"Do you know how difficult he is to deal with?" Natasha couldn't help but complain, "I wasn't expecting any close interaction with him (if there was a chance to kill him, I would), but we can't even chat about the weather. Ugh."
Arkham Batman replied at a pace as slow as an elderly person who has never used a smartphone. He said, "Isn't it inappropriate to text your ex-boyfriend to complain about how difficult your current target is to deal with?"
"Don't talk nonsense."
"Aren't you trying to pursue him?"
"You're not my ex-boyfriend. At least in this universe, I'm still your currently very uniquely named and suspiciously born lover. Or have you decided to clear that up?"
"No, I'm busy with other things." Arkham Batman's message was slow, indicating he really had something on hand, "Justice League members have some objections to the style of the Gotham Base. I'm drawing the third version of the plans. Superman decided to remove the tower. What do you think?"
The message came with a set of plans. Natasha glanced casually and said, "Doesn't look like a magic building at all. But removing the tower might indeed make it look better. Will it affect functionality?"
"No. Superman said he would patrol in place of the drones on the tower. He's always someone who keeps his word. And we're worried it might tire him out. Maybe his dog can help."
"Isn't it also inappropriate to discuss your best partner and soulmate with your current lover? How's Wonder Woman doing?"
"She's gone back to clean up the mess I made. I guess she'll have a good chat with her brother to resolve some of the hidden issues sealed in Mount Olympus. But overall, she's much better."
"You're becoming difficult too. Or do words always limit expression for people like you?"
"I'm using voice input. Considering your boss might not want to hear my voice at this time, I converted them into text."
"And your accent is quite standard... Oh my God, I must have been corrupted by the agent. If I keep talking to him, I'll completely forget how to flirt. Talk to me."
"Previously, you would always make me breathe with difficulty for a while. But even if you're not in public now, I can't do that."
"Because you need to focus on drawing plans?"
"Because I'm not sure if that counts as sexual harassment of an electronic being."
"You really found out." Natasha pursed her lips, paused for a moment, and replied, "I guess he would never imagine the plan I just came up with to deal with him. The inspiration came from you."
"Better not do that. I really need to finish the plans by tonight. Also, the bathroom's water is off."
Natasha couldn't help but laugh, luckily without making a sound. So her boss only glanced at her.
"There's another reason." Arkham Batman replied again, "I guess he might be studying."
"Who?" Natasha was shocked, "The agent? The sun rises in the west?!"
"Electronic being." From the speed of the reply, you could sense Arkham Batman's helplessness. He said, "He's studying everything related to sex. So we'd better not talk about it."
"Conclusion from the psychiatrist?"
"Not really. You know I've never trusted psychoanalysis. His opinion can only be used as a reference. It's my own judgment. And right now, I'm collecting information more broadly."
"Sounds like a prelude to a new job."
"Kind of. Do you have friends in other universes?"
Looking at this message, Natasha frowned. Her fingers lightly tapped the screen, continuing to type, "Don't tell me that thing is from another universe. I'll have a suspect who is obviously misleading."
"Tell me."
"Ultron." After a pause, Natasha typed, "Usually considered an evil robot, an AI that could rival Jarvis, and has caused many kinds of AI crises across universes. Schiller and I suspected him, but there's no evidence."
"What type of AI is he?"
"I was born in 1928."
"You mean 'Question-and-Answer type'?"
"I mean I'm almost a hundred-year-old lady. Your question is beyond my knowledge range."
"Alright. Has he controlled the global network?"
"Maybe."
"And then what did he do?"
"Killed a few superheroes, sparked wars. Of course, he might have achieved greater results in some universes. But in short, he loathes intelligent life and harbors a special hatred within."
"That doesn't sound right." Arkham Batman quickly replied, "If he loathes intelligent life, he shouldn't be researching our mating process. But he might be learning about it."
"Where did you get that idea?"
"Another universe's Batman sent me some interesting stuff." Accompanying this message was a bunch of images. Natasha swiped down, and a mass of red appeared.
"Ah, heavens!" She hadn't even finished looking at the images when she couldn't help but frown and replied to the message, then scrolled up to see all the bloody crime scenes, and continued, "Is this a serial murder case? Why did they all die in a connected state?"
"Not just that." Arkham Batman replied, "They are all johns and prostitutes, killed one after another in two weeks. The perpetrator is a man and a woman, codenamed Adam and Eve. But according to professional judgments, they're only manipulated by a serial killer with the codename Eden Killer. Additionally, there's another imitator with a different style but equally troublesome, who killed the mayor of this Batman's city."
"What a mess," Natasha couldn't help but comment, "Are you saying that despite having probably ten thousand geniuses with an IQ over 180 in your town, you can't deal with a serial killer targeting only prostitutes?"
"It's not that they can't deal with it; it's just that this universe's Batman is busy with more important matters and can't attend to it temporarily. And because of the mayor's death, the upper class there lives in fear. The police chief is under a lot of pressure. Maybe it won't be long before they request support."
"You're not suggesting I go, are you?"
"Or Agent-sir could go. I believe once he goes, James Gordon will feel even more pressure."
"Why? I think he's more focused on the job than I am."
"Because being too focused is the problem." Arkham Batman replied, "If the behind-the-scenes manipulator is an electronic being, then there isn't actually a killer for him to catch. How many suspects do you think he'd stuff into prison?"
"That does indeed sound quite troubling. Fine, the reward will have to be increased. And I might also send a few unfortunate ones to jail."
"No problem, deal. After your meeting, prepare to depart."
At that moment, Natasha heard the good news that the meeting was adjourned. So she put away her phone, without checking the last message Arkham Batman sent her:
"And most importantly, the Professor is in that universe. Best not to disturb him... even if something happens."