Natasha nearly choked herself with a mouthful of wine. She coughed violently a few times, pulled her red hair back vigorously, and stared at Shiller, saying, "What?!"
"I don't know why you're so surprised. He's the US President. Which US President hasn't been influenced by the Soviet Union?"
"But the Soviet Union from his universe is already..."
"Precisely because it's already dead, he wants to know what it was like when it was alive."
"Then he should go through history books, why come to me?"
"He's fascinated by you, like everyone else. He sees the gravestone in your heart, and he must be curious about what kind of great ideal makes someone like you so unhesitant."
"Don't they like to explain it as brainwashing? Like hypnosis or something." Natasha frowned and said.
"Other presidents might, but do you think Batman is that stupid?" Shiller smiled and said, "Besides, this particular Batman you caught the attention of is extraordinarily smart and decisive."
Natasha opened her mouth but didn't know how to refute. She said, "What does he want from me? Soviet intelligence?"
"Then he should go through history books." Shiller shook his head, "Even for information not written in books, he has ways to get it. Never question Batman's technical skills."
"So what?"
"He wants to know those more abstract things. For example, what unites the people on that land? What made them become the world's most powerful nation in just a few decades? What makes people like you brave dangers and risk everything?"
Shiller took a step closer, staring at Natasha and said, "Batman always does the best. When he's a vigilante, he saves the darkest city; when he's a president, he wants to build the best country."
The more Natasha listened, the more uneasy she felt: "He... he... can't be?"
"Maybe he didn't pay so much attention to that long-dead behemoth at first, but then you appeared—a person born in Stalingrad, witnessed the glorious times, born among them, firm and idealistic. After discovering your strength and excellence, he'll be especially eager to know why this time holds such a heavy weight in your soul. It's only human nature, madam."
Natasha leaned her head back in despair.
Shiller took another step closer and said, "Weren't there many people like this at that time? Initially drawn to you, then unable to stop, finally willing to do anything. Even you must be amazed at your own allure."
Natasha slightly tilted her head. She pursed her lips without speaking, seemingly agreeing silently.
"You're in for huge trouble, madam." Shiller raised his glass as if celebrating.
"Ahhhhh!!!"
A screech interrupted Natasha's thoughts. She instantly went into combat mode, discreetly feeling for the gun fixed to her thigh and the Widow Sting on her arm, and walked swiftly towards the crowd.
Shiller, however, did not move, still standing by the nearly deserted window, observing the crowd like an outsider.
An old man in a blue suit staggered and stumbled into the crowd, followed by a tearful woman. They were undoubtedly not a pair—the old man's legitimate wife's face was extremely unsightly.
Even as a plain cheating scene, it was lively enough. But after the old man got up, he said shakily, "Restroom... there's a body in the restroom!!!"
The crowd scattered with a bang. But just then, the main door opened, and armed bodyguards came in with the cold wind and moisture. They blocked the door tightly; no one could get out.
"The Eden Killer has struck again!" Penguin Man reappeared on the second floor, saying, "Killed one amongst you at my charity event. How bold!"
Natasha withdrew her gaze from him, turning her head to look at Shiller among the crowd. Shiller slowly shook his head at her.
Natasha gradually edged to the side, only to be blocked by a tall bodyguard. But from this angle, she could see the restroom door open—blood slowly flowing into the corridor, accompanied by the scent of blood.
"Now, everyone go to the rooms upstairs!" Penguin Man shouted, "No one is to leave until I find the culprit!"
The bodyguards escorted the crowd upstairs, glaring fiercely at every person, as if taking one slow step made them the most suspicious one. So everyone hurriedly cooperated, afraid that this enraged fat man would come after them.
Only Shiller remained leisurely. When passing by Penguin Man, he even nodded to him and said, "Smart move, Mr. Kopot. But do you think this will stop the killer from killing?"
Penguin Man's face remained as gloomy as ever, but he didn't respond, just pretended not to hear. Shiller followed the bodyguards to a room on the third floor.
The Penguin Man clearly had a premeditated plan. There happened to be many empty rooms here, and each one had been tidied up. However, he obviously didn't plan to give each person a room; instead, he locked two people together.
Natasha was shoved into Shiller's room. Of course, this was absolutely the Penguin Man's idea—although the female agent had beaten him up, he believed Natasha wasn't the killer. So having her keep an eye on the highly suspicious Shiller was the best choice.
Natasha maintained a vigilant posture, holding her gun at the door, until all the noise on this floor faded away. Only then did she put away her gun, sat down in a chair by the window, and said to Shiller, who stood by the window on the other side, "You know something, don't you?"
"Indeed. But I assure you, I'm neither the Eden Killer nor a copycat. I haven't killed anyone recently."
"The key is that you know their identity but won't tell." Natasha frowned at him, "What good does it do to let them run amok killing people here? Why are you doing this?"
"You're the biggest benefit," Shiller said, looking at Natasha.
"My God, if you weren't so serious, I'd have thought you were flirting." Natasha raised her hands slightly, "I kind of understand the agent now. You can slack off occasionally, but you can't just flirt all the time, can you?"
"I'm speaking the truth." Shiller shook his head lightly, arranging his cuffs as he continued, "Your presence in these two universes is the benefit."
His tone was very serious, and Natasha couldn't catch the slightest hint of humor, but the implication was indeed too abstract—how could her being here be a benefit? What good does it do to add a female agent to these two universes?
Natasha couldn't help but recall what Shiller had said before: Arkham Batman was very curious about her and wanted to see what that miraculous country was really like through her. Perhaps this was the only special thing about her.
"God, no, it can't be!" Natasha couldn't help but bellow, "I didn't pay attention in any of my political science classes; I hated those chattering political instructors the most, and I even stole his hat because he punished me with copying lines. You better not be saying I have to do this job!"
"What are you thinking?" Shiller's slightly mocking voice rang out, "I'm referring to the communication and cooperation between two worlds. Although there have been people lining up to the opposite replica before, it has never been as direct and indispensable as it is now."
Natasha coughed heavily a few times. Fortunately, she quickly regained her composure and said, "Are you saying this is just to strengthen the connection between the two worlds?"
"This is just a prelude." Shiller's slow pace of speech was so lulling that one could fall asleep after just a few sentences, "We need a grander alliance, broader and more powerful, to handle greater dangers within and between the two worlds. Someone needs to make a good start."
Instinctively, Natasha sensed danger: "Framing the president and staging murders are just the start. What exactly are you trying to do?"
"It's us," Shiller said, "from the moment you agreed to come here, you couldn't escape anymore. And since Batman has a special interest in you, you might play a very important role."
"Besides you, who else knows about this?"
"Shiller knows everything," Shiller continued, "Oh, except for the agent. He always leaves in a hurry and typically doesn't check the memory bank."
"So you all know, but you're keeping it from him?" Natasha showed a bit of contempt.
"Of course not. But it doesn't really matter whether he knows or not; he doesn't care about these things at all. He's not interested in any grand conspiracies, only in the work at hand."
"A little too focused on the here and now," Natasha couldn't help but say, "He's run with Batman at least three laps, yet now he acts totally unconcerned lying in the medical center. Batman even gave him painkillers."
"Agents always find a way out."
"So what do you plan to do about this situation here?" Natasha frowned again, "The Penguin Man's move, though not smart, is indeed effective. He gathered Gotham's upper-class people and, through a series of murders, locked them all up. This way, the Eden Killer will have a hard time picking them off one by one. At least it ensures their safety."
Shiller shook his head and said, "You and I both know the Eden Killer is not a real killer, or rather, not any particular person. I don't believe the agent hasn't found his flaw after all this time. Since you know what form he exists in, you know that the Penguin's method of physical protection is useless."
Natasha then realized: if the behind-the-scenes manipulator of two worlds is the same, that is, an electronic lifeform, then unless you establish a fortress without a network like Batman, he will surely take advantage.
"But the Penguin Man's approach has its benefit," Shiller said. "If he wants to continue committing crimes, at least he has to expose part of himself to manipulate the human race."
"Like sending emails?" Natasha immediately thought of the electronic life's method in the other universe and said, "He could find someone's weakness, then send an email to threaten them into murder. But that's not easy either, because the estate is full of bodyguards now."
"Don't bodyguards have weaknesses?"
"Of course they do. But if you manipulate the upper-class people into killing each other and disguise it as a vendetta, it may not be exposed that quickly—there are plenty of existing grievances among them after all. But if you manipulate the bodyguards, the Penguin Man would go crazy investigating it, because it's a threat to his own safety, which might speed up the exposure."
"That depends on how this clever electronic lifeform chooses." Shiller sat on another chair, turning to look out the window.
At this moment, a flash of lightning struck through the night sky. After the brief light came deeper darkness. In that instant, the light revealed two figures locked in a life-and-death struggle in a room on the estate. There was a ripping sound as blood splattered onto the shadows, and a scream rose with the thunder, like the final climax of an orchestral prelude.