Chapter 3852: The Nameless Bat (33)

Seeing Natasha ultimately decided to go see the Penguin. Because Gordon told her that in Cat Getan, if you want to arrest someone, you must obtain the consent of two people: Batman and the Penguin.

Considering that someone like the Penguin would likely not be willing to let the CIA openly pay a visit, Seeing Natasha decided to see him privately. So, that evening, she arrived at the Bingshan Lounge in plain clothes.

Seeing Natasha wore a tube top paired with a high-waisted, hip-hugging long skirt, and donned a pair of shimmering earrings, her long red hair cascading down. When she walked in through the front door, she attracted everyone's gaze.

She sat at the bar and ordered a drink at random. Almost immediately, someone came over to strike up a conversation, but Seeing Natasha rejected them all. It wasn't until the lounge was nearing closing time that Seeing Natasha looked at the bartender and said, "I have business with your boss."

The bartender seemed unfazed by this. Since the Penguin became mayor, honey traps targeting him had been endless. Although this one today was a bit prettier, it was likely just as difficult to succeed.

The bartender took a regretful glance at Seeing Natasha; it was a pity that such a hot beauty would be searching for treasures deep at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean today.

Soon, two burly bodyguards in black suits and sunglasses appeared beside Seeing Natasha. Seeing Natasha stepped down from the bar stool and reached out to signal that she had no weapons.

The outfit she chose today wasn't just for looks—it was mainly because it was very tight, revealing not only her body's curves but also her muscle definition. This fully proved that she was not carrying weapons and had not undergone training.

Normally, to reach Seeing Natasha's level of strength, one would at least need the physique of a heavyweight boxer. But in reality, Seeing Natasha wasn't that muscular; she was well-proportioned, her waist was on the slender side, and one couldn't even see muscle definition on her legs.

So when she wore skirts or very tight clothing, people might find it easier to mistake her for a model who maintained her figure through dieting, or at most someone who went to the gym to lift weights; she really didn't look threatening at all.

These two bodyguards clearly thought the same, so they very confidently took Seeing Natasha and left through the back door of the Bingshan Lounge. After getting into a car, they arrived at the Penguin's manor.

Seeing Natasha was now praying that the Penguin of this universe hadn't met Black Widow. This was very possible—although the Penguin might have also participated in Battleworld, there were so many superheroes participating that unless one spent every day immersed in it grinding large-scale dungeons, it was hard to run into oneself from another universe.

After entering the manor, Seeing Natasha took a slight look around and found no issues. Then they arrived on the second floor, where the Penguin was waiting for her in one of the offices.

Seeing Natasha walked in, and the moment the Penguin turned around, he froze for a second; although he seemed to have anticipated the current situation, he was still shocked by Seeing Natasha's beauty.

"Hello, Mr. Penguin. Sorry, I could only find you in this way, but this is also for the sake of your reputation—CIA Special Agent Seeing Natasha Romanoff."

"God's shit!" the Penguin cursed, "I have only one question: Has the head of the CIA lost their mind? Hiring someone named Seeing Natasha Romanoff as an American agent?!"

"Didn't you also hire someone named Antonio Kuznetsov as a host?"

"What do you mean? Are you trying to say he's a Russian spy?"

"I hope he is the Eden Killer." Seeing Natasha said very calmly, "Cat Getan cannot continue to be in chaos; this matter needs to be resolved. Pinning the blame on a Russian spy is quite good."

"You aren't sent by Batman, are you?"

"Exactly. Because Gordon told me there were no other candidates, I could only choose to persuade you. Is this Antonio important?"

"This isn't a question of whether he is important." The Penguin looked at Seeing Natasha and said, "You don't intend to catch the real Eden Killer? Then what if he commits another crime?"

"Are you afraid he'll kill you?"

"It's not impossible." The Penguin turned back and sat down, saying, "He killed the mayor, so naturally he could kill me too. Now, the upper society is in a state of panic. If you only catch a fake, and the real one chooses to act again, how will you answer to Batman?"

"He... is likely unable to act personally."

A flash of brilliance crossed the Penguin's eyes. He stared at Seeing Natasha's face and said, "You know something, don't you?"

"Yes, but I can't explain it to you right now. Every CIA agent has secrets; it's better if you don't know. If you must know, go ask Batman."

The Penguin shrugged his hooked nose. Clearly, he felt annoyed and disgusted by this suggestion, but he obviously wouldn't let Seeing Natasha off that easily. He said, "My life is being threatened, yet I know nothing about it. This is very unfair to me; you should at least leave something behind."

"Do you know who the last person to sleep with me and survive was?"

"Who?"

"Batman."

The Penguin's nose shrugged even higher. He looked Seeing Natasha up and down, then shook his head and said, "No, Batman wouldn't sleep with you. You aren't his type."

"It seems you know him well."

"Not as well as the Joker. But you aren't lying, so that must be another Batman?"

"Since you've guessed it, I don't need to beat around the bush with you. This matter is likely a conspiracy spanning universes; more than one Batman is trying to turn the tide. What you and I can do is very limited; just don't cause him any trouble."

"Ah." The Penguin made an ambiguous sound. He still looked as sinister as ever, turned his head to look at Seeing Natasha, and said, "Have you visited 125 Kazsovo yet?"

"No, where is that?"

"The home of Gordon and Batman's helper, a psychologist who is also a lecturer for the FBI."

"Why should I go there?"

"He is Batman's friend, and the two of them are very close. I think you should go listen to his opinion before considering whether to handle this matter so rashly."

"Are you really not feeling bad for your subordinate?"

"I will let them die for me at the right time, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to waste them. If the plan you chose cannot end this matter, why should I give him to you?"

"Even Batman cannot change your choice?"

"Batman wouldn't choose like that, lady. Do you know that he was once happy that Antonio got a decent job at a TV station to get away from his gangster brother?"

"I knew it." Seeing Natasha sighed and said, "You are all his retribution."

The Penguin finally laughed, although it was still very gloomy, and said, "Yes, it is our honor."

Seeing Natasha ultimately left, because she realized that the Penguin was already one of the more normal ones among that bunch of lunatics. Seeing Natasha knew she couldn't go find the Joker; she had seen the Joker in Battleworld and knew very well that she couldn't communicate with a lunatic of that level.

So, after leaving the Penguin's manor, Seeing Natasha drove toward 125 Kazsovo. She didn't feel anything when she saw the house, but standing in front of the door, she always had a bad premonition. And when the door was opened, her premonition came true.

"Hello." Seeing Natasha hesitated for a moment before saying, "I know now isn't the time for a visit, but I really have serious business to find you for."

Schiller paused for a moment, then opened the door for her and said, "A patient of mine who is staying here just fell asleep; I hope you won't disturb him, Madam."

Seeing Natasha couldn't help but shiver. She knew she must have met this Schiller before, but she just couldn't adapt—damn it, he actually called her "Madam"!

If Greed called her that, Seeing Natasha would have to mourn for her bank card; no, not just hers, she might have to mourn for all the Avengers' bank cards.

Seeing Natasha walked in and took a look at the house. Very good, it was the old-fashioned style that Greed disliked the most; this kind of house from the era of *Jane Eyre* shouldn't appear in a 21st-century American metropolis.

"Please sit, lady. Black tea or coffee?"

"Water is fine." Seeing Natasha smiled a forced smile; she had to admit she was very nervous now. This house looked even more retro than Ilvermorny Castle; it was just like filming a movie.

Schiller brought Seeing Natasha a glass of water, placed it in front of her, then sat on a single sofa, one leg crossed over the other, hands resting on his legs, and said, "Did Commissioner Gordon send you to find me? Regarding the Eden Killer case?"

Seeing Natasha picked up the water glass, took a sip, and said, "You could say that. To be precise, Gordon told me to find the Penguin, and the Penguin told me to find you. Because the Penguin thinks that simply pushing out a scapegoat to calm this matter down won't work. What do you think?"

"That depends on what kind of person the Eden Killer is, and whether he will commit another crime. What is your view?"

"He made a big scene last time; he should be quiet for a while. Besides, he is unable to act personally and can only manipulate others. And the two people manipulated before are already unable to kill again, and choosing a new target also takes time. As long as we drag this period out, it will be fine."

Schiller, however, slowly shook his head and said, "Whether he stops killing and how long he stops for doesn't depend on what he can do, but on whether he wants to do so. Whether he wants to continue killing depends on whether he still wants to continue learning."

"Learning?" Seeing Natasha frowned; she had heard this word again.

"I thought Batman had already told you. The Eden Killer is very likely learning something. Considering the targets of his murders, it is highly likely to be the intimate relationships humans produce based on mating desires and their own hormones. He will only stop when he thinks he has figured these things out; otherwise, there will definitely be more victims."

"Then do you think he has figured it out?"

Schiller shook his head again and said, "Unfortunately, in the last case, which is the mayor's murder case, the killer was not the real Eden Killer, but a copycat. The specific reasons will be discussed later. But if this case doesn't count, and we take the second-to-last case as the Eden Killer's last case, clearly, he hasn't learned enough."

"Tell me in detail."

"All the cases the Eden Killer himself manipulated others to commit show a very obvious progressive ladder: the first pair of victims did not engage in real sexual behavior, the second pair was in the middle of it, the third pair was after it ended, and then it started over from the beginning. This proves there is something he hasn't figured out. If he can't figure it out, he will keep repeating this process; he doesn't look like a human, but like a machine with a malfunction."

Seeing Natasha felt a bit surprised. She knew that this universe just had murders occur, and there was no other evidence to suggest the existence of electronic life, but Schiller had almost deduced the truth.

"So, forgive my bluntness, Madam, the plan of whitewashing and trying to cover up is very stupid. A machine with a malfunction won't stop; it will only become more and more extreme. Now is just the calm before the storm—the situation is about to escalate."

Seeing Natasha was just about to say something when Gordon's slightly anxious voice rang out in her earpiece: "Agent Romanoff, I'm afraid you must come back immediately! The Chief Judge of the Cat Getan Court, Tranis, died in his lover's bed. This time, it's the 'Eden Killer'!"

Seeing Natasha turned her head to look at Schiller. Those gray eyes, identical to Dr. Schiller's, presented a completely different indifference, perfectly complementing this sinful city. If Cat Getan was Batman's retribution, then Schiller was like Cat Getan's retribution.

When this absurd thought, infinitely close to fatalism, appeared in Seeing Natasha's mind for the first time, it made her feel creeped out.

?? Arrogance is indeed more anthropomorphic. ===== CHAPTER 3853 =====