It was a morning in Gotham City that was neither clear nor warm, with a cold wind and humid fog creeping through the window cracks onto the balcony, condensing into a series of small water droplets that glittered under the lamplight.
Schiller sat at his desk in the office, looking at the students' papers. After a while, a document was thrown onto the adjacent desk. Schiller shifted his gaze from the assignments in his hand and turned to read the document.
"A campus-wide alcohol ban? Which little genius is looking for trouble this time?" Schiller asked.
His colleague, Anna, stood in front of the water dispenser, waiting for the water to fill, and said with her hands on her hips, "Apparently, it's our genius new principal. Rather than a genius, I'd say he's ignorant of his own limitations."
Before Schiller could ask her further, Mrs. Mafie, the principal's assistant, moved her somewhat plump body and knocked on the door to enter. She said, "Professor Schiller, the principal wants to see you."
As soon as Schiller stood up, Mrs. Mafie walked over to him, gently patted his arm, and whispered, "He's quite a handful. You'd best be careful."
Schiller arrived at the principal's office. The new principal had only arrived a few days ago. His name was Sheldon Smith, a White man who supported the Democratic Party. It was said that he was formerly a leader in the academic affairs office at Princeton University, and no one knew why he would so foolishly choose to become the principal of Gotham University.
As soon as Schiller walked in, Sheldon tapped the desk, gesturing for him to sit down. He was a very typical White leader, looking energetic, like a lion. He said, "I think you should have already seen the document I issued. Yes, a campus-wide alcohol ban is imperative."
"I truly don't know how this school could allow brewery trucks to drive directly to the campus gate. This is too absurd. If this is the mess the previous principal left behind, then I will certainly clean it up, right now!"
"You know, in this situation, we must adopt a tough stance. According to your resume, Professor Schiller, I imagine dealing with a group of children won't be harder than dealing with serial killers, will it?"
Schiller understood the implied meaning in his words: Although I want to make a big impression as the new principal, you need to be my pawn.
Schiller smiled and said, "Of course, of course…"
Then his tone slightly cooled, and he said, "In fact, dealing with anyone in this World is not harder than dealing with those lunatics involved in serial murder cases."
The principal detected the warning in his tone. He was not a fool, at least smarter than the previous principal. He said, "I've heard about the previous turmoil in the school, but that has nothing to do with me. This place needs a new order, and it also needs new managers."
Schiller revealed a smile. He said, "Your ambitions are grand, to establish a new order in Gotham. I almost want to applaud this goal."
"Not Gotham, but Gotham University. This will be my territory. I don't want to say any polite words about being responsible for the students. I just want to say, the former principal was a cowardly idiot, so he's gone, but I'm different from him!"
As he spoke, he made various aggressive gestures, occasionally pinching his fingertips together to tap the table for emphasis, a typical U.S. politician's demeanor.
Schiller glanced at his watch. He said, "My class is about to start, but since it's a task given to me by the new principal, I will certainly complete it perfectly."
After speaking, he left. The new principal watched his back, his expression not good. His intuition told him that this person would not be so easy to deal with.
The next day, a notice of withdrawal was delivered to Bruce Wayne's desk.
It read:
"…Due to your repeated alcohol consumption on campus and organizing parties involving alcoholic beverages, it has been verified that at least 50 students have consumed alcoholic beverages paid for by you. I regret to inform you, Mr. Wayne, that we will revoke your student status, and you must vacate the student apartment within three days. —Professor Schiller Rodriguez."
The next day, Sheldon held his forehead in his office, clearly a bit panicked. He said to Schiller, "What I wanted wasn't… tough. Oh, yes, it's indeed tough, but, I mean, not this kind of tough, this is too tough…"
The new principal cursed inwardly, what kind of lunatic is this? How dare he write a withdrawal notice to the heir of the Wayne Family? This is Gotham University's biggest benefactor! Donating billions of dollars to Gotham University every year!
If Wayne was gone, what kind of principal would he be?!
And it was said that Bruce had always been a mess, not at all decent. He didn't seem like an easy person to get along with in any way. Was he really not afraid of offending the World's richest man at all?!
Schiller still wore his emotionless smiling face. He said, "I believe that to correct an over-correction is necessary. If we even dare to expel Bruce Wayne, then absolutely no one will disobey your alcohol ban, will they?"
Sheldon opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word. Now it was difficult for him to describe his complex feelings. He couldn't find words to refute Schiller. In fact, Schiller made perfect sense.
The one who drank the most, dared to drink during the day, and dared to cause a drunken ruckus on campus after drinking, was none other than Bruce Wayne, wasn't it? And Schiller was right, if Bruce was expelled, then other students would surely behave like quails.
But the problem was, which principal of a private university would dare to expel his own board chairman???
The principal didn't dare, but Schiller did. He couldn't wait for Bruce to get out of there, otherwise, if Gotham University got hit by the Joker one day, it would be a huge problem again.
Sheldon wiped the sweat from his forehead. He said, "First, let's retrieve this withdrawal notice…"
"I never take back letters I've sent out, but as principal, you can make a call and have him personally deliver the letter to my office."
Schiller also imitated Sheldon and tapped the table.
"Mr. Principal, I am a teacher. Do you expect me to bow and scrape to a student who makes mistakes? How to curry favor with the board is the principal's job, not mine. My duty is to teach and educate. I don't care if he's Wayne or anyone else, no one can act wildly in my class."
"By the way, please tell him for me, if I smell even a hint of alcohol in my class in the future, I will directly kick him out. Don't say I didn't warn him."
Crazy! Crazy! Sheldon thought.
What kind of lunatic is Schiller? Why does he always pick on Bruce? That's the World's richest man!
"Your stubbornness shocks me." After a while, Sheldon said with a gloomy face, "I hope you can maintain your tough style."
Schiller smiled and said, "I will. In fact, in countless major cases, I have faced those heinous psychopaths and lunatics. Compared to them, Bruce is like a newborn foal. I hope he can at least stand up in front of me before he learns to run."
The principal looked at Schiller. Schiller's complexion was morbidly pale, and his gray eyes, hidden behind his glasses, seemed shrouded in an unyielding gray mist.
After Schiller left, the principal pressed the switch of the voice recorder under his desk. He thought, a pampered playboy couldn't possibly tolerate such insults from a teacher. The words Schiller said today should best be carved on his tombstone.
If a withdrawal notice wasn't enough to infuriate Bruce, then he would add more fuel to the Fire. What would Bruce think after listening to these recordings?
Sheldon thought, such an impulsive and young tycoon, no matter what abilities Schiller possessed, he would never be able to contend with the power of capital. The Wayne Family had ten thousand ways to make a Professor disappear from the World. Even if Bruce wasn't that cruel, he wouldn't let someone who repeatedly insulted him have an easy time.
After Bruce received this recording, his expression was very strange. He wasn't angry. Yes, he wasn't angry at all.
In fact, even if this person wasn't Schiller, Bruce wouldn't be too angry, because he wasn't as impulsive and reckless as he appeared.
But after listening to the recording, he actually felt relieved. Fortunately, Schiller didn't throw any more headache-inducing, difficult-to-answer questions at him, nor did he use that even worse tone he usually used when hounding Bruce for homework.
Bruce knew this reaction was wrong. How could his standards be so low? Shouldn't he only be happy if Schiller praised him?
No, no, what does that matter?
Bruce threw the voice recorder onto the desk. He ran his hand through his hair. He had to admit, after listening, he couldn't help but make associations. Perhaps it was because Batman had been doing well in Gotham lately, which was why the Professor's attitude had changed.
Of course, he was Batman after all, and soon, he began to think about serious matters.
The principal's targeting of Schiller seemed not to be without reason. He appeared to have some additional information channels, knowing that Schiller had participated in the previous principal's trial.
Bruce narrowed his eyes. Wanting to establish order at Gotham University was more like wanting to turn Gotham University into his personal domain, and a dangerous person like Schiller would naturally be his first target.
The next day, Schiller taught as usual, not even glancing at Bruce. He picked up his textbook and began to lecture.
Sheldon, who could manipulate the classroom cameras, couldn't help but frown. Bruce actually didn't go to trouble Schiller. What on earth was going on?
Bruce, disguised as a playboy, had caused plenty of trouble. He had beaten up several classmates alone. Although beating up a Professor was wrong, for the World's richest man, there was no one in this World he couldn't beat up, and no one he couldn't afford to compensate after beating up.
Then he saw an even more incredible scene: when collecting homework, Bruce actually handed in a stack of papers, and judging by the thickness, he probably really wrote 3,000 words.
When had Bruce ever handed in homework? Which Professor at Gotham University dared to accept his homework? Which course at Gotham University dared not give him a full score?
Thinking this, the principal opened the Gotham University credit system. He found that in Schiller's Psychology class, Bruce's homework score was less than two points, and his overall grade was at the bottom. The teacher's comment column read:
"As a rich man, he is indeed conscientiously enjoying life, but as a student, he is truly terrible."
The principal's hands were trembling slightly. This was not some internal website, but a website that all students had to check at the end of the semester. They could clearly see the comments every Professor gave them, and they could also leave comments for all Professors.
The principal thought this, and he scrolled down the mouse wheel. Then he suddenly saw that the comment Bruce left for Schiller was:
"I promise I will complete all my homework next semester. If I do so, can my homework score be increased to two points? Or even 1.8 is fine. If I can get over 90 points on my final exam, I sincerely hope my credits won't be completely deducted, even if only one point is deducted."
Isn't this just a rehash of "Teacher, I'm terrible, please help me"?
The principal's face darkened, and he slammed the computer shut. His heart was filled with frustration. How many people wanted to get involved with the Wayne Group? This would bring them huge benefits, and the principal was certainly one of them.
But it seemed he had no chance. Bruce didn't care if he was the principal of Gotham University. To Bruce, the principal was just a position that could be changed at will.
But it seemed that Professor Schiller had indeed tamed the World's richest man. Sheldon thought, no matter what, he must remove Schiller. To advance further, he must have an irreplaceable position with Bruce, and Schiller was his biggest stumbling block.
On the other side, Bruce began to feel dissatisfied with the new principal.
Because when he went to return the withdrawal notice to Schiller, Schiller almost had the words "Get out of here quickly" written all over his face.
Before this new principal arrived, everything had been going smoothly. Whether it was communication with Schiller or cooperation with Gordon, these were social interactions very beneficial to Batman's cause.
As a result, the new principal suddenly came up with some alcohol ban, which gave Schiller another excuse to make him withdraw. Bruce would naturally feel dissatisfied.