Chapter 3: Lone Gunmen and the New Partner
Adam had to admit, the system was a pretty good source of income. Not the coins, which were still a mystery to him, but the "private investigator" cover. He was actually getting real-world jobs now, mostly for cheating spouses or missing cats. He was an expert at both, not because of any investigative skill, but because of his uncanny ability to make educated guesses based on pop culture tropes and a well-placed bribe. It was a simple, yet effective, business model.
"I'm like the noir detective version of a Magic 8-Ball. 'Is your husband cheating on you?' shakes mental Gu 'Signs point to yes.' 'Is your cat hiding in the neighbor's garage?' shakes mental Gu again 'Ask again later.' It's a lot more fun than the real thing, I'll tell you that much."
The next major canon event was the arrival of Deadshot. Adam knew this was a big one. Deadshot wasn't just some thug on a list. He was a major villain, a key player in the larger Arrowverse mythology. Adam decided to follow Oliver again, but this time with a little more caution. He didn't want to be in the line of fire of a guy who had "dead" in his name. That was just asking for trouble.
He found himself perched on a rooftop, a safe distance away, as Oliver confronted Frank Bertinelli. He saw the flash of gunfire from a building across the way, and the familiar sound of a ricocheting bullet. But this wasn't just any bullet. Adam, with his meta-knowledge, knew it was a poisoned one.
The moment Deadshot's signature bullet hit its target, Guido's mental screen went haywire.
[Major Canon Villain Detected: Deadshot.]
[Reward: C-Rank Tracking Gu and 1000 Coins.]
[Gu Acquired: C-Rank Tracking Gu.]
[Coins Acquired: 1000.]
A new buzzing sensation, this one more focused and precise, appeared in his mind. It felt like a miniature GPS, a compass that pointed to things he wanted to find. He immediately focused on Deadshot. The buzzing sensation in his head pointed directly to a building a few blocks away. The Gu was already working.
"A Tracking Gu. Now that's a useful tool. No more searching for lost cats, now I can track lost… supervillains. Or, you know, my car keys. I lose those a lot. A C-Rank Gu, too! This is a major upgrade. I'm officially a certified private detective with a magical bug that helps me find things. I'm basically the Sherlock Holmes of the Arrowverse, but with a lot more sarcasm and a lot less cocaine."
He watched as Oliver and Diggle dealt with the fallout. He knew what came next. Diggle would figure out Oliver's secret and become his partner. This was a crucial moment. The dynamic duo of Oliver and Diggle was the heart and soul of the early seasons of the show.
Guido, ever the diligent taskmaster, chimed in with a new mission.
[Mission: Acquire an ally.]
Adam's smirk returned. "An ally? Oh, I know just the guy. He's a former soldier, a moral compass, and he's probably going to be the only one who can talk Oliver down from his emotional ledge. He's the Sam to Oliver's Frodo. The Han to his Luke. The… well, you get the point. I need Diggle."
He made a mental note to himself. John Diggle was a man of integrity. He wouldn't be swayed by money or a flashy promise of power. He was a man who valued loyalty and trust. Adam knew he couldn't just walk up to him and offer him a Gu. He had to earn his trust. He had to prove he was a worthy ally, someone who could be relied on.
"This is going to be a long game. I can't just walk up to Diggle and say, 'Hey, you want a bug that makes you super strong? Also, I know all your secrets from the future.' He'd think I'm crazy. Or a meta-human. Or both. I'll have to be more subtle. More… Stiels-like. I'll use my charisma. My charm. My incredibly well-timed sarcastic comments. Yeah, that'll work."
He looked at his mental screen. Three Gu. A total of 1110 coins. He was slowly but surely becoming a force to be reckoned with. A sarcastic, chaotic, and very-much-not-a-hero force.