Dick was lying in the chair while Shiller was reattaching the teeth that Batman had just extracted, meaning he was now actually seeing a dentist.
But Shiller wasn't really a dentist; vampire teeth are so unique that even a real dentist might not have been able to handle them.
As Shiller had expected, the fangs had a gland above them, which, according to the X-ray, was similar to a snake's venom gland. This gland would release venom when it sensed pressure from blood flowing into the chamber, which was key to transforming humans into vampires.
Batman had collected this venom, hoping to develop an antidote, but there was one problem he couldn't explain—being contaminated by this venom alone wasn't enough to turn someone into a vampire. The most crucial step of the Initial Embrace was that the convert must willingly drink the blood of the transformer.
Batman speculated that the venom might react with the transformer's blood to turn a person into a vampire, but he had also collected Dick's blood and found nothing unusual. Judging solely by the blood tests, one could not tell he was a vampire.
Batman had custom-made two tiger teeth for Dick, almost identical to his original ones. However, since the gums no longer offered support, Shiller used a method common among most dentists: fixing these false teeth together with the surrounding teeth.
Dick tried to resist because everyone knew most things Batman gave you were either weapons or surveillance devices meant to be worn, let alone kept in one's mouth.
Dick wanted his fangs back, but that was even harder now that Shiller had them.
While treating Dick's mouth, Shiller said, "I asked Batman for his most effective glue here, your new teeth will be fixed together with the ones on either side. If indeed you don't like it, then be prepared to have another four teeth pulled out."
Dick shuddered.
Having teeth pulled without anesthesia could be considered torture; not only the pain but being so close to the brain, prolonged pain could lead to dizziness and nausea among other physical responses.
"I've been thinking about a problem you mentioned earlier," Batman said. "Someone's love for me has disappeared, but it wasn't Dick."
"Because he isn't the King of Vampires," Shiller said. "He's special, but he's not the one who proposed blocking out the sunlight."
"Why do you think so?"
"Because he still cares about you, not that dry little cookie you've been looking for. I don't know if he's the only traitor in the Batman Family, but if he is, a King of Vampires out of your sight could be more troubling."
Dick's eyes were darting about as if he wanted to say something, but Shiller pressed on, and the pain made him curl up like a shrimp.
"If nothing else, you're not the only one in this universe who received an invitation from Battleworld; this game's impact on the universe started well before you got involved."
Batman suddenly turned to look at him and then his gaze fell back on Dick.
Shiller withdrew his hand, and Dick lay back in the recliner looking at Batman. Neither seemed inclined to speak first.
"You received an invitation?" Batman finally compromised, but his tone was not so friendly, clearly hinting at an unspoken remainder—"but you didn't tell me?"
Dick turned his head away, seemingly unwilling to speak, but Shiller reached out again. To buy some time, Dick had to speak, "I received an invitation the day after you did, I said I wanted to talk to you about it, you said you were too busy."
"When were you transformed?"
"After that, to be precise, after the pre-team formation. I have to thank this program for saving my life, otherwise, I would have completely fallen into their trap, and you wouldn't see me as I am now."
Batman understood his meaning; maybe at that time, Dick wanted to investigate something—he was still in Brude Haven, out of Batman's reach—but because he had received the invitation and needed to join the pre-team activities, he hadn't pursued the matter.
"After returning, he encountered some trouble, and from this trouble, he learned that if he had gone then, things might have been even worse, but he still couldn't avoid this trouble and was transformed into a vampire."
"Who transformed you?" Batman asked the question, but he knew he probably wouldn't get an answer because if the evolution of this race were so primitive, they would not have reached a point today where they could stand up to the human race.
"I can't say, nor can I give any hints," Dick said. "His control over me is absolute."
"Absolute?" Shiller suddenly interjected.
"It was absolute before you arrived," Dick said resentfully. "But after the teeth were extracted, I felt something loosen, otherwise I wouldn't have had the chance to sit here and talk with you. I would be spending all my time trying to kill Batman, as that was my mission."
"Can you not even name your companions?"
"No, he gave me orders not to divulge anything. Even after the control weakened, I can only talk to you like this without him finding out, but mentioning any key information will definitely attract his attention."
Batman's fist clenched, Shiller's worst-case scenario had come true, Dick had a master, but it wasn't him.
If the converter's control over the converted was so complete that he could know even what the latter said, then it hardly mattered if Dick was straightforward, because everyone knew Batman would never kill his own child, nor would he hand his child over to that unknown master. His only option was to keep him by his side.
And that master could use Dick to monitor Batman, eavesdrop on crucial information from the Batman Family, and even strike a fatal blow at a critical moment.
"So who could this mysterious master be?"
Batman quickly thought of a way, "If Dick can't speak out on his own, then he can simply see for himself, Martian Manhunter has the ability to read minds, just by looking at Dick's memory..."
"You can't gamble," Shiller suddenly spoke, "Even if memory reading doesn't harm Dick, but if the other party has only Dick as a descendant, once his identity is exposed, he will definitely suspect something is wrong with Dick. What do you think he will do to him then?"
Batman also considered this issue at that moment, the control had only weakened, not disappeared. If the other party compelled Dick to do something irreversible, that would be disastrous.
"Why did you realize that the fangs were the key?" Batman changed the subject.
"I just need it to lose its ability to transform others." Shiller's reply was particularly cold and ruthless. He said, "If transformation happens through the eyes, then gouge them out, if through the claws, then chop them off, so you should be grateful that teeth aren't that vital an organ."
Dick shuddered again, hugging his arms across his chest in silence.
"Can he see us through you?" Batman asked.
"Maybe he could have before, but if he tries now, I might be able to feel it." Dick's answer was vague, but considering the esoteric nature of vampires, this wasn't surprising.
"I suspect there's another traitor within the Batman Family," Shiller spoke, "It's not hard to guess. If I were them, I'd choose one to be overt and another covert."
"Do you mean Dick was pushed forward?"
"He is your eldest son, and has a unique significance to you. If something happens to him, it would definitely distract you, making you overwhelmed, and even lead to errors."
Batman fell silent. He knew Shiller had hit the nail on the head. Batman is a superhero almost without weaknesses. If he had to identify one, the greatest setback he ever suffered was precisely with Jason.
The Batman Family are his allies, but they are also his children. For a superhero like Batman, whether they directly help him isn't as important as the emotional support they provide, thereby it becomes the only crack on this otherwise flawless stone.
To permanently break this tough stone, one would have to drive a nail through this crack. Other villains with mimicking abilities have tried this, but imitation is just that—an imitation. Fakes will always be exposed.
Vampires are different, they are real, at least their bodies and souls are real, it's just their nature has been inverted, turning malevolent.
This leads to a situation where even if Batman truly found out they had turned evil, he couldn't do much. Now that he knew Dick was a vampire, could he kill him? Even locking him up wouldn't be reassuring, thus he still kept him close at hand.
Therefore, it's evident that making Batman realize one of his children had become a vampire could strike a significant blow both in reality and spiritually, and if another knife hidden in the shadows was also close, it wouldn't be far from severing this toughest head.
"You need a breakthrough opportunity," Shiller said, "It's getting late, maybe it's time to start the surgery."
Batman was lost in thought. He indeed had much to consider. Anyway, since it wasn't actually surgery, once Shiller had dealt with Dick's teeth, he sent him out.
As soon as he went out, Damian stopped him, saying, "Why is it so coincidental? The two teeth that are decayed just happen to be canines. You can't be unaware that a vampire's fangs are located in the canines, can you?"
"You know that, wouldn't Batman know it too?" Dick patted Damian's head.
Damian was obviously taken aback for a moment. He thought about it and realized it made sense. Batman had observed the entire process of Dick's dental check-up. If there were any issues, how could he possibly let Dick go?
In the end, it was trust in Batman that prevailed. Damian didn't say anything, he just pointed to the door, urging Dick to hurry over.
The scheduled time for the surgery was approaching. They needed to follow Batman's arrangements and defend the Batcave. Batman had said he allowed Dick into the room, but in fact, he had also made him stand guard outside the door. This was enough to show how much Batman valued him.
Jason was guarding the main entrance. He was never as cautious as the other Robins, finding a corner to squat and zone out.
Of course, he wasn't foolish. He kept chatting with Barbara in the control room; it was unlikely anything could bypass the surveillance and reach him silently.
Except for a stream of moonlight.