Day & Night (2)

The morning light filtered through the thin curtains of Bruce's rented room. He sat at the edge of the bed, sharpening the short sword he'd borrowed from the guild armory. His modified suit lay folded neatly on the desk, the faint outline of the bat symbol obscured beneath a layer of cloth.

Despite his successes the previous night, Bruce's thoughts churned. The Black Serpents were organized—too organized for mere street thugs. And then there was the crystal shard pulsing faintly in his satchel.

His gaze shifted to the mirror. The younger face staring back at him still felt unfamiliar, even after days in this new world. He ran a hand through his hair before pulling on his "commoner" clothes—a white buttoned shirt, black pants, and brown boots.

The mask of Bruce Wayne was ready.

....

Bruce entered the guild hall to check the board for new quests, but before he could make his way to the front, Lyra intercepted him, arms crossed and a sly smile on her face.

"You've been busy."

Bruce raised an eyebrow. "Have I?"

"Don't play dumb," she said, leaning closer. "Rumors are spreading. Thugs beaten unconscious, guards finding tied-up bandits left outside their barracks—silent as ghosts. And you just happen to disappear every night?"

Bruce smirked faintly. "You've got an active imagination."

"And you're terrible at hiding your tracks." She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "If you're trying to make enemies in this city, you're off to a great start."

Bruce's eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you want, Lyra?"

"To know who I'm working with," she shot back. "You're not an ordinary adventurer, and I don't like mysteries."

Bruce leaned in, dropping the playboy mask for just a moment. "Then you'll hate what's coming."

Lyra flinched slightly at the shift in tone, but before she could push further, Bruce turned away, heading toward the board.

...

Bruce spent the rest of the morning completing minor tasks—delivering messages, escorting merchants, and inspecting supply lines for farmers. Each errand allowed him to observe patterns, listen to gossip, and pinpoint areas of tension in the city.

He'd learned three key things by midday:

1. The Black Serpents weren't operating alone. Several nobles were suspected of protecting them.

2. Strange disappearances had been reported near the mines he cleared earlier.

3. An influx of foreign traders had brought rumors of shadowy figures operating outside the city walls.

Bruce filed the information away, handing over the quest completion tokens at the guild desk.

[Quest Chain Progression: Investigation - Phase 1 Complete.]

[Reward: +75 XP, 10 Gold Coins.]

...

Bruce slipped into his modified suit as dusk fell, blending seamlessly into the alleys and rooftops. The shadows welcomed him, amplifying his movements as he activated Silent Step, a skill he'd unlocked the night before.

The streets below bustled with late-night activity—merchants closing shop, drunkards stumbling home, and thugs lurking in dark corners.

Bruce's first stop was the docks, where the Black Serpents reportedly smuggled stolen goods. He perched atop a warehouse roof, observing as crates were loaded onto a caravan.

"Careful with that one," one of the workers barked. "Boss said it's fragile."

Bruce narrowed his eyes, activating Abyssal Insight. The crate pulsed faintly. Abyssal energy.

'They're trafficking corrupted materials,' he thought grimly.

He dropped down silently, throwing one of his newly acquired Smoke Bombs. The area erupted in confusion as smoke billowed out, and Bruce moved swiftly through the chaos.

His fists connected with precision—pressure points, nerve clusters, and joint locks disabling the workers before they could raise alarms.

When the last man fell, Bruce took the liberty of hiding the knocked out thugs in a less open space. Then Bruce went over to one of the crates, and pried it open. Inside, shards of dark crystal gleamed under the moonlight.

"More of these…" Bruce muttered, pocketing one for later study.

Before he could inspect further, the sound of footsteps approached. He melted back into the shadows, watching as two cloaked figures entered the warehouse.

"This shipment needs to leave tonight," one of them said. "If the higher-ups find out we've been delayed—"

"They won't," the other hissed. "We'll blame the guards, like always."

Bruce memorized their faces before silently slipping away into the night.

....

Later on in his room.

Bruce laid the crystal shard on the desk, its glow faint but persistent. The system chimed softly.

[Shadow Points Available: 10]

He pulled up his stats, distributing the points carefully:

• Strength: +2

• Agility: +3

• Endurance: +2

• Perception: +3

[Status Updated]

Bruce flexed his hands, feeling the subtle increase in his reaction time and awareness.

[Daily Quest Completed: Training Regimen.]

[Reward: +50 XP, Random Item—Throwing Knives (x5).]

He turned toward the knives that materialized in the inventory menu, their balance perfect as he tested them.

A knock interrupted his thoughts. Bruce opened the door to find Lyra standing there, arms crossed.

"Still brooding in the dark?"

Bruce stepped aside, letting her in.

"I asked around," she said. "The Black Serpents have a hideout near the noble district. But it's heavily guarded."

Bruce nodded. "I expected as much."

Lyra hesitated before speaking again. "Look… I know you don't trust me. But I want in."

Bruce raised an eyebrow.

"You're not the only one who wants them gone," she said, her tone firm. "I have my reasons."

Bruce studied her for a moment before turning to the desk and picking up one of the throwing knives. He handed it to her.

"Don't slow me down."

Lyra grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it."