Chapter 1278: A Pair of Solitary Shadows (18)_2

"Please leave," said Shiller, pointing to the window.

Red Hood and Batman froze simultaneously, evidently taken aback by Shiller's unconventional approach.

Batman had been in too many disagreements with his Robin when bystanders tried to mediate their disputes. Many had pointed out the root causes of their clashes, others attempted to placate them, or sided with one to blame the other.

But this was the first time someone had tried to evict them in the middle of an argument.

"You..."

Before Red Hood could finish, Batman grabbed his arm and pushed him out the shattered window, which opened up to the garage roof. It was here that Red Hood had initially climbed up before breaking the window.

Only after Batman left through the window, did Shiller, now at the window, say, "I'll wait for your call for an appointment."

Early the next morning, a "knock knock knock" echoed through Kazisova 125. Emerging from his bedroom wearing a silk shirt, Shiller was tying his tie as he went to open the door.

Upon opening the door, he found a young man in a hoodie, still sporting his mask. Even with the latter completely concealing his face, it was clear that he was making a sour face, full of reluctance and resistance.

"Come in," Shiller spoke softly.

As he entered, Red Hood scanned the room as though looking for hidden weapons or pieces of incriminating evidence in Shiller's belongings.

Upon spotting a cabinet full of collectibles, Red Hood was about to make some unkind remarks to take the initiative, but before he could, Shiller began to speak, even as he was walking towards the couch,

"Batman called me last night to apologize for your unwarranted actions and the breaking of my home's glass."

Shiller's words left Red Hood silenced. Staring at Shiller, he grunted, "…All because of you?"

"Yes." Shiller walked to the back door of the living room and opened the window to fetch his ordered breakfast from the window sill. Placing it on the table by the window, he sat down,

Tying a napkin around his neck, he continued, "In fact, Batman knew that the criminal would show up here."

"Then why would the criminal come here?" Red Hood strutted over and sat down across from Shiller.

But Shiller noticed a small detail, Red Hood had lifted instead of dragged the chair backward to sit down, preventing any scratches and unpleasant noises on the wooden floor.

None the less, his footsteps left no trace on the floor, a clear sign that he had cleaned his shoes on the doormat. After all, the muddy ground of Gotham wouldn't let anyone off the hook after a rainfall.

"Are you an accomplice of the criminal?" Red Hood asked.

"I'm an accomplice to Batman," Shiller pulled out food from the lunchboxes and said, "Cantonese dim sum for breakfast, ordered from Chinatown, enough for two."

Just as Red Hood was about to speak, Shiller cut him off, "I told Batman that he should cover for your breakfast. After all, I didn't get a chance to thank him for gifting me two sets of clothes and this house."

A second time, Red Hood's words were swept away. He was compelled to ask, "How on earth are you Batman's accomplice? Why would Batman give you gifts?"

The doubt in his tone was easy to read: how could Batman possibly have an accomplice and why would he give gifts to other people?

"That takes us back to the killer you saw," Shiller casually arranged some oddly-shaped plates and unusual foods on the table.

Red Hood was about to say something to regain the upper hand, but he was grudgingly mesmerized by Shiller's methodical actions, speculating about where the next dish would be placed.

"Clearly, my joint investigation with Batman irritated the not-so-bright killer. He sought revenge and aimed to sever the alliance between Batman and me. His best tactic was to commit a murder and frame me for it."

"Of course, distracting Batman proved impossible for him given his lack of resources. He therefore had to settle, aiming to mislead someone who was reckless, impulsive, and not so gifted in detection."

"What are you saying?!" Red Hood's voice rose.

"Oh, you misunderstood, I certainly didn't mean to suggest you were like that."

"Perhaps you just happened to run into the murderer, stumbled upon the scene of the assassination of the city council spokesperson, coincidentally hindered his plans, and by chance again, did not lose track of him all the way here in the chaotic darkness of Gotham."

"Looking at it this way, you must be a very cautious, restrained, and incredibly skilled detective with excellent anti-detection abilities? How careless of me, may I ask for your name?"

"Hahahahahahahaha!"

In the theater, Harley was about to faint from laughter, her shortness of breath worried Diana, forcing her to tap Harley's back to calm her down.

Jason pressed his lips, looking like he was torn between laughing and feeling suffocated. Taking a deep breath, he proclaimed, "I am not Tim, I have no detective skills. I just have a bad temper, so what?!"

Harley fell off her chair laughing, forcing Diana to help her up and allow her to lean against her body. As she watched the vulnerable girl in her arms writhing in laughter, even Diana cracked a smile.

On the screen, Red Hood's chest heaved as he exhaled a long breath. Staring into Shiller's eyes, he gritted his teeth and declared, "You can call me Red Hood."

"Alright, Jason, Batman said that's your nickname."

"Just what is your relationship with Batman?!" Red Hood slammed the table and stood up, yelling at Shiller, "Ever since I walked in, all I hear is Batman, Batman, Batman, making it look like you two are buddies or something?!"

"We indeed are," said Shiller, nonchalantly.

"Huh?!"

Shiller slowly picked up his utensils, and while looking at Red Hood, slowly spoke,

"All white shirts are stored in the middle section of the left side of the wardrobe, colorful ones are underneath. Special material ones are hung on the lower right side. Tie rolls are aligned from left to right in the sequence of dark, light, checked, striped. He sleeps on his back or on his left side and his first action upon waking up is to comb his hair back with his right hand…"

"Huh???!!!"

Suddenly, all eyes in the theatre fell onto Bruce.