Chapter 1273: A Pair of Solitary Shadows (Thirteen)

The lights in the banquet hall were as colorful as a golden waterfall. Champagne glasses were stacked into towers, surrounded by flowers and ribbons, like a mountain made of crystal. 訯

Waiters in neat shirts and black vests shuttled between the guests, gently lowered their arms, and after the glasses on the tray were taken away, they nodded reservedly, and walked away with their heads raised like a proud swan.

"I really didn't expect to meet a gentleman scholar who had read Mickiewicz and had some insights like me. I visited his former residence when I went to Lithuania..."

"Oh, yes, ma'am, I heard about his friendship with Goethe when I passed by Weimar. He must have liked Goethe's poems very much, as can be seen from his "Ode to Youth"..."

On the right side of the windowsill near the window, Schiller was chatting with a white-haired lady.

Soon, the topic became more in-depth. The elegant old lady shook her head and said, "Forgive me for my shallow knowledge. I really don't know much about psychology. I know that those noisy guys, led by the two brothers in the Bowers family, always talk about words like brain waves, mind reading, and telepathy."

"If I really want to find a reasonable explanation for their new and mysterious words, then I think "psychology" should be the most accurate. People should rely on systematic knowledge instead of expecting some superpowers to fall from the sky. What do you think, sir?"

"Oh, ma'am, you really hit the nail on the head. As a psychologist, I always have to explain it to you. I am tired of explaining to various patients whether there is mind reading in this world, whether I can see their secrets, or what they ate at night..." 訯

Looking at Schiller's helpless face, the old woman laughed lowly, then looked at him and said: "To be honest, I don't have a good impression of the FBI, but I have to admit that to be able to work there, or even teach trainee agents, you must be knowledgeable and trusted by the Ministry of National Defense and Security. "

"You are flattering, ma'am, I am just... Oh, hello, what can I do for you?" Schiller turned and looked at a waiter who came to his side. The waiter was holding a tray in his hand, and on the tray there was a thin champagne glass filled with clear wine.

"Mr. Wayne invites you to have a drink together. Thank you for attending today's banquet." The waiter tucked his chin in with a sense of propriety, lowered his head and smiled. The old lady gently waved her silk-gloved hand and said, "Go quickly, Mr. Schiller. Mr. Wayne must be very curious about you. There are many difficult thorns in Gotham's new round of investment projects. He needs the help of a psychologist."

Schiller gently picked up the wine glass on the tray in the waiter's hand, blinked at the old lady, and nodded, meaning that he accepted her kindness. After all, the information she just revealed is very important, at least for someone who really came to Gotham for the first time.

In short, Bruce Wayne needs you. Knowing this information before and after the negotiation has completely different effects.

Schiller held the wine glass and walked from the window side to the side closer to the stairs of the ballroom. Bruce Wayne was surrounded by many people, all of whom were children of various well-known families in Gotham.

"Elliot, Kane, Powers..." Bruce in the theater softly read out the names of this group of people, and then turned his eyes to the one who picked up the award.

Obviously, Bruce Wayne on the screen is not old. Although he is older than Bruce in the theater, he can only be said to be slightly mature, like a young man moving towards middle age.

His temperament is completely different from Bruce. Of course, he also disguises himself as a playboy, but he is not exaggerated or dissolute, but shows a mature style with ease.

This style is reflected in his orderly conversations with four or five celebrities around him, but he does not seem to be busy at all, and he responds to the words and deeds of different people very appropriately.

Whether it is proudly looking up, reserved nodding, or just the right smile, every gesture reveals an intoxicating charm.

"It seems that you are a socialite in this universe." Diana said with a low laugh, "You do much better than me."

Bruce just turned his head to look at her, and the princess, who lived much longer than ordinary humans, curled her lips slightly and said, "For a long time, I was more accustomed to being a soldier. I felt that as long as I charged bravely, there would be no difficulties that could not be solved."

"During the war years, I received countless praises for my bravery and fearlessness, but someone also told me that when this cruel era is over, I will also walk into the crowd and serve my hometown and companions in the crowd. "I have studied human etiquette for a long time, but sometimes I still make a fool of myself, like a reckless and stupid girl." Diana laughed as she spoke, as if she was thinking of the jokes she had made before, but soon she turned to look at Bruce and said, "It's not easy to develop the skills of a socialite. Look at the other you, he's doing pretty well." Clark propped his chin with his palm with interest, staring at the Bruce on the screen, then turned to look at his companion, his eyes as bright as the stars in the sky.

"Bruce, you..."

"No, I don't know how to do that."

"Of course you..."

"Of course I don't, that's not me."

"You're too handsome." Clark didn't realize what he was saying at all. He just said bluntly as always: "Maybe I'm just a short-sighted young man from a small town, but in the time I can remember, I've never seen someone so handsome and elegant. How can I describe him? Worthy of being Bruce Wayne?"

"Of course, he's just a bottle of wine that's just been opened, but sooner or later he'll become a luxurious champagne tower, just like him in another universe." Constantine also turned his head and raised his eyebrows wantonly.

Barry next to him just silently moved his seat a little further away.

He knew Batman too well, so he knew that one day, Batman would make these people pay for teasing him. He didn't want to be one of those who were liquidated, even though he thought Batman was very handsome, very handsome, when he was in the main universe.

"Sorry, everyone, please allow me to take two minutes to introduce you. This is Professor Schiller Rodriguez, currently working at the FBI's trainee agent training school. He is a famous lecturer and psychologist."

On the screen, Bruce gently raised his glass to Schiller, and the people around him had different first reactions when they saw Schiller. Soon they realized that Wayne wanted to talk to the professor alone.

Because before this, the rich man had been holding a glass, but he didn't clink glasses with anyone or drink. As soon as Schiller came, he raised his glass, and the social signal was released just right. 訯

After saying goodbye politely, everyone dispersed. Schiller stretched out his hand, but did not clink glasses head-on as required by social etiquette. Instead, he used the side of the slender champagne glass to knock on the root of the high-heeled glass in Bruce's hand.

Bruce's eyes were like lightning, sweeping over the part that the glass touched, and then looked up at Schiller. The smile on his face when he talked to others before disappeared.

Schiller was sending a signal. He knew him.

"I never clink glasses with others. If I do, I will never bring the glass close to my mouth again." Bruce in the theater explained softly, "This is for safety, because someone once put poison in his own wine and spread it to other people's glasses by clinking glasses."

Seeing the look of others looking at him as a mental patient, Bruce shook his head and said, "Even if there is no poison, the spread of droplets is scary enough... I have a mild mysophobia, but I think it is necessary."

"If you don't say it, I won't feel it..." Barry shrugged his shoulders in turn as if he had lice all over his body and said, "Now I feel a little disgusted too. After all, if there is someone else's saliva in the wine..."

"Stop talking!" Harley said with a disgusted expression.訯

Bruce on the screen took back the cup, smiled again, looked at Schiller and said: "March called me last night and praised your deeds. Please allow me to express my respect to you. You have made an indelible contribution to the security of the Federation..."

"Thank you." Schiller raised his cup, lifted it up and took a sip of wine. Bruce's eyes flashed with a very subtle surprise.

"I bet he has at least 80 plans in his mind now." Clark looked at the screen and said: "79 of them are for super-powered people who are not afraid of poison, right, Bruce?"

After spending some time with others, Clark also knew the style of his good friend. He can't live without planning and premeditation.

"Less." Barry said decisively.

"How many do you say?"

"80 for ordinary humans who are not afraid of poison, 80 for human superpowers, 80 for aliens, 80 for evil gods, 80 for demigods, 80 for speedsters, 80 for magical creatures, 800 for all of the above who join forces to attack Gotham, and then 8,000 backup plans."

Just as Clark was about to mock Barry's exaggeration, he saw Bruce's thoughtful expression. He stared at Bruce with wide eyes and said, "You are not serious, are you? ... No?"

"He is indeed more mature than me." Bruce touched his chin and said, "Joint attack is indeed worth guarding against."

"Come on! You are a bunch of psychopaths!" Clark was helpless.

"Mr. March is the first patient I have seen since I came here. Oh, don't get me wrong, this does not violate the principle of confidentiality. He personally does not shy away from seeing a psychiatrist and allows me to tell others about it."

"Yes, this is not decades ago." Bruce smiled and said, "People are beginning to pay attention to their mental health. When facing depression or fatigue, they learn not to blame themselves too much, but to seek professional help. I think this is a manifestation of social progress."

"To your understanding of psychology." Schiller raised his glass again, toasted Bruce from a distance, and took a sip of wine.

Bruce found that the person on the other side didn't care about his lack of alcohol at all, which was not normal. Most people would be surprised when their toasts were not responded to. Although they didn't dare to say anything to Bruce Wayne, they couldn't hide their confusion, anger and even disappointment at that moment. 訯

But Schiller seemed to know that Bruce couldn't drink. He didn't have any hope at all, so he wasn't disappointed.

In just a few words, Batman came to a conclusion that surprised even himself - the professor in front of him knew him very well, not in terms of thoughts or behavioral logic, but in some small details of his living habits.

This was even more creepy to Batman than the Joker's way of understanding.

Schiller seemed to have known him for a long time, and could even cross the barrier of Batman's mask and peek into his private life, which even Robin, his closest group of birds, couldn't do.