Chapter 178 Laugh it Off (Part 1)_1

Several spotlights shone on Batman, causing him to squint, resembling a bat startled from slumber in a dark cavern by the beam of an explorer's flashlight.

"I advise you not to make a move right now." Shiller turned his head towards Batman, not discerning any expression on his face. He was different from the Bruce who had just started out – it was virtually impossible to tell what he was thinking through his outward appearance.

"Why?" Batman's voice remained deep and somber.

Shiller turned his gaze back to the stage. The spotlight swept over him, making his glasses gleam. He said, "You'll need some patience. The real show has just begun."

"I don't think there's anything worth my attention." Batman remained immobile, his face stern. He said, "Even if he moved the kidnapping to the theater, it's still a crime. He's insane."

"Yes, he is insane, but not like the others."

"What's different about a madman?"

"Then why are you sitting here instead of hurrying down to stop him? I advised you, but I'm not stopping you, I can't."

Batman fell silent.

"Because he's piqued your interest, you're wondering how the show will begin."

"Because the Owl is your enemy, and perhaps there's a pleasure of revenge in your inaction."

Before Batman could deny, Shiller said, "Watching these actors fail is quite amusing, but if you're still treating him like a common madman, the one who will end up unlucky is you."

Batman furrowed his brows. He focused his attention away from himself and back to the stage. Joker held the small iron stick used to hit the triangle, put it in the mouth of a bound fat man and said, "Alright, you pick an audience member to read you the clue from their ticket."

"I, I..." The fat man was sweating profusely, being suspended mid-air by a rope for so long had drained him completely. Joker jutted his lower lip, suddenly stood straight, and tucked his hair behind his ears to reveal his eyes.

He walked with such precision, like he was marching, to another man, removed the man's glasses and placed them on his own face.

He held the iron stick to his mouth, like he was holding a microphone, cleared his throat and said, "Now presenting, the world's most professional psychology expert, Jack, with a deep analysis."

Shiller in the audience squinted his eyes while Evans instinctively moved towards the aisle, seemingly wanting to distance himself from his professor(s).

"A disgraceful display, buddy." The Joker walked back to the fat man and said, "Your arrogant attitudes are based on a safe environment. You, dressed up in your suits and stand in a safe conference room, think you control everything because you use the riches inherited from your ancestors as capital and revel in the pleasure of being the puppet master."

"But when your so-called invincible beliefs are actually put into practice, they simply turn into the heartache of losing vested interests. In reality, there's no difference between you and an ordinary person who would feel heartache over losing five dollars."

"All your great aims ultimately turn into the most mediocre regret and heartache. When you truly become one with the ordinary, you lose everything."

"And then what? A fat, bloated body? A soul with no originality?"

"As an actor, you're such a failure that you can't even perform a good play on your own."

"What are you thinking? I know, it's so hard to plead a madman..."

The fat man emitted grunting noises and his face turned red.

Just as the Joker said, no matter how clever of a puppet master you consider yourself to be, when you're hanging with a rope in the air on stage, exposed for everyone to see your disgrace, you certainly can't remain as cool as a cucumber.

"Since you don't want to choose, I'll choose for you." The Joker adjusted his glasses and said, "I'm sure our Professor Rodriguez has been waiting for a long time."

The fat man seemed like he was suddenly choked, he squeezed out a few words through his teeth, "No! No... this goes against the rules..."

"Shut up!" The Joker suddenly erupted in fury, hitting the fat man's face wildly with the small iron stick, silencing him instantly.

The fat man seemed scared of provoking the Joker to more drastic actions and stopped mumbling.

Shiller stood from his chair and said, "I'm honored to be the first, but before we start, I have a better suggestion for the game. Would you like to hear it?"

The Joker squinted at him. The atmosphere had turned so tense that everyone could feel it, as if an invisible battle had begun, with two madmen clashing over the violation of their respective domains.

"A better suggestion?" The Joker hit a stressed tone, grinned savagely, and said, "You better make sure the suggestion is good, otherwise I'll consider it as forfeit..."

"Of course, this gentleman wants me to tell him the clue, but he can't expect it for free. I hope to add a rule: If they want the clue, they have to agree to an audience member's request."

The Joker was stunned for a few seconds then he burst into hysterical laughter. He said, "Oh, you are truly a genius!"