Chapter 959

Following the passage, Agent Laurenna turned back to look at Shi Ler and asked, “Why did you burn those things?”

Shi Ler squinted in pain and said, “Do you know why rats fly in the sky?”

Laurenna paused, then instinctively asked, “Why?”

“Because they’re not rats. They’re bats.”

Laurenna shook her head slightly, convinced Shi Ler was delirious. She glanced at her route map and pointed to a junction. “Turn this way—there’s another safehouse nearby…”

After speaking, she walked at the front, leading the way, while Schiller was supported by an agent and walked in the center of the group, with Scott and another agent keeping their eyes fixed on him from the rear.

“Who’s chasing us?” Scott asked as they moved forward. Shi Ler shook his head. “I already said—it’s bats.”

“I hope you still have the energy to come up with riddles during interrogation,” Scott said coldly. But Shi Ler wore a look of quiet despair and said nothing more as they headed toward the next safehouse.

Arriving at the room of the second safehouse, he calmed slightly and took in the surroundings.

It was less a room than a slightly modified cave, likely beneath Gotham’s sewer system, equipped with a generator, lighting, a small table, and a few chairs.

Shi Ler had only seen such rooms in very old movies. Had the Federal Investigation Bureau spent decades circling the drain only now to rediscover tunnel warfare?

But after closer observation, he realized it couldn’t be the work of the Federal Investigation Bureau. First, constructing such a vast underground space beneath the water table would demand unimaginable manpower and resources. Perhaps Batman could manage such engineering—but even he would need years.

Second, even if built, there would be visible support structures. And without any waterproofing, the space was unnaturally dry—no moisture stains on the walls at all.

At that moment, Shi Ler spoke. “Where’s my medicine?”

Laurenna, having just set down her communicator, said, “The agents on the route were intercepted. They won’t be able to deliver the medicine anytime soon.”

Shi Ler frowned, breathing heavily. “Truth serum…”

“What did you say?” Laurenna didn’t catch the word and leaned closer. Shi Ler repeated: “Truth serum… sodium thiopental. You should have plenty. Give me two doses. Now.”

Laurenna’s eyes widened. “What?! Inject you with truth serum?! Are you insane? Delirious?!”

“Sodium thiopental acts on GABAergic neurons, prolonging chloride channel opening, suppressing neuronal excitability. It’s a sedative with ultra-rapid onset, used for acute neural hyperexcitability. If you have it, administer two doses quickly…”

Laurenna froze. But Scott stepped forward and said coldly, “Get the drug. Inject him.”

Soon, an agent brought a vial. Shi Ler squinted. “Insufficient dose. Need at least double.”

Seeing his tensed arm muscles and trembling fingertips, Scott said again, “Inject him.”

After the full dose, Shi Ler kept his eyes closed, head bowed, motionless—as if drowsy from sedation. Then suddenly, he jolted awake, lifting his head and shouting, “Blow up the previous junction! Blow up the junction we came through!”

Scott and Laurenna both flinched. Another agent said, “The drug’s taking effect—blood pressure and heart rate are normalizing, hyperexcitability symptoms fading…”

“What’s he saying?” Laurenna moved closer to Shi Ler. She saw him lower his head again, muttering incessantly: “Blow up the junction we came through…”

“Blow it up? Why?” Laurenna said, confused. Scott stepped forward coldly. “Laurenna, don’t you remember our protocols? No matter what the detainee does, ignore it. It’s just a trick to evade interrogation.”

An agent pulled out rope and tied Shi Ler’s wrists to the chair arms. Scott stood before him, looking down. “We need information from you to verify your identity. The more you tell us, the greater your chance of reaching Washington safely.”

Scott leaned down. “Professor Rodriguez, you’re a world-renowned psychologist. You understand your own mental state. I don’t want to waste either of our time. If you keep stalling, you’ll break first.”

Shi Ler slumped against the chairback, looking disheveled. The escape had worsened his condition.

His suit jacket was rumpled, his forehead hair soaked and clumped by rain, strands hanging over his brow. His glasses were fogged, pupils beneath them dilated and unfocused.

Laurenna hesitated. “Could we have overdosed him? What if he complains to our superiors about unauthorized drug interrogation?”

“I won’t say anything,” Shi Ler said, head still down, voice hoarse. “You’re more professional than most of my students or friends. At least you can obtain sedatives—and administer them properly. You saved my life. Thank you.”

“Then as repayment,” Scott said, “shouldn’t you give us information to verify your identity?”

“As repayment,” Shi Ler said, exhaling slowly, “I advise you—blow up the junction we came through. Right now. Or it’ll be too late.”

“I know what you’re doing,” Scott straightened, looking at the ceiling. “You’re forcing us into pointless actions to gain psychological leverage. We’ve seen this too many times. Let’s stop wasting each other’s—”

“BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!”

!

Another series of earthquake-like explosions shook the chamber. Everyone staggered. The ceiling began crumbling. Agents clung to the walls for balance. Shi Ler, summoning every ounce of regained strength, roared: “Blow the passage! Leave this place!”

!

!

Laurenna quickly unbound Shi Ler’s wrists and helped him toward the rear exit. Scott glanced at the corridor outside the room and gritted his teeth. “Damn it! Who the hell is chasing us?!”

“You two—check if the explosives we stacked at the end of Corridor Three are still there. Bring them to the junction. Blow the approach!” Scott ordered decisively.

Laurenna helped Shi Ler back into the passage. She had to ask: “You know who’s chasing us, don’t you?”

“I told you already—it’s bats.” Shi Ler swallowed. The sedatives had calmed his neural hyperexcitability but left him drowsy. Without the gray mist continuously breaking down the drug, he’d already be asleep.

But the gray mist couldn’t break down too much—otherwise, the sedatives wouldn’t suppress his stress response, and his broccoli allergy symptoms would return, spiking his blood pressure again.

Shi Ler sighed. “Before coming to Gotham, didn’t you investigate Batman? Or did you come here without even knowing who he is?”

At the name “Batman,” Laurenna frowned. “I know Batman. I heard Gotham has a vigilante dressed as a bat… Wait—was that guy in the tight suit at the estate Batman?”

Laurenna narrowed her eyes. “He doesn’t look like the silhouette in the newspapers…”

Shi Ler sighed again. “The Federal Investigation Bureau gets its intel from newspapers?”

“Because he’s an insignificant vigilante. His actions violate no federal law and don’t threaten the city. We don’t investigate citizens’ identities or movements without cause—that’s a violation of privacy,” Laurenna replied flawlessly, offering no opening.

“Thank you for your professionalism and caution. Now you’re being hunted by Batman,” Shi Ler said, then fell silent, leaning against the passage wall, gasping. Laurenna urged anxiously: “You know we’re being hunted—why aren’t you running?!”

“Believe me, I’m more desperate than you,” Shi Ler panted. “But understand—I was injected with double the normal sedative dose minutes ago. My blood pressure can’t support this kind of exertion.”

After they paused for seconds, Scott caught up. He glanced at Shi Ler. “I blew up the only entrance. Even if he clears the debris, it’ll take him hours…”

Shi Ler gasped. “Have you considered he doesn’t need to clear the debris…”

“BOOM!”

!

!

!

Another explosion echoed. Laurenna gritted her teeth. “Is he insane? Doesn’t he fear the entire underground collapsing?!”

“He probably understands the subterranean structure better than you. No—better than anyone.”

Shi Ler’s speech was slurred, but he still clung to his signature style of undermining everyone, slipping in barbs whenever he could.

“Professor, tell us—who’s chasing us? Don’t forget: though we’re transporting you to Washington, you’re now our hostage.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Shi Ler shook his head. “Your decisions while I was unconscious turned us all into hostages. The man chasing you can collapse the entire underground structure at any moment and bury us all.”

“You should be grateful he’s not the KGB. Those lunatics would’ve already detonated a nuke.”

As soon as he spoke, several agents turned pale. Shi Ler was right—they were all trapped. If the pursuer didn’t care about dying, he could drag them all down with him.

Shi Ler slowly stood and walked forward. “We must return to the upper sewer. The dense ice there is an obstacle—but also a natural barrier. Ordinary explosives won’t affect it…”

“Only by finding gaps in the upper sewer can we evade his direct pursuit.”

Scott and Laurenna exchanged glances. Should they trust Shi Ler? Their training taught them: never fall for traps.

In their careers, they’d encountered countless cunning prisoners using elaborate escape tactics—some beyond imagination.

From experience, they’d learned the best defense: don’t listen, don’t look, don’t feel. No matter the bait, ignore it. Stick to the plan.

It worked well against clever, verbal criminals. Shi Ler, by appearance and record, fit that profile—and now, these agents trusted him not at all.

Two agents stepped forward, seized Shi Ler, and restrained him again. Scott gestured ahead. “We move to the southern passage. There’s a larger safehouse.”

“That location has defenses and weapons. If he keeps chasing…” Scott sneered. “We’ll show him what real resistance looks like.”

Behind him, Shi Ler smiled—triumphant.