps you can use this money to make some investments in the universe. If Earth can enter the interstellar era in the future, this fund can also help humanity get through the destitute pioneering period."

Superman immediately understood what he meant and said: "Is this a large sum of money?"

"Of course. Although your home planet is already very dilapidated, the Kryptonian civilization of that time was very developed. Even if less than one-tenth of the machines remain, there will be many primary civilizations that like them and are willing to spend a lot of money to buy them for research. Preliminary estimates suggest that the recycling funds you can get will be around 6 billion universal coins—the market price of an ordinary small spaceship is about 2 million universal coins."

Superman gasped. Then he asked again: "Then you said there is another part that can be converted into Earth funds; what is that?"

"Because currently, you are the only recognized official Kryptonian resident. The former is the demolition compensation, and the latter is a living subsidy used to compensate for your loss after being separated from your group and having no home planet to return to. According to regulations, those who have a new home can convert this part of the funds into the currency of the new home."

"About how much money?"

"About 5 billion US dollars."

Superman staggered.

"However, to prevent local currency inflation, we will also negotiate with the authorities to convert this fund into materials or commercial subsidies. Currently, we are considering tax exemptions for the Kent Farm, agricultural machinery subsidies, and agricultural product sales subsidies, totaling 5 billion US dollars. So you don't have to worry about the origin of this money."

"Wait a minute," Arkham Batman reached out and said, "Negotiate with the authorities? Isn't Kansas in the United States?"

"Of course it is. At 3:00 AM yesterday, Congress passed the subsidy application overnight, and the National Security Agency has already contacted the Department of Agriculture and the IRS to ensure that the subsidies are in place without affecting national security."

"So I, the President, know nothing about this?"

"No, I have already submitted the subsidy application regarding the FBI's replacement of coffee machines to you."

"Exactly 5 billion?"

"Yes, but it has absolutely nothing to do with the Kent Farm subsidy; it's just that the amount happens to be the same."

"I have only one question," Arkham Batman said, "The fiscal deficit is already very severe; how can I approve it for you?"

"If you are referring to the fiscal status report recently submitted by the Ministry of Finance, then there is absolutely no need to worry. The Minister of National Security, out of national security considerations, guided the Ministry of Finance to make some macroeconomic adjustments to the fiscal status report."

Arkham Batman paused: "You mean the report is fake?"

"It's true, it's just that some macroeconomic..."

"Alright, I understand. So it's not that there's no money, but even by my own calculations, the money has been used up..."

"You don't have to worry about that; you just need to sign."

Arkham Batman sighed and said: "Ever since Nick Fury came, I don't even know if I have money or not."

"That is precisely his role," Shiler said with a smile, "For a smart person like you, if there is money, you will definitely try every means to use it in the most meaningful places. And if we want to use money, we must make you unclear about whether you have money or not."

"Then what are you taking the money for?"

"To earn more money."

"How to earn it?"

"By conducting some macroeconomic adjustments."

"Then you first explain to me what is macro..."

Arkham Batman hadn't finished speaking when he heard a "crack" from the window behind him. As soon as he turned his head, two Batarangs flew out of his hand, and two clouds of black smoke vanished instantly.

"Ninjas from the League of Assassins," Shiler said, "Superman."

Without him saying it, Superman turned his head to look at a position next door. Just as Arkham Batman was about to press the security button, he heard a voice from behind: "Don't be too excited, Mr. President."

An Asian woman with long black hair walked in from the windowsill. Arkham Batman narrowed his eyes; he recognized the other party—the mother of Damian, the only son of Batman in most universes, and the daughter of Ra's al Ghul, the leader of the League of Assassins, Talia al Ghul.

"Hello, Madam," Arkham Batman was not panicked at all. As far as he knew, Talia must have used some means to give birth to Damian, and now that he was prepared, he would definitely not fall into the trap.

The next second, Talia's words were like a heavy blow, stunning Arkham Batman:

"Usury to the League of Assassins, Mr. President, you are much more formidable than I imagined."