The cool rain in Gotham in late autumn fell, causing a yellowish fog to float under the lit street lights. The cold light of the car lights gradually spread from the corners, illuminating the end of the dark alley.
The colorful colors of the neon lights reflected on the black car body, the door opened, the driver walked out holding a black umbrella, went to the back seat and opened the door.
The waiters at the entrance of the mansion were all wearing white shirts and champagne-colored vests. They ran over quickly and spread the carpet under the car door. With their leather shoes stepping on the carpet, Schiller held the door and walked out of the car.
As soon as he stood up straight, he saw a guest in front of him who was walking in, throwing a huge umbrella into the arms of a thin umbrella boy. The large amount of water droplets on the umbrella made the umbrella boy soaked to the skin.
The waiters next to the gate laughed at him in low voices.
Schiller took the umbrella himself and walked to the door. A blond manager walked out enthusiastically and said, "Is this Professor Rodriguez? The Godfather is already waiting for you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Evans came down the stairs. He hugged Schiller warmly and said, "Thank you, Professor Schiller. My coming-of-age ceremony is really not worth your trouble to come here."
"
"Nothing, happy birthday."
The two were talking, and Schiller caught a glimpse of the umbrella boy holding a huge umbrella out of the corner of his eye. He seemed to be about the same age as Evans, but his body was thin and small, he had a hooked nose, and his eyes were somewhat...
Yin Prey didn't look pleasant. He was trying hard to close the huge umbrella in his arms, but because he was so thin, his movements looked a bit funny.
Schiller noticed that the cufflinks on his wrists were fastened meticulously, making him look more like a dignitary attending a party than a waiter.
Seeing that Schiller was still carrying an umbrella, Evans was a little unhappy. He also turned to look at the umbrella boy. The manager was very observant. He walked up to the umbrella boy and patted the back of his head, then asked the person next to him to take it.
Pass the huge umbrella.
The umbrella in Schiller's hand was already folded. He held the middle part of the umbrella and handed the handle to the umbrella boy. The man rolled his somewhat cloudy eyes upwards, glanced at Schiller, and then lowered his head.
The head took the umbrella obediently.
This episode did not affect the progress of Evans' birthday party at all. Surprisingly, Bruce also came.
Of course, after all, they are classmates, and they are in the same class. They are all from Gotham's upper class.
Schiller was holding a glass of wine and was talking to Evans about the club. Soon, the protagonist of the banquet was called away by his father. Bruce came over and said: "Don't you have something to eat first, Professor?"
Schiller shook his head and asked him: "Last time you said you wanted to be the president of the club? This is really strange."
Just as Bruce was about to speak, he heard Schiller say again: "Judging from the level of the paper you submitted, let alone being the president of a club, you may not be very suitable for studying psychology."
"Don't be like this, of course you know why I did it."
"But that's not the reason for you to pollute my eyes with a bunch of academic garbage."
"Okay, how much club membership fee can make you shake your academic persistence? Is 200 million US dollars enough?"
Schiller cursed secretly in his heart, but he still said: "I suggest you change your disguise. Can you really tolerate this way of hanging around among bad people all day long?"
"I always use ginger juice instead of alcoholic beverages, and the burning powders are just ordinary spices."
Schiller didn't speak, but silently lowered his eyes to his waist. Bruce said, "Okay, there is indeed something wrong with this."
As he spoke, the lights in the center of the banquet hall turned on one after another, and Falcone led Evans down the central stairs.
This is an important part of the coming-of-age ceremony. The elders introduce their children to their social circle to show that they can participate in social activities normally and assume the mission of inheriting the family business.
After that, Schiller and other elders encouraged Evans. Finally, it was Evans himself. He first crossed himself on his chest very devoutly, and then thanked God.
While Evans was speaking, Schiller noticed that in his peripheral vision on his right, there seemed to be a thin figure hidden under the shadow of the heavy curtain.
But after the crowd gathered in the center dispersed, the figure disappeared.
After that, the normal process of dancing and banquets started. The lights were shining, the cups were intertwined, and people in the magnificent banquet hall were talking thoughtfully.
But just like the treatment Schiller received in SHIELD, few people would take the initiative to talk to him. Everyone knew about his amazing resume, and no one wanted to stay too long in front of someone who might see through their inner secrets.
.
After a while, the banquet came to an end, and Schiller felt a little hungry. He planned to go to the dining table next to him to get something to eat. At this time, he heard some noises behind the stairs on the right. Soon, a man in a gorgeous dress appeared.
The lady in the skirt ran out screaming, shouting: "Old Edward!!! He fell in the bathroom!!"
Everyone around them dispersed in a hurry, and Falcone said in a calm voice: "Everyone, be quiet, Andy, go and see what's going on."
A man next to the godfather walked away. Soon, he came back and whispered a few words in Falcone's ear. Falcone's eyes swept across everyone present, and no one was forced by his momentum.
Dare to speak out.
Falcone said: "Old Edward died at my son's coming-of-age ceremony."
In the banquet hall with hundreds of people, it was as quiet as if nothing existed. No one even dared to breathe loudly. Everyone was thinking, who was so bold to rush into the Godfather's territory to cause trouble?
Falcone held his cane and said, "Where is little Edward? Let him come to see me. His uncle died here, and he must come over."
"Also, go to the police station and ask them to send someone over to investigate. Evans, please help me entertain the guests and don't let them feel neglected."
Afterwards, Falcone gave his assistant Andy a look, then turned and left.
Bruce stood next to Schiller and asked him: "You saw it too, right?"
"Yes, but it has nothing to do with me."
Bruce said: "It seems that little Edward has won, and the situation at the dock will become chaotic."
"Do you think it was little Edward who did it?"
"He's the one who stands to gain the most, isn't he?"
Schiller shook his head and said: "I think the Edward family is the biggest loser. When old Edward dies, everyone will think that it was his nephew who did it. And when the godfather's only son's coming-of-age ceremony happened, something like this happened.
There is no way the godfather can take revenge on the Edward family too much in the future."
"You think Falcone directed and acted?"
"He is smarter than you think."
Bruce looked back and saw that the banquet hall that was bustling just now was completely deserted. Most people had left. They didn't dare to stay here in spite of the godfather's anger. The remaining leftovers were still there.
Under the bright lights, it looks even more desolate.
When Schiller was about to leave, it was the assistant beside his godfather who returned the umbrella to him. Andy said: "I'm sorry, Professor, the godfather asked me to convey his apology for him. We didn't expect to invite you to the first banquet.
This is what happened.”
"Yeah, we didn't expect that."
Schiller lowered his head and glanced at his umbrella. All the water droplets on it had dried. He stood under the porch and saw a group of people carrying a box at the side door of the mansion. There should be old Edward's body inside.
They loaded the box into the car, and judging from the direction the car drove out, his body should be thrown into the sea.
Schiller stood at the door for a while, and soon the police lights flashed in the rainy night, and the police car drove in. Yes, that's how it is in Gotham. They will not wait for the police to dispose of the body.
Gordon came to another crime scene where there was no trace of the victim or the murderer. They had even wiped away the blood. However, he was very adaptable and ordered the few policemen under him in an orderly manner. They began to clean up the crime scene in the bathroom.
Wander around.
As for himself, he neither handled the case nor recorded it, but was led by others to see Falcone.
The outcome of the investigation of this case does not depend on what happened in the bathroom or what the police can find, but only on the attitude of one person, the host of the banquet, Falcone.
Gotham is like this. When a gang member kills another gang member, the police's situation will become very embarrassing. Gordon understands this truth deeply. When being a police officer in Gotham, psychological quality is much more important than the method of solving crimes.
Already.
After a while, Evans came out holding an umbrella. He hurriedly ran in the direction of Schiller and said, "Professor, I heard others said that you haven't left yet. Is there anything else you can do?"
"No, it's nothing special. You know, I'm more interested in these cases."
Evans showed a somewhat embarrassed look and said, "Well... this is just a small case, not a serial murder case, but if you are interested, you can go in and have a look."
Schiller shook his head, but he handed the umbrella in his hand to Evans and said, "Bring it to the godfather for me."
Evans took the umbrella and felt a little baffled.
After Schiller left, Falcone took Schiller's black umbrella from Evans and said, "It seems that he will indeed be your longest-lasting tutor."
While sitting in the car on the way back, Schiller listened to the sound of rain hitting the car window. He recalled the thin and timid umbrella boy, the guest who went in before him and teased the umbrella boy with a huge umbrella.
, none other than old Edward.
As soon as Schiller returned to the apartment, he heard movement on the balcony. Batman was standing there. Schiller did not look back. Batman said: "I'm going to investigate the case of old Edward."
"Why? Gang fights are also within your jurisdiction?"
"He used to be the kingpin of Park Street."
Schiller didn't answer him, but Batman said to himself: "He knows who killed my parents."
