Chapter 1724: Bruce Wayne and the Prisoner of the Batcave (Part 6) _1

"Those with physical abnormalities often become aware of their conditions based on the perceptions of people around them. Their conditions can usually be improved through patient psychological counseling, changes in the external environment, and understanding from the community. However, the most dangerous aspect for those with psychological abnormalities is that they usually do not perceive themselves as abnormal,"

The voice of Charles slowly echoed in the room.

"They regard this as unique, even as a gift, believing that they see more and further than ordinary people. This nurtures a unique narcissistic complex in them, which may make them arrogant and conceited, but it may also make them more determined and focused, not easily disturbed by chaotic factors."

"They observe the world from a special perspective and establish their own behavior guidelines. Nothing outside these guidelines will obstruct their goals. It is because of such an unwavering belief that they can often accomplish tasks that are difficult for ordinary people to imagine."

"Although we don't think the extreme actions of these mentally abnormal individuals are reasonable or legal, we cannot deny that they have passion and love, and sometimes, astonishing creativity. Appreciated objectively, the beauty that accompanies their moral disorder should be recognized as part of the artistic realm."

Charles' voice was gentle and smooth, like delivering a lecture in a classroom, yet, when it converged with Shiller's voice, it gained a few lively notes.

"Mental deviants are not the traditionally perceived eccentric loners, but rather, can often be the extremely charismatic scholars, artists, speakers, writers, and other successful individuals. The unique perspectives they take on the world lend more impact to their works."

"They not only have the ability to socialize normally but might attract a lot of attention and win the favor of many people in the process. The crazies of Gotham are just like this. They are not the beasts crashing into parties, but rather, the hosts and most charming guests."

On the screen, the lunatics in Arkham Asylum began to take action. Then everyone noticed their high efficiency, harmonized actions, and unified attitude, failing to see any trace of monstrosity in them.

They often communicate with each other, being able to describe the key points of any subject in simple language while actively listening to the suggestions of their peers whilst maintaining their own opinions. They appreciate the strengths of others, acknowledging their contributions, have the courage to face their shortcomings, and do not shirk responsibility when they make mistakes.

Moreover, their self-esteem and moral sense were not hindrances to them. During the remote video negotiation with Amanda, not a single individual stepped out against Amanda's harsh words and intentional derogatory remarks for negotiation, saying "I'm done, I want to cut her into ten thousand pieces right now."

They were not unangry, but their near-emotionless self-control faculties allowed them not to focus on any trivial details until the goal was reached, which completely thwarted Amanda's plans.

Her original intention was to use words to instigate discord among these madmen, and then to bring a few useful ones to her side, not all of them. But now that they were united, it was neither easier to exploit them nor was the asking price reasonable. In turn, Amanda was in a dilemma.

Nick rested his thumb on his chin, looking at the negotiation scene on the screen, and somewhat lamented, "If they're in our universe, SHIELD would be delighted to recruit them. They bear no moral burdens and have a knack for getting their hands dirty, understanding their own positions, and have a grasp on the overall situation - making them very measured in their actions. With no extravagant desires, they wouldn't ask for exorbitant fees that would hurt me."

"But what they pursue might be much lower than what social morality demands." Charles kindly reminded him.

"I wouldn't be stingy in praising their creations."

"What if the price is the lives of ordinary people?"

"I'm just an ordinary person. They can kill me, and then I'll come back to life. I think I can negotiate terms with Mephisto, and periodically resurrect some souls being punished in the Hell Abyss, just to let them be killed again. Being murdered once cuts off a hundred years of punishment. Trust me, the applicants could break Mephisto's doorstep. After all, falling into the hands of a killer or sadist is much better than suffering in hell."

Charles was left speechless. Nick shrugged and said, "If you ask me, the most incompetent aspect of this FBI Agent named Amanda is that she wants the horse to run without getting it to graze. She always feels that she can instigate a lose-lose situation and resolve two targets at the same time."

"This time, she wants to use the madmen to find a handle on Wayne Enterprises while expecting Wayne Enterprises to sort out these madmen. This would further consolidate her control over the city."

Nick shook his head and said, "But not everyone is a madman like Shiller, born with the talent to link many targets with countless threads and merely give a slight push for nothing short of perfect timing in achieving all these targets. What is needed is exactly the focus unburdened by worldly thoughts that you mentioned earlier, as well as a kind of creative flair."

"Where Amanda went wrong is that she doesn't have the talent of these madmen, but looks down upon them and even feels that she can control them."

"We usually categorize people into three types," Shiller sat back on his single sofa, leant forward, and rested his forearm on his knee. He spoke in a typical storyteller's manner.

"Ordinary people walking on the ground, dwellers in the abyss, and people standing on the ground peering into the abyss, the latter two respectively represent madness and those who understand madness, but Amanda is the former."

"When she lowers her head, she cannot see the existence of the abyss. She cannot understand the world of the mentally abnormal, empathize with, feel sympathy for them, nor see issues from their perspective. For ordinary people, this is a rare blessing because establishing connections with a madman's brain usually isn't a good thing."

"The behavior guidelines of the mentally abnormal only apply to themselves. In the understanding of ordinary people, it is extremely evil and unbearable. Not being able to feel it is a good thing. Those who gaze into the abyss often fall into it because they get too close to it."

"Amanda's greatest mistake was that someone told her there was an abyss. She looked down but saw nothing, so she said, 'There's nothing interesting there. As long as I stand high enough, I won't fall into it.'

"This is a dangerously naive belief. Nobody should imagine that they could divert their gaze from the abyss. When you gaze into an abyss, the abyss gazes back at you."

Shiller's gaze fell upon Constantine's face. Constantine came back to his senses from his attentive listening posture and broke out into a cold sweat. He realized he was absorbing what was being said, and gradually beginning to understand it.

When he looked back at the screen, he realized he had begun glimpsing the tip of the giant iceberg underneath the calm sea surface.

"We help you find evidence of Wayne Enterprises' guilt, you must figure out a way to clarify the chaos in Gotham City, then mediate, and restore Gotham to its former state. This is our final offer."

Scarecrow stood up from his chair, followed by Hugo. Looking at Amanda's displeased face on the screen, he said, "If you can't do it, we'll sit here, waiting for the war to stop itself."

"If you don't take advantage of the chaos and step in, are you going to wait until everything is stable before you make useless efforts?" the woman manipulating the puppet said coldly, "If we hadn't lost the best timing, you wouldn't even get this opportunity to cooperate with us."

"The negotiations end here." Harley Quinn placed both hands on the table and shook her head, "You know we won't change our minds. If we don't see the FBI's helicopter by tomorrow morning, the deal's off, got it?"

"But if the agents can get into Gotham, why would I need you to gather evidence?!" Amanda fiercely slammed the table, "Those insane Gothamites don't lack the audacity to shoot missiles at their own people. Our aircraft would be shot down!"

"That's your problem." Harley Quinn shrugged nonchalantly, "Perhaps you can try a beach landing. We only need the results."

With a "clap", the projection closed. Harley, who held the main viewpoint, had not said a word during the entire process, as her morbidly excited state severely affected her judgment. All she had in her head now was murder.

After the meeting, the weird-looking crazies all went to their own rooms. Harley staggered out as well. Harley Quinn touched her head and said, "If you keep this up, your clever brain is going to boil over. Is the Joker from your universe always this intense? You've not been the same since I first looked at you."

"Harley Quinn held Harley's shoulders and said, "Alright, dear, you're the most interesting thing I've found lately. You can't die just yet. Come on, I'll take you to see Poison Ivy. She should be able to devise a biological agent to calm you down."

While Harley Quinn was leading Harley away, a discussion was in progress at the S.H.I.E.L.D. office.

"I heard the city has become a hot mess. Who's fighting?" Coulson asked.

"I believe it's the mob." Natasha shakes her head, "It's probably like Hell's Kitchen. Gang wars erupting every now and then."

"They actually dare to attack FBI's helicopters?"

"Perhaps the mob in this universe is heavily armed."

It wasn't until the visuals on the screen changed with Harley's movements that they caught their first glimpse of the full situation in the city as they arrived outside Arkham Asylum.

Then, they spat out the filthiest word they knew once more.

Half of the city was in ruins.

At least half of the skyline crowded with tall buildings in Gotham City had collapsed. The way the horizon looked now was as if it had been gnawed on, with chunks missing here and there. All the buildings in sight were either collapsed or smoking. The streets in the distance were buzzing with sounds of gunfire and explosions, never calming for a second.

Now it was clear why even the head of the FBI field agents couldn't make it into the city—

Was this a gang war? Can an alien invasion compare to this?!

Nick's mouth opened and closed again. After a moment of stunned silence, he pointed to the screen and said,

"I think we should seriously consider the probability of a war breaking out in a parallel universe."