novelonline Chapter 3863 The Nameless Bat (33)
Chapter 3863 The Nameless Bat (33)
Chapter 3863 The Nameless Bat (Thirty-Three)
Natasha ultimately decided to meet the Penguin. Gordon had told her that in Gotham, arresting someone required the consent of two people: Batman and the Penguin.
Considering that someone like the Penguin would probably not want the CIA to make a public appearance, Natasha decided to meet him privately. So that evening, she went to the Iceberg Restaurant in casual clothes.
Natasha wore a strapless top with a high-waisted, bodycon skirt, sparkling earrings, and her long red hair cascaded down her back. As she walked in through the main entrance, she attracted everyone's attention.
She sat down at the bar and casually ordered a drink. Almost immediately, people came over to chat her up, but Natasha rejected them all. It wasn't until the restaurant was almost closing time that Natasha looked at the bartender and said, "I need to speak with your boss."
The bartender seemed unfazed. Ever since the Penguin became mayor, there had been countless attempts to seduce him with beautiful women. While today's woman was certainly pretty, it was unlikely to succeed.
The bartender glanced at Natasha with some regret. It was a pity that such a hot beauty was going to search for treasures deep in the Atlantic Ocean today.
Soon, two burly bodyguards in black suits and sunglasses appeared beside Natasha. Natasha got off the bar stool and gestured that she was unarmed.
The outfit she chose today wasn't just for looks—it was very tight, showing off not only her figure but also her muscles. This clearly proved she wasn't carrying a weapon or had any training.
Normally, to reach Natasha's level of strength, one would need the physique of a heavyweight boxer. But in reality, Natasha wasn't that strong; she had a well-proportioned figure, a slender waist, and her legs didn't even show any muscle definition.
So when she wears a skirt or very tight clothes, people are more likely to think of her as a model who maintains her figure by dieting, or at most goes to the gym to lift weights, and doesn't look threatening at all.
The two bodyguards clearly thought the same thing, so they confidently led Natasha out of the back door of the Iceberg Restaurant. After getting into the car, they arrived at the Penguin Manor.
Natasha is now praying that the penguins in this universe haven't met Black Widow. This is quite possible—although the penguins may have participated in the Battle Realm, with so many superheroes participating, it's unlikely they'd encounter other versions of themselves from other universes unless they were constantly engaged in large-scale battles.
After entering the manor, Natasha glanced around but didn't find anything amiss. They then went up to the second floor, where the penguin was waiting for her in one of the offices.
Natasha walked in, and the penguin paused for a moment when he turned around. He seemed to have anticipated the situation, but he was still shocked by Natasha's beauty.
“Hello, Mr. Penguin. I’m sorry, this is the only way I can reach you, but it’s for your reputation’s sake—CIA Special Agent Natasha Romanoff.”
"God's shit!" Penguin cursed. "I only have one question: Has the CIA boss lost his mind? Hiring someone named Natasha Romanoff as an American agent?!"
"Didn't you also hire someone named Antonio Kuznetsov as the host?"
"What do you mean? Are you implying that he's a Russian spy?"
“I hope he’s the Eden Killer,” Natasha said calmly. “Gotham can’t go on like this. This needs to be resolved. It would be good to pin the blame on a Russian spy.”
"You weren't sent by Batman, were you?"
“That’s right. Because Gordon told me there were no other options, so I had to come here to persuade you. Is Antonio really that important?”
“It’s not a question of whether he’s important or not,” the Penguin said, looking at Natasha. “Aren’t you going to catch the real Eden Killer? What if he commits another crime?”
"Are you afraid he'll kill you?"
“It’s not impossible.” The Penguin turned and sat back down. “He killed the mayor, so he could kill me too. Everyone in high society is on edge right now. If you only catch one imposter, and the real one chooses to strike again, how are you going to explain that to Batman?”
"He...I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to do it himself."
A glint of light flashed in the Penguin's eyes as he stared at Natasha's face and said, "You know something, don't you?"
"Yes, but I can't explain it to you right now. Every CIA agent has secrets, and it's better if you don't know. If you really want to know, go ask Batman."
The Penguin twitched his hooked nose. He was clearly annoyed and disgusted by the offer, but he obviously wasn't going to let Natasha off so easily. He said, "My life is in danger, and I know nothing about it. It's not fair to me. You should at least leave something behind."
Do you know who the last person I slept with survived?
"who is it?"
"Batman."
The Penguin's nose twitched even more. He looked Natasha up and down, then shook his head and said, "No, Batman wouldn't sleep with you. You're not his type."
"You seem to know a lot about this."
"Not as much as the Joker. But you're not lying, so it must be another Batman?"
"Since you've guessed it, I don't need to beat around the bush with you. This matter is likely a conspiracy spanning the universe, and there's more than one Batman trying to turn the tide. There's only so much we can do; let's just not cause him any trouble."
“Ah,” the Penguin uttered a meaningless syllable. He still looked as sinister as ever, turning to Natasha and saying, “Did you visit 125 Kazsovo?”
"No, where is it?"
"The home of Gordon and Batman's henchman, a psychologist and FBI lecturer."
Why should I go there?
“He’s Batman’s friend, and they have a good relationship. I think you should listen to his opinion before you consider whether to handle this matter so hastily.”
"Are you really not just worried about your subordinates?"
"I will make them die for me at the right time, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to waste them. If your chosen solution can't end this, why should I give it to you?"
"Even Batman can't change your choice?"
“Batman wouldn’t choose that, ma’am. Did you know he was happy for Antonio getting rid of his gangster brother and getting a proper job at the TV station?”
“I knew it,” Natasha sighed. “You are all his retribution.”
The penguin finally smiled, though his expression remained somber. He said, "Yes, it is our honor."
Natasha eventually left because she realized that the Penguin was actually one of the more sane ones among that group of lunatics. Natasha knew she couldn't go to the Joker; she had seen him in the Fighting World and knew very well that she couldn't communicate with a lunatic of that caliber.
So after leaving the Penguin Manor, Natasha drove to 125 Kazsovo. She didn't think much of the house when she saw it, but standing in front of the door, she had a bad feeling. And when the door opened, her premonition came true.
“Hello,” Natasha said after a moment’s hesitation. “I know this isn’t the time for a visit, but I do have something important to discuss with you.”
Schiller paused for a moment, then opened the door for her and said, "One of my patients who is staying here has just fallen asleep. I hope you won't disturb him, madam."
Natasha couldn't help but shiver. She knew she should have seen this Schiller before, but she just couldn't get used to it—damn it, he was calling her "Madam"!
If greed is what it's called, then Natasha should mourn for her own bank card—no, not just hers, she should probably mourn for all the Avengers' bank cards.
Natasha went inside and glanced at the house. Very well, it was the kind of old-fashioned style that Greed disliked most; houses from the Jane Eyre era shouldn't exist in a 21st-century American metropolis.
"Please have a seat, madam. Black tea or coffee?"
“Water will do.” Natasha gave a forced smile; she had to admit she was very nervous. The house looked even more vintage than Ifamone Castle, it was like something out of a movie.
Schiller brought Natasha a glass of water and placed it in front of her. Then he sat on the armchair, one leg crossed over the other, his hands on his lap, and said, "Did Chief Gordon send you to see me? About the Eden Killer case?"
Natasha picked up her water glass, took a sip, and said, "I guess so. To be precise, Gordon sent me to find the Penguin, and the Penguin sent me to find you. Because the Penguin thinks simply sending out a scapegoat to quell this isn't enough. What do you think?"
"It depends on what kind of person the Eden Killer is and whether he will commit another crime. What's your opinion?"
"He caused quite a stir last time, so he should quiet down for a while. Besides, he can't do it himself, he can only manipulate others. And the two people he manipulated before can no longer kill, and they need time to choose new targets. We just need to stall for time."
Schiller slowly shook his head and said, "Whether he stops killing, and for how long, does not depend on what he can do, but on whether he wants to do it. Whether he wants to continue killing depends on whether he wants to continue learning."
“Study?” Natasha frowned; she had heard the word again.
“I thought Batman had already told you. The Eden Killer is probably learning something. Considering his victims, it’s highly likely they are people with intimate relationships based on mating desires and hormones. He’ll only stop when he thinks he’s figured it out, otherwise there will definitely be more victims.”
"So do you think he figured it out?"
Schiller shook his head again and said, "Unfortunately, in the last case, the mayor's murder, the killer was not the real Eden Killer, but a copycat. I'll explain the reasons later. But if we disregard this case and consider the penultimate case as the Eden Killer's last case, it's clear he didn't learn enough."
"Tell me carefully."
"All the cases in which the Eden Killer manipulated others to commit crimes exhibit a very clear step-by-step progression: the first couple did not actually have sex, the second couple did so en route, the third couple did so afterward, and then the cycle started again from the beginning. This proves that there is something he did not understand. If he did not understand, he would keep repeating this process, not like a human being, but like a malfunctioning machine."
Natasha was somewhat surprised. She knew that there had only been a murder in this universe, and there was no other evidence to suggest the existence of electronic life, but Schiller had almost deduced the truth.
"So, if I may be so bold, madam, the plan to whitewash the situation and cover up the truth is utterly foolish. A malfunctioning machine will not stop; it will only become more extreme. What we are seeing now is merely the calm before the storm—things are about to escalate."
Before Natasha could say anything, Gordon's slightly anxious voice came through her earpiece: "Agent Romanoff, I'm afraid you must come back immediately! Chief Judge Tranis of Gotham City Court has died in his lover's bed. This time, it's the 'Eden Killer'!"
Natasha turned to look at Schiller. Those grey eyes, identical to Dr. Schiller's, held a completely different kind of indifference, perfectly complementing the sinful city. If Gotham was Batman's karma, then Schiller was Gotham's karma.
When this absurd idea, which was so close to fatalism, first appeared in Natasha's mind, it terrified her.
Pride is indeed more anthropomorphic.