Batman had suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Nameless. His mind kept replaying the encounter, searching for the mistake. Was Nameless a Meta? Or perhaps an enhanced martial artist? Either way, Bruce knew one thing for certain—he had lost because he lacked information. All he had going into that fight was a name and a flawless task completion rate, a record that screamed competence. Now, even after the dust had settled, Batman remained in the dark about Nameless's full capabilities. Charging into another confrontation without a proper strategy would be reckless, and forming that strategy without sufficient intel would be one of his greatest challenges yet.
Meanwhile, Jason woke up the next morning feeling surprisingly refreshed. He stretched, bones popping satisfyingly, when the familiar chime of his system rang in his head.
Ding!
Task confirmed: +7500 pts!
"About damn time," Jason muttered, a small grin tugging at his lips. Still, his mood soured a bit as he checked his balance. The points were nowhere near enough to buy the character card he wanted—Captain Marvel. That card wasn't just about raw power; it was the key to traversing space. Jason wanted more than street-level missions—he wanted to take tasks across planets, maybe even pursue bounties beyond Earth itself.
But for now, he could only dream. With a sigh, Jason pushed himself off the bed and sat down at his computer. Cracking his knuckles, he stretched his fingers before starting to browse. A sharp chime broke the monotony—a new notification. Curious, he clicked it open and felt his brows rise in surprise.
"Well, well… just when I thought this day couldn't get any better," Jason muttered, excitement bubbling in his voice.
It wasn't just any notification—it was a personal request. That meant people were starting to see him as reliable, someone worth investing in. More recognition meant more pay. More pay meant more clients. His grin widened.
"Now let's see what you want," he said, leaning closer to the screen.
Contract ID: #BNK-0913-A
Client Status: Verified (Anonymous)
Task Type: Surveillance & Elimination
Location: Gotham City – Gotham National Bank (Financial District)
Objective: Track and confirm planned robbery by six (6) armed suspects. Neutralize all hostiles once the crime is in progress. Recover stolen assets if circumstances allow.
Estimated Hostiles: 6 armed individuals; light-to-moderate firepower (handguns, shotguns, potential SMGs).
Intel: Crew has been linked to multiple unsolved robberies. Known to operate with masks and getaway vehicles. Expect resistance and possible use of civilian hostages.
Special Note: . Collateral damage must be minimized to maintain client discretion.
Payout: $25,000 upon verified completion and evidence submission.
Risk Level: Moderate
Commission Fee: 20% deducted upon job closeout.
Jason's mood soured the moment he saw the mission details.
"Why did it have to be Gotham again?" he groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "That guy's definitely on my ass now. If I go there again, he'll be more prepared for me… unlike last time, when I caught his ass lackin'."
He leaned back in his chair, staring at the screen for a long second before smirking. "Fine, you know what? Fuck it. I'm taking it. Batman's in for a surprise if he thinks he's got me figured out."
With a click, the contract was sealed.
Ding!
Task Accepted – +2500 points upon completion.
Jason grinned at the notification but stretched his arms with a groan. "Right… I need me some coffee."
He pushed away from the desk and headed for the shower.
A few minutes later, the crisp morning air greeted him as he strolled down the quiet road. The city was still waking up, the streets calm before the chaos of the day. Eventually, he reached his favorite little coffee shop. The bell over the door jingled as he stepped inside, the familiar smell of roasted beans wrapping around him.
Jason glanced around and smiled faintlyjust the way he liked it, empty and free of old people.
He glanced toward the counter, where a girl with blonde hair tied into a single braid stood behind it. That was Linda Watson—about his age, a little tired-looking. She ran this small coffee shop while saving up for university. They'd become friends recently, after he discovered the place and tried the coffee—the best he'd ever tasted. Since most of her customers were older folks, seeing someone his age gave her someone to talk to… though she usually did most of the talking while he did most of the listening.
"Yo, what's up?" Jason called.
Linda jumped, startled out of her musings. "Jason! You scared the shit out of me. Don't sneak up on people like that!"
"I thought the bell on top of the door was supposed to prevent things like that from happening," Jason said with a smirk. "Or, like… usually."
Linda glared at him for a few seconds, then shook her head. "Where have you been anyway? Haven't seen you for a whole week."
"I've been busy lately. What, did you miss me?" Jason asked, grinning as he pulled out a wad of cash and held it toward her.
Linda sighed, taking the money. "I was just concerned about you, and now you're pushing it." She turned to start preparing his order as Jason went to sit down.
He picked up a newspaper from the table, scanning the headlines. One article caught his eye—coverage of his recent mission at the docks.
"With this, I'm bound to get famous," Jason thought with a grin as he stared at the newspaper. His last job had made the front page ,well, not him exactly, but his handiwork.
He leaned back, eyes drifting from the bold headlines to the window. For a brief moment, his grin faded as a thought crept in. What would he even do once he was strong enough to survive anything that came his way? Being a hero didn't suit him, and living a normal life sounded painfully boring.
Maybe I could jump to Marvel, he mused, smirking at the ridiculous thought. Yeah, right. Like that's ever gonna happen. I don't even know anyone who could pull that off.
Jason shrugged to himself. Meh. I'll see when the time comes.
"Here you go, just the way you like it," Linda said, setting his coffee down before taking the seat across from him.
Jason smiled slightly. "Thanks, Missy."
Linda gave him a look but didn't correct him this time. Instead, she tilted her head curiously. "You know, now that I think about it… I've never asked what you do for a living. How do you make ends meet?"
Jason blinked, pretending to think about it. "Me? You wouldn't wanna know."
"Oh, come on, it can't be that bad," she said, leaning forward playfully.
Jason smirked. "Alright, fine. I'm a stock trader."
Linda's eyes widened. "Really? Wow. I tried that once and lost a ton of money—it's way too confusing."
"Yeah, you can't just wake up one morning and decide to be a trader," Jason said casually. "You gotta learn the market, practice on demos, build strategies before you even think about using real money."
Linda nodded with a sheepish smile. "Guess you're right. I just heard people make millions doing it and thought, hey, I can do that too."
Jason chuckled. "I'm decent at it, but not the best. Even I've had my setbacks."
Before Linda could respond, the chime of the bell above the door broke the moment. A burly man stepped inside, his heavy boots thudding against the floor.
"Well, that's my cue," Linda said, getting up to serve the new customer.
Jason lifted his cup, ready to take a sip, when the sudden bang of a fist hitting the counter made him pause. His expression darkened as his enhanced hearing tuned in to the conversation.
"The debt's long overdue," the man growled, his tone low and threatening. "When exactly are you gonna pay me back?"
Jason sighed softly, trying to keep his focus on the newspaper while the man's tone grew louder.
"The debt is long overdue," the burly man said again, voice sharp enough to slice through the calm atmosphere of the café. "You said you'd have the payment last week, Linda."
Linda's cheerful tone faltered a bit. "I know, Mr. Harris. I'm really sorry. Business has been slow this month, but I'll have it by next Friday, I promise."
Jason's eyes flicked toward them briefly but he didn't move, stirring his coffee lazily. Not my problem, he thought, taking a sip.
Another slam of the man's palm against the wooden counter made his cup rattle slightly. Jason's grip tightened for a second before he relaxed again. He could hear Linda trying to calm the man down, her voice shaking under that usual cheerfulness.
Then came another bang—louder this time.
Jason exhaled through his nose and lowered his cup with exaggerated care. "Alright," he muttered under his breath, turning his head toward them.
"Hey," he called out casually, drawing both their attention. "i know you want your money and all that" He gave the man a flat look. "But could you not bang the table like that? It's damn annoying"
The man blinked, caught off guard. Linda looked between them, a little panicked.
Jason just lifted his cup again, calm as ever. "Thanks," he said simply, and went back to sipping his coffee, eyes on the newspaper like nothing happened.
The tension in the room lingered for a few seconds, the man clearly debating whether to say something. But Jason's complete lack of reactionand the steady, almost bored way he kept drinking with made him think twice.
The conversation behind the counter started quiet again—Linda's soft voice trying to reason with him—but it didn't stay that way for long.
"I said I don't care about your excuses!" the man shouted. "I'm not running a charity here. You were begging me for more money when you hadn't even paid your last debt, and I still gave it to you. And now you're giving me this?" He threw the crumpled bills at her. "It's not even ten percent of what you owe me!"
"Please," Linda stammered, "just give me one more week. I swear, I swear I'll—"
"Enough!" the man barked, slamming his fist on the counter so hard that the sugar packets and napkins toppled to the floor.
Jason's grip around his cup tightened until it shattered in his hand, the sound sharp and sudden. He sighed, set the broken pieces down, and rose to his feet.
He walked toward the counter, his voice calm but edged with quiet irritation.
"Hey, man. Can you meet me outside for a second? It'll be quick," Jason said, tilting his head slightly. "I'm having some financial issues lately, and I'm in need of a loan."
The man turned to face him, glaring. "I'll be back and by then, you'd better have my money," he snapped at Linda before stepping aside. Then he looked back at Jason, a mocking smirk crossing his face. "After you."
Jason's expression didn't change. He just gave a small nod and gestured toward the door.
The bell above it chimed softly as they walked out.
End of Chapter.