They entered the asylum and took a tour of the building, but there wasn't much to see. Most of the patients appeared quite normal when they weren't having an episode. The doctors and nurses were orderly. It looked like a very ordinary asylum.
Then they reached Shiller's office. They mainly came to inquire about the spiritual energy recovery. Before arriving, they had already learned from Stark about the changes happening in this universe. Seeing it firsthand was still shocking.
"Things are just as you see them," Shiller said, spinning the pen in his hand. "Humans in this universe are close to magical ascension. Lifespan and physical qualities have been significantly enhanced, and they can even use magic. Magical ingredients have been selling quite well lately, and I've made a little money from that."
"Yes, but I want to know how you did it." Primary Universe Batman stared intently into his eyes.
Shiller chuckled, "Everything comes at a price. We've simply sacrificed the main forces of the Three Great Empires to exchange for the prosperity and wealth of generations for the Human race."
"How did you do it?"
"Not me. My contribution was insignificant. It was ordinary people and superheroes working together that achieved this miraculous feat."
Primary Universe Batman contemplated in silence. He could tell Shiller wasn't lying, yet he felt things weren't that simple.
"If you also want to do this, there are two critical points. One is an entity capable of devouring other things and converting them into energy, a converter for upgrading Earth's energy levels. We call this the World Tree. The other is sufficient nutrition. Any material in the cosmos can be converted into energy, as long as the quantity is large enough, quality is not an issue."
Shiller clearly saw Primary Universe Batman's Adam's apple move. This meant he already had someone in mind.
"Who do you want to devour?" Shiller pressed on, "Apocalypse Star? Or Lantern Corps? Why not both? Plus New Genesis Star. If you can consume them all, you could have this kind of wealth and glory."
Primary Universe Batman's Adam's apple moved again. He looked at Shiller and said, "Mephisto's position should be yours to take."
"I'm not interested in that," Shiller scoffed, "This isn't over yet. Though humans have become a bit stronger, they are still very weak. If all the waste in the Multiverse could be utilized, that would truly be prosperity."
Primary Universe Batman's fingertips twitched slightly.
Judging by his expression, Shiller knew what he was thinking. The Batmen didn't make a first stop here while touring New York. They should have already visited important institutions like S.H.I.E.L.D., learned much official data, and even witnessed how powerful the evolved Human race had become.
Indeed, ordinary humans have become a bit stronger, but still can't compare to most races in the universe. But the key is not the current situation; it's that this is a path to the sky.
You can break through the limits of human lifespan and physical quality by devouring the forces of the Three Great Empires. Then you can consume more things, evolve even better, until one day becoming Kryptonians or an even stronger, more perfect race.
Endless surpassing isn't a good thing, but sugarcane doesn't have two sweet ends. In the dark forest surrounded by wolves, humans are already weak enough. Not becoming stronger means death, becoming stronger at least leaves some room for struggle. Anyone would choose this.
The cosmic war in the Primary Universe has been going on for some time now. Apocalypse Star and Lantern Corps are at each other's throats. All members of the Justice League who can adapt to the cosmic combat environment have participated. Primary Universe Batman is also actively operating in Battleworld, constantly striving for better technology and resources for his universe.
But when will this war end? How will it end? What can Earth gain from it?
Those powerful races who start wars recklessly in the cosmos, treat races as weak as humans as nothing; on what grounds?
Primary Universe Batman struggled to suppress the dangerous thoughts swirling in his heart. To him, greed and Devils were no different. The best way to not be tempted is to leave quickly.
He left, but Arkham Batman didn't. Arkham Batman helped himself to a cup of coffee at the machine, sat down leisurely, and said to Shiller, whom even Primary Universe Batman avoided at all costs, "I want to ask you about someone."
Shiller stretched out two fingers, "Two million."
"No problem," Arkham Batman spread his hands on the armrests, one leg over the other, and said, "Our dear Agent Mrs. Natasha Romanoff."
"What do you want to hear?"
"What kind of person is she?"
"Curiosity is the first step to falling in love."
"Wrong. We're already at the 99th step, and only now did I think of being curious," Arkham Batman said, "I admit I've lost my head a bit due to lust, but better late than never."
"Former Soviet, Black Widow of the Red Room," Shiller thought for a moment and said, "You can understand her as the strongest agent trained by the Soviet Union."
"No wonder," Arkham Batman said with a forced smile, "I said I was the US President, and she stabbed me. Their training was really successful."
"I guess that's not the reason, otherwise she'd have done more than just stab you," Shiller said, "Have you considered that this might just be a little bit of her style of fun?"
"A style of fun that almost dug my heart out?"
"Yes. Compared to directly shooting me in the heart, nearly choking her first love, driving her colleague off a bridge into the sea, this really is just a bit of fun."
"You?" Arkham Batman was good at catching key points, he raised an eyebrow and looked Shiller up and down.
"Not in bed," Shiller also took a sip of coffee, saying, "It's complicated to explain, but she did kill me once. If it weren't for my good relations with Death, you might not have been able to see me."
"So you're saying she actually showed me mercy?"
"Do you really think it was your admission of being a president that angered her?"
"Otherwise?"
"He said you invited her to the banquet."
"Yes, is there a problem?"
"She's an agent. She doesn't show up without reason."
"But it's not without reason."
"I know. You're trying to say that even if you two aren't boyfriend and girlfriend, at least you're lovers, at the very least, bed partners. But to him, any physical relationship cannot be used as leverage to make demands of her."
"So she slapped me. Isn't that enough?"
"When she went to slap you a second time, you stopped her. It was a bit rough, she might have had some kind of stress response."
"You just said it was flirting."
"Yes. Taking the knife might have been a stress response, but when she stabbed you, she probably had already realized what was happening." Shiller was very impatient, he said, "I'm not interested in the details of what happened between you two. I'm just here to tell you, it's best to treat it as flirting. Otherwise, what do you want to do, stab her back?"
"Can't I?"
"If you can seize the opportunity, it's not impossible. But the problem is, you're not the only one looking to take a shot at her. The backlog of a female agent's issues would take forever to sort through, and you'd have to wait in line until next year."
Arkham Batman took a sip of coffee with his head down, seemingly hesitating on whether to take revenge. At that moment, Shiller laughed again and said, "Here's a suggestion. The female agent still has some feelings for her first love, you could stab Bucky Barnes."
Arkham Batman squinted his eyes.
"... as long as you don't think his best buddy, Captain America, would be a problem," Shiller said with a smile.
"Then you could watch me and the superheroes brawl it out while you sit on the sidelines having a good laugh." Arkham Batman saw through Shiller's plan immediately.
"Yes, that's exactly my plan. If you don't want that to happen, just tell me how much military funding you got."
Arkham Batman glanced at Shiller, whose face blatantly read "If you don't tell me, I'll make some trouble for you." He paused, dipped his finger in the condensation on the coffee cup, and traced it on the table.
Shiller was stunned for a second when he saw the long trail of marks. He looked at Arkham Batman in disbelief and said, "You're planning to attack Apocalypse Star?"
"Not planning on that just yet." Arkham Batman's fingers tapped rhythmically on the table. "But after some in-depth magic studies, I have a new idea—maybe I can ask for more military funding."
"Seriously?"
"By the way, I might need your help with something. My universe is going to take some big actions soon, and I might not get approval from certain members of the Justice League. Can you help me keep them calm?"
Shiller also drew a few lines on the table.
"Battleworld Points?"
Shiller nodded.
"Alright," Arkham Batman said, "come back with me to New York. It won't take much of your time."
After both Batmen left, Shiller sat alone in his office thinking. This Batman enrollment plan was going quite smoothly. Besides putting Night Owl in a bit of a bind, most Batmen were starting to take action.
Even if they didn't appreciate the charm of magic at the magical school, after touring New York, they should be tempted.
Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. No matter how formidable the Dark Knight Batman is, he won't last a hundred years. What happens to the Gotham citizens and ordinary human race after he dies?
Improving the overall lifespan and physical quality of the human race can't eliminate crime, but it can raise the survival baseline for the poorest and most suffering people. Gotham is never short of such people.
The big shots on the DC side who wield magic power are not to be messed with. The rules of Heaven and Hell have run for thousands of years, unshaken by anyone. The source of magic, the Inverted Man, is extremely dangerous. Barbados from the dark universe is too corruptive, and the Creator Goddess is an untouchable topic.
However, beyond these cosmic-level threats, there are certainly some mysterious existences that are easier to bully. Shiller sensed that some people in the Arkham Batman Universe were going to be in big trouble.
Once Arkham Batman makes a move, those Batmen who can get information through Battleworld are sure to be tempted and will definitely aim their knives at the metaphorical fat sheep around them. Batman can win every meticulously premeditated war. They will gain a significant amount of energy.
What will they do with that energy?
Rob money to buy guns, and then use the guns to rob more money. But first, they must protect their home turf. Many Batmen will surely opt to establish the Earth's Magical Defense Network. Isn't that a successful sales push?
However, the world's complex over there. Even if building the magical defense network is good for Earth, there will definitely be people obstructing it, possibly even members of the Justice League.
When the control is in Batman's hands, they will certainly have a discussion about what happens "if you, Batman, go out of control or someone else gains control," leading to a debate on creating an absolutely secure control method, and forming a democratically decided council. They could debate the candidate selection for three days and nights. Robin would split into two factions, and the Justice League would split into eight pieces. Supporters, opposers, neutrals, indifferent ones. This would spark a big brawl among the superheroes, eventually disrupting the entire thing.
Shiller doesn't want to see such a situation occur. But indeed, not every Batman has the guts of Arkham Batman to simply spend money to suppress the Justice League. How can the installation of the magical defense network proceed without a hitch?
As the saying goes, most philosophical thinking is due to too much idle time. Keeping those superheroes who might voice opposition busy might just buy Batman enough time, right?
Keeping the superheroes busy is rather simple, just find something to invade. Shiller thought about it, and soon had someone in mind.