บท 227: Chapter 145: Cobblepot's Happy Life (Part 2)_2
However, the water supply in the renovated Living Hell wasn't as simple as the previous wells. The modern supply system was much more complex with a multitude of pipes and valves of the tap water system, and various types of water meter. These were all things that the mob just couldn't figure out.
Once, during a process of collecting water fees, the mob clashed with the local residents. It was only when Cobblepot glanced at the reading on the water meter that the potential conflict was defused.
Indeed, only Cobblepot knew how to read a water meter in the entire water supply management department.
Thus, he was promoted to the head of the tap water system in the Living Hell North Zone 2.
Even though it sounded absurd, that was the reality. Cobblepot's smooth path to promotion was not due to how formidable the young Penguin Man was, but mainly due to how inadequate everyone else was.
As a department head, life became much easier. Cobblepot didn't even need to wander around Living Hell anymore. He just needed to get the water meter readings to calculate precisely how much water each household used and how much protection fee they owed.
However, these breezy days didn't last long as the mobsters realized that relying on a genius like Cobblepot, who was a one in a hundred chance, to sustain the whole system, was not ideal.
So, they began to vigorously prepare for professional school.
According to the Second Law of Gotham, they only realized they lacked students after selecting a venue for the school and recruiting teachers.
The bosses of the mob certainly didn't have time to learn these things themselves as they had plenty on their plate already.
The middle management of the mob was generally clueless; some couldn't even spell their own names correctly. Moreover, they were all heavy smokers, drinkers, and gamblers, meaning their brains had stopped functioning years ago. Sending them to school would be a total squander.
Thus, they could only select from the second generation of gangsters. The children of young gang leaders, in their teens, were the preferred choices. Even ones with some strange hobbies were acceptable, as long as they hadn't ruined their brains through drinking or drug abuse.
Even with such lenient conditions, they struggled to recruit 20 students.
Unable to achieve this, the mobsters resorted to casting a wider net. They even picked up street urchins and sent them to school as long as they were roughly eligible.
Hence, the academically excellent Cobblepot was among the first batch of students at the vocational school. Furthermore, Cobblepot was the top student the moment he entered the class.
Having received a good education since childhood, Cobblepot excelled in areas like neat handwriting and proficient math. He even knew how to play a bit of the violin. In such an environment where all the students had the same background, Cobblepot stood out as truly exceptional.
However, to say his life was easy would be incorrect.
While he came to school, the tap water system in his jurisdiction still depended on him for maintenance. Cobblepot had to work overtime at night after spending the day studying. He had been living in the office these few days, not even getting the chance to go home.
Although he was no longer as destitute as a drenched chicken, he became a relentless overtime machine.
The main theme of Cobblepot's recent life could be summed up in one word, 'busy'.
As his assigned area's tap water system was well maintained and brought higher income compared to others, the mob boss planned to give him sector 3 as well.
Although the gang was a significant mob, it was far behind the Twelve Families and lacked the ability to hire professionals. The entire system relied solely on Cobblepot for maintenance.
That's when Cobblepot fully realized that office work was not necessarily easier than fieldwork.
But he could also be said to be in a good situation.
Cobblepot now thoroughly understood the saying 'knowledge changes fate'.
Because he was good at math, he got promoted all the way. Not to mention how he used to be bullied as a doorman, he now manages over 20 mob members.
Since Cobblepot didn't need anyone to help him with calculations, the rest of the gang only needed to do the legwork. They'd get a cut from the water fees they collected, which made many people love this job. Respect naturally comes along when they make money from Cobblepot.
Cobblepot now had his own small piece of turf. With a bit more savings, he and Madam Cobblepot could move out of their gloomy old house and settle into a nice apartment.
Also, most teachers invited by the mob found the situation quite vexing. They hadn't expected that their students would be drifting kids like this. So, in such an environment, Cobblepot, who was quick and focused in studying, became particularly adorable to them.
He looked gloomy? Who cares! Just look at this group of wastrels; having less than ten metal rings on their head was considered conservative.
Eagle hook nose? The fact that he didn't have a string of nose rings showed that he cared about his image.
Short? At least he was better than those who kept jumping around the classroom like they had thorns in their butt.
The image of an ideal student that teachers preferred often had a certain temperament, and Cobblepot happened to have it.
He appeared somewhat timid and spoke little, which made him an outcast among his peers. But to the teachers and professors, it was seen as the behavior of a well-behaved and diligent student.
As evidence suggests, in the future Gotham Grand Stage, Penguin Man, who was capable of competing with crazy geniuses like Joker, was undoubtedly excellent. Not only did the vocational school's courses fail to hinder him, but they also provided him with significant space to shine.
Even Victor saw Cobblepot differently and referred to him as an endive in a carrot patch.
Upon hearing Victor's evaluation, Shiller found it laughable and couldn't describe the strange feeling of a person who read the original comics, listening to Mr. Freeze referring to Penguin Man as a genius.
He didn't know whether it was destiny or mutual respect between villains. Either way, Victor and Cobblepot began to gradually appreciate each other.
In Victor's eyes, Cobblepot became an incorruptible and hardworking genius. In Cobblepot's eyes, Victor turned into an unbiased and good professor who doesn't discriminate against his students.
As for Shiller, he threw all the classroom management duties to Victor after he finished teaching the first lesson. Shiller spent all day drinking coffee and idling around in his office at Gotham University, which pissed Victor off and prompted him to call Shiller an old fox.
As for Cobblepot, he, of course, hasn't forgotten that Shiller was the distinguished guest he met back then.
At that time, Shiller's demeanor made him appreciate the profession of a professor. And now, Victor had proven that being well-read did make a difference.
Cobblepot even considered applying to university. When this idea first came to his mind, he found it quite ridiculous.
Applying to university? For every layman in Gotham, it was a distant dream.
But if there's one thing the future Penguin Man is not short of, it's ambition.
ของขวัญ
-- ได้รับของขวัญแล้ว สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง