"She regained her ability to walk?" Natasha said instinctively. Then she realized this was exactly what Shiller wanted her to wait for.
Shiller took the report and glanced at it. The pictures of six footprints showed nothing unusual; they looked like the tracks left by a normal person walking. But the abnormal fact was, those footprints belonged to Barbara Gordon.
Barbara couldn't walk; she was confined to a wheelchair. So if her walking footprints appeared on the ground, there were only two possibilities: either her legs had recovered, or someone had forged those footprints.
Shiller picked up the hair strand and said to the technician, "Go do a genetic analysis, though I already know the result."
Natasha looked at him. Shiller said, "Think about it; when we discover that the behind-the-scenes manipulator sending emails possesses extremely advanced internet technology, what would a normal person think? Would they really consider electronic lifeforms?"
Natasha slowly shook her head and said, "We came to this conclusion because we have an electronic lifeform around us. Because JARVIS is our friend, we were the first to think of him. If it were a normal person, they would probably suspect the other party is a very skilled hacker."
"Indeed, didn't I just voice some suspicion?" Shiller said, "Barbara is a hacker who can rival Batman, and there aren't many top-notch hackers like her in the world. If the source of the emails can't be traced by Wayne Enterprises or Luther Group, she would be highly suspect."
"Just when we were suspecting her because of the unknown email source, we found her walking footprints in a room with her hair. We would instinctively think: she regained her ability to move but hasn't told anyone."
"Then we would link it to Abidonis's red-haired lover. When we learned from Mrs. Abidonis that this red-haired lover could walk freely, we coincidentally 'guessed' that Barbara regained her ability to move. So, is there anyone else who would be as suspect as her?"
"In other words, the person sending the emails and leaving behind hair and footprints wants us to believe that it's always been Barbara Gordon behind all this manipulation."
"Yes, but because we knew JARVIS, we initially thought incorrectly. Plus, the conclusions from Greed led us not to think along the lines of ordinary people, so we only suspected Barbara just now."
"This is quite a grand plot," Natasha remarked. "Then, could my scandal photo with the president be meant to uncover the camera belonging to the Oracle System on the Arkham Knight?"
"Possibly so," Shiller nodded and said, "though it's a bit complicated, it's not impossible. The behind-the-scenes manipulator is very clever and doesn't shy away from using a huge event to conceal the tiny 'clues' behind it. Indeed, a formidable opponent."
"What now? Where might Barbara be?"
"She's probably been controlled by them. We must not alert the enemy. You try to persuade Gordon to issue a wanted notice for Barbara Gordon, making the manipulator believe everything is going as they planned. We'll find a way to lure them out."
Natasha nodded and went to manage the task. Soon she returned, and Shiller was still standing there thinking.
"What are you contemplating?" Natasha asked.
"Who is the red-haired woman?"
"Do you really think there is such a person?"
"Yes, she's very likely the behind-the-scenes manipulator. First, she sowed discord between Abidonis and his wife, leading to the subsequent murder case, and then used her appearance to frame Barbara Gordon for all this."
"Remember our previous hypothesis?" Natasha said, "Could it be another universe's Black Widow?"
"Do you think this aligns with your modus operandi?"
Natasha was stumped for a moment, then shook her head and said, "Of course not. I'm an agent, not a politician or conspirator. I really don't think any version of me in any universe would carry out something in such a complex way."
"I don't think so either, so our previous hypothesis might not be accurate. The target on you may not necessarily be because you are from another universe."
"Then what is it because of?"
"Because, like her, you have red hair."
"What?" Natasha was somewhat confused.
"Morbid psychology," Shiller said, "She doesn't want anyone to resemble her, especially when she's weaving a huge conspiracy involving Luther and Wayne. She doesn't allow anyone to be so similar to her."
Natasha opened her mouth, still struggling to understand, and could only say, "Okay, even so, she still hired those non-pro people to kill me."
"Because she looks down on you," Shiller said, "She thinks you're just a headstrong agent who charges ahead without much thought. Put simply, she doesn't consider you worth more effort."
"Sounds like a fantasy tale," Natasha said.
"In the world of perverseness, anything is possible." Shiller removed his gloves, walked to the window, looked at the outside scene, and said, "Whether it's framing Barbara or ordering a hit on you, it proves she dislikes this type of female image."
"In theories of sexual psychology, people often release pheromones towards a certain type of person. This signifies their preferences and choices. Liking a type of person has certain natural reasons, but disliking a type of person is often a rational decision."
"Disliking a certain type of person could be because they've been hurt by such people, leading to a confrontational relationship. But another possibility is that they are too similar. Those extreme individualists and madmen do not allow anyone similar to them to exist in this world."
"Barbara and I are both very much like the behind-the-scenes manipulator," Natasha said. "But we only share red hair in common."
Shiller shook his head and said, "It's not that simple. You don't understand Barbara, nor do I really, but there must be some mental similarities between you two. For example..."
"For example?"
"Idealism," Shiller said. "Independent, strong, never lacking in love."
"Why do I feel the last one is the key point?"
"Because that's exactly what I mean," Shiller said. "It's often those who aren't lacking in love who can cultivate those other traits."
"Do you think the behind-the-scenes manipulator isn't lacking in love either?"
"Quite the opposite. This is the one point where she differs from you two, specifically, she's not as good as you. She desperately wants to see those who love you abandon you, which is why she's fabricated the rumor between you and the President, trying to make Arkham Batman distance from you, and then frame Barbara Gordon, trying to make her a public enemy."
"That's enough," Natasha said. "I have no interest in the perverse psychology of these madmen. Tell me how to catch her."
"Actually, it's quite simple," Shiller said. "How did you and Batman fall out?"
Natasha paused in her action. She said, "Because he invited me to a banquet and I refused... Wait a minute, why must he invite me to the banquet?"
"Did you just realize?" Shiller chuckled and said, "He is the President. Could he really be lacking female companions? Moreover, wouldn't he know you don't like public appearances, that you carry a knife, and that you two were in a connected state at the time?"
"I did wonder why he was acting like a madman that day, obsessively talking about this. Could he have sensed something already?"
"I've already told you, Batman notices things much earlier than you'd imagine. For example, someone trying to instigate between America and Amazon, or the thoughts and psychology of the behind-the-scenes manipulator."
"Wait," Natasha said. "Could it be he's targeting Amazon to go after Wonder Woman? But Wonder Woman isn't red-haired."
"Yes, but she is also brave, confident, and not lacking in love. Although Batman has never responded to her, he has always protected her through his actions."
"Why do I feel that Batman is the key?" Natasha said, propping her head with a finger. "Barbara Gordon is a member of the Batman Family, deeply trusted by Batman; I'm Batman's lover, entrusted with important tasks by him; Wonder Woman is Batman's friend and staunch supporter. Could the behind-the-scenes manipulator be targeting us because she likes Batman?"
"It's hard to interpret this as a simple liking; I would rather call it a morbid infatuation," Shiller said.
"So earlier, when Batman invited me to attend the banquet, was it to use me as bait to lure out this obsessed behind-the-scenes manipulator?"
"That's very likely," Shiller said. "So now, no matter how you look at it, you still have to accompany Mr. President to the banquet. Because only then might the behind-the-scenes manipulator reveal herself in frustration."
"To make her crack, shouldn't we issue a warrant for Barbara instead?" Natasha fully understood. She said, "We should claim Barbara is missing, and everyone is tirelessly searching for her. This way, she will know we haven't given up on Barbara, won't she be even more enraged?"
"No, we can't," Shiller shook his head. "The approach towards you and Barbara is different. Issuing a warrant for Barbara is to show the behind-the-scenes manipulator that we've abandoned her. Because Barbara is now in her hands and has little ability to resist. If we further provoke the behind-the-scenes manipulator, Barbara may be in danger."
"But it's different for you. You're still fine, and your combat skills far exceed Barbara's, even able to go a few rounds with Batman. And when you team up with Batman later, your combined combat prowess is formidable. The behind-the-scenes manipulator, even if driven mad, can't defeat you two, which is why we're using you to provoke her."
"I see," Natasha said. "But if she can't beat us, how would she dare reveal herself?"
"She doesn't know how strong you are," Shiller said. "Even in this world, or in our cosmos, you haven't really fought anyone. The only one who might know your combat level is probably me. How would anyone else know?"
"So, the enraged behind-the-scenes manipulator is more likely to separate you and Batman, then target you when you're alone. And if nothing unexpected happens, she might meet you in person. You can seize the opportunity to take her down."
"It's a possible plan," Natasha said. "After being photographed in scandalous photos, to appear publicly with the President, who knows what kind of a stir it will cause."
"So?"
"So I need to pick a beautiful dress, so that even if they're attacking the air around me, they can't attack my appearance, and they'll praise how well-matched I am with Bruce Wayne, to infuriate the behind-the-scenes manipulator."
With that, Natasha left. But after she left, Shiller slowly furrowed his brows. The rhythmic tapping of his fingertips on the tabletop sounded like raindrops falling from clouds before a storm.