Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics-Chapter 4597 - 3678: Bat Night Banquet (Part 2)

Having a meal together was just the first course of the party. They were going to spend almost the entire evening together. After dining, it was time to exchange Christmas gifts. Most Batmans had prepared gifts for Thomas and Martha, and Thomas and Martha had prepared gifts for them as well.

"Let me guess," Bruce said, holding the gift box. "A box of chocolate marshmallows from Ville Candy Company, a limited edition car model toy for this year, a picture book of 'Peter Pan' or 'Little Elves'. Otherwise, it's a ticket to Gotham Playground."

"Maybe it's all of them," Big Adventure Batman said, examining his box from every angle. "There's definitely candy inside. I guess it's not marshmallows; it might be gummies made in Germany."

"Absolutely not," Prime Universe Batman dismissed this guess. He said, "They would never give us a chance to visit the dentist. I've never eaten gummies."

"Me neither," Bruce nodded, "The sweetest thing I've ever eaten was the cookies Selina bought."

He was the first to open his gift box and let out a cry of surprise. The Batmans around him craned their necks to look over.

"A puzzle of Aisha!!!" Bruce opened the box, took out the package, and said, "Oh my, when did they take this photo? Isn't it when they took Aisha to the beach? This is awesome! I'll put it together and hang it on the wall of our wedding room!"

"Custom-made?" Big Adventure Batman said with some surprise. "Seems more creative than what Clark and Diana give. Those two only give mugs or books. Let me see..."

He opened the box, paused for a moment, then quickly closed the lid again. The Batmans nearby were paying attention, but most people were still guessing what was in their boxes. His actions didn't attract much notice.

Only Bruce kept nudging closer, asking, "What on earth is it? I showed you mine, so you'd better show me yours."

Big Adventure Batman spoke in a low voice, "Three movie tickets, seems to be for some animated film. Don't make a fuss, someone's allergic to movies here..."

Bruce displayed an expression of understanding. He too lowered his voice and said, "They should have given you a Zorro sword or his mask. That would be super cool!"

"They've given that before," Big Adventure Batman said. "I even have a signed mask. I bet most of the Batmans here don't have one..."

Prime Universe Batman also unwrapped his gift box. Bruce glanced over and saw it seemed to be a letter, signed by Thomas. Prime Universe Batman didn't read it immediately, just put the letter away.

Each Batman received something slightly different. Clearly, Thomas and Martha did their homework. Based on each one's unique upbringing, they gave different gifts.

The Batmans here now are all Bruce Waynes. Most of them spent a happy childhood with Thomas and Martha. Even if the details differ slightly, there's too many shared memories. Sitting around the table and fireplace, reminiscing about the good old days.

Prime Universe Batman, however, moved to the back of the banquet hall, standing by the window gazing out at the garden. At this moment, it was still snowing lightly outside, and a massive oak tree in the center was hung with fairy lights. The colorful lights blurred in the misty glass, like fireworks constantly blooming.

"It's a good day," Arkham Batman approached and said. "Why are you standing here? Not warming by the fire?"

"I'm not cold." Prime Universe Batman turned his head to look at him, asking somewhat surprisedly, "How much have you had to drink? You look like you're drunk."

"A bit," Arkham Batman said, leaning against the door frame of the back door. "I was afraid I'd say something foolish in front of them, so I came over here to sober up. But you've only had half a glass, why are you standing here too?"

"I'm just thinking," Prime Universe Batman said. "Thomas and Martha don't seem like the type who'd want to throw this kind of party. I'm wondering who suggested it to them."

"You don't think this is good?"

"No," Prime Universe Batman shook his head slowly. He looked through the blurry reflection in the glass at the lively atmosphere inside the banquet hall, where some isotopes were already swaying in drunkenness.

"I think it's very good," Prime Universe Batman said. "That's why I want to know who I should thank."

Arkham Batman squinted slightly, looking as if he was trying to think, but his brain wasn't actually working. He muttered a few words and locked his gaze onto a figure.

"I guess it's him," Arkham Batman was looking at Bruce.

"I think so too," Prime Universe Batman nodded and said. "But I feel he doesn't just want us to experience some cheerful Christmas atmosphere. Have you heard any news from across the cosmos lately?"

"The cosmic news I've heard lately is all from NASA. They need funding," Arkham Batman sighed deeply. "Every department needs funding. So do I."

"Sounds like being president isn't a good gig. How have you been lately?"

"On the whole, not bad, better than before. I'm the best president in American history, I mean— the one with the best martial arts skills. No senator can beat me. This makes it particularly smooth when implementing certain policies. Haha..."

"You should really sober up," Prime Universe Batman said. "Beating up senators can't solve the problems. ... Yes, beating up senators can solve the senators, but you can't solve all the senators... Well, you can. God bless America."

"What are they talking about over there?" Bruce, holding a glass of wine, looked at the Primary Universe Batman standing by the window and said, "It can't be anything good. Maybe they're lobbying our Mr. President to add a bat to the American flag."

"He hasn't done that yet?" Injustice Batman put down his wine glass, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and said, "I thought it would be the first thing he'd do after taking office. If it were me, I would do it."

"That's why you can't be president, buddy," said a Batman wearing a dark blue cape. "A real president would turn the 50 stars on the flag into 50 bats. That shows true leadership power."

"You're really quite drunk," Bruce said, taking another sip of wine and leaning against the armrest of the sofa. "The 50 stars represent the 50 states. Printing just one bat would signal that all power belongs to the president. It's a political statement."

"You're all drunk," Ravaging Batman said, curling his huge body in a single sofa, "Instead of changing the flag, shouldn't we change the name of the country first? We should rename it the United States of Bat, abbreviated as USB."

"Sounds very high-tech," Bruce commented.

"Seems like data transfer would be very smooth," Beihan commented.

"There's only one problem," said the Batman with the dark blue cape, "What should we call the USB then?"

"Of course, it's Bat USB!" the others said in unison.

It wasn't until everyone had passed out on the sofas that the party came to its real end. Martha's complaints about the party having too much alcohol were drowned out by the nonsensical chatter of a bunch of drunk bats, the music from the Batmonster Vehicle, and the snoring of two Tyrannosaurus Rexes.

"What a mess," Thomas said, looking at the drunks sprawled across the floor. "The only good news is that from their drinking capacity, they don't normally drink so much. My God, thank goodness I chose to be a doctor rather than a teacher back then..."

Alfred was trying hard to drag a certain Batman off the ground but failed, so he said to Thomas, "Come over and give me a hand, sir. We need to get them all upstairs before dawn. This is a big project."

Thomas quickly went over to help and then said, "We have Batmobiles, so why isn't there a Batplane?"

"Very creative thought, sir. But even if there was one, right now he'd be flying around in the air and throwing up."

Looking at the Batmonster Vehicle leaking oil in the backyard, Thomas shook his head somewhat helplessly. At this moment, a figure walked out of the garden; it was Primary Universe Batman. He seemed completely sober.

"Oh, thank God I have a reliable son! Hurry up and come over, Bruce. Help move them upstairs."

Primary Universe Batman paused in his steps. He said, "I think we can let them lie here. They won't catch a cold anyway. Tomorrow morning, I'll tell whoever wakes up first that everyone else is dead. Maybe that will make them realize the downside of heavy drinking more profoundly. What do you think, Dad?"

"From a doctor's standpoint, I quite agree with your statement. But have you considered, what if the first one to wake up is a Tyrannosaurus? He'll tear this place apart, and your mother will plant both of us in the flower pots! Hurry up and give me a hand!"

Primary Universe Batman had no choice but to go over. Martha hurriedly came downstairs and said, "Give them some sobering pills first, otherwise, by midnight, half of them will start throwing up. Thomas, you better not ask me how I know this. Remember my favorite dark green silk sheet?"

"Don't say that, the kid is right here!"

In all the chaos, they got all the Batmans into the rooms. Thanks to Battleworld's magical construction system, Wayne Manor had several additional floors built on top, giving each Batman a room.

"When Bruce gave me advice, why didn't I think I'd have a bunch of drunk sons!" Thomas leaned against the staircase handrail, panting, "Did you read the letter I gave you, Bruce?"

Standing by the fireplace, drying his clothes, Primary Universe Batman said, "I will, Dad."

"Why don't you look so happy?"

"If you can allow yourself to have many drunk sons, maybe you can allow yourself to have one introverted son."

"Is that all?"

"I guess I wasn't exactly lively as a child either," Primary Universe Batman said, sitting down on the sofa. "I don't praise all this because I find it unpleasant, just that I'm not used to being overjoyed."

"Not even after getting drunk?"

"I usually choose not to get drunk."

"Alright. If that's who you are." Thomas stretched and said, "I'm going upstairs to rest; you get some early sleep too."

After everyone left, Primary Universe Batman sat by the fireplace and started reading the letter. Then the next morning, all the now-sober Batmans saw the Primary Universe Batman lying on the sofa by the fireplace, with scattered empty bottles of wine everywhere.