Dollmaker

The Riddler, Edward Nygma, one of Gotham's supervillains. He had no superpowers, only the crimes he devised with his brilliant intellect and those crucial riddles.

He had deduced Batman's true identity, deceived Catwoman, and even ruled Gotham—albeit for a limited time.

But now, he was merely a frustrated little office worker, and an extremely irritating one at that.

At least, no one would be thanking him today.

Miao Mu understood that all too well. After finishing the autopsy, Nygma had used Miao Mu as an example to mock everyone present.

In that instant, Miao Mu had been embarrassed to death, feeling like some other family's perfect child. No one had looked pleased, especially since they still had to take the chopped-up corpse back with them...

Some things could be said, and some things could not. Anyone with half a brain understood that.

But Nygma seemed to be missing a screw. Perhaps he simply despised those people in his heart, viewing them as trash.

He disdained associating with them, let alone maintaining good relations with them. Aside from himself, the genius, everyone else was garbage in his eyes—at most, there was a difference between big garbage and little garbage.

Simply put, his ambitions were sky-high. No one was worthy of standing against him. He was the lone figure at the summit.

"This is the case we are investigating, codenamed: Dollmaker!"

The Arkham Police Department conference room was pitch-black, with only the projector's blue light casting photograph after photograph onto the wall.

Director Weifeitai, seated at the head of the table, covered his mouth with one hand and wore an aloof expression. If the lights had been turned on, everyone would have seen his face was deathly pale, his throat convulsing as he nearly vomited.

The projector displayed grotesque stitched-together monstrosities that could no longer be called human.

Hands had been turned into feet, legs transplanted onto stomachs, facial skin peeled away and sewn back on, two people pieced together into one.

They had been stitched together like toy dolls, but without exception, every one of them was a corpse. As the slides flashed past one after another—

Several officers with weaker stomachs fled the room in the darkness, rushing into the restroom to vomit.

Miao Mu and the others standing at the back did not look much better either. It was like watching a horror movie, though what had happened during the day had raised their tolerance considerably.

Looking at it now, it was only—this much.

"That is the situation. This criminal has committed eleven cases in succession. Nineteen victims have been confirmed so far."

The officer standing by the wall with a pointer spoke as the slide changed again, displaying a map of Gotham.

"We have investigated many locations and narrowed down the area considerably. We can now basically confirm that he is here!"

The black pointer struck a triangular area on the map, and Director Wei Fei's expression worsened.

That was precisely the Arkham District, the most chaotic area in all of Gotham.

"Does Director Wei Fei have anything to say?" Bullock took out a Camel cigarette and tapped it against the conference table.

Ever since the projector had turned on, he had not stopped smoking. The ashtray was filled with cigarette butts he had smoked.

"No. We will cooperate—fully cooperate!"

Wei Fei hurriedly replied. Knowing there was such a psychopath in his district, he would not be able to sleep peacefully at night. Perhaps it was time to consider moving somewhere safer.

Last time, his home had been emptied out without anyone noticing. Now he had run into another freak like this...

"Ahem. Then let me say a few words."

Bullock stood up, lit his cigarette with a lighter, and swept his gaze across the room. There were not many people left.

"This time, the Gotham Police Department will spare no effort. Captain James Gordon was originally in charge of this case, but because of the Red Hood Heist, he cannot spare the time for it right now, so I will be taking over."

"I only have one demand: make this psychopathic bastard completely finished!" Bullock clenched his fist and slammed it heavily onto the conference table. That stern gaze of his was far more impressive than his slovenly appearance.

"Um, I have a question!"

Miao Mu raised his hand. "Although the codename is Dollmaker, do we have any information or specific details about the suspect?"

"No!"

Bullock answered directly and decisively, as though he had just said something extraordinarily impressive.

"..."

"I've only been on this case for a few days, so I don't know the specifics. But some files will be delivered tonight."

Bullock turned to Director Wei Fei. "We need to establish a command center here, and we also need manpower. I hope we can count on your support."

"No problem. Pick whoever you want."

Wei Fei agreed without hesitation. As long as Bullock did not pick him, anything was fine. As for the credit—

As long as this case was solved in the Arkham District, his name would certainly be on the merit list. Even if it was not solved, he would still get credit for his hard work.

"Good..." Bullock turned toward the conference room. There were not many people left, and some were only barely holding themselves together.

"Those few can come with me. We'll set up an office first." Bullock pointed at Miao Mu and the others.

Among a group of people struggling not to vomit, a few who looked perfectly normal and showed no fear at all were very conspicuous.

The lights came on, and the conference room door opened.

Miao Mu and the others walked out. Jerry clutched his stomach and smacked his lips. "Mumu, I'm hungry..."

The moment he mentioned food, the expressions of the others immediately changed. That nauseating feeling returned.

"Mr. Nygma, would you like to join us for dinner? I know a good Mexican restaurant."

Miao Mu jogged a few steps to catch up with Nygma ahead of him and warmly invited him. Nygma was a little surprised, because few people ever invited him to dinner. He stopped and considered it.

"What should a three-legged cow be called?"

Nygma posed another riddle, looking at Miao Mu expectantly. Clearly, if he answered correctly, he could come to dinner.

"A cow? Then steak! We'll eat one of its legs!"

Miao Mu grinned and answered boldly. Liu Bei had made three visits to the thatched cottage; if he could win over the Riddler—

Forget a cow—even if Nygma wanted to eat a mermaid, Miao Mu would head to Adams Port, find a boat, and catch one.

Someone capable of matching wits with Batman through sheer intelligence was a rarity even in Gotham. If he let that chance slip away, Miao Mu would slap himself twice first.

"Interesting. Let me make this clear first: if the steak is bad, I'll flip the table." Nygma smiled and pushed up his glasses.

"If the steak is bad, I'll flip the table before you do. I definitely won't disappoint you."

The smile on Miao Mu's face grew wider as he turned and called to Jerry and the others, "Come along. My treat!"

Aside from Jerry, the others exchanged looks, clearly hesitant. They knew exactly what those two had done during the day, but after Bullock said one thing, everyone went.

"If you're going to eat, you don't mind bringing me along, do you?"

Bullock, cigarette dangling from his mouth and belly protruding, stepped out of the conference room and joined the group as they followed Miao Mu to dinner.