"I went to visit his house. Bruce told me that he is often too busy and no one is at home. Consequently, Dick may feel alone. I want to keep Dick company. Also, I've heard that Butler Alfred is quite the gun expert. I'd like to learn some of these skills from him."
"What's wrong with Dick?" Shiller asked not in suspicion of Jason's decision, but out of natural concern. To his surprise, Jason responded solemnly, "I think he might be going through his rebellion phase."
"He has been investigating the case of his grandfather, but he has not made any significant progress. He was assisting Batman in his investigations, but Batman has been too busy creating antidotes and rarely goes out to investigate cases now..."
"He neither has a background in chemistry nor mechanical engineering, thus he can't make a meaningful contribution. Even Aisha has started going to kindergarten. Dick might feel ignored and unappreciated. As a result, he spends the nights walking the rooftops of Gotham."
"Once, he was found by Selina. Selina told Bruce about this, who felt that what Dick was doing was dangerous. For this reason, he wants me to keep an eye on Dick."
Jason continued somewhat helplessly: "Dick tries to help everyone. If he can't, he gets anxious. He wants particularly to be helpful to Batman. He seeks a justification that allows him to enjoy his life without guilt."
"It seems that he is indeed going through his rebellion phase." Shiller concluded, "Or, to be more precise, he is in his emotionally sensitive phase of growth. Rebellion is just one form of manifestation."
"Have his biological parents visited him?" Shiller asked, not forgetting that Dick's parents were alive and lived peacefully in Brude Haven.
Jason shook his head saying, "Dick's grandfather's case remains unsolved casting a shadow over them. He doesn't want his parents to appear too much in public. They might attract the attention of possible enemies."
"When are you planning to move over?" Shiller asked.
"Well, Professor, I know you've never approved of me being too close to Batman. I also realize that he's got plenty of trouble in his life already and that too many people are watching his every move." Jason's face dons an expression expressing a level of introspection and contemplation seemingly beyond his years.
Then, he looked up at Shiller and asked: "Would it upset you if I moved?"
Shiller shook his head and looked at him, saying: "If you want to save Gotham, you have to follow his pace. I can teach some theoretical skills, but I am not interested, nor am I capable of saving Gotham."
"Then what do you want to do?" Jason's eyes sparkled with a peculiar glow, a pure curiosity that can only be seen in a child's eyes.
"Me?" Shiller chuckled and said, "I might want to save the world."
After Jason left, Shiller heaved a long sigh of relief. However, soon after, he rested one hand on the railing and squinted, expressing an air of boredom, seemingly uncertain of what to do next.
Suddenly, his gaze drifted through the glass partition wall and landed on the telephone line he had just cut. After a moment of contemplation, Shiller called a nurse and pointed at the phone: "Could you find a repairman to reconnect the telephone line for me?"
Suddenly, he paused, his eyes darted to one side, then he told the nurse, "Never mind... Just hide the telephone line in the cabinet. Please don't let Mrs. Miller find out about it. I need to go to check on a patient's ward upstairs."
After finishing his sentence, the corners of Shiller's mouth lifted slightly. He sidestepped the nurse and left with swift strides. As he watched Shiller leave quickly, the nurse shook her head in disbelief and went to tidy up the telephone line.
When Shiller once again pushed open the door to Jonathan's hospital room, Jonathan was making his bed. Jonathan looked him up and down, but before he could speak, Shiller said: "I will not teach this semester so I will have plenty of free time. I just found something interesting, would you like to see it?"
"I don't have as much free time as you." Jonathan paused for a moment and then continued making his bed. Shiller walked over to the chair next to the table in the middle of the room, sat down, and turned his head to look at Jonathan: "Are you really not interested?"
Two minutes later, both of them were sitting on either side of the table, staring intently at the phone in the center.
Shiller leaned forward and said: "He's just found my office and has connected the internal phone line. I've cut off that phone line. By my estimates, he should call again shortly."
Jonathan pressed his lips together and said: "Trying to create a pervasive sense of surveillance? People still use such an old-school trick? Was this strategy devised by those bumpkins from Metropolis?"
"Hush." Shiller made a sign indicating silence. The two continued to stare at the phone and approximately 30 seconds later, the harsh ringing of the phone broke the silence.
Shiller waited for five rings, then picked up the telephone and said to the other end: "Hello, relative of the patient, I am Doctor Shiller doing my rounds here. Would you like the patient to answer the call?"
After saying this, Shiller placed the receiver in the middle of the table. He and Jonathan together bent over to listen to a voice on the phone feigning depth.
"Hello, Professor Shiller, it's me. Just now, I couldn't get through to your office's telephone, so I had to try reaching you here. Sorry to disturb your rounds."
Jonathan immediately made a gesture to Shiller, signaling him to let Jonathan handle it. Shiller gave him an "OK" gesture. Jonathan picked up the receiver and said in a tone resembling a recitative:
"Marilyn! Are you okay? I've been missing you terribly. I really never thought our families would be opposing our marriage this much! Every day I spend over here, I've been tormented by longing for you!"
"My God! Mr. Klein! Please calm down. I know hearing your fiancée's voice again must be upsetting. Take a deep breath now!"
"What are you talking about?" The voice on the other side of the line revealed a hint of confusion.
"Sorry, Marilyn! Don't cry! I know you miss me just as much too! Even though we are miles apart, we can confide in each other under the moonlight. My dearest, please, you must never forget me-"
"I'm sorry, the relative of a patient; the patient is too emotionally stirred right now! I'm sorry to have interrupted your exchange of loving sentiments, but I must hang up now."
"Lastly, I want to say that your fiancé really loves you very much, goodbye, Miss Marilyn!"
With an abrupt "click", the call ended. Immediately after, loud laughter followed in the hospital room, innocent and joyous like that of little children.
In some mysterious room, a figure stood frozen, listening to the dial tone from the other end of the line. He stood still in a daze, a large question mark manifested above his head.