"I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're talking about." Shiller was leaning over his desk, one hand holding the telephone and the other supporting his face as he casually replied to the voice on the other end of the line. "Are you saying someone plagiarized my paper? Where was it published? I'll write a letter over there."
"A murder case?" Shiller blinked in confusion, but then, switching the phone to his other hand and taking out a ledger from nearby, he replied: "Normally, I would be very interested in such matters, but I'm a bit busy these days. My bookstore is hoarding supplies."
"What? You didn't know? I've set up a bookshop on Street 8, Lihen bookstore, just around the corner of Tail Lane. Today is its first day of operation. But don't worry, considering how busy you are, I'll overlook the fact that you didn't show up to support me on opening day..."
The comments from Bruce on the other end of the line made Shiller frown, after which he responded: "This mysterious V you're referring to, I do have vague memories of him. He sent me a pig's ear along with a small card depicting some strange drawings, but I must first finish the work at hand. After all, being a detective is just a side job and it's not enough to make ends meet in Gotham."
"Rest assured, barring your habit of acting like a human statue at tourist spots, I believe you can make some substantial contributions to Gotham's security. Let's start with this case, shall we?"
"You don't have time to write papers anymore? No worries, considering the severity of your adopted son's accident, your academic concerns can be postponed. You can mail the leave request either to the bookstore or to Rodrix Manor. After signing it, I will mail it back to you."
"What?... Oh, my! You've misunderstood me!" Shiller leaned back in his chair, elbow on the table, holding the phone, and said with some annoyance: "Do I really seem so inconsiderate to you?"
At that moment, Shiller heard the sound of jingling wind chimes from the entrance of the bookstore, along with the creak of the door as it was pushed open. He covered the mouthpiece of his phone and shouted: "Harley, who's our guest?"
"How should I know?" Harley shouted back, "It's an Englishman wearing a top hat... What did you say your name was? Constantine? That's interesting. Has anyone ever told you that you have a weird persona?"
Harley, with a pile of books in her arms, was fixated on Thomas, who had just walked in. Thomas felt a chill run down his spine until Shiller came out.
Shiller stepped forward, shaking Thomas's hand with a warm smile, "You finally made it. The first batch of books haven't been put on the shelves yet. Any news on the second batch?"
"Yes, I managed to order some rare collectibles." Thomas said happily. They traversed the large merchandise area filled with towering bookshelves and arrived at the reading area by the staircase to the second floor.
This small space was framed by the staircase and the walls. Bookshelves were embedded on the side of the stairs and the adjacent wall, crammed with books. A warm-colored carpet covered the floor, where two single sofas and a small coffee table were placed.
"I believe the customers wouldn't refuse a cup of tea here." Thomas said, looking around the environment. He stretched a bit on the soft sofa, rubbing the side of his neck, "The local European booksellers are quite tricky. I've sweet-talked endlessly for these past few days to get these quality books from them."
After saying this, Thomas took out a book from his bag and handed it over to Shiller. He also pulled out an identical one, opened it, and ran his fingers over the pages, "These are not like those shoddy stuff with attractive book covers. Look at the thickness of the paper and the print quality. It's as good as any hardcover or series of collectible books."
Thomas laughed looking at Shiller. As Shiller examined him, he realized that Thomas was quite different from the despicable magician Constantine. The melancholy aura around him didn't emanate from a decadent life, but rather resembled a sensitive litterateur.
Shiller shook his head gently, perplexed as to how Constantine achieved this. His soul, now split in two, left no traces of him on Thomas, which seemed incredible.
Suddenly, Shiller heard a commotion at the entrance of his bookstore. Both he and Thomas peeked around, curious as to what was happening, when Zatanna, dressed like a magician, burst in, with Harley following close behind.
"John...no, I meant Thomas, you need to leave immediately! I just found traces of location magic in your residence. It's likely that your old enemies have tracked you down. Come with me, I'll take you to a safe place!"
Thomas's eyes widened, and then he scowled. He addressed Zatanna, "You maniac, how long are you going to stalk me?! I've fled to Gotham to escape you, isn't that enough?!"
Zatanna wore an extremely helpless expression. She glanced at Shiller perplexed and then looked at Thomas, before she pulled Shiller behind a bookshelf, lowered her voice and said, "You have to help me persuade him. This is no joking matter. Those mages are really after his life!"
"He thinks you're a stalker?" asked Shiller.
"It's more than that. He thinks I'm his ex-girlfriend, still in love with him and chasing him around the world. He believes that I am a lunatic wildly infatuated with him… Damn John, when he returns, I'll make him pay for this!" Zatanna gritted her teeth.
Shiller smiled at this. Zatanna sighed and then turned to Shiller urgently, "You know the way John lives his life, he has made many enemies. In the past, he was key to resolving issues when enemies came knocking. But now, Thomas defintely cannot handle the affairs of the magical world."
"Luckily, I have a safe house in the Spirit Realm that is fairly secure. I have been trying to get him there by hook or by crook lately, but he simply refuses to budge. His enemies are closing in. If he doesn't leave soon, he will be in absolute danger!"
On hearing Zatanna's earnest words, Shiller hesitated a bit. After all, apart from Zatanna, hardly anyone understood the magic realm, and Thomas, having lost his ability to use magic, might really be in danger when faced with ruthless black magicians.
Given that, it would be better to let Zatanna take him to hide, deceiving those people that Constantine has been caught. This way, Thomas could live a peaceful life in the future.
Thinking of this, Shiller nodded, then turned around to persuade Thomas. Yet before he could speak, a harsh "crash" sound was heard from the door.
All the Gothamites were familiar with this kind of sound — the sound of glass shattering. The battle-hardened Zatanna responded to it the fastest by shouting, "Get down, now!"
In response to their instincts, everyone ducked as a huge fireball flew over their heads with a "bang," hitting the wall of the staircase.
Zatanna quickly turned around, pointed at the wall, and shouted, "Extinguish the flames!"
Then, she rolled sideways, taking cover behind a bookshelf. She took off the hat on her head, swung it hard toward the front, and a large group of bats, composed of magical brilliance, flew towards the door.
Shiller took Thomas and Harley and hid behind the sofa. When he peeked out, he saw a few figures in black robes at the door. Their hands were all condensing the glow of magic, not looking like ordinary people at all.
Thomas opened his mouth wide in shock and shouted, "What was that just now? Does magic really exist?!"
"Do you need to ask?" Harley immediately replied, her tone filled with excitement.
"Northern Wizard Tower!" Zatanna walked out from behind the bookshelf, staring dead at those people, and said, "Have you gone mad? You dare to violate the rules of the magic realm, casting spells at will in the human world! You're going to be punished!"
"Naive little girl, your Zatanna family's lineage is almost extinct, and you're still talking about these damn rules?!" the lead mage laughed coldly.
"The Elder Council won't let you act recklessly!" Zatanna's tone was full of a veiled threat, and she glared at the group, "Aren't you afraid of judgment?"
Unexpectedly, the leader responded with a malicious laugh and said, "Do you think we could have gotten this far without backing from the Elder Council? Do you think you could represent the will of magic families? What a big mistake!"
"Zatanna, you naïve, foolish woman!" A cold female voice came from behind the leader, "Don't look at us with such eyes, we are the warriors seeking a way out for the magic realm, and you... you are the rebels."
Before Zatanna could respond, the leader spoke, "All magic families have had enough of paying a tragic price. We are searching for a new path for the mages in the human world! As long as we can find enough powerful energy, we can naturally break away from these unfair prices forever!"
"Zatanna, you can't stop us! Why do you think we would dare come looking for Constantine? The Elder Council had issued a warrant for him a long time ago. We need his soul to trade with Gabriel for the method to eliminate the price!"
"Why don't you understand? That damned Gabriel is a deceiver!!" Zatanna bellowed, "He has bewitched the members of the Elder Council. He doesn't have any method to eliminate the price at all, you bunch of damned fools!"
"I forgot to tell you." The woman spoke again, her voice getting colder by the second, causing a chill to run through Zatanna's spine: "This time's warrant doesn't only include Constantine, but also you and your father."
"…What did you say?!!" Zatanna asked incredulously.
"Everyone knows that the Zatanna family doesn't need to pay a price for casting spells, yet you've never shared this technique with us. You watched us suffer, marriages break apart, and children go missing. You are the greatest enemy of the magic realm!"
Her voice had become something between a scream and a sob toward the end. She started at Zatanna's face and said, "You don't get hurt because of magic, you don't age, you have immense power, yet you can still enjoy the life of a normal person, it's just not fair!"
"You've been selfish for so many years and it must end. Didn't you always claim you'd give your life for the magic realm? Now, it's time to offer your souls to attain freedom for all mages!"
As her voice faded, a magical glow erupted. The small bookstore was instantly filled with the glimmers of magic; arcane, fire, frost, blink, shields, magical counter-waves, and countless magnificent and eye-opening abilities took over the entire room.
"My God, did you hear what she just said? The magic realm!" Harley screamed. She quickly turned to look at Shiller and said with exciting eyes, "You still have connections with the magic realm!"
Looking at the anticipation in Harley's eyes, Shiller's head started to hurt again.