Chapter 3278: Bloodshed in the New City (38)

In Wayne Manor, Schiller was playing international chess with the Pale Knight. But playing chess was just a pastime; Schiller had come to find the Pale Knight for serious business.

"I've been here for so long, and you haven't paid me a cent in wages, nor even given me an official position. Don't you think you're being a bit too stingy?" Schiller said.

The Pale Knight glanced at the mountain of official documents piled up next to him and sighed, "You caused the city government to shut down; I don't even have an assistant, and I'm busy dealing with these documents every day. Don't tell me you want me to thank you?"

"That's not necessary. I'm not someone who places much value on verbal thanks. If you really want to thank me, just arrange a position for me," Schiller responded.

The Pale Knight had become accustomed to Schiller not understanding what was good or bad. He just sighed and said, "I am the mayor, not God. The arrangement of positions must follow the law..."

"But I happen to be legal." Schiller handed over a stack of documents and then said, "I am now applying to you to become the warden of Arkham Asylum. You just need to sign this appointment notice."

The Pale Knight frowned as he looked at the documents. That was Schiller's identity information, but it was definitely forged, because he wasn't even from this universe—where would he get an identity?

However, he also had to admit that this was his oversight. Since such a big living person had been jumping around here for so many days, being an undocumented person was not a solution; it really should have household registration information added.

The Pale Knight looked at Schiller's identity information and felt it wasn't out of line. Schiller was clearly the type of high-level intellectual who had received higher education; his academic information had likely been written with restraint.

However, the only thing that made the Pale Knight feel a bit suspicious was his professional resume. He glanced at the documents and then at Schiller, saying, "You have a psychologist's license?"

"Yes, I have whatever license you want. And I also have prescribing rights and can prescribe medicine to people. Perfectly meeting the conditions to be the warden of Arkham Asylum," Schiller answered confidently.

The Pale Knight continued reading. Schiller had written several work experiences, mostly in cities on the West Coast. The Pale Knight thought this might be because the city names were different in different universes, so he could only pick cities with matching names to write down.

The Pale Knight sighed and said, "Your resume does indeed meet the requirements. But the problem is, on what grounds do I kick Toke out and let you do it?"

"You should know that Toke was bought off by many people, right?" Schiller asked rhetorically.

"Of course. But as long as he hasn't broken the law, or rather, as long as I haven't found evidence of him breaking the law, I have no way to make him get lost," the Pale Knight said helplessly.

"My meaning is, having too many masters isn't necessarily safe. He made one of his masters unhappy and was finished off. By now, he should have already been burned to ashes," Schiller explained.

The Pale Knight's brows furrowed tightly. He narrowed his eyes and stared at Schiller, saying, "Are you sure he was finished off by his master?"

"Of course, young Fiers—have you heard of this person?" Schiller asked.

The expression on the Pale Knight's face indicated that his shared memories with this person called young Fiers were not very pleasant.

"Yes, I have some impression of him. This guy is a regular at the Iceberg Lounge. When Penguin was attacking the implementation of the Napier Act, this guy was also waving flags and shouting. And the Fiers family he belongs to almost monopolizes Cat Getan's gambling industry; they count as the smelliest of the bedbugs," the Pale Knight recalled.

After a pause, the Pale Knight said with some suspicion, "How did Toke offend him?"

"That's a long story," Schiller said. "Unfortunately, young Fiers came up with a genius idea: to open a gambling game based on the time it takes for criminals in Arkham Asylum to escape. This stimulating idea attracted widespread attention, and almost the entire upper class participated."

"To prevent people from reaching their hands too far, he had to replace Toke, who had too many masters. He knew there was no way to buy you off, so he simply finished the person off," Schiller explained.

"Then if I replace you with him, wouldn't he just kill you too?" the Pale Knight asked, puzzled.

"What's even more unfortunate is that he and his brother have some conflicts. When he committed the crime, there were people his brother had planted at the scene who seized the evidence of his murder and handed it over to the police department. You could say the evidence is as solid as a mountain. He definitely won't be coming out anytime soon, and if his luck is bad, he might just spend the rest of his life in prison," Schiller said with a smile.

The Pale Knight rubbed his forehead and said, "In other words, he coincidentally perished together with Toke, and the position of Warden of Arkham Asylum just happened to become vacant."

Schiller nodded vigorously.

With a "slap," the Pale Knight struck the table. He glared at Schiller and said, "Do you think I'm stupid? Where in this world do so many coincidences come from?!"

"Let's just talk, don't slap the table; you gave me a fright," Schiller said, picking at his ear. "I admit I made some efforts to create my own employment opportunity. But I'm not the type to be greedy for credit, and I certainly wouldn't boast in front of you, Mr. Mayor. My creed is that humility leads to progress."

The Pale Knight couldn't help but cover his forehead.

"Tell me what you did first," the Pale Knight said helplessly.

"The idea for the gambling ring was mine," Schiller confessed.

"And what else?" the Pale Knight pressed.

"I am the one who works for his brother," Schiller continued.

"And?" the Pale Knight continued to press.

"I was the one who delivered the evidence," Schiller replied.

"Then what?" the Pale Knight was relentless.

"That's really it, just that," Schiller looked at the Pale Knight very sincerely and said, "Two days was only enough for me to do these things, there's nothing else."

The Pale Knight felt like he was a bit oxygen-deprived. He said, "Forget the rest, what's going on with that gambling ring? Do you have any idea that this could trigger a riot at Arkham Asylum?!"

"I know," Schiller replied calmly.

"You knew and you still did it?!" the Pale Knight questioned angrily.

"I was wrong, and I am trying my best to make up for it." Schiller pushed the document toward the Pale Knight again and said, "That's why I'm applying to you to become the Warden of Arkham Asylum. This is me using concrete actions to make up for my mistakes."

The Pale Knight was left speechless.

He had already discovered that pointing out Schiller's mistakes on either a moral or legal level was useless. He wouldn't debate right or wrong with you; he admitted his faults faster than anyone.

A shameless person admits their faults humbly but never changes. But Schiller admits his faults humbly and then turns the tables on you.

Faced with this logic, what could the Pale Knight say? If he said no, wouldn't that be preventing Schiller from correcting his mistakes? Wouldn't that be hindering someone's progress?

Good grief, having morally kidnapped others for a lifetime, now it was his turn to be kidnapped. Was there any justice left in the world?

"I say, don't be too picky," Schiller said. "If you make the matter of the gambling ring public, absolutely no one will dare to be the Warden of Arkham Asylum. But if there isn't a backbone, things will only get more chaotic. Isn't this me helping you solve your troubles?"

The Pale Knight really wanted to say "I don't need it," but after thinking about it carefully, he realized he actually did need it.

If Toke hadn't died, even if he wanted to desert his post, his masters wouldn't have agreed. Because as long as they could control him, this game was a guaranteed win.

But Toke was dead, and even if those participating in the gambling ring wanted to send a newcomer up, no one would be willing to go. Because in the current situation, whoever takes the job dies. No one would allow their competitor to occupy such an important position.

Even if they could find someone who wasn't afraid of death, they would likely be killed by others. And sending another one up wouldn't change the fate of being killed.

To put it bluntly, it's like the King of Hell calling the roll; whoever goes up will be viewed with hostility by everyone else and then have to deal with attacks from all sides. Unless Superman comes, it's just going to one's death.

But if this position remains vacant, they can only let the gambling ring develop, let those criminals break out of prison, let the dignity of the maintainers of order be trampled into the dirt, and let the citizens of Cat Getan be disappointed once again.

To interfere with this matter, the important positions must be held by their own people. Although the position of Police Commissioner is important, he must act from the big picture, and maintaining stability is the top priority. It is very difficult to count on him to free up his hands to do anything.

Therefore, taking the position of Warden, who can have close contact with the criminals and call upon all the security facilities of Arkham Asylum, is the only way for these good people to intervene in this matter.

But they also face the same dilemma as the elites: whoever they push up to sit in this position might not be able to hold it.

The Pale Knight isn't afraid of death, but he would be blocked at the door by the Warden's academic and professional requirements. Batman's academic qualifications are sufficient, but he is a masked hero and cannot disclose his personal information, so that won't work either.

Besides that, the people who could be nominated either don't meet the standards or might not necessarily stand completely on their side. It can be said that after choosing back and forth, Schiller is really the only one left.

Thinking of this, the Pale Knight knew that Schiller was still not counting on him to show kindness; he was still leaving him with no choice.

The Pale Knight was very repulsed by this feeling of being manipulated, but he was not an irrational person. So, he signed the document anyway.

However, after approving the appointment document, the Pale Knight still asked: "What are you planning to do now?"

"Don't be anxious, this is the first step," Schiller said. "Right now, we don't have a way to completely sever their roots, but collecting some interest first is still possible. This will also facilitate our subsequent actions."

Knowing that he couldn't get the truth out of Schiller, the Pale Knight changed his way of asking. He said: "Can you guarantee to me that no innocent people will be harmed?"

"Of course," Schiller promised quickly. He said, "In fact, apart from that group of elites, no one will be hurt in this matter, including that group of criminals in Arkham Asylum."

"Even if it's the elites, you had better not cause any casualties. If they really have illegal actions, then arrest them and send them to court. That is more effective than you killing them directly," the Pale Knight warned.

Schiller said with some helplessness: "I am not an executioner; I have no intention of killing anyone. In your eyes, am I really that cruel and bloodthirsty?"

"That's not it," the Pale Knight shook his head and said, "These two terms are truly too superficial to describe you."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Schiller stood up and said, "Cherish the time you have to handle official business alone. It won't be long before the City Hall reopens."

This remark left the Pale Knight stunned. What was this all about? Just as he was about to ask what was going on, Schiller had already left.

Schiller took the appointment document and went to Arkham Asylum. Bruce was playing cards with a group of super-criminals.

When Schiller arrived, he was being lifted up and shaken by Killer Croc, and playing cards were falling off him with a clatter.

Killer Croc opened his big mouth to bite, and Schiller shouted: "Spare him!"

Bruce was put down, and without any expression of embarrassment, he patted his backside and walked away.

Leaving the activity room, he looked at Schiller and said: "What's wrong?"

Schiller found him more and more unpleasant to look at, and said irritably: "Since you came to this universe, besides shopping, eating, and playing cards, what else have you done? Are you here for a vacation?"

Bruce actually nodded.