Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics

"The attending physician said his condition is very bad. He suffered serious abuse, including a severe blow to the head. It's mainly psychological trauma he experienced, which current psychological methods are temporarily unable to resolve."

Penguin Man stood at the doorway of the ward, speaking to Schiller, "When you first said you wanted to find someone in Brude Haven, I thought it would be someone impressive, but this..."

"This person is very important." Schiller said while walking out with Penguin Man, "He used to be Batman's assistant and foster son, besides his old housekeeper, he's the closest person to him."

Penguin Man squinted his eyes; he and Schiller stood by the window sill, watching children playing in the yard downstairs.

This place is a care facility located in Brude Haven. Due to the pleasant natural climate of Brude Haven, many large medical institutions have set up care facilities here.

The care facility they were now in was comparatively small, a local private enterprise. But the environment was quite nice; aside from the inpatient building, there was also a large yard. There were beautiful shrubs and lawns, and many patients came here for a walk to recuperate.

The environment here also made Schiller feel familiar and comfortable. He knew Penguin Man had taken great pains. Therefore, he slowed down his tone and explained: "The Joker kidnapped Robin, Batman's ward, and tortured him. This kid went mad from the torture. He revealed Batman's true identity. This could be an important reason for his trauma."

Penguin Man opened his mouth and said, "I can understand that the abuse stimulated his psyche, but what does this have to do with Batman's true identity?"

"He feels he betrayed him, and so he closed off himself."

The expression on Penguin Man's face became even stranger, he said, "I absolutely mean no disrespect, but were he and his little helper involved in some kind of..."

"They didn't have the kind of relationship you're imagining, but they were both exceptionally committed."

The look on Penguin Man's face turned somewhat rude.

"Honestly, I never thought Batman would be that kind of person." Penguin Man shook his head and said, "I don't really think there was anything incestuous between them, but he's so smart, he should have understood that if he admonished the kid against betrayal, then it can't be just the kid who makes the effort. He's the one who should ensure there's absolutely no chance of betrayal."

"Yes, he should have done that, but he didn't. So now they are both in this situation."

Penguin Man let out a sigh, but not out of pity or anything, it was just a lamentation of some people's foolishness.

"You plan to leave this to me, you really trust me that much?"

"It's not your morals I trust, it's your greed." Schiller said with a smile, "You know well enough what kind of impact such a card can have on Batman, so you'll definitely protect it. As long as you're determined, even if The Joker comes again, you won't let him succeed."

"Of course, but what I mean is, aren't you worried that I might squeeze this little guy to make Batman do something?"

"Do what? Help you assassinate your rival?"

"That, he's certainly not needed for." Penguin Man curled his lip, "Metropolis is not a place he can play around with. Aren't you worried I might endanger Batman's safety?"

"You wouldn't kill him. But if you could break his leg, or even paralyze him for a while, then maybe I could give you a little extra reward."

"You really are an enigma." Penguin Man stated bluntly, "You and the pale knight are supposed to want to save that broken city, right? So what is this now?"

"It's because I want to save Gotham. I need to kick both of them out of the game first. You climbed up from the bottom, don't you understand what I'm doing?"

Penguin Man was silent. But he still said, "Revolutionaries are always hangmen. I don't doubt you could succeed, but have you thought about your own end?"

"Me? You think I'm going to say I'm not afraid of death? In fact, I fear less being executed by those I've saved. It's not a new experience for me, I'm well prepared."

"Well, madman. As you wish." Penguin Man twisted the ring on his finger and then said, "But if there really comes a day, I could reserve a place for you in this care facility."

"As a revenge against your former enemy?"

"Just because it's interesting." Penguin Man grinned, "Do you think Batman will come to visit you then? What about the pale knight?"

"You're thinking too far ahead, let's talk about Mr. Todd first. Can you find out how he came to Brude Haven?"

Penguin Man shook his head and said, "I can only trace it back to his admission records at that previous psychiatric hospital. Further back than that, it's untraceable. But I guess someone saved him."

"Who do you think it was?"

"I can't be sure, maybe The Joker." Penguin Man pursed his lips revealing the worst possibility, "The Joker always has a backup plan. Even if he dies he won't rest."

"An interesting guess. But I won't give him the opportunity." Schiller stroked the edge of the windowsill lightly with his finger, "I tend to believe it was a good person."

"A good person would have sent him back to Wayne Manor."

"If he doesn't go by himself?"

Penguin Man slightly furrowed his brows and said, "With his current condition, he doesn't seem like he's capable of making his own decisions."

"It might seem a bit counterintuitive. But Post-traumatic stress disorder doesn't weaken over time, instead, it gets stronger. His initial condition might have been better than it is now."

"Then who do you think it is?"

"How did the pale knight send you to Brude Haven?"

"You suspect him? But then again, wasn't it Joker?... Wait. You're saying the pale knight existed back then?"

Penguin Man pondered, "He caught me, then anesthetized me. I'm not very clear on the details, but the next thing I knew, I woke up in the valley."

"The pale knight is not so simple, he's even more complicated than Batman," Shiller said, "What we know now may not even be one-tenth of what he knows, and I can't guarantee he's completely out of the game."

Penguin Man's features turned vicious as he said, "Let him wait. Sooner or later, I'll secure him a spot in the sanatorium as well."

"Enough of that. I hope Batman can see his partner as soon as possible. Get ready."

Penguin Man nodded with a somber face. The warm morning light bathed his face, accentuating the angles of his eagle hook nose. But soon, the shadow moved from one side to the other, and the person in front of him switched from Shiller to Batman.

However, the Batman in front of him looked quite terrifying.

The unmasked areas of his face were deathly pale. His eyes sunk deep into their sockets. When Penguin Man saw him, he didn't even know who was the real Super Villain.

"Where is he?" Batman's voice trembled.

"He doesn't want to see you," Penguin Man said. "But to prevent you from accusing me of kidnapping him, I can take you to see him. Whatever consequences arise, you'll be responsible."

Batman's hand, gripping the dart, was extremely tense. He had contemplated numerous scenarios where Penguin Man might refuse or make things difficult for him, but he had never considered this one.

Penguin Man led Batman to the doorway of the ward as evening fell. The hallway windows were covered with curtains, and the sunset outside the curtains was especially brilliant.

Penguin Man opened the door, but Batman was reluctant to step forward at first. He hesitated at the door for a long time before finally taking that step.

A small ward, with only a bed and a bedside table. A black-haired young man sat on the bed fidgeting with something in his hand. Hearing the commotion, he lifted his eyes and a conspicuous scar was on his face.

"Jason..." Batman called out his name.

Suddenly, from the black-haired young man's throat came out a scream. He began shaking, convulsing, lunging towards the back of the bed, and threw the bedside lamp towards the door. Madly he scrambled backward.

Medical staff rushed in and pinned him down, but his head had already struck the edge of the table and blood streamed out.

Penguin Man stepped away from Batman's movements. Looking at him, he said, "You should be aware, I had absolutely no part in your feud. His condition, certainly, is not my fault. If I had the ability to cause this, I would have done it long ago, not wait until now."

Batman's hands clenched into fists. His reason told him that what Penguin Man said was correct. But that irritability, which he hadn't felt in a long time, once again surged in his heart. It took all his strength not to throw a punch at Penguin Man.

After closing the room's door, Penguin Man took Batman to the end of the corridor and then informed him, "He has severe Post-traumatic stress disorder, so severe that up until now no psychiatrist in Brude Haven has been able to treat him."

"It was pure chance that I found him. Believe it or not. Even if it was to use you, I tried my best. But it was all in vain."

"I won't stop you from taking him away. But remember, if something happens, don't blame it on me. You bear the consequences."

"I will find him a professional psychiatrist," Batman clearly did not trust Penguin Man, he said, "You must let me take him away."

"I can anesthetize him, but I can't predict what he might do when he wakes up," Penguin Man shook his head incessantly, saying, "And, saving him wasn't without cost. You need to do me a favor."

Upon hearing Penguin Man's conditions, Batman actually breathed a sigh of relief. He said, "I do not engage in illegal activities."

"Are you stupid? I'm a councilman now, why would I do anything illegal? I need you to deal with someone for me, this person always causes trouble for me..."

When Batman left the sanatorium, it was already dark. He boarded the ambulance carrying Jason. Anesthetized, Jason lay in the ambulance compartment, peacefully as if asleep.

Batman was lost in thought, so he didn't check carefully, nor did he notice the object that Jason had been fidgeting with in his hand.

It was a little toy folded out of paper, so light it could easily be squeezed in the palm. The characters "东南西北," meaning "east, south, west, north" were written on it, but if turned over, one could see an English sentence written underneath.

"I know you're not crazy. Find a way to get Batman to choose me as your primary psychiatrist — Schiller Rodriguez."