In Gotham City, on a not-so-bright but still warm morning, Schiller put down his coffee cup and heard the clicking of his colleague Anna's high heels. Soon, a blonde U.S. sweetheart walked in with a dark expression and said, "Those damn lazy bums at the new student registration office took the day off. You go fill in for a day."
Schiller said, "I'll go right away. This coffee is on you."
"You'll never get to flirt with me!" Anna roared, but Schiller happily walked out of the cafe with his coffee, glanced at Gotham City's perpetually cloudy sky, and began his fifth day there.
In his previous life, Schiller was a Psychologist. After a plane crash, he was thrown into this City with a damnably simple folk custom. Fortunately, he was neither a hero nor a villain, but a leisurely and stable university teacher, and it was his old profession: Professor of Psychology.
Just as Schiller was happily anticipating another day of slacking off, the system in his mind chimed, displaying: "Peter Parker has sent a chat request."
As Schiller walked towards the registration office, he replied in his mind, "What's up, Peter?"
"Hey! I'm going to intern at Osborn tomorrow! You don't know how rare this opportunity is for me! And Gwen… I mean, she's going too, and we'll be together, it's awesome! We can discuss genome helicases, those awesome big machines…"
Schiller silently thought to himself, 'No girl wants to discuss that with you, Little Spider, snap out of it.'
Ever since he arrived here, Schiller had gained a "U.S. Comic Chat System." The first person he unlocked was Little Spider, Peter Parker. This chatterbox had been rambling to him for four and a half days about how much he liked Gwen, wanted to pursue her, but was too afraid—the typical adolescent emotional journey.
While encouraging Peter, Schiller arrived at the registration office. He sat down to organize the forms, waiting for the new students to report.
However, it was strange. Schiller had been here for so many days, but he hadn't seen the Batman signal light up, nor had any villains caused trouble. Life was so peaceful, as if the local customs were truly simple.
Soon, students began to arrive one after another, carrying piles of materials. What Schiller had to do was register their names and dorm rooms.
"Next!" Schiller shouted without lifting his head. A whole line had already formed in front of him. A boy sat down, and Schiller asked, "Name?"
"Bruce Wayne."
"Bruce… Male Dormitory Building 2, Room 306…" Schiller wrote it down to himself, then suddenly his pen tip paused. He subtly looked up and scrutinized the boy, who had blue eyes and black hair and was very handsome. Schiller said, "Wayne?"
"Indeed, I am Wayne."
Schiller repeated, "Male Dormitory Building 2, Room 306. Didn't you hear clearly? Take the form and leave quickly, everyone behind you is waiting."
This time it was Bruce's turn to be stunned. He picked up the form and asked, "Which department are you a Professor in?"
"Psychology. Don't take my class, kid," Schiller said.
Bruce was intrigued by him, but Schiller was helpless. So Batman had just started college! No wonder there was no Batman signal!
Why was he so unlucky? Batman was going to college, and he transmigrated to become a college teacher!
Schiller had a very clear understanding of the danger level of the Batman series, especially this 18-year-old brat Bruce, a despicable playboy!
Bruce said nothing. He picked up the form, thanked him, and left. After finishing the new student registration work, Schiller was about to go back to the Professor's apartment to sleep when he suddenly remembered he'd left his keys in the office. As he went up the office stairs, he ran into a tall, thin Professor. Schiller said, "Hi, Jonathan, are you also here to get something?"
"Yes, did you forget your keys in the office again?"
"Oh, right. Anna rushed me too much today, so I forgot when I left. I'll be right down after I get them. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
The instant Schiller and Jonathan passed each other, a chilling coldness crept up his spine. Jonathan… Jonathan Crane!
The supervillain Scarecrow!
Jonathan, with his back to Schiller, didn't see Schiller turn around and stare intently at him. If he hadn't learned today that Batman had just started college, he wouldn't have remembered. Memories of Scarecrow flooded his mind—Gotham University Psychology Professor, Dr. of Psychology and Chemistry, the future Scarecrow who would use Fear Toxin for Carnage, Jonathan Crane!
Schiller took a deep breath and continued upstairs with an unchanged pace. The current Jonathan was not yet Scarecrow, because Bruce was only 18 and hadn't graduated from college, so he hadn't become Batman yet. Jonathan wasn't a World-renowned Psychologist either; he was only slightly famous within the academic field of "Emotional Psychology." Schiller was even more famous than him now…
Schiller was now a World-class master of Criminal Psychology and Abnormal Psychology, a renowned psychological researcher, and Gotham's most famous Psychology Professor.
Therefore, Jonathan's attitude just now was quite good… But what was the use of that! Schiller couldn't develop toxins! He was a pure liberal arts student, while Jonathan was also a Dr. of Chemistry!
It really was true: 'Learn math, physics, and chemistry, and you can go anywhere in the World without fear'…
Schiller was well aware that Gotham City's grand stage, the bloody curtain, was about to rise. And now he was just a powerless scholar, a weakling who struggled to move a chair, a purely intellectual talent. Let alone encountering these famous supervillains, even the background characters from the comics, those thugs, could easily kill him with a gun!
And his worries became reality. Early the next morning, Schiller, who was routinely slacking off at the school's Psychology clinic, had just brewed his coffee when he heard a crisp knock on the door.
"Professor Schiller, may I come in?"
Schiller took a deep breath. This broken Psychology clinic actually had students coming? I'm only here to slack off, okay? Do you understand paid leave?
Outside the door was Bruce Wayne!
Schiller could only grit his teeth and say, "Please sit, student. What psychological problem do you need to consult about?"
"Can't I just come to chat if I don't have a problem?" Wayne spread his hands, revealing his playboy demeanor.
Schiller pushed up his glasses. He said, "This is a place for students to receive psychological counseling. If you don't have a problem to consult about, then you can leave."
Schiller swore his tone was so dry and perfunctory it was worse than an airplane announcement, but Bruce still asked with interest, "Alright, then I'll ask a question: What do you think is the meaning of life?"
Schiller took a deep breath and opened the U.S. Comic Chat System in his mind. He remembered that he had received a random chat opportunity because he had previously guided Peter Parker's relationship problems. He quickly typed in his mind:
"A brat whose parents are dead, who swore to take revenge on all criminals, and who disguises himself with a playboy exterior, is now asking me what the meaning of life is. I want him to stop bothering me in the future. How should I answer him? Waiting online, it's urgent."
Soon, a reply appeared: "I am a teacher. Regarding your question, I believe you should maintain full patience and provide psychological counseling to this unfortunate child from two aspects…"
Schiller looked at the chat box name: Charles Xavier! Professor X!
No wonder, the founder and headmaster of the X-Mansion, truly his old profession.
However, Schiller, paying attention to the avatar, noticed that Charles's avatar was clickable. He clicked Charles's avatar in his mind, and a dialog box popped up: "First chat can randomly copy one ability (low-level) of the chat object. Do you want to copy?"
Schiller clicked "Yes" without understanding why.
"Telepathy (low-level) loaded."
Schiller felt a blur before his eyes, and suddenly countless Noise came, countless unfamiliar emotions rushed into his mind, making him unable to distinguish them. After adapting for a while, Schiller realized that he had indeed gained a part of Professor X's ability.
Telepathy was Charles's signature skill. With a brainwave Amplifier, he could even brainwash all of humanity, but Schiller only obtained an extremely weakened version. He could only vaguely sense the other person's emotions and some thoughts that suddenly flashed in their mind, unable to directly and clearly read minds.
However, this was enough. Schiller focused his attention on Bruce and found that his emotions were very chaotic now. Yes, he wasn't as cynical as he appeared.
According to Batman's life experience, he should have just returned from his studies abroad and entered university only to maintain Bruce's identity disguise. The real Batman already deeply hated this utterly boring daily life. Every drop of his blood was screaming "Revenge," "Revenge on those criminals."
In Bruce's eyes, the Professor opposite him suddenly seemed to fall into a quiet contemplation. Schiller had a pair of slightly unusual gray eyes. When Bruce was stared at by these eyes, his keen intuition began to sound an alarm—he seemed to be being spied upon, seen through.
Then, Schiller said, "Perhaps you have been waiting for someone to give you this answer, a definitive answer. If you have more things to do after getting this answer and won't bother me again, then I am willing to give you this answer."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Revenge," Schiller said, staring into Bruce's eyes. Under Bruce's suddenly dark expression, he stared directly at him and repeated, "The meaning of life is revenge."
Ignoring Bruce's face, which had turned as gloomy as the Gotham sky, Schiller said, "Are you satisfied, Mr. Wayne?"