Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics

"They are desperate," Rose set down the document in her hand and said, "They urgently want to grasp some leverage on Gordon, but unfortunately, there has been no progress. Someone has been lingering at Gordon's doorstep, but they never managed to meet his daughter. Ms. Gordon is smarter than they presumed."

"Of course." Shiller curled his lips and said, "If that's all they are capable of, they might as well pick out their graves sooner rather than later."

"They also tried to target Nightwing, but this guy seems to have come out of nowhere. They looked and looked but all they found was his connection with Batman. But now is not the right time to move against Batman."

Hearing this, Shiller turned around, looked at Rose, and asked, "What do you know about the upper society's attitude towards Batman?"

Rose shook her head and said, "Just because I'm in charge of the natural disaster fund, they don't let me know too much, to prevent me from making my own decisions. All I know is that Batman is very important to them."

"More important than Bruce Wayne?"

"Bruce Wayne is not important at all," Rose said, "Without him, someone else would be there. Wayne Enterprises' capital wouldn't leave Gotham, it's the same whoever holds it. But Batman is different."

"How is he different?"

"It's not easy to find such a crazy mind," Rose said bluntly, "Finding someone who firmly believes that fighting crime on the streets can save the city is the most difficult thing in the world. You might not find one even if you search all the psychiatric hospitals worldwide."

Shiller slightly furrowed his brows and said, "Are you sure Batman is their find?"

Rose's hand, which was stroking the documents on the table, paused, but showed no surprise, and she said, "Do you know the history of Gotham?"

"Which part?"

"During the era of great development in the New World, this place was not a city, but just a village called Gotham Valley, ruled by an evil warlord named Arkham."

"And then?"

"But in reality, this evil warlord, who was despised by everyone, wasn't so cruel initially. It seemed that it was after he came to Gotham Valley that he became cruel and cold-hearted, constantly tormenting the indigenous people living here."

Shiller frowned, as this version of the legend was different from most universes.

In most universes, the story of Gotham begins after the Four Families established Gotham City. The Court of Owls also appeared after Gotham City's appearance.

But the story in this universe seemed to trace back to a more distant era. Back then, Gotham wasn't even a city.

"The so-called Curse of Gotham started spreading from that time," Rose reminisced, "I don't have a family, but when my father was sober, he told me that my grandfather was a sailor, wide-traveled and well-informed, he often used to tell him stories."

"The longest story he ever told was about how the Wayne Family wrested Gotham Valley from the evil warlord and built a city. Legends about General Arkham were very popular in that era."

"Do you mean General Arkham was cursed?"

Rose nodded and said, "Yes. People say Gotham Valley is a cursed land. Everyone who ruled over it gets infected by the curse, eventually turning brutal and corrupt, meeting a terrible end."

"But I heard that the curse was left by General Arkham." Shiller raised his doubt, saying, "Is it the people who infected the land, or the land infected the people?"

"Does it matter?"

"Of course. Because Batman has gone mad too." Shiller walked around from behind his desk and continued, "This proves that the legend of the curse is not baseless."

After pondering for a long while, Rose said, "Regardless of the origin of the curse, it ultimately was the ancestors of the Wayne Family who defeated General Arkham and ruled over Gotham. If there really is a curse, it must have been inherited by them, and it's not surprising it would eventually fall onto Batman."

"But that's too strange." Shiller thought to himself, because the plot in the 'Pale Knight' comics didn't set it up that way. Crucially, the Batman of this cosmos is not a descendant of Edmond Wayne, so the curse could not be inherited by him.

The specifics of the story are somewhat complicated, and Shiller isn't sure if what he saw in the comics was real. After all, even after analyzing the entire comic story, there are still too many unresolved mysteries.

"There's no need to focus too much on the history." Rose said, "Let's talk about those wealthy people again. None of their self-saving measures work, and perhaps soon, they'll think of something else. Are you prepared?"

"What else can they do?"

"A starving camel is still bigger than a horse." Rose said, "There are still many who are betting they can make a comeback; they are willing to help them without reward, betting on their success. They might not be cornered yet."

Shiller wasn't surprised by this. Human nature is such; you cannot make everyone realize the unnecessariness of high society in such a short time.

In this chaos, many see it as an opportunity for advancement. After all, the wealthy will always bounce back. If you aid them while they are distressed, you can certainly prosper later.

"The key still lies with Batman," Rose said. "To return Gotham to its original rhythm, we need Batman and the Super Villains to keep fighting each other. Super Villains are easy to find, but Superheroes are not. They will push Batman to his limits."

"What if Batman doesn't yield?"

"They will choose another." Rose sighed, "Although madmen are scarce, they are not completely unfindable. Over the years, they have had enough time to prepare a replacement."

"Do they have a Puppet like Batman?" Although Schiller knew the plot, he still had to ask clearly.

Since coming to the Cartoon World, he has adhered to one principle: plots are just for reference. If you fully believe in the plot and act accordingly, he might as well be buried.

"I can't be sure," Rose said, "but it seems it's not just a puppet they control. Although they might not be heroes who firmly believe in themselves like Batman, they won't be mindless cowards either."

"Right, paranoid people are more useful than those without a spine. We understand this, and they do too."

"Should I go check it out?" Rose asked, "Or try to persuade Batman to just play along?"

"Don't count on Batman anymore," Shiller shook his head saying, "He doesn't have time for this now. How are things on the Pale Knight's side?"

"No danger to his life, but he won't be able to get out of bed for a while," Rose paused before adding, "His little lover is pregnant."

Shiller widened his eyes, "Pregnant?!"

He was not surprised that Harley was pregnant because Harley was pregnant in the original story. But the timing didn't match up.

In the timeline of their cosmos, the Pale Knight wasn't married yet. Although they might have gotten together before, Harley later inhaled poison gas. Could she still keep the child?

If it was after Harley was hospitalized. Then did the two of them get it on in the hospital?

"How long has she been pregnant?" Shiller asked.

"It's been over three months," Rose thought for a moment and then said, "It wasn't noticed before because no one thought someone could inhale so much poison gas and not miscarry."

"Her sudden fainting a few days ago…"

"It seems to be because of this," Rose said. "Her physical condition is very peculiar, and the doctors can't be certain. But the child is indeed fine."

Shiller touched his temples. In this comic, Harley is like a War God, an MVP. She might indeed be the chosen one.

"Does the mayor know yet?"

"Not yet. I wanted to ask if you thought we should tell him."

Shiller thought about it and felt that telling the Pale Knight wouldn't hurt. After all, the Joker inside the Pale Knight was already dead; he wasn't likely to come back and fight for custody. The two children would be safe.

But Shiller still said, "Better ask Lady Quinn herself. But remember to tell her the Joker is dead, and her husband won't go mad again."

Rose nodded and then left.

Shiller sat back down at his desk. The clues he had about Gotham's history were too few. It was time to seek out new leads.

In the clinic of Dr. Tompkins, Midnight Doctor plopped down in a chair with a sigh. He had just sent off the last patient. Looking at the empty clinic, he felt a deep sense of accomplishment.

"That guy named Gordon is doing really well," he sighed, "It's been two days without any serious cases. Once I cure that guy with the lung infection, my mission here is done."

"Of course, I could stay a bit longer. You'd welcome that, wouldn't you?"

"Leslie… Leslie???"

Sitting opposite him, Dr. Tompkins snapped out of her reverie, removed her glasses, rubbed her eyes, and then said, "Sorry, I've been too tired lately, I keep zoning out."

"No, don't apologize, what you need now is a good sleep. After all, you're not young anymore."

Dr. Tompkins stood up, a trace of unresolved concern between her brows. She put her glasses back on and then said, "Alright, let me finish one last thing, and then I'll rest."

"Before that, though, you'll need to answer a few questions, madam," a strange voice came from the doorway. Dr. Tompkins looked up and saw a tall, thin man walk in.

"Mr. Rodriguez."

"Just call me Shiller," Shiller closed his umbrella, offering pleasantries, "The rain is quite heavy today. How's the clinic doing?"

"Piet, you go rest," Dr. Tompkins told her colleague.

Piet glanced at both of them, shook his head, and left.

"It seems you already know why I came to see you." Shiller took off his long coat, holding it in his hand, removed his hat, and then said, "How much do you know about Gotham's history?"

Dr. Tompkins just stood there, staring at him.

"Alright, then let me rephrase. What does Alfred know?"

Dr. Tompkins's expression suddenly changed. After staring at Shiller for a while, she finally spoke, "Why are you investigating these matters?"

"Out of respect for a decent person, madam. I hope you answer these questions truthfully, instead of forcing me to investigate in another way," Shiller said, his expression calm, "I know Alfred has a daughter."

Dr. Tompkins's hands clenched. After a moment, she lowered her shoulders and said, "I don't know much. But someone gave Alfred a diary, a diary of Edmund Wayne, an ancestor of the Wayne Family."

"Who gave it to him?"

"A priest," Dr. Tompkins slowly recalled that day's scene and said, "It was on a non-existent street. We met a mysterious priest in a pharmacy there. He gave Alfred Edmund's diary and a whip, saying it was an important history of Gotham."

"Where is the diary now?"

Dr. Tompkins shook her head, "I don't know. Alfred took it, maybe it's with Batman."

"Who was that priest?"

"I'm not sure. But he..."

"What about him?"

"He was not an ordinary person."

"Why do you think so?"

"Because after we left the pharmacy, it instantly turned into ruins. It might have been magic."

"Do you remember the location of that street?"

"Of course. It was next to the original city hall warehouse, I think it's called Bourbon Street."

Shiller's expression turned strange.