Chapter 1275: A Pair of Lonely Figures (XV)
The atmosphere in the banquet hall suddenly became more subtle. The nervous atmosphere where the entire audience was focused on one person suddenly disappeared. Everyone turned their attention back, as if they each had their own thoughts and secrets, and they seemed to have a little bit of everything. Uneasy.
"Oh, I see!"
Schiller suddenly raised his voice, and you could clearly see that the hands of the people holding cups tightened, as if they suddenly heard an alarm bell in a dream.
"I know that the slightly chaotic security situation in Gotham makes you not very confident in the FBI, and the FBI really doesn't like to set its sights here."
"But I think this is actually unjustified. The FBI should treat every city in every state equally, rather than abandoning a certain city because it is difficult to maintain law and order."
"Of course, I can also understand that as victims, out of your high morals and compassion, you don't want to add burdens to the institutions that maintain national security, but it doesn't matter. I have worked with some people in Congress, the Department of Defense and Security, and the FBI. We maintain a good relationship with my colleagues, and of course I can help you solve problems..."
"Mr. Schiller." Bruce interrupted Schiller. At this time, his slightly deep voice sounded like a beautiful singing voice to everyone, interrupting Schiller's devilish whisper.
"Yes, this matter is indeed serious." As soon as Bruce opened his mouth, everyone's eyes went dark. The two old men standing behind the stairs were so anxious that they almost stamped their feet and wanted to rush up immediately and cover Bruce's mouth.
"The FBI is always a problem wherever it is." Constantine curled his lips and commented: "No one likes to deal with them. It would be best if the FBI didn't focus on this place. Everyone can live in peace, but if they insist on coming, Even if nothing is found, it’s still annoying.”
"Don't think I don't know. The big families in Gotham have more or less illegal assets." Hal rolled his eyes and said, "It's the same in Beach City. Families with a little bit of power are all connected with smugglers. How much effort did they put into getting the FBI not to pay attention to this place? Schiller wants to lure the wolf into the house, can they not be in a hurry? "
"More importantly, this professor's performance convinced others that his position in the Department of National Defense and Security is indeed important," Diana said.
"Gotham is indeed like a no-nonsense zone, but after all, it is still on federal territory and cannot be completely autonomous. The FBI can't control Gotham, and can't it control the ports that have logistics exchanges with Gotham? If there is a slight stumbling block in logistics, no one will be able to make it easy.”
"It seems that this is the purpose of Batman inviting Schiller to the banquet. He had expected that March would set up a trap for him. Just wait, the fun has just begun." Greedy's smiling voice echoed.
"Especially the tragedy that happened to Mr. March..." Bruce changed his style and looked at March beside him and said: "This gentleman has a sincere heart and wants to participate in the construction of Gotham, but But being persecuted like this is truly an injustice in the world, and I think he needs the FBI to come here to seek justice for him.”
Schiller also turned his gaze to March's face. Before March could speak, he said before him: "Oh my god, sir, why didn't you mention this when you talked to me yesterday? You really "I should not have concealed such important information from your psychiatrist, which would have led to my misjudgment of your psychological condition."
"Of course, your situation cannot be said to be a mental illness. It is just some anxiety that ordinary people are prone to. I dare say that everyone here will have such emotions to some extent."
"But if such emotions come from the physical injury you suffered, in addition to anxiety, I would also have to make the inference of 'post-traumatic stress disorder'. My professional ethics require me to do this."
"No, I'm not..."
March has noticed the changes in the eyes of the people around him. There is no doubt that being a little mentally ill is not a big deal in Gotham. In other words, those who can still stay here are more or less seriously ill.
However, mental illness caused by being injured by a killer can even lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. Just because you are slightly injured, you have to see a psychiatrist. This is simply the most frustrating and despised form of mental illness. Without thought, the disease has no personality.
March gritted his teeth. He really wanted to say that he had never seen a psychiatrist at all, nor had Schiller allowed Schiller to tell him about his situation, but the words circled around in his mouth and he swallowed them back. inside.
Schiller is a psychiatrist, so what else could he go to see Schiller for, if not for medical treatment? To enjoy the thrill of fooling the police after killing someone? He blew himself up on the spot, right?
"Hahahahaha!" Harley was half-laughing and laughing. She said while laughing, "This idiot got himself involved! In order to embarrass Batman, he said he had been seriously injured by a killer. Schiller took the opportunity to imply that he went to see a psychiatrist because he was afraid of pain and death, but he couldn’t explain it, hahahahaha!”
"What can he say? He can't say, I killed someone, and I want to show off to others, and this person happens to be a psychiatrist! But if he says that, maybe it will make these people think more highly of him. , Hahahahaha!”
Just as Harley said, the way people around looked at March changed a bit. Again, in Gotham, you can't show weakness.
In the dark forest where the jungle prevails, you can also go to see a doctor because of your madness, your anxiety, your doubts and confusion, but not because of fear.
Gradually, March discovered that the contemptuous eyes were gradually changing into another emotion, that is greed. What would be the consequences if a group of hungry wolves discovered that there was a sheep in wolf's clothing among the wolves?
March felt that the bright lights could no longer provide him with a sense of security. Pairs of eyes as bright as torches lit up in the dark night, staring covetously at the lamb that had exposed its weaknesses.
"Ahem." Bruce's soft cough broke the increasingly weird atmosphere. He took a step forward, shoulder to shoulder with Schiller, then turned to look at Schiller, who also turned to look at him.
March has been completely excluded from the two of them. This is obviously another signal. In this conversation, March has lost all initiative and is only the last step away from being kicked out.
"As a friend of Mr. March, I sympathize with his experience. He was hurt within the Wayne Group, and it is also my fault." Bruce lowered his head, looking very guilty.
"To be honest, I didn't expect that when he felt sad, he didn't come to me to talk to me immediately, but he found you."
"Actually, I'm quite surprised." Schiller nodded slightly and said, "Not long after I came to Gotham, I got my first patient. Gotham is not as close to strangers as outsiders say."
"They are mocking March as a traitor." Bruce in the theater explained: "When something goes wrong, instead of discussing it with your own people immediately, you go to an outsider. Moreover, he has just arrived and is not known by anyone. The outsiders who knew about it even revealed what was happening inside Gotham, and they were complete traitors.”
"Sometimes, I don't understand you Gothamites. You always like to treat each other as enemies and fight to the death. But you also really hate outsiders interfering in your mutual torture. It seems that in some aspects And inseparable, closer than allies." Clark expressed his feelings.
"Hit the point." Constantine commented: "If you haven't been to Gotham, you haven't seen real madness."
On the screen, Bruce and Schiller were talking to each other, one was a good guy, the other was a bad guy, and they didn’t mention March in a word, but they mentioned March in every sentence, until March’s character was completely shaped into He became a cowardly traitor who lived quietly and turned to outsiders for help when he was even slightly frightened.
In the end, March couldn't stay in the center of the venue any longer, so he gritted his teeth and found a lame excuse to leave.
After he left, everyone's contempt for him deepened, because in this situation, he should not find any excuse, just get the wine on his clothes and exit.
Just as Diana commented, March's body revealed a sense of awkwardness in which his words and deeds were inconsistent, and bystanders also felt this directly at this moment.
"A beautiful combination." Illness finally said: "But it's not over yet. Batman must deal with issues related to the FBI. He cannot resist, but he cannot accept it, and at the same time, he must be reasonable and decent enough."
"About the FBI, I think we can think about it again." Bruce swung the wine in his glass and did not lower his voice. He still seemed confident. "Of course I believe in the capabilities of the FBI, but Don’t you think it’s completely unnecessary for them to send agents here?”
"Oh? I'd like to hear the details."
"You are a professor at the Trainee Agent Training Academy and have worked in this position for many years. In other words, the current elite backbone agents of the FBI are all your students. Since the teacher is already here, why bother adding more details? "
A burst of applause came from the back of the theater. Greedy lowered his head and clapped while smiling. This burst of applause also resounded in everyone's hearts. They had to admit that this answer was indeed reasonable and decent.
It not only elevated Schiller to a high position, making it impossible for him to refuse with a strong attitude, but also played a little logical trick, describing the teacher's ability as the sum of the students' abilities, emphasizing the concept that the teacher must be greater than the student, so that Erasing the need to come back here as a student agent.
After all, according to this logic, the teachers who have taught so many agents are here. If the teachers are not good, what is the use of the students?
"Professor Schiller, as I said before, people's concern for mental health is a manifestation of social progress. I think everyone should pay attention to this, especially myself."
Bruce suddenly changed the topic, but Schiller understood his hint, so he took a step forward and looked into Bruce's eyes and said: "Yes, Mr. Wayne, then I wonder if I will be lucky enough to get one of your business cards." , so that you can remember what I said today when you have doubts related to psychology?
Bruce turned around silently, took the business card holder from his dedicated waiter, took one out and handed it to Schiller, who also took the business card silently and put it into the pocket of his suit.
Schiller once again touched the side of the glass in Bruce's hand with the glass, raised the glass and took a sip of wine, and this time, Bruce also picked up the glass and opened his mouth to drink.
When he lifted the glass, the wine flowed towards one side of the glass wall. The two of them looked at each other through the unclear glass of the wine glass and the wine that looked clear and shining under the light.
At the same time, in the eyes of the opponent, he saw the joy of a close confidant's victory through perfect cooperation, and he also saw the calm murderous intention under the surging undercurrent of life and death enemies who had fought several times.