On the commercial street not far from the hospital in Old Town, a shadow black as ink was evenly matched in a fight with a red-haired woman. Meanwhile, Shiller, dressed in a suit, sat on the second floor of a café, sipping coffee and watching "Batman" and Barbara battle from one end of the street to the other under the morning sun.
Of course, Shiller could recognize that the current Batman on the street was Elliot, and he could tell from his somewhat chaotic mental state that someone had tampered with his mind. He didn't need to look closely to know it was definitely the doing of the Mad Laugh. No one else could concoct something so nauseating.
"A complete mess," Arrogant in the Tower of Thought said disdainfully as he looked at the chaotic colorful lines on the screen, "My uncanny valley effect is about to be triggered. I suspect Mad Laugh is just trying to disgust me."
"Very likely," Greed nodded, "Batman wouldn't care if someone imitated his appearance, but the Joker might be fuming."
"The fact that the Primary Universe Batman hasn't appeared means he probably realizes the Joker would be thoroughly disgusted and knows that the Joker is sure to jump out and get rid of this impostor," the agent shook his head, "Perhaps, he even wants to use him to catch another fish."
Arrogant turned to look at him. The agent continued, "We all know that Bruce Wayne in this universe isn't dead and has wrapped himself up in a bunch of bandages, turning into the Silent Batman. But the Primary Universe Batman doesn't know these matters. He might also want to use this fake Batman to draw out the local Bruce Wayne."
"Why would he think a fake could draw Bruce out?"
"Do you think Batman of this universe received an invitation to the Battleworld?"
The others were stunned. They indeed hadn't considered this extrajudicial factor. Although not all Batmans were invited to the Battleworld, a large portion of them were covered, including Batman from the dark universe.
"The Broken Bat didn't receive it because in that state, he can't receive anything, so it's normal he didn't go to Battleworld. But Bruce in this universe, having all his limbs intact, might have benefactors even if he's locked in Arkham Asylum, and it's possible he received an invitation."
"So considering the Battleworld factor, the Primary Universe Batman might think that the other party has already been to the Battleworld, and he has even met him, just that he hasn't matched the identity yet and doesn't know exactly who it is."
"Since he's already been to the Battleworld, he must have seen the traditional Batman. So when he sees Elliot on TV, who has the appearance of the traditional Batman, he might think he's a visitor from another universe and proactively seeks to connect with him."
"But couldn't the local Bruce recognize that this is a fake?" Greed questioned.
"The world is vast, with all sorts of wonders," the agent said, "Every universe's Batman is somewhat different. It's normal for some of them to be not so competent yet playful."
Arrogant began to ponder. The logic sounded a bit convoluted, but it's actually not that complicated. Simply put, Batman thinks the Bruce in this universe also received an invitation to Battleworld, has already logged into Battleworld, and even mingled into Batman's base.
If the other party knows that there are Batmans in the Multiverse, has some idea of what the traditional Batman looks like, and understands how Battleworld operates, then when seeing this imposter on TV, they would think another universe's Batman has arrived.
For the local universe, foreign visitors are quite dangerous. Even if they have no ill intentions, they might inadvertently disrupt the existing order. Most Batmen will keep a close eye on these dangerous elements, and the Batman of this universe is no exception.
So when he sees someone with the traditional Batman image appearing on television, he might also go to make contact with the person.
Of course, a genuine Primary Universe Batman appearing on television might also draw the other party out. But since the Primary Universe Batman doesn't know which Batman the Batman of this universe is, he can't pair the person with the universe and approaching him rashly isn't wise.
If there's another madman coming over, hellbent on taking him out without understanding the situation, and they're like the former Dark Knights members with some special skills, it would be a big problem. Batman wouldn't take that risk.
Now, with Elliot impersonating him, they can use this imposter to draw out the other, turning waste into something valuable.
"Watch closely," the agent said, "Before the local Silent Batman makes an appearance, the Primary Universe Batman will not operate under the identity of Batman. But before that, Elliot still has to get past the Joker."
Just as he finished speaking, an enraged figure appeared at the street corner, none other than the Main Universe's Joker.
Earlier, hearing Batman's instructions, he ran inside the hospital. After the Mad Laugh's appearance, it conveniently led Shiller away, so naturally, he had nothing to do. With just his arm reattached, Jason couldn't do much to him. He happily sauntered out.
While contemplating another encounter with the Primary Universe Batman, he saw the imposter on television news. This time it truly was like seeing a ghost.
As soon as the Main Universe's Joker saw this impostor, it was as if he saw a counterfeit, almost making him sick to his stomach.
The Joker's mental state was never particularly stable to begin with. This provocation triggered him into another episode. He rushed into the restaurant's kitchen where the television was located and grabbed a bone chopper. First, he stabbed the TV into bits, then intended to kill indiscriminately.
Luckily, the restaurant had just opened, with not many people around. Those who roamed Old Town were all savvy folks. Seeing a madman rush in, they scattered and ran outside.
Coincidentally, the street where Elliot was located was not far from the hospital. The Joker, now in a frenzy, chased people onto this street and immediately spotted the nauseating culprit.
He charged with the knife at unimaginable speed, even managing to knock Elliot away despite his much slender frame, and stabbed a knife straight into Elliot's chest.
Elliot, barely regaining his senses, saw a pale-faced madman with a blood-rimmed mouth, waving a shiny kitchen knife high before stabbing down fiercely.
Instinctively, he reached for the Joker's wrist and pulled him to the side. The Joker, thrown over, was relentless and lunged again, biting into Elliot's neck.
Elliot swung his left fist, sending him flying, but the madman acted as if nothing happened and charged again. This time, the knife slashed Elliot's left arm, leaving a long gash, though Elliot managed to break the Joker's collarbone.
Elliot, tossing the Joker aside once more, assumed he wouldn't get back up, but the madman didn't even pause for seconds. He came at him again, waving the knife, exchanging injury for injury, entirely disregarding his life.
Shiller observed the scene below from the street. The Joker's combat skills weren't impressive; to be precise, he wasn't an Academy School type. He barely used any recognizable combat skills. Whether with fists or weapons, he was more about wild, chaotic attacks.
When fighting, the Joker would drag his opponent into a chaotic brawl and use his extensive Turtle Fist experience to defeat them.
But no one could deny that this tactic worked. Even against the Primary Universe Batman, it was effective, let alone this impostor.
The reason was that most people, in a state of irrational frenzy and excitement, could partially lift muscle constraints, increasing their strength and sharpening their reflexes. When adrenaline surged, they could even ignore pain, transforming into terrifying upright apes.
Moreover, the Joker had an extraordinary recovery ability. The collarbone Elliot first broke had mostly healed by the third punch; the rib broken on the third punch had healed by the time the fifth punch hit the stomach.
The recovery ability brought by the Dionysus Factor was essentially limitless, but the opponent's physical strength was not. Even someone as strong as the Primary Universe Batman couldn't engage in a war of attrition with the Joker. Without lethal force, one had to quickly subdue him or simply not engage.
The reason Joker wouldn't fight Shiller was equally simple—Shiller used lethal force exclusively.
Elliot wanted to use lethal force too, but he missed the best opportunity, having been cornered by the Joker, without a gun or knife on him. Even with a dart in hand, its small size meant he couldn't kill unless he cut the throat precisely.
Moreover, he suffered from inexperience. He had never fought an enemy like the Joker before. No Batman from any cosmos had faced the Joker in their debut battle; Elliot was breaking records.
Initially, he could suppress the Joker with his body type and strength, but as the Joker's tactic of exchanging injury for injury took effect, Elliot accumulated more wounds: a stab in the lung, a slash on the arm, a stab in the waist, and half an ear shaved off. With all wounds bleeding, he soon couldn't hold on.
Realizing he might die under this madman's knife, he abandoned the lone hero act, urgently calling in backup, while staggering towards the nearest security robot.
This turn of events wasn't what the Behind-the-scenes Manipulator Mad Laugh wanted. He sent Elliot to be Batman to draw attention so he could scheme secretly. Although he attracted the Joker, the others hadn't even shown. If Elliot faltered now, all the Mad Laugh's efforts would be in vain.
So half his body emerged from an alley at the street corner, gesturing for Elliot to come over. Seeing someone to back him up, Elliot immediately ran over.
Elliot feared the Joker, but Mad Laugh didn't. He swung an iron chain and sent the Joker flying, then sent Elliot to meet with the arriving security forces and continue suppressing the Old Town revolt. He didn't believe the Primary Universe Batman wouldn't show up.
But he forgot that by aiding Elliot, he had exposed himself. The figure that had been seated by the window on the second floor of the café down the commercial street had disappeared, leaving only an empty cup on the table.
Laughing as he turned from the alley, he suddenly realized the morning light spilling into the alley had been blocked by a shadow. He looked up to see a figure standing by the open-air railing above, looking down at him with the elegance of a gentleman and eyes venomous as a snake.