Chapter 4742: Chapter 3815: Rapid Pursuit (23)
On the other side, Shiller, who returned to the universe of the Broken Bat with Arkham Batman to retrieve the equipment for preserving brains, has already taken the equipment and returned to the universe of Silent Batman.
The lighter equipment was transported by Arkham Batman's Batmobile, while the heavier pieces were brought by Ke Fu. However, this Evil God Batman still has something to do; the Black Magic Batman, who can summon beasts, has escaped, and he's planning to team up with Jerome to hunt him down.
Shiller looked at the pile of equipment placed on the open ground, feeling a bit headache. He said, "We should put this stuff in the Wayne Enterprises lab, right?"
"That was the plan, but do you think Wayne Enterprises in this universe is safe?"
Shiller fell silent for a moment. If this was a team led by Batman, there would be no question about trustworthiness. But this universe's Wayne Enterprises was brought out by Elliot — at Elliot's level, wouldn't that group be leaking like a sieve?
"So where should we place this stuff?"
"It still needs to go to Wayne Enterprises, at least the hardware there is decent," Arkham Batman said, "But you must remind that Batman to be cautious, make sure he takes adequate security measures, don't give others an opportunity to exploit."
Though not a perfect solution, it seems this is the only feasible option. Although Wayne Enterprises was unreliable in the past, fortunately, the person in charge now is the Primary Universe Batman; it shouldn't take long to restore to peak level.
Shiller was clearly not very satisfied. He thought for a while, then suddenly had a light bulb moment and said, "We can conduct experiments in Wayne Enterprises, but until Batman reorganizes Wayne Enterprises, it's best not to place the equipment there. I do have a more secure location, although it's a bit of a distance from here. Shall we call for a truck first?"
Arkham Batman didn't know what place he was referring to, but still nodded. Shiller quickly found a truck, got it loaded with the bulk equipment, while the Batmobile led the way.
"Where did you get the truck contact from?"
"I remembered it while passing by the trucking company," said Shiller, "Don't ask me how I remembered, corpses won't fly into the Atlantic by themselves."
"I'm quite curious about your professional background," Arkham Batman turned the steering wheel and said, "Why did you choose to be an agent when in other cases you are a civilian?"
"Do you want another shot of morphine?"
"Certainly not. The concentration is a bit too high."
"That's not for you to say," Shiller looked out the window and said, "That shot I gave you could take down an elephant."
"If you got hit by at least a hundred doses of concentrated fear venom within a week, you'd develop such resistance too."
"I'm also curious about your professional background."
The two drove to an unfamiliar street corner. Arkham Batman didn't see any familiar buildings here, but Shiller directly walked into a nearby alley and conjured a door out of thin air.
That's right, this was the house he got from Demon Jason in the pale knight's universe. Shiller can summon it in any universe, and he gave it a very special name, called "Come and Go House."
Because it can be summoned in every universe, including the dark multiverse, it can truly be said to be Shiller's base for exploring the various multiverses. Though the house is small, it's sufficient for storing some equipment.
Arkham Batman walked in to take a look around, but from the outside it appeared to be a regular house. Arkham Batman speculated it might be some magical tool, and considering Shiller still had morphine on him, he wisely did not ask further.
After placing the equipment, Shiller said, "Although I'm sure no one will find this place, Mad Laugh might foresee your movements and discover here. You'd better guard around for a while; I'll head to Wayne Enterprises to have Batman enhance laboratory security."
Arkham Batman nodded. Shiller drove off in another car, and soon arrived at the entrance of the Wayne building. Whether Batman allowed him entry or not, agents have their means to get in.
He went straight up to the office on the top floor, knocked on the door and walked in, only to find there's another person in the room, that being Jason Todd.
Seeing him come in, Batman's expression became quite intriguing.
He had just been discussing with Jason for over three hours about business cooperation between Wayne Enterprises and Red Line Defense Group, all to prevent Jason from going off to deliver himself into Shiller's hands.
It's often said about raising a child with unnecessary worry nine times out of ten; Batman might not have raised any Jason up to a hundred years, but has encountered roughly a hundred Jasons, each being an expert in self-endangerment.
It was hard enough to encounter a Jason who seemingly hasn't perished under the Joker's crowbar, Batman definitely couldn't stand by and watch him fall under Shiller's knife, so he could only hold him back with this method.
Now Shiller has arrived.
Batman carefully distinguished which Shiller this is.
Good news: Not morbid, but an agent.
Bad news: It's an agent, not morbid.
Jason immediately stood up from the chair, squinting to examine Shiller, then said, "When you infiltrated Elliot's banquet, it was to investigate him, wasn't it?"
Shiller pulled his chair over, then sat down, leaning back in the chair and looking at Jason, "That's right, what's the matter?"
"Was it you who killed the man who fell from the atrium?"
"If he attacked the police, yes."
"What do you mean if?"
"It means that if you continue to slander me without evidence, I will judge you for attacking the police."
Jason's face turned somewhat unpleasant. He stared intently at Shiller's face and said, "You know some things shouldn't be investigated further, Agent."
"What shouldn't be investigated further? Do you mean the matter a few weeks ago when you procured a batch of Raptor missiles from the Lex Group, the missile model of which is completely identical to those on Kilo Elliot's helicopter?"
Jason slammed the table, "That was just normal procurement!"
"Then why are you so agitated?" Shiller chuckled, turning his chair sideways, resting one arm on the table, leaning forward, and said, "Who were you planning to sell this batch of missiles to, originally?"
"What does that have to do with you?"
"So you weren't planning to sell to Wayne Enterprises?" Shiller feigned a thoughtful expression, "I thought you and Wayne were as close as brothers, and procured a batch of missiles to help him combat his election rivals."
Jason's heart sank suddenly. He looked at Batman's expression but saw nothing.
Batman sighed inwardly. This universe's Jason had more depth than the versions from the other universes, but that depth was quite limited; he was quickly tricked into revealing things.
"I have another question." Shiller persistent, "As an arms dealer, you rely so heavily on orders from Wayne Enterprises that you even risked your life several times to save Elliot. But Wayne Enterprises is a diversified group. Why do they need so much weaponry?"
"Of course, it's because he wants to maintain Gotham's security." Jason pointed to the streets outside the window and said, "Those defense units' weapons and security robots didn't just appear out of thin air..."
"Maintain security? Who gave him that authority?" Shiller's face turned cold. He also slapped the table and said, "What about the police? The military? The National Guard? The Federal Bureau of Investigation? The Federal Government? Since when has it been his right as a private family business to use force to maintain the security of a federal city?!"
Jason was stumped, his face turning red. Shiller looked at him and said, "I've already notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They will contact the state police and the Gotham Police Department to help restore normal order in the city. The reason I came to see Mr. Wayne today was to talk about this. Those security forces and robots wandering the streets had better get out, or he won't be getting any votes from New Jersey State."
Jason's face turned from red to blue. He looked at Batman and said, "You just said you would continue the defense contract with the Red Line Group..."
"Yes. But the agent has a point: Wayne Enterprises is just a regular company, not the ruler of this city, and it doesn't have the authority to use force against the residents within it..."
"What nonsense are you talking?!" Jason roared at him, "Elliot can do it, why can't you?!"
Batman thought to himself, it's because when Elliot ruled this city, Shiller wasn't here! Can't you stop acting like an outlaw in front of a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent?!
But he obviously couldn't say this out loud, so he parroted some safe words: "As the head of Wayne Enterprises, Elliot wasn't very competent. He sacrificed too many corporate interests for meaningless oppression of citizens. This would negatively affect the group's reputation. Now that I'm back, I absolutely aim to set things right, adjusting the company's business path as gently as possible. I promise, I'll do my best to safeguard the interests of all partners. Okay?"
"Okay, my ass!" Jason shouted, "If you don't take complete control of this city, are you planning to let the rebel army level it to the ground?! Countless people will die! The entire city will be destroyed!"
"That will initially lead to heavy losses for you." Shiller said, "If Mr. Wayne doesn't intend to maintain Gotham as before, you'll lose defense orders worth tens of billions annually. You only care about money."
Jason was filled with fury. Clearly, before Shiller arrived, Batman had spoken well with him. They reviewed many details of the orders repeatedly, Bruce Wayne was apparently intended to follow in Elliot's footsteps and continue ruling Gotham. But everything changed when that damn agent showed up. If Wayne was convinced to cancel those orders, the Defense Group's losses would be unthinkable.
Even without the deal with that head, he'd still have to find a way to kill Shiller. A flash of murderous intent passed through Jason's eyes.
Batman immediately sprang into action, but he was half a second too late.
Bang!
Jason was shot to the ground by Shiller. This time Shiller didn't put away his gun but instead slightly angled the barrel downwards, ready to fire again. Batman kicked the gun out of his hand.
"Stop!" Batman said.
Jason clutched his chest, groaning in pain on the floor. Batman hurried over while calling emergency services. Yet, inwardly, he was relieved: Shiller's shot had been so timely. If Jason was hospitalized, he shouldn't have time to mess with the other, more troublesome Shiller.
But clearly, things wouldn't be that simple. The day after Jason was sent to the hospital, when Batman went to visit him, he saw a familiar figure next to the bed.
A man in a brown checkered prince suit was sitting by Jason's hospital bed, patiently peeling an apple, and having a low conversation with Jason. Jason also responded with a smile.
At the sight of this harmonious scene, Batman even wondered if he should ask the Joker to bring a crowbar right then.