The serious counseling session Schiller had with Gordon ends the moment Bruce opens the door.
The three look at each other; Schiller asks, "Uh, Mr. Wayne, did I not say that you've run out of counseling time for this week? Why didn't you call ahead to inquire if the counseling room had been booked?"
Bruce is also somewhat embarrassed; he certainly didn't expect to find Gordon there. He merely came to deliver an invitation to Schiller. Bruce knows his identity has most likely been exposed to Gordon, and also knows that Gordon didn't seek him out or head to Wayne Manor to find Bruce, which means he doesn't really trust Batman.
This depresses Bruce, as he knows Gordon is indeed a good cop, and now, almost the last man of integrity in the Gotham Police Department doesn't trust him and even harbors unexplained hostility towards him. Bruce realizes that Batman must do more, must do truly useful things, in order to be seen differently.
Schiller suggests, "It seems God wants us to form an alliance. Since we're all here, let's speak frankly."
"We all know what happened that night. I know, we don't fully trust each other, but that doesn't matter. We can still unite temporarily for a common goal, such as ensuring my colleague, the creator of the fear toxin, Dr. Jonathan, goes to prison."
Gordon realizes there's not much to hide anymore. If he can't deal with this problem, and if his superiors or the commissioner learn that he's secretly investigating someone intending to employ Jonathan, it could lead to his miserable death. Whether Schiller or Bruce, Gordon can only hope they're at least neutral parties who, if they cannot assist him directly, might offer some advice.
Gordon, with a furrowed brow, says, "The situation is definitely worse than you think. Victor... ah, the current commissioner. He was accused of trafficking high-potency sedatives but wasn't convicted and has risen rapidly through the ranks since. Some speculate that he's backed by Sal, but no one has proof. My boss, Lantares, I've seen him frequenting clubs run by the Red Hood gang. But these old cops are too cunning; nobody can catch them out."
Schiller exhales; he knows Gordon hasn't told all for the Gotham Police Department. The police , top to bottom, is almost entirely in the pocket of the mobs. Even the kindest cop is just one who does less work for mob money.
"Do you know Harvey? Harvey Bullock," Schiller asks.
Gordon thinks for a moment and says, "You mean that smoking, drinking fat guy in logistics? What about him? You know him?"
Harvey Bullock in some Batman comics is portrayed as a lazy, untidy fat man who smokes and drinks, which isn't incorrect from Gordon's observation. However, in most comic settings, he's a good cop masquerading as a bad one, seemingly in cahoots with mobsters but in reality is secretly helping Gordon. In one comic, he even teams up with Gordon to defeat the Joker without Batman's involvement.
"You know, I've collaborated with police departments in several cities," Schiller says, "I've heard he took courses at the Star City Police Academy. An old cop from Metropolis once mentioned him to me, saying Harvey really wanted to be a good cop but had been retaliated against. As a result, he had to disguise himself with a degenerate appearance and even actively mingle with the mob for his protection."
"Do you think he's trustworthy?" Gordon asks.
Bruce interjects, "Fighting alone in the Gotham Police Department isn't a solution. Without any allies there, you'll almost certainly fail to take down your superiors and the commissioner, let alone the mobs behind them."
"I think you could try reaching out to Harvey, but don't lay all your cards on the table. I believe he's also keeping an eye on the case, and if he's truly trustworthy, he might offer some help behind the scenes. You two could work together, one in the light and one in the shadows, at least causing plenty of trouble for your superiors."
Gordon responds, "I'll ask him about it."
Bruce states, "As for commissioner, I'll investigate him. Of course, in my other identity that you all know."
From the beginning, Bruce hadn't intended to keep his identity from Gordon because he knows that to obtain help from a police officer in the department, not revealing his identity was almost impossible.
"And the gangs..." Schiller says, "whether Sal you mentioned or the Red Crow gang, I could take a look."
Both men look at Schiller, and Gordon hesitantly reminds, "Professor, I realize you've traveled through various cities, but let me remind you, Gotham's gangs are unlike any other. They are vicious beasts that have no regard for law or morality, a very cruel pack of wolves..."
"Yes, which is precisely why I need to go now. If we wait a couple of months, there will be conducting final exams in Gotham University , and then I won't have nearly as much free time."
Schiller glances at Bruce as he continues, "After all, some students here would rather hang out in nightclubs while the sky is still light than spend a little more effort on their studies."
Bruce rubs his nose awkwardly, and Gordon gives him a look, saying, "I may not be much elder than you, but I still feel the need to tell you. If you really want to keep being the man in tights, you'd better rein in your private life. Half of Gotham's beauties have been in your bed, don't you think some of them could be black widows?"
Bruce replies nonchalantly, "Okay, I'll be careful, thanks for the advice."
Bruce's "reputation"is known to every household in Gotham. It cannot be denied that even at 18, Bruce is incredibly handsome. Although he lacks that weathered maturity, his good-looking appearance alone is enough to capture countless hearts. The entertainment newspapers in Gotham nearly publish daily gossip about him, and the women photographed with Bruce never seem to repeat.
Schiller isn't particularly worried that Bruce might be taken out by a gangster's moll; he's more concerned about Bruce's kidneys. He thinks even Batman might one day need aphrodisiacs if he continues like this.
Unfortunately for Bruce, as soon as he returns to Wayne Manor, Alfred, his faithful butler, tells him, "I'm sorry to cancel your appointment tonight, Master Bruce, because your last medical check-up was far from optimistic..."
Bruce pauses, recalling the peculiar looks from Gordon and Schiller earlier in the day, and with an awkward cough, says, "Cancel all my appointments for the evenings this month."
Alfred is taken aback and then looks at Bruce strangely, hesitantly saying, "Master Bruce, you had invited Miss Christine two months ago for dinner, are you sure you want her invitation canceled as well?"
Bruce waves his hand dismissively, "Of course, I don't really have the time to date them now."
Alfred's look becomes even stranger as he hesitates before suggesting, "If there's been any change in your sexual orientation, sir, I hope you'll inform your faithful butler at the earliest convenience..."
Bruce covers his forehead and says, "These next few evenings, I need to go out and investigate something... Alright, don't cancel the appointment with Christine; she is really charming."
After Alfred leaves, Bruce notices an incoming call on his phone from Schiller.
Picking up, Schiller questions, "You have a date with Christine, the leader of the Nightingale Cheer Squad?"
Bruce is surprised. Can Schiller read his minds?
But he soon realizes he's overthinking it. Schiller clarifies, "She boasted to her friends about hooking up with young Wayne, but two days after she said this, she disappeared. Her friends reported it to the school, and HR's Anna asked me to contact you..."
"I haven't dated her yet," Bruce replies, "our date is scheduled for two weeks from now. You know, my... schedule is kind of full."
"So her disappearance has nothing to do with you? That's odd."
Schiller states, "HR told me that Christine knows she's beautiful and is therefore very cautious; she rarely leaves the school. She was about to graduate, but now she's gone missing."
Bruce grows alert and asks, "Could it be related to Jonathan's case? Was Jonathan familiar with her?"
"Of course not, how could such a girl be familiar with Jonathan? She was a beautiful party girl, and Jonathan always holed up in his office."
"Alright, Bruce, now you have something new to do. Find your future date, preferably before the date of your appointment."
"But I..."
"The Nightingale Cheer Squad is a symbol of Gotham University. The disappearance of their cheerleader is a big blow to them. And the National League playoffs will start in two weeks. If you can't find her, you will flunk my class."
"Hey, Professor, you can't... hello? Hello?"
Bruce puts down the phone in resignation and personally calls the school. He discovers that Christine is popular in the cheer squad, and many girls are requesting assistance from the school. Without their leader, their dance can't be organized, causing discontent among the football team members as well.
With Jonathan's arrest causing a stir, the school is preoccupied with calming public opinions, and everyone is too busy. Schiller, the new professor, has been drafted into help.
Thus, Batman gets drafted by Schiller.
Bruce contemplates: a beautiful girl disappears in Gotham, and the outcome hardly needs thinking. But according to Schiller, Miss Christine is a cautious person who rarely leaves the campus. She went missing within the confines of Gotham University.
It's hard not to suspect a connection to Jonathan's case.
Whether task is one or two, Bruce pays no heed to Schiller's non-threatening threats. When has Bruce ever cared about failing a course?
Aside from attending Psychological courses to show some respect for Schiller, he spends other classes either partying or messing around.
Thinking this, Bruce recollects something Schiller just said: Christine had mentioned an upcoming date with him?
Could this relate to her disappearance?