Chapter 4964: Prelude (Lower)

When Arrogance received Nightwing's invitation, he was somewhat surprised. But after calculating the time, it was about right. In the comics, Nightwing indeed married Starfire. They met in Teen Titans, fought side by side, and developed feelings. In different timelines, they even had a child named Nightstar.

However, Arrogance also remembered that in the New 52 universe, Starfire seemed to be dating Red Hood rather than Nightwing. But it's also possible she dated Red Hood first, then Nightwing. This kind of thing is very common in American comics; specifics depend on each universe's setting.

Perhaps due to his own interference, the development paths of the Bat-family and Teen Titans have diverged somewhat. Batman focuses more on the multiverse, while Teen Titans have taken over tasks previously handled by the Bat-family or even the Justice League, responsible for maintaining surface safety.

Under these circumstances, the Robins' romantic arcs might also change. So it's normal that they'd end up dating like before the reboot, getting engaged, and preparing for a formal wedding. It looks like they've been dating for quite a while, already engaged, and preparing to officially hold the wedding.

Arrogance recalled that in the comics, Nightwing and Starfire's wedding was very tumultuous. At the time, Raven went berserk—not only interrupting the wedding but also kissing Starfire, making the whole scene extremely ugly.

Starfire worried that if they forced the wedding to proceed, it might provoke public backlash against aliens, so she wanted to end it. Nightwing disagreed but had no choice, so they parted unhappily. Although they later reconciled and became friends again, they never spoke of marriage again.

When Arrogance saw the location written on the invitation, he frowned again. Nightwing was apparently afraid his wedding would be disturbed, so he chose the most complicated fused universe.

But after thinking it over, this might also be a case of fighting poison with poison. Nightwing might have realized his wedding could be disrupted, so he simply picked the most chaotic place, letting those who wanted to disrupt his wedding also get disrupted—perhaps then it would turn out well.

It must be said, this tactic is quite clever. The number of superheroes in the fused universe is doubled, but so is the number of supervillains. It's uncertain whether whoever wants to cause trouble at his wedding will run into another villain who also wants to cause trouble, the two offsetting each other and thus protecting the wedding.

However, Arrogance felt that Nightwing and Starfire choosing a traditional Catholic wedding was still a bit too ahead of its time. Because the Catholic wedding process is not only long but also especially troublesome.

The "Do you take this person?" scene in TV dramas basically doesn't exist. The actual vow ceremony is the priest standing at the pulpit reciting a long string of vows, directly declaring the couple partners. Just reciting those vows takes enough time for a supervillain to chop him into minced meat.

It's the same in the comics: the priest is there reciting vows when Raven kills him. But if you chose a slightly more modern wedding format—just asking "Do you take this person?" and swiftly exchanging rings—the marriage could be formed.

But as they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Perhaps because Starfire is an alien, she has some unrealistic fantasies about human wedding ceremonies. So even though Nightwing isn't Catholic and no one in the entire Bat-family is Catholic, they insisted on following the old rites.

Nightwing might also be considerate of her being an alien; the Catholic wedding form is very solemn and dignified, every step mature and unlikely to go wrong. Though it's troublesome, the sense of ceremony is strong, so he agreed—and ultimately died due to the wedding process being too long.

Unexpectedly, even though the fate line has already been altered, the wedding format remains unchanged. Arrogance has attended many Catholic weddings; he mentally walked through the process and found that for ordinary people it's merely a lengthy, boring procedure, but for superheroes, it's full of loopholes everywhere.

After entering the church, first comes scripture reading—usually two passages, though some more particular families read more. Then comes poetry recital, hymn playing, priest's address, common prayer, priest's vows, couple's vows, ring exchange, continued music…

Going through this whole routine, Spider-Man could beat the Sinister Ten ten times over, Batman could fill Arkham Asylum with all the lunatics he's caught, and Captain America and Iron Man could refight their airport battle three times.

Arrogance sighed. Although he didn't want to interfere in such a personal choice, he still urged Nightwing in as cautious a tone as possible to simplify the wedding process, especially the scripture reading and prayer parts. With everyone standing there like statues, it's too easy to be attacked.

But just thinking that the wedding also has to consider whether it will be attacked brings a faint sorrow. Ordinary people's happiness is always hard to reach for superheroes; the price to pay is too great.

And Arrogance's hidden worries dissipated the moment he recalled that Greed also had interest in the fused universe.

As everyone knows, Greed likes grand finales. Nightwing's wedding is settled, Greed said. Any factor that might cause the wedding to be incomplete will be met with Greed's heavy fists and brought to justice.

However, Arrogance believes that the differing attitudes Nightwing and Starfire showed after the wedding attack in the comics indicate they aren't entirely problem-free. Now it's the honeymoon phase, naturally they're dreaming of a perfect wedding completion, but later these problems will surely surface, and then it will again be a trouble.

But fortunately, Greed's style is exactly that: although the ending will be satisfying, the process will certainly be tortuous. This might let the couple undergo trials, with problems surfacing early—which is also good.

Arrogance recalled what Greed had told him earlier: the current multiverse situation here is unstable, with Doctor Manhattan, Darkseid, and Brainiac eyeing it covetously, heavily besieged. Plus there's Bruce, hanging on the Source Wall, who knows what he did back then. Batman's pressure is probably off the charts.

In this situation, he will definitely need help. Mutants are indeed the best choice. This side of the universe is more open, without the three great empires, it's practically a mutant playground. Although Multiversal Darkseid is formidable, mutant numbers and quality are not lacking. Let them hold off Darkseid, and Batman can focus on solving Doctor Manhattan and Brainiac on this side.

And to test the mutants, one must first go to the fused universe. After all, the fused universe fuses the old 616, the old main universe basically experienced everything, so the mutant situation there is relatively stable, with Magneto and Professor X having ended well—making them good negotiation targets.

And the meaning of the fused universe is also clear: they want to act as a transfer station and intermediary between the two universes to seek more benefits for themselves. But, in the multiverse, they're certainly not the only ones capable of this. Arrogance thinks Bruce will also go compete for it; this universe of theirs is actually quite suitable too.

It seems a trip to the fused universe is necessary. However, understanding Batman's layout is secondary; Arrogance mainly goes to attend the wedding.

These Robins of the main universe are also ones he watched grow up; this important milestone, he naturally cannot miss. Moreover, he suspects that among the fused universe's so many superheroes, not one can properly handle a traditional Catholic wedding, so there will surely be a mishap then.

"Hahahaha! You didn't see Doctor Manhattan's expression!" came Brainiac's manic laughter from the phone, "When he asked Batman to save him, his expression looked like he'd eaten shit. Who said quantum life has no feelings? This isn't just driving him crazy?"

"You'd better be careful." Arrogance warned, "How did you come up with such a despicable plan?"

"Learned from you!" Brainiac said righteously, "You didn't just feed the Owl Court feces before? I think you humans are really smart, just very good at using this method against those who claim to be smart."

Arrogance opened his mouth again, asking, "How did you learn about these old stories?"

"Greed told me." Brainiac said, "He taught me many things, I find them very reasonable."

Arrogance smiled and asked, "You did well this time; he should feel a sense of accomplishment, right?"

"To be honest, we two have also fought for a long time." Brainiac said frankly, "Before I didn't understand why you'd deadlock with those talentless students, now I somewhat understand."

"Tell me about it?"

"If he taught me with 100% effort, I could probably only learn 10%, after all I have an obstacle in understanding emotions. But if he taught me with 1000% effort, I could definitely learn 60%, at least passing." Brainiac still used data examples, "And Heller's 60% is enough to handle the vast majority of people in the multiverse."

"Indeed that's the reasoning." Arrogance nodded, saying, "Among all the things I know, many are unlearnable, and no one has ever learned 100%. But being able to learn a little, in daily life it can also make things much easier, and it's not that those without talent don't deserve such convenience."

"You're a good teacher." Brainiac said, "But if later I raise Gotham University's ranking, it's also because I and Greed made some shady deals, not because of you or the psychology department's teaching level, or the students' learning level really being that good. You must absolutely not have any illusions."

Arrogance helplessly sighed, saying, "You don't have to say this."

"No." Brainiac said, "I am a fair and just ruler. What Greed gave me helps me better evolve and protect Earth; I consider it private gain for public good, but the judgment standard won't waver. Psychoanalysis is good, just not suitable for human learning."

"I said, I'm just an ordinary person." Arrogance emphasized.

"I aspire to found a school for superpowered individuals similar to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters." Brainiac said, "Perhaps there will be a psychic abilities department, or perhaps psychic individuals will be more suited to researching psychoanalysis."

"I won't go." Arrogance said, "I want to stay at Gotham University to teach, trying to raise this school's ranking."

"Then you're still a very stubborn ordinary person." Brainiac evaluated frankly.

"I'm just attached to this place." Arrogance said, "Gotham and Gotham University have given me over a decade of possibly dull but very peaceful life; I like this kind of life."

"What you say doesn't sound like an ordinary person." Brainiac mercilessly exposed, "When you link Gotham and peaceful life together, you've already gone crazy."

"Ask any Gotham resident this question, they won't think there's a problem." Arrogance laughed again, "Maybe I'm just an ordinary Gothamite."

?? Afterward followed a great mêlée of characters from both worlds, but from Arrogance's perspective, since Arrogance lacks subjective initiative, it also counts as a kind of daily routine, Arrogance bringing you to tour the fused universe.