Schiller’s serious Psychology consultation with Gordon ended the moment Bruce opened the door.
The three of them stared at each other, and Schiller asked, “Hmm, Mr. Wayne, I told you your Psychology consultation time for this week was already used up, didn’t I? Why didn’t you call ahead to ask if the Psychology consultation room was booked?”
Bruce was also a bit embarrassed. He really didn’t expect Gordon to be there. He was just there to deliver an invitation to Schiller. Bruce knew his identity with Gordon was likely exposed, but he also knew that Gordon hadn’t come to find him, hadn’t come to Wayne Manor to find Bruce, which meant that he didn’t actually trust Batman.
This made Bruce a little frustrated, because he knew Gordon was indeed a good Police officer, and now this clear stream in the Gotham Police Department didn’t trust him, and even had some inexplicable hostility towards him. Bruce knew that Batman had to do more, had to do truly useful things, to change this.
Schiller said, “It seems God also wants us to form an alliance. Since everyone is here, why don’t we have a frank discussion?”
“We all know what happened that night. I know that the three of us don’t completely trust each other, but that’s okay. We can still temporarily unite for a common goal, such as sending my colleague, Dr. Jonathan, who created the Fear Toxin, to jail.”
Gordon knew there was nothing left to hide. If he couldn’t resolve this matter, and his superior and the Director of the Police Department found out he was secretly investigating someone trying to hire Jonathan, he would surely die a miserable death. Whether it was Schiller or Bruce, Gordon could only hope they were at least neutral parties; even if they couldn’t offer help, they could at least give him some advice.
Gordon frowned and said, “The situation is definitely worse than you imagine. Victor… oh, who is now the Director of the Police Department, was once accused of trafficking high-concentration sedatives but was not sentenced. Instead, he rose steadily. Some speculate that Sal is behind him, but no one has any evidence. My direct superior, Lantaluosi, I once saw him frequenting a club where the Red Crow Gang was located, but these old Police officers are too cunning; no one can catch them.”
Schiller sighed. He knew Gordon was still trying to save some face for the Gotham Police Department. The Police Department in Gotham City, from top to bottom, was almost entirely pawns of the gangs. Even the kindest Police officer merely took money from the gangs and did less work.
Schiller asked, “Do you know Harvey? Harvey Bullock.”
Gordon frowned in thought for a moment and said, “Are you talking about that fat, smoking, alcoholic guy in the logistics department? What about him? Do you know him?”
Harvey Bullock is depicted in some Batman comics as a sloppy, smoking, alcoholic fat man, and Gordon wasn’t wrong. However, in most comic settings, he is a good Police officer who disguises himself as a bad Police officer, seemingly in cahoots with the gangs, but actually secretly helping Gordon. In one comic, he even teamed up with Gordon to defeat the Joker without Batman’s intervention.
Schiller said, “You know I’ve cooperated with the Police in several Cities. I heard he attended Police academy in Star City. An old Police officer from Metropolis once mentioned him to me. He said Harvey really wanted to be a good Police officer but was once retaliated against. Because of this, he had no choice but to disguise himself with a decadent appearance, even actively colluding with gangs to find protection.”
“Do you think he’s trustworthy?” Gordon asked.
Bruce interjected, “Fighting alone in the Gotham Police Department isn’t a solution. If you don’t have any allies there, it’s almost impossible for you to take down your superior and the Director of the Police Department, let alone the gangs behind them.”
“I think you could try to contact Harvey, but don’t tell him everything. I believe he must also be following this case. If he’s truly trustworthy, perhaps he’ll secretly provide you with some help. The two of you can perfectly work one in the open and one in the shadows, at least you can trip up your superior quite a bit.”
Gordon said, “I’ll go ask him.”
Bruce said, “As for your Director of the Police Department, I will investigate him. Of course, under the other identity you know.”
Bruce never intended to hide it from Gordon from the start, because he knew that getting help from a Police officer in the Police Department would be almost impossible without revealing his identity.
“And the gangs…” Schiller said, “Whether it’s Sal, whom you mentioned, or the Red Crow Gang, I can go take a look.”
Both of them stared at Schiller simultaneously. Gordon said hesitantly, “Professor, I know you’ve traveled to various Cities, but I must warn you, Gotham’s gangs are different from those in all other Cities. They are vicious beasts, completely disregarding any law or morality, a group of extremely ferocious jackals…”
“Yes, that’s why I’m going now. You know, if I drag it out for another two months, Gotham University will have final exams, and then I won’t have this much time.”
Schiller glanced at Bruce and continued, “After all, many students here would rather mess around in nightclubs while it’s still daylight than put more effort into studying.”
Bruce awkwardly rubbed his nose. Gordon looked him up and down and said, “Although I’m not much older than you, I still have to remind you, if you really want to keep being that tight-suited weirdo, you’d better rein in your private life. Half the beautiful women in all of Gotham City have been in your bed. Do you think there might be a few Black Widows among them?”
Bruce said perfunctorily, “Okay, I’ll pay attention, thank you for the reminder.”
Bruce’s “notoriety” was well-known throughout Gotham City. It must be admitted that even at 18, Bruce was unbelievably handsome. Although he didn’t yet possess that weathered charisma, his handsome appearance alone could captivate countless members of the opposite sex. Gotham’s entertainment newspapers almost daily published gossip about him, and the women in Bruce’s photos were never the same.
Schiller wasn’t too worried about him being assassinated by a gang mistress. He was more concerned about Bruce’s kidneys. He felt that even Batman, if he continued like this, would sooner or later need to drink kidney tonics.
Unfortunately, as soon as Bruce returned to Wayne Manor, his Old Butler Alfred said to him, “I took the liberty of canceling your appointment tonight, because your last physical examination data was really not optimistic…”
Bruce was stunned for a moment, remembering the rather strange looks from Gordon and Schiller earlier today. He awkwardly coughed and said, “Help me cancel all my evening appointments for this month.”
Alfred was stunned for a moment, then his eyes gradually became strange. He said, “Young Master, you invited Miss Christine for dinner two months ago. Are you sure her invitation should also be canceled?”
Bruce waved his hand and said, “Of course, I don’t have time to date them now.”
Alfred’s eyes became even stranger. He hesitated and said, “If there are any changes in your sexual orientation, I hope you can inform your loyal Butler immediately…”
Bruce covered his forehead and said, “These next few nights, I need to go out and investigate things… Oh, alright, don’t cancel Miss Christine’s appointment. She’s truly sexy and charming.”
After Alfred left, Bruce found his phone ringing. It was a call from Schiller.
He picked it up, and Schiller said, “You have a date with Christine, the Captain of the Nightingale Football Team cheerleading squad?”
Bruce was startled. Does Schiller really have mind-reading abilities?
But soon he realized he was overthinking it. Schiller said, “She once boasted to her sisters about hooking the young Wayne, but she disappeared two days after saying that. Her sisters reported it to the school, and Anna from Human Resources asked me to contact you…”
“I haven’t dated her yet,” Bruce said. “Our date is scheduled for two weeks from now. You know, my… schedule, is quite full.”
“Then her disappearance has nothing to do with you? That’s strange.”
Schiller said, “Human Resources told me that Christine knows she’s pretty and is therefore very cautious, never leaving the school unless necessary. She’s almost graduated, and now she’s disappeared.”
Bruce was a little alert. He said, “Could it be related to Jonathan’s case? Is Jonathan very familiar with her?”
“Of course not. How could a girl like that be very familiar with Jonathan? She’s a beautiful socialite, and Jonathan is cooped up in his office all day.”
Schiller said, “Alright, Bruce, now you have something new to do. Go find your future date, preferably before your scheduled date.”
“But I…”
“The Nightingale team is the face of Gotham University. The disappearance of the cheerleading Captain is a big blow to them. The United States league playoffs start in two weeks. If you don’t find her, I’ll fail you.”
“Hey, Professor, you can’t… Hello? Hello?”
Bruce helplessly put down the phone, then personally called the school, only to learn that Christine was very popular in the cheerleading squad. Many girls went to the school demanding her return. Without their Captain, they couldn’t choreograph their dances, which also made the football team members unhappy.
Just as Jonathan was arrested, everyone at the school was trying to calm public opinion, and no one had time, so Schiller, the new Professor, was roped in.
And then Batman was roped in by Schiller.
Bruce began to think. A beautiful girl disappeared in Gotham; the outcome of this matter almost didn’t need thinking. But from Schiller’s tone, this Miss Christine was a very cautious person, generally not leaving the school. She disappeared within the Gotham University campus.
This made it hard not to suspect a connection to the Jonathan case.
One sheep or two, it made no difference. Bruce completely disregarded Schiller’s powerless threat. When had Bruce ever cared about failing a class?
Except for Psychology class, which he would attend out of respect for Schiller, he was either partying or messing around in his other classes.
Thinking of this, Bruce remembered something Schiller had just said: Christine had mentioned to others that she was about to go on a date with him?
Could this be related to her disappearance?
