Chapter 2625: Whistling Down (74)

Shiller's backyard housed a large machine that initially served merely to detect brainwave frequencies, but later became a device used by the Primary Universe Batman for analyzing a mysterious metal that had polluted many Batmans.

Later, we discovered that this so-called metal was not really metal, but a brainwave pollutant, a psychotronic weapon created by the Laughing Bat to corrupt the Batmans of various universes and draw them into his ranks.

Batman then hypothesized that it might be a hybrid of Joker and Batman's blood, thereby learning of the existence of an entity that was a fusion of Joker and Batman in this world.

With research reaching this stage, Batman could no longer afford to continue his investigation, so he teamed up with the Joker from the Prime Universe and began recruiting candidates across different universes to form his own team.

However, more than their assembled team, Shiller was actually more interested in Batman's machine.

Because in Marvel, there were also people studying brainwaves and Soul Theory, and Gray Mist was researching as well, having gained the dual intelligence boost of Batman and Iron Man, Gray Mist could also be considered a genius scientist.

Most importantly, his life form was especially suited for such research, for he had no brain to speak of; all his thoughts were transmitted in the form of waves—much clearer and more direct than humans.

He suggested that the method used by the Laughing Bat and other demons to corrupt human souls was essentially a psychotronic strip.

It was like placing a jammer around a human, continuously disturbing their brainwaves, causing their souls to mutate and endowing them with thoughts they originally lacked. When they had to make important decisions, this shifted their way of thinking, naturally resulting in them acting as if driven mad.

Shiller wanted precisely this conclusion.

He wasn't concerned with the struggle between Joker and Batman; he didn't care about how large a following the Laughing Bat aspired to recruit; he merely wanted to know if human brainwaves could be manipulated by external forces.

Since research proved it could be done, then so could he.

Returning to the backyard of Shiller's house, Raven and Dick looked at the big machine with a touch of awe. "This has Batman's signature all over it," Dick said, "and not the Batman from our universe, but the kind that a traditional Batman would come up with."

"What is it used for?" asked Raven.

"Now it's a brainwave radiation device," Shiller replied. "It can radiate certain specific brainwaves."

Raven and Dick both frowned—this sounded very sinister. But in fact, Shiller's intentions were even darker than they imagined. Shiller planned to use the power given to him by the Sanguine Demon as filler, using its energy to irradiate all Clones.

"What's the point of that?" Raven asked.

"It would turn the Clones from puppets controlled by certain law enforcement agencies into puppets of the Sanguine Demon."

"But what does the Sanguine Demon need puppets for?" Raven was still puzzled as she spoke, "Are you helping him invade Earth?"

"On the contrary, right now he can't get in, and you possess power that descends directly from him. These people will not be the puppets of the Sanguine Demon, but rather your puppets."

"But I don't need puppets... Oh, I see. I can use them to protect Earth, to protect Azarath, right?"

"Exactly, you should learn how to wield that immense power within you. As long as the Clones have the same power as you, you can impart your power to them to make them do what you want them to."

"But... I can't. I'm not up to it," Raven said, clutching the hem of her garment tightly. "I can't manage that many people, I won't be able to."

"No one is born knowing how to manage that many people," Shiller stated. "If you don't know how, then learn. Doesn't the Gotham Magic Academy have a principal who's extremely adept at management?"

Raven had a moment of realization, but she still seemed nervous. After pondering for a while, she said, "But my energy isn't limitless. What if I run out one day?"

"Ask your dad for it," he said.

"Huh???"

"Literally," Shiller explained. "He has only one precious daughter. If you ask him for spending money, can he really refuse?"

"But how can I ask him, I mean, aren't I using the puppet army to fight against him?"

"Are you going to tell him that?"

"Uh, probably not. I guess if I did, he wouldn't believe it anyway."

"What is your father's goal?"

"To invade Earth."

"I mean, his purpose regarding you."

"I don't know," Raven shook her head as she spoke; "It seems like he wants me to work for him."

"Then work for him."

Raven felt her brain was about to smoke, when Dick elbowed her and said, "How come you can't think outside the box? Your dad's locked up, he has no clue what you're doing outside. If you tell him you're managing his company and that the business is performing poorly, needing funds, could he really refuse to send you money?"

Raven was stupefied; she turned her head to stare blankly at Dick as if she were seeing him for the first time.

"And I've already confirmed it," Shiller spoke up, "His current condition isn't good either. Facing my provocation, he still chose to endure it. I'm a stranger, but you are his daughter."

"The fact that he kept his eyes on you while he could do many things, just proves that you indeed have something special, that you have value in his eyes. As long as there is value, there is room to operate."

Raven thought silently for a while before saying, "I can do that, but this will likely cause trouble for you because the clone's original owner won't let them go easily."

Shiller revealed a smile, "That's exactly the trouble I want."

Soon, Shiller started the machine. He put the energy he obtained from the Sanguine Demon into it and adjusted the frequency to the clone's bandwidth.

With round after round of radiation, the milkman delivering milk, the office workers walking on the street, and the patrolling community police all gradually became indifferent, their eyes flickering with purple light.

Raven's eyes also emitted a faint glow. She looked up at the distant sky and murmured, "I can feel it, I feel the connection with their power…"

"Try to control them."

The sky darkened, and the moonlight dimmed. One after another, figures started gathering toward Shiller's house, resembling a terrifying scene of zombies besieging a city.

"Listen to me, feel me…" Raven whispered, "Feel the power that seeps into your souls."

Stream after stream of purple threads appeared at her fingertips, connecting to the clone's souls, controlling their thoughts and bodies.

Raven slowly closed her eyes, floated into the air, and more power spread along the purple threads until the soul fire within each clone grew more vigorous.

Click, click...

That was the sound of the devices on their frontal lobes and lumbar spines being burned off, a sign that their souls had broken through the limitations of the existing program.

Suddenly, Raven fell from midair, the light in her eyes completely extinguished, looking somewhat weak. Dick immediately rushed up to catch her.

"My god, what's wrong? Are you okay? Did something happen?"

"No, I'm fine," Raven said as she stood up, leaning on Dick's arm, "I've never felt so wonderful. The pressure of the chaos has left me."

Shiller could see that much of the huge, repressed energy within Raven had dissipated. Although the remaining amount still far surpassed that of an ordinary Mage, it was much better compared to her own previous state.

"Do they have your power now?" Shiller asked.

"Yes, now they are a bona fide magic legion," Raven said with the corner of her mouth twitching slightly, "I did not erase their self-awareness, but since the power supporting their souls is now mine, they will forever be loyal to me."

"Even over your father?"

"No, not him," Raven's voice was a bit hoarse as she said, "I discovered that my power is different from his. I don't know what the extra stuff I have is, maybe I was always different."

Unbeknownst to Raven, but known by Shiller, was that Raven's body likely held the power of the Original Sin of Pride, one of the seven deadly sins.

Shiller speculated that Raven's mother might have obtained a bit of the most original sin's power by chance and kept it within herself. With Raven's birth, this power was also passed on to Raven.

Though the magnitude of this power was nowhere near that of the Sanguine Demon's inheritance, considering Lucifer's status as the Original Sin of Pride, even such a small amount was high, and thus could easily compete with the power of the Sanguine Demon inside Raven.

Dick supported Raven, and Shiller followed them into the house. Raven's complexion visibly brightened as she took a deep breath, her tone fluctuating slightly.

"Can my father really not come in now? He can't see me anymore?"

"After all, you are blood kin. If he concentrates, he can still sense your state, but that's about it," Shiller said, "Maybe you can communicate with him proactively; it's a rare opportunity right now."

"What do you mean?"

"You might want to ask Jason," Shiller didn't spell it out, picked up a cup to pour water for Raven, and then said, "Ask him for a few introductory textbooks on psychology, with a focus on Stockholm syndrome."

Raven didn't understand, but, immersed in the joy of her relief and feeling a bit excited, she said, "I can arrange for them to work now. Professor, do you have any work that needs to be done?"

"Of course, I do. Why do you think I've gone to the trouble of helping you?" Shiller shattered Raven's illusion and said, "You may be special to your father, but not to me; you're just one of thousands of foolish students."

Raven let out a sigh of lament but dared not retort, as she hadn't forgotten about the big pit still lying in the backyard.

"I'll find a couple of people to fill in that hole," Raven said softly, "I've earned some money doing moving company jobs and will buy a new fridge to compensate you. I'm really sorry; it wasn't intentional."

"That's not urgent," Shiller said, "I'm throwing a camping housewarming party and need help setting up. I'll go to the second-hand market tomorrow morning to buy tents, canopies, tables, and a larger grill. You tidy up the house, and then help me set up the tents."

"Task will be completed," Dick gave him a thumbs-up and said, "Wayne Manor still has barbecue spices, charcoal, and camping lights left over from the last family gathering; I'll have Jason bring them over when he comes tomorrow."

"What about the groceries?" Raven asked, "I'm afraid the previous ones are no longer edible, and the vegetables aren't fresh enough. Do we need to buy new ones?"

"Someone will deliver them. Now go upstairs to sleep. Tomorrow I need to send out invitations again."