When looking at this red-haired lady again, Shiller could still see traces of many familiar people on her face. In the past, she leaned more towards the stern demeanor of the Black Widow, but now, she seemed more like Pamela, looking much gentler.
Brainiac—though he has no physical form, he claims he has carefully decorated his code—said, "Welcome, madam. It's a pity to invite you under such circumstances. Such a big mess isn't common, right?"
The Super Body's eyes flickered with a certain glow; she seemed to be exchanging some data with Brainiac. After a moment, she sighed softly and said, "He is really... bold."
"What do you mean?" Brainiac asked.
"He shouldn't be near Gotham." The Super Body's eyes flickered with a hint of wisdom. Shiller observed her and found she was indeed somewhat different from electronic life forms like Brainiac, but not like Jarvis either. She wasn't 'human-like', but like a new form of life, possessing a mysterious and ethereal quality that humans lack, akin to 'Saints' from mythology.
"He possesses the Power of Death, and he really shouldn't come to Gotham." The Super Body said, "Here, he can't define death."
"Sorry, madam?"
"Why won't the Joker die?" The Super Body asked, but she seemed not to expect anyone to answer, and thus she posed the question to herself, "Because his death has been deconstructed into an absurd performance, like an actor on stage, shot, and then humorously climbing up to bow. Everything has been framed in the realm of artistic conception and philosophical discussion, allowing life and death to be treated like a jest. In comparison to Gotham's madness, death is indeed too light."
"A rather novel opinion, madam." Shiller opened the door for him, then said, "It's the first time I've heard someone interpret it this way. Would you care to elaborate?"
The Super Body seemed to seriously ponder for a moment, then said, "I'm not interpreting; I'm merely seeing it all. The soul of this city speaks as such."
Then she looked at Shiller and said, "Just like you can comprehend the human Psychic_Battlefield, I can see the spirit and quality of these abstract concepts. It's like how I can hear Earth saying she's a bit cold."
Shiller's movement paused slightly. He now somewhat understood why many people think he possesses Mind Reading Technique; after all, compared to believing it's an academic discipline, it is easier to perceive it as a Superpower.
Of course, he couldn't comprehend the Super Body, at least not in the Gotham of his universe, where there is no city spirit; otherwise, the Gray mist would have told him. Yet the Super Body's understanding of Gotham was unique and accurate, seemingly nothing like a first-time visit.
The question of why the Joker won't die has been discussed countless times by countless people. But the Super Body's perspective remains quite novel; she believes, in Gotham, the concept of death is transformed, from "real death" to "story death."
Compared to humans with no attributes, the Joker becomes more like an actor due to his significant role in the play. An actor never truly dies; they might die in one story but will soon reappear in another.
To a certain extent, this counts as breaking the fourth wall. The main reason the Joker doesn't die is because Batman's comic story needs a villain, so no matter how many times he dies in the story, he will climb back up as long as the comic needs him.
This is already the closest to the truth that characters in comic stories can understand, arguably a pointed insight. Shiller had a hunch that Brainiac might find it hard to catch up with the Super Body.
"Let me see the body." The Super Body said, "I can use the Power of Death to comprehend the meaning behind its abstract concepts."
"There are many bodies." Brainiac said, "Shattered ones, whole ones, there should even be some that's still moving. Which kind do you wish to see?"
"The remnants of the living should be more prevalent." The Super Body said.
"The issue is I'm unable to discern which one is it. Can you tell?"
"I'll try." The Super Body nodded, "Take me to the largest shelter; I think I might manage."
The Super Body went to Metropolis, and Shiller didn't follow them. Because he knew, the Super Body could provide help elsewhere, but the tangled mess of Gotham couldn't be untangled just with Superpowers like Mind Reading Technique.
"My goodness, have you heard?" Victor walked into the office, took off his coat, exhaled a breath of cold air, then said, "Thirty murder cases, 'Scotland Yard' is already going crazy."
"Most are quite meaningless." Shiller stared at the tablet. Victor glanced over but saw only an unremarkable recipe.
"Why are you looking at this? Planning to add a food connoisseur to your persona?"
"'Moriarty' challenge letter." Shiller answered without lifting his head.
"What?"
"This is a community communicating through encrypted messages, its main members being Serial Killers and those who consider themselves the prey of Serial Killers. Just now, 'Moriarty' extended an invitation to everyone."
"What invitation?"
"Hunt for Detective." Shiller put down the tablet, picked up his phone, then said, "Don't forget what he does. A crime consultant hides Behind-the-scenes Manipulator, provoking others to hassle detectives, right?"
"There really is such a person." Victor said, surprised, "I thought you just said that detectives can't be killers only to humor me."
"Isn't your perception of me a bit too..."
Victor looked at him, extended One Hand to stop him from speaking, "If you're going to say it's stereotype bias, at least consider why such stereotype bias exists, okay?"
"You're the world's most cynical Watson."
"That's to match the world's most cynical Holmes." Victor said, unyielding, "You just broadcasted my inner thoughts to the world; how can you still blame me for having bias against you?"
Shiller put down what was in his hand and walked to the kitchen. Brainiac had already prepared some food, just simple sandwiches, but nothing more could be requested for now. He simply heated up the sandwiches, then brought them over. Victor looked up at him and said, "Then what do you plan to do?"
"What plan?"
"He's already challenged you."
"What do you think I should do?"
Victor thought for a moment, then said, "First, of course, deal with those small minions popping up, then strike hard at the crime consultant hiding behind the scenes."
"And then drag him off a cliff together?"
"I'm serious," Victor raised his voice, "There are at least a dozen serial killers active in Gotham right now. If that 'Moriarty' points the clues towards you..."
"Do you think he's sending those people to kill me?" Shiller chuckled, "He's not that stupid, he wouldn't do that."
"You said he'd cause you trouble."
"He'll let those serial killers imitate my crimes."
"Cough, cough, cough, cough!" Victor almost choked on his sandwich.
"There are many obvious advantages to this." Shiller picked up a piece of the sandwich and said, "From your point of view, it's a showdown between detective and criminal, but in reality, it's still criminal against criminal. As you said, the stereotypes brought by some of my past actions are not that easy to dispel."
"Once a case is pinned on me, Brainiac can accuse me. If Brainiac shields me, his principles of fairness would be questioned, leading to chaos. Though I doubt he'll shield me, either way, the mastermind behind won't lose out."
"Too insidious," Victor said, "Can he really imitate you?"
"Hard to say, I did have direct contact with him, and he's a master in psychology."
"Wait, could it be..."
"It is very likely the resurrected Hugo Strange."
"Oh my god," Victor took another bite of his sandwich, "But he died many years ago. He knew you from back then. Don't tell me after all these years, your methods haven't improved or changed..."
"It's not like it's some scientific technology." Shiller said helplessly, "A person's mental core can't be easily changed. Extending to the art and philosophy they express, there are consistent traits, as noticeable as a business card."
"But Brainiac won't convict you just because of some art or philosophical style," Victor scoffed, "There has to be some physical evidence. I've been with you all the time, I can provide an alibi for you, he has no chance..."
Before he finished speaking, Victor's phone rang. After picking up, Jenna's tone on the other end was a bit anxious.
"Professor Fries, have you returned?"
"Yes, I'm at Gotham University, what's the matter?"
"You might need to come to the docks."
Victor stood up and said, "What's wrong? Has something happened over there?"
"Uh, it's hard to explain, you really have to come over."
Shiller put down the unfinished sandwich. Victor turned and picked up his coat, shaking his head and saying, "Not a moment's peace. Just let me catch that 'Moriarty', and I'll definitely let him taste my gun skills."
"Seems like someone's already gotten a taste of your gun skills." At a house on the edge of the dock area, Shiller looked at an ice sculpture and turned to Victor.
Victor clutched his eyes tightly, almost hysterically shouting, "Who froze her here?!"
"Sorry, professor, but it seems... it was you," Jenna said with a troubled expression.
"It was like this when we arrived," Tim said, "This is Lady Jerryta. We found out about Lady Jerryta from Alberto, related to the victim of the first murder case, Jerryta. We learned he had a wife, who could be a key witness, so we rushed to their residence. But there's only this ice sculpture here."
Shiller examined the ice sculpture from head to toe. Inside was a middle-aged woman, looking around 50, not well-preserved, appearing somewhat aged. There were signs of heavy labor on her body, and needle marks on her fingertips, indicating she likely did sewing work.
Her body leaned slightly backward, with a fearful expression. It was unclear how long she'd been frozen, but she was certainly dead.
This ice wasn't dense ice, or else it wouldn't have been fatal. But this was indeed Victor's technology, to be precise, the ice-making technology used in building cold storage back in the day.
Back then, Gotham heavily developed the logistics industry, and due to the previous freezing of Gotham, many natural ice cellars formed underground. The mob seized the opportunity to establish cold storage, raising Victor's value, making all the mobs in the whole of Gotham fawn over him.
The cold storage technology used then wasn't so advanced because it was for commercial use, considering costs. The cultural level in Gotham back then was prenatal education for people, machines had to be simple and easy to use, not too complex, and maintenance couldn't be too frequent, or it would trouble the mob. So the low-temperature machines Victor designed during that period were mostly large scale, filling, robust, and durable.
Victor stepped forward to check, then rubbed his temples and said, "Seems like the quick-freezing device installed in cold storage. This thing is a modified quick-freezing device I created from existing market products. I really don't remember the details of how many versions there are and how they were used. How did she end up frozen with this?"
Suddenly, Victor recalled his previous discussion with Shiller, as long as Shiller stayed with him, he had an alibi, making imitated crimes ineffective. But what if he was an accomplice with murder suspicion too?
"Tell me the assistant can't be the culprit as well," Victor asked Shiller.
"Sorry, there's no such rule, actually it's quite novel. Are you really not considering adding it?"