"Wait, why are you here again?" Victor finally reacted and said, "Aren't you supposed to be dealing with that behind-the-scenes manipulator who hides who-knows-where?"
"The manipulator has had his eyes on me for a long time. This means that no matter where I go, he'll find a way to track me down," Shiller said while standing by the door. "This means I might be in danger, so staying close to my sharp-shooting assistant is safer."
"Alright. But this time is different from usual. I need to concentrate, so you better keep your mouth shut."
"First time hearing Watson tell Holmes to shut up."
"Come on, there's no case for you to solve here. Or do I need to get Mrs. Brainiac to find something to stuff your mouth with?"
It seemed Victor was trying hard to make Shiller stay quiet. But in fact, they chatted on and off like this for over an hour. Feeling the time was about right, Shiller glanced at his watch and got up to leave.
"Why are you leaving again?" Victor asked. "Aren't you afraid he'll actually come after you?"
"I set a trap for him. I should be able to see the results when I get back now." Shiller shrugged lightly and stepped out without looking back.
He returned to his office and saw an ice sculpture right by the newly installed felt board. Of course, it wasn't Hugo Strange; he wasn't that careless. Shiller walked over and took a look. It seemed to be a lower-year student, still in a dress rehearsing for the Christmas ball. The face was somewhat unfamiliar, not likely a student from the psychology or physics departments.
The trap Shiller set had no psychological elements whatsoever. He just blatantly bought a felt board and randomly pinned some photos on it, photos that he even got from the Gotham Police Department — ones taken by Gordon. He didn't bother with developing them; he just printed them on paper, mimicking what they do in detective movies, pinning similar clues together and connecting them with a few strings, making it look like the real thing.
But in reality, it wasn't to mislead anyone or guide them in any direction. Shiller had secretly taken the low-temperature trap box from Victor's storage room. He placed it under the felt board, with a pile of photos stacked on top. Whoever touched it would be frozen. This was really a case of low-temperature physics answering a psychology exam question forcefully.
But you have to admit, this method was simple and effective. Because Hugo Strange was monitoring him using some method, keeping an eye on Gotham University as well, any movements here would be noticed. So Shiller's activities in the office couldn't escape his eyes. Maybe he deduced Shiller intended to play detective, so he quickly sent someone over to see what Shiller had discovered. And then, it was the classic "freeze and don't move."
Ten minutes later, Gordon stood with his hands on his hips in front of the ice sculpture and said, "So you asked me for those evidence photos just to lure him in to steal them? And the reason you're calling the police now is for his attempt to steal police department records?"
Shiller nodded and said, "Don't worry about where those records were stolen. The fact is he tried to take those evidence photos; otherwise, he wouldn't have been frozen. I think this already constitutes charges of obstructing justice and stealing secrets under Brainiac law. Any issues with that?"
"Issues? Isn't the biggest issue that those photos were given to you by me?" Gordon rolled his eyes and said, "You're not a member of the Gotham Police Department. By giving you the photos privately, it counts as both of us stealing secrets. The charges wouldn't hold."
"Any other charges? Trespassing?"
"He's a student at Gotham University, and you're a professor here. He could entirely argue he was coming to see you for something, even if he came through the window. Besides, Gotham University has had too many incidents lately. Principal Xi Wana has already contacted me..."
Before he could finish, Shiller's phone rang. He answered, and Xi Wana's voice came from the other end: "Professor Rodriguez, I heard you've detained a student who broke into your office?"
"Yes, but there's a more complicated reason within this."
"But you can't deny that so many incidents involving students affect Gotham University's reputation significantly. I hope this matter can be postponed. What do you think?"
"It can be done. But I'd like you to help me with something." Shiller switched hands holding the phone and said, "One of my students provided locations related to previous incidents — the shared housing area in South Gotham. I hope you can send some people to keep an eye on it. You know, those with self-defense capabilities."
"Alright. I'll find a few experts among the Magic Academy's graduates this year. But are you sure such a massive effort is needed? What's really there?"
"If you can spot anything unusual, you'll know." Shiller hung up the phone.
He waved at Gordon, signaling him to take the person away. Gordon seemed surprised by his leniency, looking him up and down as if he didn't recognize him. Shiller lowered his voice and said, "It's just a poor soul being manipulated. Hugo Strange might have returned."
"What?!" Gordon nearly jumped out of his skin. "Are you kidding me? Isn't he supposed to be long dead?!"
"Pelota also died, but didn't he come back to life?"
"God." Gordon opened his mouth, "I mean... God, how is this possible?"
"This is just the beginning." Shiller patted his shoulder and then said, "You got one thing right, I'm not part of the police department. Even if I want to help you investigate the case, I wouldn't have an official standing."
"God, after so many years, you finally realized that." Gordon raised his hand, "What do you want me to do?"
"Is there a possibility..."
"There's no possibility," Gordon interrupted, "there was a slight chance before Brainiac came. But now, the electronic files are too perfect. Your record clearly shows a history of mental illness, making it impossible for you to pass any officer or consultant screening. I can't help you with this."
"It does seem a bit late." Shiller shook his head and sighed, "I should have asked for a consultant position earlier."
"Even if you asked earlier, it wouldn't help," said Brainiac, "the global law enforcement system has been reorganized. All identities maintained through false or unqualified information were kicked out. Current law enforcers have qualified records."
"I know you're amazing," Gordon said with some resignation, "Water that is too clear has no fish. Sometimes you need people with criminal minds to deal with criminals. This is one of those times."
After Gordon left, Shiller tidied up his office. With Xi Wana watching the South District and Brand monitoring Arkham Psychiatric Hospital, Hugo Strange couldn't possibly hide his whereabouts completely.
But Brainiac being too fair isn't entirely beneficial. He's more meticulous about physical evidence than the previous human judicial system and doesn't allow baseless accusations. The legal process is refined, causing the role of the jury to significantly decline, and making it harder to fabricate charges against someone.
Indeed, it has become harder to frame someone, but it also leads to many suspects being convicted too leniently due to incomplete evidence chains and insufficient physical evidence. Moreover, Brainiac's research on the human mental state isn't thorough enough, making his identification of mental illness not very accurate, allowing some to exploit this loophole to escape accountability.
If Hugo Strange discovers this, he will surely choose to exploit it. As long as he is careful and doesn't create physical evidence, Brainiac will have difficulty catching him.
Not creating physical evidence sounds difficult, but Hugo can certainly achieve it because he is a master psychologist, adept at brainwashing and manipulating others. He can always remain behind the scenes, sending out pawns like he did with that freshman to die.
Brainiac cannot accurately discern the extent of mental influence on a person, making it hard to catch Hugo's tail.
In fact, Brainiac's reluctance to provoke Shiller is mainly due to this. All abilities related to the human psychic battlefield are his knowledge blind spots. He understands the theory but lacks practical experience and has no mental analysis talent, so his attitude is always "admire the spirits but keep a distance."
He doesn't deny the talents of people like Shiller but can only try not to provoke them and keep them away from ordinary people. As for actively researching and utilizing them, it's too advanced for electronic life forms.
As for why not use Shiller to catch Hugo, this is another weakness of electronic life. He is relatively fair and impartial. In his view, Shiller and Hugo have similar dangers. Has Shiller not committed crimes if Hugo has? Can Shiller not use spirit manipulation if Hugo can? Given their overlapping records and precariousness, using one to catch the other is unwise.
The key to their current rivalry is who can first gain Brainiac's trust and obtain official status, which would allow them to find charges against the other.
The breakthrough point that Shiller can think of now is proving Hugo Strange's death. If he can prove he was resurrected, he could link him to Pelota's resurrection, forcibly binding him to previous cases, which would greatly impact Brainiac's assessment of him.
But the problem is, that Hugo died in the psychic battlefield back then, melted by the overwhelming energy of Superman's spirit body. Although his physical body died later, there wasn't a clear death picture or witness like Pelota. The matter has been too long; proving the resurrection is difficult.
Maybe he needs to find another way, break through from a different direction. Although it's hard to say whether Hugo has thought of this method, Shiller is confident he wouldn't do better than him.
Shiller turned his gaze out the window at the pitch-black sky. The Black Death Emperor probably never realized that while Blackest Night brought nightmares to ordinary people, it also created a long-lost stage for others. Those beasts confined in nature reserves for so long are stirring, and Brainiac will soon understand that avoidance is not the solution; isolation policies can only address the symptoms, not the root problem.
Shiller stood up, put on his coat, and took his umbrella from the stand, stepping into Gotham's night as he did more than a decade ago.