Chapter 2491: The Battle for the Cloak (Part 10)

```

Poison Ivy changed her position and adjusted her posture in the chair before looking at Shiller and asking, "Where do we go next?"

"Of course, we're going to prepare a grand welcome ceremony for this King Robin."

"You're going to personally go?"

"Of course not. Not only can I not go personally, but I also need to hide very well, leaving only the slightest clue."

Poison Ivy felt even more perplexed, feeling that the professor's words and actions were self-contradictory. However, considering that she was now in the same boat as him, she had no choice but to ask, "If you're going to hide very well, then why leave behind a clue?"

"It's so he can find me. Have you forgotten my ultimate goal?"

"Then why don't you just show up in front of him?"

Shiller sighed, and Poison Ivy really didn't know how he managed to sigh with a blend of disdain, sorrow, helplessness, and endurance.

"He comes to Gotham excited, only to find the citizens he was supposed to bring to justice lying on the ground like corpses, and at that moment, I, who have completely ruined his fun, appear before him. What do you think he will do?"

"He would want to kill you, of course."

"And then you expect me to fight him?"

"But you can beat him," said Poison Ivy, spreading her hands. "Although I don't know what that fog was that you turned into just now, it seemed quite powerful. I don't think he's a match for you."

"I usually wouldn't take such an approach," Shiller shook his head and said, "Firstly, the origins of this guy are unclear, and I might be able to kill him, but not necessarily capture him completely."

"This guy is just a pawn. The real mastermind behind the scenes sent him not just to vent but also to scout. I don't want the other party to know I'm here, and more importantly, I don't want them to know my capabilities."

Poison Ivy frowned, but in the end, she agreed, saying, "Indeed, it's better to expose as little information as possible until the real villain reveals himself. Otherwise, if you show all your cards now, you'll have none left to play later."

"So I'm going to set up a game and have him come to me." Shiller's hand gently tapped on the armrest of the chair, adding, "First, provoke him, then leave some clues for him, and when he follows those clues to me, the anger he has accumulated and the joy of imminent victory will cloud his judgment, making it easier for him to let down his guard."

"Are you going to create a trap there?"

"No, I am the trap itself," Shiller said. "From the show he put on television, he is not a cold-blooded killer who goes straight for the target. Destruction is not his goal but the process he enjoys. He needs his journey of evil to be full of twists and turns, he needs the attention of others, their gaze is the poison he's addicted to."

"But ordinary people are rather boring; he needs a powerful opponent to observe everything he does, to play the game with him, to let him win and feel a sense of achievement and recognition. As long as we grasp this psychology, he won't be difficult to deal with."

Poison Ivy opened her mouth to speak but then hesitated and changed course before saying, "I've heard this sort of talk from a madman before."

"Batman?"

"Although Batman is crazy too, don't you think there's someone crazier?... Wait, why was Batman your first reaction?"

Shiller coughed twice and did not speak.

"I was talking about the Joker. This is Harley Quinn's assessment of him. The Joker's longing for Batman's gaze is his greatest weakness."

"Spot-on."

"King Robin is both Batman and the Joker," Shiller said. "It seems like a good thing; he combines the wisdom of Batman with the Joker's ruthlessness, which should make him stronger, but in reality, he has a fatal weakness: he has no more playmates."

"Because of the Joker's existence, Batman can highlight his essence as the Dark Knight who sticks to his principles, and because of Batman's existence, the Joker's atrocious acts gain attention and judgment. They validate each other's existence."

"But if they merge into one, this mutual validation ceases to exist. He becomes tormented, empty, unable to find a reason to live. This is why he is seeking out the Universe Batman, to learn how the latter has escaped such a dilemma."

"That does make some sense," Poison Ivy reluctantly admitted. "Is this your conclusion or just speculation?"

"This is my analysis," Shiller said. "What seems very mysterious to you is like a mathematical formula to me, traceable and not a secret."

"It seems you're quite a talented madman yourself."

"Flattery will get you everywhere, ma'am, but instead of compliments, I require a bit of practical assistance."

"What do you want to do?"

"I'm off to Arkham Asylum, I need to have a talk with my old friends."

"What do you want to talk to them about?"

"You'll know when we get there."

The car quickly arrived at Arkham Asylum, and both Poison Ivy and Shiller got out. Poison Ivy noticed that Shiller took off his glasses before getting out of the car.

With his glasses on, Poison Ivy hadn't really paid attention to his eyes. Now, curious about his action, she couldn't help but glance at Shiller's eyes and discovered that his grey irises were desolate and scattered, as though he could see nothing at all.

```