Batman's Kidney Crisis

The serious psychological counseling session Schiller was conducting with Gordon came to an abrupt end the moment Bruce pushed the door open.

The three of them stared at each other. Schiller asked, "Hmm, Mr. Wayne, didn't I say your psychological counseling slot for this week was already taken? Why didn't you call ahead to ask if the Psychological Counseling Room had an appointment available?"

Bruce was a bit embarrassed too. He really hadn't expected Gordon to be here. He had only come to deliver an invitation to Schiller. Bruce knew his identity in Gordon's eyes had likely been exposed, but he also knew that Gordon hadn't come looking for him—hadn't come to Wayne Manor to find Bruce—which meant he didn't actually trust Batman.

This left Bruce somewhat disheartened, because he knew Gordon was genuinely a good cop, and now this lone beacon of integrity in the Gotham Police Department didn't trust him, even harbored some inexplicable hostility toward him. Bruce knew Batman had to do more, had to do something truly useful, to change that perception.

Schiller said, "It seems God also wants us to form an alliance. Since we're all here, why don't we speak openly and honestly?"

"We all know what happened that night. I know none of us fully trusts the other two, but that's fine. We can still temporarily unite for a common goal—like putting my colleague, Dr. Jonathan, the one who made the Fear Gas, behind bars."

Gordon knew he had nothing left to hide. If he couldn't resolve this, and his superiors and the Police Chief found out he was secretly investigating someone trying to hire Jonathan, he'd be dead without a burial. Whether it was Schiller or Bruce, Gordon could only hope they were at least neutral parties—even if they couldn't help him, they might at least offer advice.

Gordon frowned and said, "The situation is worse than you can imagine. Victor... uh, the current Police Chief, was once charged with trafficking high-concentration sedatives, but he wasn't convicted. Instead, he climbed the ranks. Some speculate Sal is behind him, but no one has proof. My direct superior, Lantolos—I've seen him coming and going from the Red Crow Gang's club. But these old cops are too cunning; no one can catch them in the act."

Schiller sighed. He knew Gordon was still sparing the Gotham Police Department some dignity. The GCPD, from top to bottom, was almost entirely made up of gang lackeys. Even the kindest cop was just someone who took the mob's money and did a little less.

Schiller asked, "Do you know Harvey? Harvey Bullock?"

Gordon frowned in thought and said, "You mean that fat, chain-smoking drunk from Logistics? What about him? You know him?"

Harvey Bullock was depicted in some Batman comics as a sloppy, chain-smoking, drunk fat man, so Gordon wasn't wrong. But in most comic settings, he was a good cop disguised as a bad one—seemingly in cahoots with the gangs, but secretly helping Gordon. In one comic, he even teamed up with Gordon to defeat the Joker without Batman's involvement.

Schiller said, "You know I've worked with police in several cities. I heard he took classes at the Star City Police Academy. An old cop from Metropolis once mentioned him to me. He said Harvey really wanted to be a good cop, but he suffered retaliation for it. So he had no choice but to disguise himself with a slovenly appearance and even cozy up to the gangs to find protection."

"Do you think he's trustworthy?" Gordon asked.

Bruce interjected, "You can't keep fighting alone in the Gotham Police Department. If you don't have a single ally there, you'll never take down your superiors or the Police Chief, let alone the gangs behind them."

"I think you should try reaching out to Harvey, but don't tell him everything. I believe he's been watching this case too. If he's truly trustworthy, he might secretly offer you some help. The two of you can work one in the open and one in the shadows—at the very least, you can throw plenty of obstacles in your superiors' way."

Gordon said, "I'll go ask him."

Bruce said, "As for your Police Chief, I'll investigate him. Of course, in that other identity you know about."

Bruce had never planned to hide it from Gordon, because he knew that to get help from a cop in the department, keeping his identity secret was nearly impossible.

"And the gangs..." Schiller said. "Whether it's the Sal you mentioned or the Red Crow Gang, I can go take a look."

Both of them stared at Schiller. Gordon hesitated and said, "Professor, I know you've traveled through many cities, but I have to warn you—Gotham's gangs are different from all others. They're vicious beasts, utterly disregarding law and morality, a pack of ruthless jackals..."

"Yes, that's exactly why I need to go now. You see, if I drag this out past two months, Gotham University will be holding final exams, and I won't have this much time then."

Schiller glanced at Bruce and added, "After all, many students here would rather go party at a nightclub while it's still light out than put a little more effort into their studies."

Bruce rubbed his nose awkwardly. Gordon looked him up and down and said, "I'm not much older than you, but I still have to warn you—if you really want to keep being that tight-suited weirdo, you'd better rein in your personal life. Half the beauties in Gotham have been in your bed. Do you think none of them might be Black Widows?"

Bruce said dismissively, "Alright, I'll be careful. Thanks for the advice."

Bruce's "playboy reputation" was famous throughout Gotham. It had to be admitted that even at 18, Bruce was stunningly handsome. Though he didn't yet have that weathered, world-weary air, his good looks alone could capture countless hearts. Gotham's tabloids ran gossip about him almost daily, and the photos of Bruce's female companions were never the same twice.

Schiller wasn't too worried about him being assassinated by a gangster's mistress. He was more worried about Bruce's kidneys. He figured even Batman, if he kept this up, would eventually need some kidney tonic.

Unfortunately, as soon as Bruce returned to Wayne Manor, his old butler Alfred said to him, "I took the liberty of canceling your date tonight, because your last physical exam results were far from ideal..."

Bruce froze, recalling the odd looks Gordon and Schiller had given him earlier that day. He coughed awkwardly and said, "Cancel all my evening dates for this month."

Alfred paused, then his expression gradually turned strange. He said, "Master Bruce, you invited Miss Christine to dinner two months ago. Are you sure you want to cancel that invitation too?"

Bruce waved his hand and said, "Of course. I don't have time to date them right now anyway."

Alfred's expression grew even stranger. He hesitated and said, "If there have been any changes in your sexual orientation, I hope you'll inform your loyal butler as soon as possible..."

Bruce covered his forehead and said, "I'm going out to investigate things these nights... Fine, don't cancel Miss Christine's date. She really is sexy and charming."

After Alfred left, Bruce found his phone ringing. The caller was Schiller.

He picked up. Schiller said, "You have a date with Christine, the captain of the Nightingale Football Team Cheerleading Squad?"

Bruce was startled. Did Schiller have telepathy?

But he quickly realized he was overthinking it. Schiller said, "She was bragging to her friends about hooking Little Wayne, but she went missing two days after saying that. Her friends reported it to the school. Anna from HR asked me to contact you..."

"I haven't dated her yet," Bruce said. "Our date is scheduled for two weeks from now. You know, my... schedule is pretty full."

"So her disappearance has nothing to do with you? That's strange."

Schiller said, "HR told me Christine knew she was beautiful, so she was very cautious. She never left the school unless she had to. She's about to graduate, and now she's missing."

Bruce grew alert. He said, "Could it be related to Jonathan's case? Was she close to Jonathan?"

"Of course not. A girl like that wouldn't be close to Jonathan. She's a pretty socialite, and Jonathan stays cooped up in his office all day."

Schiller said, "Alright, Bruce. You've got a new job now. Find your future date as soon as possible—preferably before your scheduled date."

"But I..."

"The Nightingale team is Gotham University's flagship. Losing their cheerleading captain hit them hard. The National League Playoffs start in two weeks. If you don't find her, I'll fail you."

"Hey, Professor, you can't... Hello? Hello?"

Bruce put down the phone helplessly, then called the school himself. He learned that Christine was well-liked in the cheerleading squad. Many girls had gone to the school demanding answers. Without their captain, they couldn't rehearse their routines, which upset the football players too.

Right when Jonathan was arrested, the whole school was scrambling to manage the public relations fallout. Everyone was busy, so the new professor, Schiller, got roped into it.

And then Batman got roped in by Schiller.

Bruce started thinking. A pretty girl goes missing in Gotham—the outcome was almost a foregone conclusion. But from what Schiller said, this Miss Christine was very cautious and rarely left the school. She had disappeared on the grounds of Gotham University.

It was hard not to suspect a connection to Jonathan's case.

Whether it was one sheep to herd or two, Bruce couldn't care less about Schiller's utterly unthreatening threats—when had Bruce ever worried about failing a course? Aside from psychology class, which he'd attend out of respect for Schiller, his other courses were spent either bar-hopping or goofing off.

Thinking of this, Bruce recalled something Schiller had just said—Christine had mentioned to others that she was about to go on a date with him? Could this be related to her disappearance?