“Barbara, I think I know why Jason disappeared.”
After interrogating the Ventriloquist, Batman fired his grappling hook, traversing Gotham's skyscrapers while communicating with Barbara in the Batcave via channel signal.
“I never thought there would be another world. If that world's Batman has no 'no-kill' rule, he could definitely fool Jason into going over there.”
“I know, but you also know that world is dangerous, even about to devour our world. We have to rescue Jason and then close the gate connecting the two worlds.”
“What are you planning to do now?”
“First, I'll find another person with a dual personality and see what other information I can get.”
“Okay, I'll help you search for information on Harvey Dent… I'll start with facial recognition on the Bat-monitoring system… Found him! Cameras caught Harvey Dent going to Vought Tower at noon. He hasn't come out since!”
… …
… …
Inside Vought Tower, Shimizu was still listening to Harvey Dent's account of the other world.
Or rather, a relaying of it.
“So, that world is pretty miserable. Whether they're villains or heroes, anyone with the ability and courage to resist has been almost completely wiped out, leaving only civilians living in endless fear and despair.”
Shimizu tapped his fingers on the table and said.
But isn't saving the world something that those heroes are supposed to do?
Why are they coming to me?
“You can't just expect me to solve this.”
Shimizu said to Harvey Dent.
Harvey Dent followed up:
“I know, we have to drag Batman into this too.”
“That's right.”
Just then, the fluorescent light on the roof flickered a few times and then quickly went out.
“Looks like he's here.”
Shimizu looked up at the roof.
Batman's stealth skills were excellent. He was hiding on the roof, spraying quick-drying gel bombs on the ground, drawing a bat shape.
However, Shimizu could clearly see Batman's position and movements with his 'Transparent World'.
A long-range projector was placed on the roof of the opposite building. It was estimated that Batman would use this long-range projector to project a shadow, creating the illusion of Batman swinging past the window, and then take the opportunity to blow up the roof and snatch Harvey Dent.
Moreover, he was wearing a suit similar to the Anti-Ragdoll armor from last time, but the design was slightly different, and the functions should have been upgraded.
It's just that there was something inside the suit, with extremely high density, and it released a special electromagnetic field to interfere with the outside world. Even Shimizu's 'Transparent World', formed by mental power, was affected to a certain extent, and he couldn't see it very clearly.
Was this design meant to target me or that red cape with X-ray vision in Metropolis next door?
Shimizu didn't know, but assuming he didn't have the 'Transparent World', he might really be caught off guard.
“Hey! You up there, stop hiding! Just come in through the window! The guys guarding outside, you guys stay outside the door, no shooting!”
Shimizu put his hands in front of his mouth, shaped like a trumpet, and shouted upstairs.
To make sure Batman could hear, he specifically used his power to manipulate the air vibrations to direct his voice upstairs.
Batman's movements suddenly stiffened, and he silently swung in from the window.
“Cool! New suit? Was it prepared for me? But honestly, I thought you would change to a more superheroic way than descending from the roof. Coming in through the window like this just doesn't feel right.”
Shimizu put his legs on the table and said to Batman.
The latter ignored Shimizu and looked at Harvey Dent.
“Looks like you also met the other you and told Vought.”
“Yes, you already know what happened?”
“Before coming to find you, I encountered the Ventriloquist.”
Harvey Dent then relayed the words of the other Harvey Dent as if in a trance: “So that guy isn't dead either.”
At this time, Batman finally turned his gaze to Shimizu.
“Why are you looking at me? You wouldn't be tired of playing with women every day and want to change your taste, right? Let me tell you, I'm not into that.”
“This matter is actually related to you as well.”
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Batman continued:
“And now there's another you, and they can't defeat you either, so different opinions arose within them, eventually leading to a split.”
Shimizu didn't continue asking, but signaled Batman to continue.
“These past few days, I've been tracking the Court of Owls and discovered this secret.”
Harvey Dent interjected: “No wonder I couldn't find you.”
Batman began to tell another story.
“At the beginning of Gotham's establishment, the Court of Owls was born together. Not long after, in order to control Gotham's darkness, the Court of Owls sacrificed to a certain dark existence, praying for power.”
“It's just that as the number of sacrifices increased, the power they gained became stronger and more difficult to control. Arkham's mother went insane due to being influenced by this dark power. Amadeus founded Arkham Asylum, intending to treat his mother, but was eventually influenced by this power and killed his mother.”
“After the death of his wife and children, before he went completely insane, Amadeus closed the dark door with his last bit of sanity. At that time, the Court of Owls had already entered a brief period of decline due to internal strife. Since then, it has never been opened again.”
“Until now, some of them believe that the influence of the dark power has subsided and that they can open that door again and regain power, but there is also a faction of opponents, so infighting occurred. Obviously, the former has now won, the latter has been defeated, and the door has been reopened, but the influence has not subsided, but has rebounded again.”
The story came back around here.
“So, you came to me intending to join me in storming the Court of Owls and closing the door?”
“If you can refrain from killing people.”
“Do you think that's possible?”
“So I will go myself. If I don't come back alive, I hope you can replace me and continue to fight Gotham's evil. The other Robins haven't grown enough to shoulder this responsibility.”
