Batman's arms began to tremble. Layer upon layer of phantoms appeared before his eyes, and the blue light formed a blizzard before him that chilled him to the bone.
Just then, a soft click sounded beside his ear, yet it struck Batman's heart like a heavy blow.
The monitoring room door opened.
Batman stood frozen in place. Every muscle in his legs was tensed, and his limbs seemed to be trying to force him to turn around, but another voice in his mind told him not to.
Because another ominous premonition kept circling through his mind. He knew this was all a trap arranged by the Joker, and if he walked out through that door now, he would be walking straight into it.
For some reason, Batman no longer felt certain of victory this time, because the other Joker he had seen on the surveillance screen wore Schiller's face.
Batman recalled the dark days when he had first begun his career. What had left the deepest impression on him from that time was not Gotham's crime-ridden alleys, but Schiller's office.
Had the Joker become Schiller, or had Schiller become the Joker?
Batman did not know, but he hoped it was the former. He hoped this was merely one of the Joker's tricks, rather than Schiller truly becoming the Joker.
Because if that were the case, he could not imagine what kind of interrogation awaited him after he left through that door.
Batman took a deep breath. In the end, he turned around and strode out of the room. Before leaving, he glanced at the bat doll lying on the floor.
In the banquet hall, the once lavishly decorated tables and chairs had been scattered aside. The ornate tablecloths had been ripped onto the floor, and the silver candlesticks had shattered