Perhaps because all of New York was still immersed in the grief of losing a dear friend, even the security guards at New York University seemed dispirited.
They kept scrolling through their phones, reading everything related to Spider-Man, murmuring unconsciously,
“He helped me once…”
As a result, none of them noticed that a figure had already entered the building by an almost unbelievable method.
Wayne understood their nostalgia for Spider-Man, as well as the respect they held for him.
But none of that had anything to do with him.
What Wayne needed was to use the computers here to create a flawless identity for himself.
Pulling down the brim of his hood, Wayne moved through the building with ease.
Even though he had never been to New York University before, he effortlessly avoided every surveillance camera.
In the shortest possible time, he found exactly what he was looking for— the university’s computer lab.
At the moment, however, the lab was locked.
The electronic lock at the entrance silently informed anyone wishing to enter that it was no mere decoration.
Clearly, the university had no intention of letting overly energetic students sneak in at night for a marathon study session, especially with Christmas just around the corner.
In response, Wayne calmly took a small gadget from his utility belt.
He pressed it against the lock.
Without making him wait for more than a moment, the electronic lock clicked open.
After checking both directions, Wayne stepped into the computer lab.
Smooth and effortless.
Once he confirmed there wasn’t a single student trapped inside after accidentally sleeping through closing time, Wayne immediately got to work.
The computers here might not have been especially powerful, but they were more than sufficient for him to fabricate an identity without a single flaw.
In the dark computer room, the only light came from the monitor in front of Wayne.
His baseball cap, combined with the hood pulled over it, completely concealed his face from the security cameras.
The only sound echoing through the lab was the steady clatter of keyboard keys.
By the time the sun rose again,
Wayne had already finished everything he needed.
Once again, he found himself impressed by his current body.
Despite staying awake the entire night, he still felt completely refreshed.
And during that single night, he had prepared everything.
A legal identity.
A legal driver’s license.
A legitimate bank account.
Even a Social Security number.
There were even tax records on file with the IRS showing years of payments under his new identity.
“Mr. Kane, thank you very much for choosing our bank. You’ll always be one of our most valued clients.”
“Until next time.”
Wayne shook it before turning to leave.
After he was gone, several bank tellers couldn’t help chatting excitedly about the handsome customer.
A strikingly handsome—even downright attractive—man, dressed in clothes that were anything but fashionable.
The contrast was almost theatrical.
Only after the manager personally escorted Wayne out did the tellers finally stop talking.
The bank manager had been somewhat wary of the large amount of cash Wayne brought in.
In America, only a handful of people tended to deal in that much cash.
And none of them were the sort who lived openly in broad daylight.
Yet every document Wayne presented proved beyond doubt that he was an entirely legitimate citizen.
Even if the manager still had his doubts, he wasn’t about to refuse a perfectly legal customer making a substantial deposit.
By the time Wayne walked out of the last bank, he was no longer a bat wandering around with over a million dollars in cash on his back.
He was now Bruce Wayne— a millionaire.
Wayne’s next objective was perfectly clear.
He needed a proper wardrobe.
Standing on Gucci’s fitting platform,
Wayne allowed the tailor to take his measurements while asking a series of questions.
“Sir, is this suit for formal occasions or social events?”
“Social.”
“Daytime or evening?”
“One for daytime. One for evening.”
“What style?”
“Italian.”
“How many buttons?”
“Two.”
Since Wayne still didn’t have a permanent address, he would have to come back in a few days to pick them up.
Even so, he completely changed his outfit from head to toe.
The perfectly tailored three-piece suit transformed his entire appearance.
He looked like a completely different man.
Looking toward the memorial service for Spider-Man in the distance, where Spider-Man’s family was giving a speech,
Wayne remained silent and walked in the opposite direction from the crowd.
He now knew exactly what kind of world he had entered.
After all, a world featuring multiple Spider-Men was bound to attract attention.
He had once been one of those curious viewers himself.
Especially since it featured Gwen Stacy— who later became everyone’s favorite.
That made the story even more unforgettable.
But none of that had anything to do with him now.
Right now, he needed to settle everything concerning his own place in this world as quickly as possible.
He clearly wasn’t someone blessed with superpowers.
If he ever hoped to leave this world again, that was probably impossible.
All he could do now was begin a new life here.
Given the circumstances, his options were rather limited.
“Isn’t it a little small?”
Thomas looked through Wayne’s eyes at the house Wayne had chosen and frowned.
“If I’d inherited the Wayne family fortune along with the name, do you really think I’d be living here?”
Wayne was already quite satisfied with the detached house before him.
Although building his own Batcave beneath it in the future would be a massive undertaking.
Thomas fell silent.
It was true.
Even after he had stepped away from managing Wayne Enterprises, he had still lived in Wayne Manor.
Naturally, this house seemed rather cramped by comparison.
“At least I finally have somewhere to live.”
After parking his newly purchased car, Wayne stepped onto the lawn in front of his house and gazed into the distance.
“Even if this home happens to be very close to a certain troublesome matter.”
Several people were placing items outside the neighboring house.
Sometimes, the things you most want to avoid are the ones you inevitably run into.
Wayne had genuinely been trying to avoid getting involved with any of the Spider-Men.
But the only place he could find that suited his needs, was fully furnished, and wouldn’t strain his budget, was here.
A detached house less than a hundred meters from Spider-Man’s home.
Even now,
Wayne could already see the elderly woman with white hair being gently helped home.
Who else could she be but Aunt May?
“You really don’t want me to stay with you?”
Mary Jane looked at the now completely white-haired Aunt May with deep concern.
She truly worried about Aunt May’s emotional state.
After all, there could be few things more painful than an elderly person having to bury someone younger than themselves.