"Do you know a rumor about Gotham? It's also known as the 'Dark Valley.' At least in the occult circles, this na carries great weight. They say it's the gathering place of darkness in all of North Arica and even the whole world, like the drainage outlet of a swimming pool."
Constantine squinted his eyes and leaned back on the sofa. His tone was relaxed and content. He said, "This place is actually perfect for practicing dark magic. It's not accurate to say 'practice,' but rather, it's naturally suitable for communicating with demons and making deals."
"Like a material with good conductivity?"
"It's sowhat similar but not entirely the sa. In any case, in the previous era, people flocked here from within the occult community. However, they soon discovered that this place wasn't heaven for magic practitioners but hell because there's a power here called the Court of Owls."
"I have heard of that na. It refers to a group of wealthy people who secretly control Gotham, and they've recently suffered a major setback."
Constantine shook his head and said, "I don't know what Court of Owls you're familiar with, but the one I know is closely related to the occult. They're also known as the 'Dark Cult.'"
"There's a legend that says they can communicate with an ancient dark creature and obtain imnsely powerful abilities without any cost. They can use this power to train assassins or control others."
"How do you know all this?"
"As I ntioned before, I've always been troubled by a curse from my twin brother, so I pay close attention to everything related to the occult. I know I'll need them sooner or later."
"When I was wandering in Nottingham, I t an acquaintance of Lorena's grandmother and obtained a notebook from him, which contained Lorena's grandmother Ivy's observations and experiences in Gotham."
"Ivy is known as the most powerful witch in history. She was one of the people attracted to Gotham within that era. Initially, like the others, she hoped to strengthen her connection with the demonic contract by using Gotham's mysteries and uniqueness to gain more power."
"But later, she violated the greatest taboo in the occult community."
"You ntioned that before, so what exactly was it?"
"She fell in love with an ordinary man nad Solomon Wayne, the ancestor of Bruce Wayne."
"As I ntioned earlier, although witches sell the souls of children to demons in exchange for power, they also have to pay a price. They must sacrifice every child they bear to the demons."
"After Ivy and Solomon fell in love, she beca pregnant. At that ti, Solomon had no idea that his lover was a witch. He was overjoyed by the upcoming birth of their child, and this joy infected Ivy."
"Ivy genuinely loved Solomon and didn't want to sacrifice the product of their love to the demons. But with her own power, she couldn't terminate the deal. It was at this ti that the hidden Court of Owls in Gotham approached her..."
"After Ivy ca to Gotham, she contracted several children and sacrificed them to the demons. The Dark Cult priests, who had been observing this abnormal situation, discovered Ivy's uniqueness. So, they found Ivy and hoped she could use the powers of a witch mother to control the children, thus controlling the future of Gotham City."
"To protect the child in her womb, Ivy agreed. She promised that all descendants with the blood of a witch mother would co to Gotham to control the children for the Dark Cult. And so, using a special thod, the Dark Cult deceived the demons and saved the child in Ivy's womb."
"But those who violate taboos will ultimately et a tragic end. Ivy and Solomon beca too close, to the point that one night, Solomon discovered her evil practices. As an
ordinary person, Solomon couldn't accept it all. He couldn't accept that his lover was an evil witch who had killed countless children."
"He aid a gun at Ivy. Normally, as a witch, Ivy wouldn't fear an attack from an ordinary person. However, at that ti, Ivy was heavily pregnant, and her child was about to be born. It was her weakest mont. If Solomon had really pulled the trigger, she would have been dood."
"But in the end, Solomon hesitated. He softened his heart and didn't shoot. Instead, he banished Ivy from Gotham."
"On that rainy night when she left Gotham, Ivy gave birth to a child in a valley. Then she realized that the Dark Cult had deceived her. The child she bore was a monster made of dark energy..."
"Ivy used her last bit of strength to kill that monster, as well as her and Solomon's child."
"However, she managed to escape with her life. She returned to England and lived out the rest of her days there. She recorded the secrets of Gotham and the Dark Rituals, which eventually reached my hands."
"But let's get back to the point. What's going on between you and Lorena?"
"Lorena is bound by the ancestral contract between Ivy and the Dark Rituals. She had to co to this dark city, but she doesn't like it here. She's tired of being treated like a hunting dog, and she wants to break free from the Dark Rituals."
"But she couldn't do it alone. When I found her, we made a deal. As long as she helped break free from the curse of the unborn, I would help her escape the clutches of the Dark Priests."
"It was supposed to be a win-win deal, but..."
Just then, an annoying phone ring suddenly echoed in the dream space. Schiller snapped his fingers, and the dream collapsed, engulfing Constantine in agony once again.
Schiller went downstairs to answer the phone. It was Bruce's voice on the other end. He said, "Professor, is Constantine with you?"
"That's right. Do you need sothing from him?"
"No matter what he tells you now, Professor, restrain him imdiately. I'm on my way."
After saying that, Bruce hung up the phone.
Soon, Batman appeared in Schiller's Manor. As he entered the parlor and saw Constantine spitting blood and pale-faced, he turned to Schiller and said, "Thank you, Professor."
Schiller spread his hands and said, "It wasn't ."
Batman clearly had an expression of "I fell for your tricks." He was still thinking about how he had beaten up Constantine so many tis, but none of it was as effective as when Schiller did it once.
"Do you have an evil plan?" Batman turned to Constantine and asked, looking into his eyes.
Constantine turned his head slightly, his hands relaxed at his sides, as if he had given up struggling. Batman walked over, grabbed his neck with one hand, lifting him up. There was deep anger in his tone as he said, "You and Zantanna want to sacrifice the children of Gotham to achieve your goals, Constantine..."
Constantine grabbed his own neck, gasping for breath, and said intermittently, "From where... did you... find out?"
"I found Solomon Wayne's notes, and he ntioned those evil thods in his journal..."
"Then, what does that have to do with ?" Constantine kept struggling, and Batman threw him to the ground, saying, "The journal had the sa magic circle pattern you drew at the cri scene of Cooper."
"What does that prove?"
"According to the records in the journal, it's not an ordinary summoning circle for demons. It's a ritual circle that sacrifices children's souls to demons... What does it an, Constantine? It ans you killed a child..."
"Cough, is that so? Then tell , who did I kill? Who was the victim?" Constantine lay on the ground, clutching his neck, his gaze towards Batman filled with contempt. He said, "Batman, the one who monitors everything and knows everything, tell , who did I kill? Who was the victim?"
He gasped heavily, and Schiller approached, stuffing two painkillers into his mouth, then said, "I advise you to squeeze out the last bit of toothpaste quickly, or even if Batman is willing to let you go, that curse inside you may not wait..."
"In any case, I'm almost dying. What does it matter if I speak or not?" Constantine lay flat on the ground, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Constantine, it seems that your skills in deception are not just based on sweet words. You've also studied psychology..."
"Alright, after you finish telling the end of this story, we can think of a solution for you..."
Constantine shifted his gaze and looked at Schiller. Schiller also looked down at him and said, "Don't expect to make a deal with you. It's already a limit for to give you my verbal assurance, you rotten person."
Constantine made a snort from his nose. He quickly got up from the ground, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, shook his trench coat, adjusted his tie, and then sat back on the sofa.
Watching his smooth sequence of movents, Batman narrowed his eyes. Constantine waved his hand and said, "Don't misunderstand, I'm not faking. These injuries and pains are real. It's just that those who practice magic have long adapted to them..."
"Sotis when sacrifices are not enough, you have to do it yourself. It's not a big deal to have a demon take out an organ. I can find another demon to replace it another day."
Schiller glanced at Batman's expression, then said to Constantine, "You better get to the point quickly, or this righteous vigilante will resort to interrogation..."
"Alright..." Constantine sat on the sofa, propping his knees with his elbows. "Lorena and I do have a common plan, but I also have my own plan and a backup plan for this plan..."
"Perhaps you don't know . For a certain plan, I can prepare for months or even years, and I can co up with a series of interconnected plans, just like this ti..."
"My Plan A is to lure out the Professor, steal the Insanity Spirit, and go find the Dream God to help solve the trouble..."
"Plan B is to lure Batman out, deliver a package, and then go find that mysterious voice to help solve the trouble..."
"Plan C is to collaborate with Lorena and have her help solve the trouble."
"And Plan D is to attract the interest of you extraordinary people in Gotham and have you figure out a way to help solve the trouble..."
"Many people may prefer to complete these plans in order. For example, if Plan A fails, then use Plan B. But I don't like that. I like to carry them out simultaneously..."
Constantine, sitting on the sofa, lit another cigarette. He seed to have shed so of his desolate appearance, revealing an inner sharp soul.
This cursed child, plagued by misfortune since birth, was never a down-and-out wanderer. Like everyone else in Gotham, he was a madman full of wisdom, imagination, creativity, and action. He was cold, indifferent, and evil.
For an ordinary person, the complex plans that were difficult to comprehend just by listening beca ordinary things in his mouth. Batman, who had experienced this series of plans firsthand, had to admit that this madman in front of him, with layer upon layer of disguise, had fooled almost everyone.
In Constantine's soul, Batman saw many familiar figures—Constantine was like Joker, like Schiller, and even like... himself.
Hellblazer? Batman wondered. Perhaps this "master detective" was more like the three of them combined.
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