I'm doing bidirectional science popularization in American comics

“Harvey, drive the car to the police station. Let’s take Edward to Arkham Asylum first.”

"Okay~"

-----

Back at the Batcave, Bruce immediately received a message from Depp.

"Did they catch him?"

Bruce, reflecting on his mission, replied, "We caught them, but not completely."

Chapter 258 Infiltration

"They caught it, but not completely?"

Depp raised a question expressing his incomprehension.

Bruce took off his Batsuit and said somewhat awkwardly, "Uh... I mean, I did capture Edward, but not because I found evidence that he was the Riddler, but because this guy suddenly went berserk."

"Going mad?"

Depp asked, "It seems this guy has been drugged. If I'm not mistaken, it was Bane who injected Edward with a steroid that caused the changes in his body."

Upon hearing Depp's words, Bruce immediately frowned.

"Bane! You mean, the guy who'll break my back in the future?"

Depp nodded and said, "That's right, it's him. Most of the lunatics and deranged criminals in Arkham Asylum were released by this guy."

Bruce pondered for a moment upon hearing this and then understood Bane's intention.

"Is this guy trying to use those guys at Arkham Asylum to weaken my physical strength and willpower, and then attack me when I'm most exhausted and off guard?"

Depp aptly pointed out, "That's right, and the times when you're most tired and let your guard down are mostly when you've captured all the guys who escaped from Arkham and brought them back."

"I see, that explains everything!" Bruce exclaimed in sudden realization. "Perhaps we can ask Edward where Bane and the others are now."

Over the phone, Depp asserted, "That's right. I think you can go back and interrogate Edward now. He probably has no loyalty to Bane."

"I'm coming right now!" Bruce asked again before hanging up the phone, "By the way, is Edward really the Riddler?"

This question has always troubled Bruce: if Edward really is the Riddler.

He would not hesitate to use excessive methods during interrogation, but he would not use inappropriate methods otherwise.

Upon hearing this, Depp immediately replied confidently, "Without a doubt."

Inside Arkham Asylum, Batman stands at the gate, waiting for Gordon and the others to escort Edward.

Soon, a black Gotham police car came into Bruce's view.

The police car stopped in front of Batman, and Gordon got out and immediately said, "If anyone films the Gotham City Police Commissioner and Batman secretly meeting at night, I'll definitely be fired."

Hearing Gordon's words, Batman smiled and pointed to Harvey Bullock, who had just gotten out of the passenger seat, saying, "Perhaps I can help you deal with that only witness."

"Don't you dare try anything funny with me. I have no idea what you two are talking about!"

With that, Harvey Block opened the back door of the car and pulled Edward out with great effort.

Edward struggled and bit a few times, then passed out due to severe energy depletion.

“Oh, damn it, Edward, can’t you control yourself?” Harvey Block turned to Gordon and Batman and said, “How long has Edward been starving? He just tried to eat my thing!”

Upon hearing this, Batman looked at Edward, who had a well-built physique, and said, "Do you think his current physique looks like he's been starving for a long time?"

Edward's physique is now more than twice as strong as before, and he exudes an explosive masculine beauty.

And this is what Gordon doesn't understand the most.

He said, "What exactly did Edward go through? He was originally very thin, how could he have become like this in just two months?"

Harvey Block immediately chimed in: "That's right. Even if you spent 24 hours a day in the gym, you couldn't build such perfect muscles in just two months."

Harvey Block had barely finished speaking when he noticed Batman and Gordon looking at him strangely. He immediately raised his voice and said, "Why are you two looking at me like that? Let me tell you, I used to be a well-known muscle man in the police department!"

After saying that, Harvey Block raised his chin and proudly touched his large belly.

Batman and Gordon exchanged a glance and said at the same time, "Yes, yes, we both believe what you say."

After a few lighthearted jokes, the group began their formal work for the day.

Joseph cleared out a special room for the interrogation of the group.

Before leaving, Joseph said apologetically, "I'm sorry, the Joker guy has been unwilling to come out. In fact, he is very good at interrogation and forced confessions, but I am much less so."

Upon hearing this, Batman reassured him, "It's alright, Joseph, we can handle things here."

"Okay, then I'll go back to sleep."

After saying that, Joseph closed the interrogation room door.

Inside the room, Gordon asked, "Batman, what information do you want to get from Edward?"

Bruce sat calmly in the interrogation room and said, "According to someone, Edward is the Riddler, and his actions are very likely instigated by a guy named Bane."

“Bane?”

Gordon didn't know who Bane was, and had never heard of him in Gotham.

Therefore, he appeared very confused.

Batman explained, "Bane isn't from Gotham, but someone predicted he would break my back. And he was the one who orchestrated the Great Escape from Arkham Asylum."

Upon hearing that Bane was responsible for the escape from Arkham Asylum, Gordon was immediately unsettled.

"Break your back? This guy's got some ambition," Gordon said. "But to let someone go right under Joseph and the Joker's noses, this Bane guy is no ordinary person!"

Harvey Block picked up a sandwich and took a bite, saying, "But what's the connection between the two? I mean, the connection between breaking Batman's back and letting those lunatics from Arkham out."

Upon hearing this, Gordon immediately looked at Batman.

This was also a question in his mind, at least on the surface, the two things seemed to be unrelated.

Bruce said helplessly, "That guy wants to wear down my physical strength and willpower with the lunatics at Arkham Asylum, and then launch a sneak attack."

"I see!" Gordon exclaimed in realization. "It seems this guy named Bane is a cunning and intelligent criminal. But judging from his attempt to break your back, his strength doesn't seem to be too bad either."

Just as the group was discussing Bane and Arkham, Edward, who had been unconscious, slowly woke up.

"Hungry...hungry...eat...eat meat!"

Hearing Edward's groaning, the vengeful Harvey Block went up and shoved him hard in the buttocks.

"Eat? I think you'd better get a good slap from Grandpa first!" Harvey Block clapped his hands after hearing this. "That's punishment for trying to bite me earlier!"

Edward, who had been slapped, passed out again.

Faced with the speechless looks from Batman and Gordon, Harvey Brock suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

"I didn't use any force at all!"

He pointed to the red handprint on Edward's face.

"You're such a cutie."

Batman took a bottle of white medicine out of his pouch.

This is the concentrated life-saving serum that Depp gave him. Given Edward's current condition, this stuff will definitely be a cure.

After all, the energy contained within it is something that even Batman finds alarming and perplexing.

He and Lucius had studied and analyzed it countless times, but they couldn't figure out even the slightest component of it.

It was as if the ingredients for making this potion did not exist in this world at all.

This frustrated Bruce and Lucius for a long time.

A drop of concentrated life essence was dripped into Edward's mouth, and he immediately opened his eyes and became alert.

Furthermore, due to the infusion of massive life energy from the concentrated essence of life, Edward's bloodlust was greatly alleviated.

He quickly regained consciousness.

Where am I?

Edward asked, bewildered.

"This is Arkham Asylum, Edward."

Gordon said.

Upon hearing Gordon's voice, Edward's face immediately flashed with a variety of fascinating expressions.

Shock, confusion, bewilderment, and finally, resentment.

Damn it, how did I end up back here again?

Edward said in a voice on the verge of collapse, "Why am I here, Chief Gordon? I was just in my bedroom!"

This time, before Gordon could speak, Batman slammed his hand on the table and roared, "Stop acting, Edward! Or rather... Mr. Riddler?"

Upon seeing Batman, Edward immediately retorted angrily, "I've told you countless times, I'm not the Riddler! I'm Edward Nigma, a data clerk for the Gotham Police Department!"

Upon hearing this, Batman revealed a disdainful expression: "Oh? Perhaps I should ask Bane? That two-meter-tall giant with the hood and tubes in his head?"

The description of Bane's appearance was given to Batman by Depp.

Now, Batman is using the information he has to gradually break down Edward's psychological defenses.

Unfortunately for him, Edward, being the Riddler, wouldn't be so easily fooled by Batman.

Even if Batman says the name Bane and his true appearance.

Although Edward has only been in the business for a short time, he is smart enough not to expose his weaknesses under such circumstances.

He knew that if Batman or Gordon had concrete evidence to prove he was the Riddler, they would have handcuffed him long ago.

Instead, it's like this now, constantly talking nonsense to oneself.

“Bane? What kind of food is that?” Edward said innocently, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. If you don’t release me right now, I will sue you for illegal imprisonment!”

Hearing Edward's words, Gordon smiled wryly and said, "I'm sorry, Edward, we did not illegally imprison anyone."

Gordon then placed the video of Edward's outburst on the table and produced a medical record that Joseph had just issued.

The medical record clearly states that Edward has mental health issues and needs to be treated at Arkham Asylum for a period of time.