Detective Gordon unbuttoned the collar of his shirt, twisted his neck, relaxed his shoulders, and then turned to look out the window at Gotham’s dark, rainy night, which was still cold and damp.
His colleagues greeted each other and left the Police after work. One of them said to Detective Gordon, “Hey, man, you shouldn’t have taken on that difficult case. Dozens of missing persons? You’ll probably be sifting through files until midnight again tonight.”
Detective Gordon smiled helplessly and said, “You said it, dozens of missing persons. I have to take it seriously.”
After his colleagues left, Detective Gordon made himself a strong cup of coffee. He planned to work through the night.
The missing persons case in Mossen Street District was very strange. In previous missing persons cases, even if they were well-concealed, the bodies of some deceased victims would still be found. But among the 46 people who disappeared in Mossen Street District, not a single body appeared on the streets of Gotham, which was very abnormal.
Gotham has never been a City that abides by the law. Its Gotham mafia are as numerous as cattle. No experienced Gotham mafia member would bother to dispose of bodies, as it’s a thankless task. They would just throw the bodies from a building, even though they knew it wouldn’t fool the Police. But the Police are nothing in Gotham.
Among the dozens of people who disappeared in Mossen Street District, there were people from all walks of life. They had almost no common patterns, the only commonality being that they were permanent residents of Mossen Street District.
At this time, Detective Gordon was still very young. He was just a minor head in the Gotham Police Department, a long way from becoming the Director. This hot potato of a case, which no one wanted to touch, was eventually taken on by the very righteous Detective Gordon. Although he knew it was very likely to be a thankless job, he still intended to complete it diligently to seek justice for the victims.
Just as he was staying up late organizing files and was incredibly sleepy, he suddenly felt a movement behind him. When he turned his head, a huge Shadow enveloped him. Detective Gordon immediately reached for his waist, but his pistol was not there.
The person opposite him was wearing a black bodysuit with two pointed ears on his head and a black cape. His figure was tall, almost blocking all the light from above. Detective Gordon cautiously said, “Who are you? Why are you in the Gotham Police Department?”
“You can call me a vigilante. I’m investigating the missing persons incident in Mossen Street District. I noticed you went there today, and yesterday too. You should be the Detective in charge of this case. I hope to get the files of these missing persons.”
Detective Gordon was about to refuse the person opposite him when he spoke again, “Of course, I also have some clues here that I can exchange with you, or rather, I can work with you to solve this case.”
A vigilante? Detective Gordon thought, this is too absurd. Such a person couldn’t exist in Gotham City, otherwise, it wouldn’t be called the City of Sin.
Detective Gordon and Batman’s first encounter was not pleasant. The two of them confronted each other in the Gotham Police Department for a long time. Clearly, Batman, who was new to the scene, hadn’t yet grasped the essence of leaving without saying everything. He lingered with Detective Gordon for a long time and finally became impatient.
Batman found himself truly unlucky. Gotham City had countless negligent Police, but he just happened to encounter the most serious one. Detective Gordon even wanted to protect those files with his Death, and Batman didn’t want to hurt him, so there was no better way.
After Batman cleared out the Water Ditch Gang, he was greatly shaken by that beggar. Although he eventually saved the beggar, he clearly reflected on his actions and began to be less ambitious, starting with the simplest tasks.
This was the starting point of his Super Hero path, Mossen Street District. Besides the Water Ditch Gang, it was not peaceful here either. The missing persons case in Mossen Street District had reached a very dangerous number. The permanent population here was only a few hundred, but more than forty people had disappeared. Batman decided to make this case the starting point of his debut.
And, of course, he had a suspect.
A university Professor, not sleeping in the middle of the night, sneaking into the street district where the Gotham mafia were located, appearing for no reason, and disappearing for no reason. Is there anyone more suspicious than this?
Batman hadn’t thought about directly confronting Professor Schiller, but he knew that he would probably have difficulty winning against this Professor in terms of words. He had lost both of his previous confrontations with Professor Schiller. He felt that he must gather sufficient evidence before bringing him to justice.
This day, Batman went to Mossen Street District again. He couldn’t get the missing persons case files from Detective Gordon, so he snuck into the home of a missing person, hoping to find some other clues in his house.
As soon as he climbed out of the window, he saw Professor Schiller’s Shadow again. Under a streetlamp not far downstairs, Professor Schiller was again holding a black umbrella, looking at the wall opposite. Batman saw him.
He found that Professor Schiller was looking at the place where the beggar used to stay, but there was no beggar there now. Batman had sent that beggar to the best hospital in Gotham City and covered all his treatment expenses. Although the beggar had both feet amputated, at least he survived.
Because the beggar had leaned against that wall for many years, a dark stain had been left there. Rain Water formed a small puddle where he used to sit, reflecting the dim yellow light of the streetlamp, while Professor Schiller stood across the road, looking at the puddle, lost in thought.
The young Batman ultimately couldn’t keep his composure. He jumped down and appeared in front of Professor Schiller.
“Good evening, Batman. I remember you called yourself that last time, so I’ll call you that too.”
Batman’s eyes under his mask stared intently at him. He said, “Don’t beat around the bush with me. You know why I’m here.”
“You’re here to be the savior, I know, for example, you saved a poor beggar.”
“Is the missing persons case in Mossen Street District your doing?” Batman asked.
Professor Schiller shook his head. Batman said, “You are the only outsider, and you have no motive to be here.”
Professor Schiller said, “Clearly, you already have the answer in your heart, so why do you still come to ask me? You are always good at turning what you have already determined into a question to ask others.”
“If you get an answer you are satisfied with, you will naturally be content. But if you don’t get the answer you want, you will become very angry.”
“If I say I am not the murderer, you will be very angry, but your anger does not come from your sense of justice, but merely because I did not give you the answer you wanted.”
“You think you can foresee everything, right?” Professor Schiller asked.
“I said, don’t beat around the bush with me. You are the only suspect here…”
Professor Schiller hadn’t finished speaking when he saw a Batarang fly past his neck. He seemed to have underestimated him a bit. Whether it was Batman at this time or Batman later, although they don’t kill people, they often beat up criminals and don’t shy away from breaking their legs and then sending them to the hospital.
However, clearly, this young Batman was missing a step.
Professor Schiller didn’t speak for a moment, and another Batarang flew past his neck. This time, Professor Schiller didn’t use his Spider-Sense to turn his head in advance, but quietly watched Batman.
That Batarang left a cut on his neck, and blood flowed out. At this moment, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the end of the alley, and a voice shouted, “Stop!”
Batman turned to look at the end of the alley. Under the streetlamp, Detective Gordon was holding a pistol, aiming at the two of them.
“Hello, Detective Gordon,” Professor Schiller said.
Detective Gordon walked slowly, holding his gun. He said, “Put down your weapons, and don’t move.”
Professor Schiller spread his hands, indicating that he had no weapons, while Batman put away the Batarang he was holding in his hand.
As Detective Gordon got closer, he realized that Professor Schiller’s neck was bleeding, and the blood flowed down his shoulder, even wetting his shirt.
Professor Schiller said, “Batman, you made a mistake. You said I am the only suspect, but this Detective clearly doesn’t think so.”
“Besides me, you are also someone who has no motive to be here.”
“I’m here to investigate the missing persons case,” Batman said.
“So am I,” Professor Schiller said. “But clearly, you are no nobler than I am, because neither of us is Police. I think only this Detective Gordon has the authority to do so now.”
“I will find the evidence,” Batman said.
“If you also need evidence, then what’s the difference between you and the Police?” Professor Schiller suddenly asked.
Batman was speechless for a moment. He had originally thought Professor Schiller would ask him for evidence. Batman also knew that although Professor Schiller appeared where he shouldn’t have, this couldn’t be used as evidence to prove that he had committed a crime. So he was determined to find Silk and clues to prove that Professor Schiller was the murderer.
But Professor Schiller’s question hit the nail on the head. Batman thought, he had always believed that the Police were useless because they had to rely on evidence for everything. Even if a murder occurred in front of them, if they didn’t see the murderer, they wouldn’t arrest the most suspicious person.
It was like this when his parents died. No Police gave a proper explanation, and no one was brought to justice. His parents died, but no one paid the price.
He thought, if he also needed evidence, then why didn’t he become a Police officer at the Gotham Police Department?
But if he didn’t need evidence and just arrested anyone, then what was the difference between him and a criminal?
Batman regretted it. He shouldn’t have gone up and talked to Professor Schiller. Every conversation with Professor Schiller would shake him considerably. This kind of psychological and ideological wavering was the most terrifying.
Every time he met Professor Schiller, Batman had to go back and ponder for at least two or three days, to understand the question he posed, find his own answer, strengthen his confidence, and only then could he come out and act again.
He felt that this was no different from taking classes in university. The teacher would pose a question, the students would think about it themselves, and then write a paper. And the next time they met, besides checking homework, new questions would be waiting for him, one question after another, as if there was no end.
And Professor Schiller also complained inwardly that this Jonathan was truly capable. After Professor Schiller stole most of the Fear Toxin, not only did it not slow down his research speed, but it also made him kidnap experimental subjects even more frantically, causing Professor Schiller to be unable to sleep at night and have to clean up this mess.