Chapter 305 Three Detectives (9) (Patreon)

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Constantine slowly raised his hands. Even though he knew that the object pressing against his back was just the tip of an umbrella, he remained motionless.

He looked up at the ceiling and attempted to tilt his head further back to get a clear view of the person behind him. Suddenly, the umbrella jabbed his shoulder, causing Constantine to cry out in pain. He turned around to face Schiller.

There was a hint of confusion in his gaze, as if he couldn't understand why Schiller had taken back the umbrella. Schiller, while tidying up the umbrella, said, "The one called Batman and the one called Gordon won't find us here anytime soon. Since there's no one else, we don't need to pretend anymore."

"Tell me, why did you come to Gotham?"

Before Constantine could speak, Schiller reached into his pocket and threw a small bottle of medicine to Constantine. Constantine caught it and brought it close to his eyes, carefully examining the ingredients listed on the bottle. After a brief glance, he smiled and said, "This is good stuff. It seems we're on the same page..."

As he spoke, he unscrewed the bottle cap and eagerly poured a few pills into his mouth. Schiller walked toward a table in the basement as he said, "You don't need to hide the pills in your sleeve. They're not poisonous, just ordinary painkillers."

The two of them approached a pool table in the basement. Constantine pretended to be at ease and said, "I just thought that the upcoming conversation wouldn't be suitable while we're under the influence."

"Then give me back the medicine. It's good stuff, and more importantly..." Schiller glanced at Constantine, implying something, and said, "...it eases the pain."

Constantine, without hesitation, discreetly stashed the small medicine bottle in the inner pocket of his windbreaker and tightly covered it.

"Since you're being so generous, it seems I have no choice but to spill the beans today?"

"But it's quite simple. A mysterious person contacted me and asked me to deliver a package." Constantine pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He handed it to Schiller, who conjured a flame in his hand to light the cigarette before extinguishing it.

Constantine playfully asked, "Who are you contracted with? It's related to fire... Let me guess, a lava demon? Or perhaps a fire elemental?"

"Continue talking," Schiller said, taking a puff of the cigarette and exhaling the smoke.

Constantine couldn't help but think that he didn't consume the medicine Schiller gave him, yet Schiller smoked the cigarette he offered. Constantine felt as though he had already lost before the battle even began.

However, Schiller seemed unfazed. Whatever Constantine had added to the smoke, it had all disappeared into the gray mist within Schiller's body. He would be pleased if hundreds of demonic contracts were mixed in. Power was gladly accepted. Need to settle the score? Go ask Gnar. It's only right and proper for the son to repay the father's debts.

"A few days ago, when I was still in a psychiatric hospital, a voice suddenly appeared in my ear. I thought I was going mad at the time."

"He said he could help me solve a minor problem, but the price was that I had to help him deliver a power to a hapless individual who was trapped."

"Sounds like a good deal, doesn't it? The so-called hapless person is in Gotham, so here I am." ...

"The plan I mentioned earlier about the crazy alcohol is real. I genuinely want to obtain this magical substance. After all, who wouldn't want such an intriguing toy?"

"But I also have another objective, which is to get close to Batman, track his movements, lure him out, and then infiltrate Wayne Manor to rescue the unfortunate soul."

"You know Batman is Bruce Wayne?"

Constantine paused for a moment and asked, "Who else could it be? The moment I saw his chin, I knew it was Bruce. Could he still be an anonymous hero?"

Constantine paused again and said, "Well, even if he wanted to be an anonymous hero, why would he expose his chin?"

"I heard Bruce is a playboy. I can recognize the chin of everyone I've slept with, and those socialites surely can too. Isn't he afraid that the women he's been with would go around shouting that he's Batman?"

"If you had told him this before he started his career, he might have willingly covered his chin."

Constantine touched his own chin and continued, "...I deliberately said some things to catch his attention. During that time, I observed him and figured out his behavior patterns and daily routine."

"I noticed that he rarely leaves Wayne Manor for long periods, which is a problem for me. I need to find a way to lure him out."

"I kidnapped that boy named Dick and successfully lured Batman here. However, just like I did last time, the one here is just an ash clone. The clone is keeping Batman occupied here, while my real self went to Wayne Manor."

"I have to thank you, Professor Schiller. The theory you mentioned earlier inspired me. Although this move is called an ash clone, its purpose is not just cloning. It's more like a teleportation using the concept of 'cloning.'"

"When the ash clone exists, it can transform into the real body at any time, and the real body can also transform into the clone. I can quickly teleport between the real body and the clone."

"After my real self entered Wayne Manor, I encountered a rather strange little girl. She had sharp teeth and incredible strength. I have no idea what kind of creature Batman slept with to have her..."

"But it doesn't matter. I didn't plan on barging in forcefully anyway. Even if I did, I wouldn't know where he's keeping that unlucky guy. I pretended to be stopped and lay on the ground, so when Batman returned, he would take me to the place where he usually imprisons others..."

"As expected, he did exactly that. After successfully delivering the package, I turned the 'me' in Wayne Manor into a clone, while my real self returned here. If you weren't here, I would probably be celebrating by now..."

"We can have a drink now to celebrate your fantastic plan to toy with Batman."

"Aren't you his teacher? Why do you seem somewhat gleeful?"

"You don't understand. Watching Batman is the biggest form of entertainment in our city."

"Then why did you come here?" Constantine asked.

"Of course, because I know you're a complete charlatan, incapable of speaking a single word of truth."...

"When someone asks you, you give them a reasonably believable truth. If the person asking isn't clever, they will be deceived by you. But if they are a bit smarter, you will reveal the truth behind the truth, and that truth is still a lie."

"If people ask you again, and you reveal the truth behind the truth, but it's also a lie. Among the multiple layers of truth, they are all true, but none of them are true."

"You want to say that you only tell the truth and never lie. That's true, but the truth you speak is always reserved. Every word you say is part of the truth, but it's not the whole truth. It's like squeezing toothpaste."

Constantine's hand holding the cigarette was a little stiff. He looked straight ahead while Schiller took a puff of his cigarette without turning his head, and said:

"I know this, that's why I've been keeping an eye on you. That's why I'm here. I want to see how many times you can squeeze the toothpaste on this."

"Which means, in the near future, you will persistently follow me. I was saying..."

Constantine made a dissatisfied expression and said, "Since we're colleagues, why can't we show a little understanding for each other? Seriously, who are you contracted with? We might even be old acquaintances."

"Hold on..." Constantine rubbed his chin with a thoughtful expression and said, "I noticed earlier that your dreams were a bit too real. Could it be that you're contracted with Morpheus?"

"Well, you're really lucky then. Morpheus is different from those simple-minded demons with well-developed limbs in hell. He's a person of taste, and he's beautiful..."

"Do you know, Constantine, when you hide your true intentions in various flowery statements, shifting the topic becomes too stiff, and it's easy to give yourself away."

Constantine coughed twice, just when he was about to inquire further, Schiller suddenly moved. He picked up his umbrella, turned to Constantine, and said, "The person you just tricked has arrived. I'll leave first. Take care of yourself."

"Wait, don't..."

With two "swoosh" sounds, Constantine slowly raised his hands as Batman threw the Batarang. He said, "It was your good professor who told me to do this. This has nothing to do with me, I swear..."

Another fist the size of a sandbag appeared in his field of vision.

Ten minutes later, Constantine was leaning against the corner again. He adjusted his tie with his hands. Batman asked him, "Is the story you mentioned about the witch and the candy true?"

"Ahem, of course, I don't need to lie to you about this part. That's how Laurenna cultivates..."

"The children who have eaten the candy are equivalent to giving their souls to her. Now, Sanchez has turned into a monster. Those children..."

"It's useless. Laurenna has already sold the souls of all the children in her hands to the devil, and it's only a matter of time before the devil devours their souls."

Seeing Constantine's indifferent attitude, Batman couldn't help but punch him again. Constantine tilted his head, leaving a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. He didn't care at all. Still holding the cigarette, he said, "Even if you beat me to death, it won't change anything."...

"In the era when witches were active, they sacrificed thousands of children using this method. Although these children were deceived, they willingly signed the contract. Therefore, the ways they died were either diseases or accidents. Their parents would never associate these events with mysticism."

"If it weren't for Laurenna's grandmother, the most powerful ghost mother in history, who violated the taboos of the mystical realm and exposed everything, people wouldn't even know that such a person existed in this world."

"I know you want to save those children, and I do too. But now it's too late. Laurenna didn't start cooperating with Cooper today; she has been operating here for too long. The number of children who have eaten candy is countless..."

"To which demon did she sell the children's souls?"

Constantine shook his head and said, "Hell is not just Satan, as you think. There are numerous demons there, each with different species and responsibilities. Depending on the abilities Laurenna wanted to utilize, she sold her soul to the corresponding demon. Over the years, no one knows how many abilities she has employed..."

"Of course, even in this manner, she has to pay a price. The demons particularly favor the souls of children conceived by ghost mothers. Hence, every few years, Laurenna must conceive herself and then, at the moment before the child's birth, offer him to the demon with her own hands."

"In the realm of mysticism, this is already considered an excellent method of cultivation. Although pregnancy and childbirth are physically damaging to women, at least she doesn't have to personally endure the torment of demons..."

Batman stared at Constantine. He found it somewhat absurd. Keeping pregnant and sacrificing one's own biological child to the devil is already considered a decent method of cultivation. How much more agonizing could the others be?

"Do you find it incredible? But that's who we are. The world believes we are the holy spirits who control the path of magic, but in reality, we are just prisoners held in the palm of the devil..."

Constantine took the final drag of his cigarette into his lungs, then with a hoarse voice, accompanied by the smoke from the cigarette, echoed in the dim and gloomy basement.

"So, don't think about using magic to resurrect anyone... Batman."

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