So began his six-month mentorship under one of Gotham's most enigmatic minds.
Riddler wasted no time.
"First," Riddler said, pacing before a projection of Gotham's underground tunnels, "you'll learn encryption theory. Not textbook garbage—the language of secrets. Codes are the nervous system of power. If you understand how secrets work, you understand how control works."
He drilled Jacob in cipher construction, steganography, lock design, cryptic messaging systems, puzzle architecture, and the psychology of misdirection.
But before they got too deep into their work, Jacob made something very clear.
"I have rules."
Riddler raised an eyebrow. "Do tell."
"I won't hurt innocents. I won't target children. Or women. Not unless there's a damn good reason—and no, chaos isn't a reason."
Riddler laughed. "And why not, dear apprentice?"
Jacob met his gaze. "Because I may want to beat Gotham, but I'm not becoming the animal it breeds."
There was a moment of silence. Then Riddler grinned. "Alright. For the next six months, we follow your moral code. I'll even tattoo it on the wall for these degenerates to remember."
He turned to his baffled goons. "Hear that? No hurting children, no women, no random violence. And if you break the rule—"
Jacob interjected, his tone ice-cold. "—you answer to me."
Riddler's smile widened. "Now this is what I call an apprentice."
For the next several weeks, Riddler trained Jacob relentlessly. Every day was a mind game. Complex riddles designed to sharpen logic. Virtual mazes to test stress response. Jacob helped design new puzzles aimed at exploiting Batman's detective instincts. His understanding of programming, architecture, and social engineering brought a new edge to Riddler's schemes.
Jacob crafted one series of riddles designed to divert Batman during a heist. The riddles used obscure elements from Gotham's civil engineering blueprints—a layer of complexity even the GCPD couldn't parse. Batman solved it eventually, but not in time. And that delay gave Riddler a rare win.
Afterward, Jacob looked at his mentor. "I like it. I like what you're doing with my rule. You're turning it into a challenge for him."
Riddler gestured dramatically toward his crew. "See? This is a real mind! Not like you buffoons who want to smash things for fun."
The goons looked embarrassed. Jacob smirked.
"Okay, teach me more," he said.
"Gladly," Riddler replied, a glint of excitement in his eyes.
And so the student and the mad genius continued their intellectual dance—two minds against Gotham. But beneath the surface, both were calculating the endgame.
Six months would pass. And when they did, only one question remained:
Would Jacob walk out of Riddler's world as a new kind of villain—or something even Gotham wasn't ready for?