บท 1499: Chapter 1014: The Scarecrow's Bad Luck (Part 2)_1
Jonathan was choked up again, standing frozen on the spot. The reality of his situation told him Batman was telling the truth. But there was another narrative in his head, which was his original plan.
Every villain in Gotham, especially those high IQ criminals led by the Joker, Scarecrow, Two-Face, and Riddler, are very good at creating a dilemma to break Batman's defenses.
Simply put, it's the trolley dilemma. Which would you choose? One or two? Rich or poor? Male or female? Old or young?
Of course, there is no right answer to these questions. No matter what you choose, it's wrong. Or rather, no matter which Batman chooses, these villains have their own twisted logic to point out Batman's mistakes.
This is why many comic readers find that Batman always seems a little powerless and acts somewhat rudely when faced with such choices. The reason is that Batman already knows that from the beginning to the end it is a trap, choosing either is meaningless.
This is essentially a one-sided interrogation, not a duel. And this time, Jonathan had planned it this way too.
He knew Batman would eventually find out the water source of Gotham had been poisoned and with Batman's abilities, would eventually trace back to him. So, he is waiting for Batman here, ready to begin the feast of interrogation.
The mass disappearance in Morson district had deeply affected Batman, providing his first experience of the brutal and inhumane serial killers. Jonathan knew that it must have made a deep impression on Batman. Hence, his first step was to provoke Batman and let him get angry.
If it were the old Batman, he would definitely get angry upon hearing Jonathan's proud and self-satisfied speech, even if he does not show it, his anger would surely build within him.
Then, Jonathan would reveal the truth about the toxic Gotham Rainwater to Batman. No matter whether Batman knew the truth or not, Jonathan had to emphasize it, because only then would the real performance begin.
Because of the previously accumulated anger, when Jonathan provoked Batman and asked him to arrest him, Batman was very likely to attack him violently. This fit perfectly with Jonathan's psychological profile of Batman.
Even against the long-plotting Batman, a criminal as arrogant as Jonathan would be gotten away with lightly if only his legs got broken.
Jonathan was looking forward to Batman's beating, although he was not a masochist like the Joker nor possessed any extraordinary healing power. For now, Scarecrow was just an ordinary university professor, without any superpowers.
When Batman rushed up and beat him half to death, Jonathan would tell Batman the truth. It wasn't poison but antidote. It wasn't destroying Gotham, but saving it.
Perhaps psychologists have something in common - they're excellent at exploiting human emotional weaknesses. If Jonathan had to give a good name for his plan, he would certainly call it 'Guilt is a Good Weapon'.
The one Batman thought to be a criminal and poisoner, was actually a vigilante and savior like him. There was no difference in their actions, but, in terms of results, what Jonathan did was more effective.
Scarecrow is indeed a genius. The psychedelic drugs he developed could not only combat the toxins in human bodies caused by contaminated rainwater but also establish permanent antibodies for most people.
As long as the toxins in the rainwater do not mutate, after the event of citizens going mad, most Gothaimites would become immune to the toxin. Also, this immunity would be written into their genes and passed down forever.
If the toxins in the rainwater were changed, Scarecrow could also use the same principle to develop a corresponding antidote and build up immunity again. Then it would be an endless cycle.
On this basis, Jonathan knew that if Batman hurt him badly, he may not necessarily feel guilty. After all, the citizens who become test subjects are innocent, Jonathan is indeed a killer and deserving of punishment.
However, Batman would certainly suffer agony, because to save Gotham, he must save Jonathan to counter the potential mutated toxins. That is, he must personally save the criminal he hated the most, and he must save him as soon as possible. One can call it 'urgency'.
A self-proclaimed savior found he did not do as much or as well as a criminal.
To achieve that lofty goal, Batman had to align with the criminal. He had to admit the criminal he had beaten half to death into the hospital, and pay for his treatment. All of this was because of his impulsiveness and recklessness.
The mental torment Batman goes through is pure music to Jonathan's ears.
But it didn't go as he had expected at all.
Batman seemed to change from a tiger to a domestic cat in an instant. From the time he entered to when he sat down and began to negotiate, he didn't raise his fists. He was calmer than Jonathan.
Jonathan even felt a kind of formulaic coping strategy from Batman, as though he had rehearsed this scene countless times, or that he had indeed experienced this scene countless times.
Batman was as proficient as the repeat performance of a farmer shucking corn, the confidence that comes from repetitive movements over the years mingled with the boredom and weariness shown in his expressions.
Jonathan even thought some of Batman's words were like muscle memory, there was no hesitation, nor was there any process of thinking. He spoke straight away, hurrying Jonathan to the next phase, even more anxious than the wedding host.
Jonathan had no idea what was happening. His carefully prepared stage and script, the superb acting skills he had practiced in advance, were all in vain. Batman kept expressing with all his gestures and looks, he was already tired of this drama.
Truthfully, Jonathan's performance was consistent in this spectacle, which stands out among the villains in Gotham as being relatively distinct and flawlessly executed.
Firstly, he took advantage of his professional skills as a chemist, creating a chronic toxin that he slipped into Gotham's water supply. This allowed the Gotham citizens, over a prolonged period, to accumulate enough medication in their systems.
After an abrupt onset, the toxin matched that of the rainwater, creating chaos typically seen in comic book climaxes. He then lured Batman into his residence for a profound conversation commonly found at the end of comic books.
Ideally, the next scene would've been Batman standing on the rooftop of a skyscraper, watching a departing ambulance, the last frame focusing on Batman's face — a mask of agony and deep contemplation...And then the comic would end.
However, things obviously didn't go according to plan. Schiller has caught Batman off guard too many times. Now, Schiller has fallen into the same trap and, in doing so, involved Jonathan, leading to an even bigger surprise.
Jonathan's designs were good and his performance was consistent. If there were anything to criticize, it would be that his build-up was too long—it was late.
Joker Schiller, and Joker Jack, the combination of the sleeping dragon and the rising phoenix, have double-teamed Batman for four long years. Added to the mix, Arrogant Schiller's personal vendetta thwarted any instruction. Batman struggled in 'Hell Difficulty' for four whole years. Every time there was trouble, Schiller, Joker Schiller, and Joker Jack would sequentially appear.
Even in his later years, Batman at most would only face multiple Jokers over a period, most of the time, he's playing with just one Joker.
However, Batman in this world is different. At least two Jokers exist concurrently. Not only do they peacefully coexist, but they also cooperate and complement each other's abilities.
Joker Schiller excels at hiding behind the scenes, planning major events and leaving gaps for Joker Jack to steal the show. Joker Jack is adept at face-to-face confrontations, providing Batman with one brilliant performance after another.
As for Arrogant Schiller, he would always add fuel to the fire. He would insult Batman before the event started, chide him in the middle, and ridicule him at the end. When there was a rest period between events, he would hound Batman for his thesis. If Batman refused, he would trash-talk him some more.
So to this day, Batman still believes that Joker Schiller and Joker Jack's partnership is only to hinder his thesis submission.
Therefore, even if Batman had not experienced the baptism of iron and blood in hell and developed the brusque and decisive temperament of a soldier, Jonathan's performance would still be hard for him to appreciate.
Journeying through vast oceans pales in comparison to Jonathan, who can't even be considered a charm. Pure Element not only remains alive, but its existence continues to grow.
Looking at the self-destructive Jonathan, Batman seemed to lose patience. He spoke up:
"Many people have said that I'm a lunatic. You've said it, Schiller has said it, and Jack has said it."
"Yesterday, I went to Arkham Mental Hospital with my prescription and got medication to relieve symptoms of anxiety and OCD. You should know what it is."
"After medicating, I felt much better, and then I realized that you guys are more abnormal than me. It's true for you, for Schiller, and for Jack."
"You always pay too much attention to me, as if my reaction can determine the future direction of your lives."
"When I catch you and throw you in prison, you feel no regret, no guilt because I am the one who threw you in."
"Because this proves that I am paying attention to you. My attention, in fact, fills you with joy. This excitement overshadows anger, failure, and guilt. This has become a kind of reward."
Batman shook his head and said, "Although it might be a bit late, I still suggest you take some medication. I've tried it, and the treatment effect is quite good; at least alleviates my hyperactive insomnia."
Jonathan stood completely still, wide-eyed, his body hunched over, fixing Yao with an unblinking look.
However, Batman just watched him with those blue eyes and said, "If it's true what you said, that the hallucinogens you injected into the system can nullify the toxins in the rainwater, then you are indeed doing a good thing."
Jonathan suddenly snapped back to reality. In a matter of seconds, his eyes welled with tears. He stared at Batman, strangling with his neck, and backed away while yelling, "No! No! Shut up! Just shut up!"
However, Batman continued to talk to himself, "The citizens of Gotham can't thank you now, but I'm also a Gothamite...So...thank you."
It was ten minutes later, when Gordon rushed in, only to find an unconscious Jonathan on the floor. He looked in surprise at Batman and said "Your mastery in knocking someone out is getting better and better. There isn't even any sign of struggle here. There was also no harm done to his head and neck. Impressive skills, Batman."
"It wasn't me who knocked him out, he must've passed out from anxiety". Batman stayed where he was, staring at Jonathan collapsed on the ground, then murmured.
"Also, I think I know why Schiller isn't waking up."
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