Chapter 4987: Advance on York, Advance (Twenty-Three)

Before Shiler could ask, Selina started muttering: "Actually, I never seriously discussed this with him. I just started complaining to him after certain people annoyed me with their stupidity."

"Bruce isn't the type where you complain someone's terrible and he tells you to let it go or be more tolerant." Selina continued: "I hate that kind of person. My friends wouldn't say that. They'd carefully help me analyze the person, see exactly which part of them I hate most, and how much longer I can tolerate them — whether to kick them out of my life now or wait a bit."

"Bruce analyzed a lot of them, more than anyone else, and then he summarized a pattern: I can't stand people who have no talent but hold great power."

"If someone has all kinds of flaws but excels in their professional field, I have enormous tolerance for them. But the reverse doesn't work — for instance, someone perfect in every other way but who screws up in their own professional field, I just can't stand them."

Selina took a deep breath, then said: "Bruce told me this is a projection of some regret psychology of mine."

"Although I always say I didn't have to become a cat burglar, that I had other choices back then, deep down I know that while I say I had choices, being a cat burglar was actually the best choice. Other jobs would probably only let me barely scrape by, and they'd be just as illegal. Being a cat burglar at least pays well and satisfies my hobby. That's how it is in the slums — being a thief counts as a pretty good career path."

"But occasionally, when stealing jewelry, I'd wonder what job I could do to afford that kind of jewelry. Of course sometimes I knew what the jewelry owners did for a living, but I didn't know the specifics of those professions, didn't know if I could handle them, so it was just idle wondering."

"But after actually entering high society, I discovered those things weren't that hard. I could do them better than most people. In other words, if I hadn't been born in the slums — didn't even need to be born rich, just a normal family that could put me through high school — maybe I could've taken another career path and someday bought that jewelry through my own effort."

"So I really can't stand people who do that kind of work and still mess it up completely. I'd often think 'if it were me back then' or 'if younger me were doing it,' and then hate them even more."

Shiler smiled and said: "That's not wrong either. When you realize the importance of your starting point, you understand better just how much your talent could be amplified on a better platform. And comparing that to your own past resume, regret and heartache are inevitable."

"Is my judgment right?" Selina said, "Or am I just too arrogant?"

"Judging by your past record, ma'am, you're absolutely not an arrogant person." Shiler shook his head and said, "Which is harder — reaching the top from the bottom of the slums, or reaching the top of the wealthy class?"

"It seems like each has its own difficulties, but you went from the bottom of the slums to the top of the wealthy class. Even counting Bruce as a factor, that completely qualifies as a miracle."

"The problems those people face — young you or current you might truly solve them effortlessly. Having this regret psychology is perfectly normal."

Shiler wasn't exaggerating. Although on the surface it looked like Selina entered high society mainly by dating Bruce, the problem was how Batman met her and how he got captivated by her.

First, Batman doesn't handle every petty theft — he couldn't possibly cover it all. He met Catwoman because she was a top-tier cat burglar handling major cases that all kinds of police and detectives couldn't solve, which was why Batman had to step in.

If she were just an ordinary pickpocket on some slum street, she might steal for a lifetime and never cross paths with Batman. After all, thieves are the most harmless type of criminal in Gotham. Batman can barely keep up catching heavy felons — how could he manage pickpockets?

So, from slum-bottom orphan to criminal underworld top talent, every step was Selina climbing on her own. That alone proves her ability.

Then there's the heaviest factor: Batman and criminals are mortal enemies, yet he still got captivated by Catwoman. Even this universe's Bruce, when he met Selina, was still Batman — and he still ended up with her.

And Selina's later success in Hollywood proved she truly is a very charming person. Speech, movement, appearance, demeanor, conduct, temperament, personality — all make people like her easily. That's also a talent.

So most difficulties in this world don't count as hard to solve in her eyes. Sometimes she just can't be bothered to think, but if she really puts her mind to it, she really can do it. Whether solving problems at the source through force, unraveling the truth through wisdom and intuition, or simply charming people into submission — it's never hard to solve.

It can be said that if she weren't born in the slums but in an ordinary middle-class family, she might have become a gymnastics champion, a movie star, even a Wall Street elite, and indeed could've legally bought jewelry with her own income.

Although in her eyes legality might not matter — otherwise she wouldn't have stolen back then. But people always beautify the path they didn't take. Not to mention other things, at least legally bought jewelry can be worn openly, while a cat burglar's loot can only be secretly admired alone — sharing it with anyone carries risk. That alone is much better.

Selina propped her cheek with her hand, fingers taking turns tapping lightly on her face: "Bruce lets me boldly speak my mind when he annoys me, enjoying the thrill of intellectually crushing someone. I have no interest in that, don't want to waste words on that bunch."

"That is indeed a method." Shiler said, "But you also have no obligation to give those people free help. Since you're already familiar with high society, why not engage in some interest exchange?"

"What do you mean?" Selina asked.

"Wisdom has value." Shiler said, "Of course not just wisdom — your beauty, singing, acting, even your thieving skills can all bring you benefits. Wisdom is just more concealed. Have you ever tried giving people advice?"

Selina thought for a moment and said: "I have a few friends in Hollywood too. They often face annoying things — harassment, unpaid wages, being replaced at the last minute, etc. When they ask for help, I occasionally help them."

"Of course, since I have my own work, I don't have time to go beat up the people causing problems, so I give them advice. The vast majority work very well and solve the trouble quickly. They're very grateful and introduce job opportunities to me. Is that the interest exchange you mean?"

Shiler understood. No wonder Selina did so well in Hollywood. Shiler remembered she hadn't been in Hollywood long before landing a supporting role in a famous franchise. You have to know, thousands of young men and women flock to Hollywood yearly chasing stardom — even bit parts of bit parts have countless people fighting for them, and nepotism cases are innumerable. Selina had barely arrived and got such a role — that practically counts as a resource-backed actress.

Back then she might not have known Hollywood's unspoken rules, but purely by talent and instinctive socializing, she exchanged for such a precious opportunity.

"You can do that now too." Shiler said, "Pick some troubles high society people face that you can solve, help them quietly, and they'll naturally reciprocate in the areas you want."

"That's the problem." Selina frowned slightly, "I don't even know what I want. You want me to have them give me jewelry?"

"That's not impossible either. Some jewelry is held by private collectors — if they don't bring it out, you'll never see it in your lifetime."

Selina's throat bobbed, seeming very interested. She said: "If I help them, I get to see it?"

"Not just see it — they might even give it to you." Shiler smiled and said, "If you refuse, they'll think you're putting on airs instead."

Selina laughed too: "True. People I've helped before all rushed to give me things — I couldn't even refuse."

"In that case, you won't feel so annoyed by those incompetent in their professions anymore. On the contrary, you'll like them more and more. If they weren't not smart enough to solve their own troubles, you wouldn't get those good things."

Selina suddenly realized, slapping the table: "Exactly right, Professor! That way they become my resources — like gold mines. I can mine as much as I want..."

Selina seemed immersed in her fantasy of drowning in jewelry, spacing out. Shiler silently ate his breakfast. After a while, Selina wiped her mouth and said: "Sorry, Professor, you eat slowly. I'm going back to my room first."

She bolted off like a streak of smoke. Shiler shook his head — good thing it was him here today, only teaching the legal first half. If Greed were here, he'd definitely have taught the whole package in one breath: "how to create troubles stupid people can't solve" and "how to play both ends against the middle as the house." With Catwoman's instant comprehension, Bruce handles the killing, Selina handles the burying — the multiverse might gain another Mr. and Mrs. Shi Misi.

Shiler leisurely finished breakfast, intending to return to his room for a rest, when he saw Bruce rushing out in a hurry.

Shiler was puzzled — even if Selina had an epiphany, it shouldn't be this fast...

"Bruce." Shiler stopped him, "Where are you going?"

Bruce looked harried: "Aisha caused trouble. The Revival League is calling parents..."

"She caused trouble — what trouble?"

"Don't know yet. Only know the other kid who caused trouble with her is named Franklin!"

Finished speaking, Bruce sprinted to the car, which sped off in a cloud of dust.

Shiler watched the distant car and shook his head — if the Revival League likes calling parents this much, they'll probably be busy until the wedding ends.

Shiler returned to his room. Remembering Peter and Pyro fighting mutants at a bar, he wanted to check which world that bar belonged to, and instinctively shouted: "Brainiac."

Then he realized — this is the merged universe, not his own. So he picked up his phone, and the next second, the familiar beeping sounded.