Gordon looked back at Harley, puzzled by her intense reaction. Logically, she shouldn't know who Shiller was.
Shiller gave Harley a smile, but it did nothing to relax her. Standing behind Gordon, she kept her eyes trained on Shiller, appearing very alert. Shiller turned to Gordon with a helpless expression and said, "It seems she doesn't like me much. You'll have to ask her."
Gordon turned around, bent down again and looked into Harley's eyes, asking, "You mentioned the murderer was wearing a mask. What kind of mask was it?"
Harley shook her head vigorously, remaining silent. At this moment, the head nurse came over and said, "Regardless, she's still a child. After sustaining such a significant shock, she shouldn't remain here for questioning. She should take a hot bath and get some rest."
Gordon sighed lightly, not wanting to put too much pressure on Harley. He turned to the head nurse and said, "Of course, I understand, ma'am. However, if we don't investigate this matter as soon as possible, the hospital will become even more chaotic."
"If Miss Quinzel provides any clues later, you must inform me immediately." Having said that, Gordon stepped back, allowing two other nurses to escort Harley away.
Bruce stepped forward, asking Shiller about hospital rules and doctors' habits, but didn't glean much information. The psychiatrists were unique in that they didn't actively participate in the regular operations of the hospital and their habits were different from other doctors'. After a few questions, Bruce realized that there was no need to bring Shiller over today.
Now, he had a clear understanding of the serial killer's pattern. This case, if he had to evaluate it, could be described as "skilful, but not overly so".
An experienced officer like Gordon was able to track down clues, yet having Bruce and Shiller gathered here was a complete waste of investigative resources.
After Shiller returned to Arkham Mental Hospital, Brand entered his office and said, "Did you agree to admit patients on behalf of Chief Gordon? I was quite surprised when they brought the patients over."
"Yes, these patients' reactions to the antidote are unclear, and they also have some mental issues. That falls under our jurisdiction, doesn't it? If you're overwhelmed, go find Jonathan. He'll help you out.
Shiller stood next to the glass front cabinet, picking up the last newspaper and starting to read it.
"That's fine. It would just be empty here anyway," Brand commented as she touched her cheek. "They also sent over a group of student nurses to help us with dispensing medication and administering drips. They've already arrived, and I've arranged for them to stay in the staff dormitory."
"Also, due to the sudden increase in staffing, Mrs. Miller took over the management of the nurses and became the head nurse again. For the time being, it's best if you refrain from fetching things from the inpatient department."
After saying this, Brand looked a little puzzled and said, "I've never seen Mrs. Miller keeping an eye on you before. Weren't you two on good terms?...Also, why aren't you using finger cots when holding the newspaper anymore? Aren't you worried about the ink dirtying your hands?"
Shiller glanced at Brand and said, "If you really have nothing better to do, go get some sleep. With more patients coming in tomorrow, you'll be busy."
Watching Shiller intently read the newspaper, Brand shook her head and, nonetheless, turned and left.
The Arkham Sanatorium experienced another quiet night. Aside from the ambulance lights constantly blinking as they transported patients, the building was plunged into darkness, untouched by any light sources.
Just then, a window in the office building lit up with a sudden 'snap'. Viewed from outside, a small silhouette was seen standing by the desk, looking back with apparent fear.
Shiller, still in his suit and leather shoes, stood outside his office door. With one hand on the switch inside, and the other in his pocket, he watched Harley opening his desk drawer and said, "Miss Quinzel, your proficiency is quite astounding."
After the initial shock and panic, Harley calmed herself down rapidly, and unhurriedly closed the drawer, retracting her hand. She said, "You've misunderstood, I'm not here to steal."
"But it's more serious than that, isn't it?" Shiller stood still at the door, not entering the room, before he spoke:
"I presume it's all part of a plan you've devised—from your chance encounter with Gordon to your display of gifted yet evil traits, your enrolment in the technology college to become a nurse, to joining the dispatched nursing team to come here—you've had your eye on me for a long time, haven't you?"
Harley placed her hands behind her back, looking upward with apparent reluctance to admit it. But suddenly, she lit up, her eyes bright as she looked at Shiller. "I was right in my judgment. We indeed are the same!"
Finally stepping into the room and closing the door, Shiller looked at Harley and said, "I don't know what you're trying to achieve with this, but whatever reason you have, it does not justify breaking into my office in the middle of the night. Even if you don't need to sleep, I need to rest. Can I ask you to leave now?"
"Is that all you have to say?" Disappointment gleamed in Harley's eyes. She puffed out her cheeks, clearly annoyed, before saying quickly, " I thought we would see eye to eye, because we are the same, different from ordinary people. You should welcome me because I..."
"Dingling!"
The crisp sound of the telephone interrupted Harley's speech. Both Shiller and Harley turned to the vibrating telephone behind the glass partition. Sighing, Shiller went over, picked up the receiver, and a voice came from the other end:
"You've seen my work in Wayne Hospital, haven't you?...as I've said, I love to kill, hahahahaha!"
At the end of the call, the voice became increasingly shrill, echoing in the empty room, amplifying fragments of the conversation for Harley to hear.
She darted to Shiller's side as if her tail had been stepped on unexpectedly, snatched the phone, and shouted back:
"Huh? A gift? Your pathetic gift is no better than a toad in a gutter! How's your thigh? Ready for amputation? How did you like the kick I gave you? You impotent, stupid, and cowardly rat!"
"Your case... You should consider the brothel madam on Mary Street, Red Light District as your godmother, since your cases are as atrocious as her stinky shoes -- dirty, boring, and foul-smelling!"
"You should crawl back to the underground of the ace chemical factory, find a rat to be your father. You are best at sneaking in to guzzle dangerous chemical fuel, assuming yourself to be the world's most brilliant thief!!!"
Harley bared her teeth and spat out a string of profanities at a rapid pace.
The person on the other end of the line was obviously infuriated and yelled, "So it's you! You damn bitch! A petty brat! You ambushed me in the storage room and almost killed me. You just wait! I will show you what I'm capable of!!"
Finally, Harley hung up the phone, fuming. Suddenly, she paused, slowly turning her head to look at Shiller, who was smiling at her.
"Listen to me... Believe me, I'm not a rude person! . . . Yes, exactly, it's all because of him! He's too stupid!" Harley said and stepped back, forcing out a laugh.
"Sir, you should be more welcoming. I've come all the way here for you." Harley suddenly lowered her voice and said, "You don't know how hard I've been looking for someone like me. My parents have passed away and I haven't talked to anyone for a long time. Can you keep me company?"
Shiller glanced down at her. Harley had a beautiful face, and at that moment, the longing on her face was genuine, her eyes clear, and her expressions pure.
But Shiller didn't pay attention to her words; he walked towards his desk, leaving Harley standing behind him. Her face suddenly changed, as she screamed, "Where are you going? Come back!"
Shiller continued walking. Harley, in a hurry, tried to catch up to him. Just then, Shiller opened the lowest drawer where a dagger was displayed. It was empty just a few hours ago.
Shiller took out the dagger and slammed it on the table. Looking at Harley, he said, "Well, are you planning on plunging your welcoming gift straight into my heart?"
Realizing her plan had failed, Harley's face sank. She twisted her mouth, then said, "A damned heart! Only that smelly rat would want to shred human hearts out of ignorance!"
"A murderer who's lived for so many years and still only at this level, should go right back where he came from—his mother's womb!" Harley rolled her eyes disdainfully, "No matter how hard he tries his whole life, he's nothing more than a butcher!"
As she finished, Harley looked Shiller in the eyes and said, "In truth, I'm not kidding. I'm really here to make friends with you."
Shiller didn't respond; he merely fixed his gaze on the dagger lying on the table. Harley forced a smile and said, "I've just heard about you. I've never met you in person, so I had to find a way to see if you're all talk too, right?"
"This is not the first time you've used such means." Shiller picked up the dagger, weighed it in his hand, then said, "You intentionally pretended to be afraid of me in front of Bruce and Gordon. You wanted to cast suspicion on me..."
"Miss, you were indeed born to be wicked."
To everyone's surprise, Harley just crossed her arms and huffed; then she confidently said, "I know that you've been investigating the serial murder case. You're a renowned criminal psychologist, but as I see it now, you're just like that. You're mingling with those boring normal people."
"Or do you, like me, just treat them like toys?" A gleam of amusement flickered in Harley's eyes as she continued, "We blend into the world of normal people, we go to school and work as they do, and watch how they march slowly towards death with their mundane lives?"
"Or, in surprising incidents that terrorize them, we play both the offender and the most innocent bystander, using an ordinary identity to appreciate our own results?"
"Miss Quinzel, it's getting late today. I think we should go back to rest and continue this tomorrow..."
"Bang!"
Jonathan excitedly pushed open the office door and said, "Shiller! You wouldn't believe it! I've come up with a great idea. All it needs is a year and a half of preparation. Maybe by the end of next year, you'll be on the news..."
Shiller quickly turned his gaze to Harley. Seeing the questioning look on Harley's face, Shiller strode over to Jonathan, covering his mouth, and said, "I'm sorry, Miss Quinzel. This is one of my patients. He skipped his medication today and is having an episode. I'll take him back to his room right now..."
"Dingling! Dingling!"
The phone rang once more. Shiller released Jonathan, sprinted to the phone, picked it up and roared into the speaker, "Stop calling!!!"
After hanging up, he walked back to Harley, grabbed the back of her neck, and threw her out of his office. Then, leaning against the door frame, he yelled at her, "Go back and get some sleep!!"