New Quest #59

Gotham

Gray's hideout

I smiled as I confirmed the order on my computer and watched as the 20k I'd made in the past three days evaporated, replaced by more stocks in Wayne Enterprises.

I'd spent a day getting electricity and setting up my new hideout, and although I still had to furnish the place and make it more presentable since it looked empty and ugly as sin, it was still comfortable enough for me to spend my time here.

I spent the next few days grinding my Computers skill while stealing minuscule amounts of money from different sources through scams or directly hacking into any corporation with lax cyber security I found.

I avoided stealing from anybody who'd miss what I took, and even then, I didn't take much to make sure no one would notice or bother investigating the missing funds.

I could have easily made ten times more, but I didn't want to risk it, and I won't have to either way since Wayne stocks were already rising back up, and it's only a matter of time before I could sell what I bought at a tremendous profit.

And although I've been ignoring the notification prompts to focus on my work, I'm pretty sure close to maxing out the Programmer class if I didn't already.

'Let's what we have here...' I mused, smiling as I brought up the accumulated notifications from the last three days.

[New quest initiated: Get Rich Or Die Trying (literally) IV]

[Would you like to accept it? Yes/No]

...

Get Rich Or Die Trying (literally) IV:

You finally got a taste of money, but is that really enough to fill the black hole in your heart? You want, you need; it makes the world go round. Go for it.

[Objective: Gather $1,000,000 through any means]

[Rewards: [unique random equipment] [+5 levels to the crime skill] [+5 levels to the Computers skill]

...

'Oh? A new money quest, and it just jumped to one million...' I sighed as I read through the quest, feeling the urge to scoff at the rapid escalation that reminded me of my teacher.

'Whatever...' I shrugged as I accepted the quest, intending to treat the current money quest as I did the latter by ignoring it until I suddenly got the prompt that it was complete.

The rewards were much better, but I don't want to end up obsessing over it like when I first got the quest. Thank you very much.

'Moving on...' I dismissed the new quest notification windows and moved on to the rest.

[+3 levels to the Computer skill]

[Computers (level 31)]

[+1 level the Crime skill]

[Crime (level 34)]

[+2 levels to the Programmer class]

[Programmer (level 29)]

[+6 skill points]

'Shame... I only needed one more level in Computers to max out the Programmer class, oh well...' I dismissed the notification windows and retrieved my laptop to grind that last level.

And sure enough, I got the level-up notification an hour later since I was already close to leveling up the skill.

[+1 level to the Computers skill]

[Computers (level 22)]

[+1 level to the Programmer class]

[Programmer (level max)]

[+1 level to the Archetype: Mad scientist]

[You gained the power: Personal Computer]

[Personal Computer: the ability to integrate a single computer into your brain, giving you full, telepathic access to all of its functions (you may choose to assimilate a different, more powerful computer at any time)]

'Huh... that will definitely be convenient...' I mused as I pushed down the urge to try my new power immediately since I wanted to get through the rest of the notifications first.

[You have reached the maximum capacity of your current class. Would you like to choose a new one now?]

'Well, geez, what do you think...?' I immediately agreed and began browsing the list of available classes.

[Available archetype specific classes: (Mechanic) (Surgeon) (Chemist) (Biologist)]

[Available basic classes: (Gunman) (Duelist) (Artist) (Scholar) (Linguist)]

'Nothing new...' I mused, my eyes inadvertently turning to the Gunman class. The best class choice would be the Mechanic since it would give me another venue to make money and enable me to create and improve weapons and gadgets.

However, I couldn't pry the idea of getting the Gunman class to better use Ivory and Ebony. After several seconds of hesitation, I gave in to the temptation and took the Gunman class.

[You have gained a new class: Gunman]

[You have gained the skill: Gun Mastery]

[Gun Mastery: This skill covers your basic things that go "bang" — shotguns, pistols, and the like]

[Due to your prior experience, you have gained four levels in the Gun mastery skill]

[Gun Mastery (level 5)]

[+2 levels to the Gunman class]

[Gunman (level 3)]

[+6 stat points]

"Too bad I don't have an extra stat point, or I'd raised the three of my attributes to 75..." I remarked, chuckling with a shake of my head as I turned to my character screen.

I didn't need to have OCD for the mere idea of only one attribute being behind by one point while the other two were matching to irritate me.

"Now to try out the new power..." I muttered as I turned to my still running laptop and touched with my right, feeling the energy leave my body and move into it.

The energy disappeared, but something else came back, rushing directly to my brain as the laptop shut down, and I felt a surge of information coursing through my gray matter.

A slight headache accompanied the strange feeling, and information rush and it quickly disappeared, giving way to an even weirder sensation, as I could already feel my brain turn into a high-powered alien computer.

I instinctively knew how to operate it and had direct access to every function of the laptop, enabling me to do anything I'd typically need the computer for and then some.

I could now easily do everything mentally with no input lag or delay, and I'd go as far to say I might even have a chance if I end up clashing with Anarky again in a fair cyber fight since I'd have the reaction time and speed advantage.

It would also make active hacking, during combat or any other urgent situation to achieve some watchdogs level bullshitry, possible.

'Oh, the things I'd be able to do with this power once I grind my Computers skill a bit more...'

I couldn't help but grin as I began imagining several scenarios of how I'd use the power, but I shook my head as I retrieved Ebony and Ivory from my inventory.

'Still feels the same...' I mused as I raised the guns to aim through the iron sights, not feeling better at shooting, which made sense as the system merely translated my already existing shooting skill into experience and levels.

'How about this then...' I raised an eyebrow as I took out one of the guns I'd pocketed during my attack on the Black Mask's warehouse on the docks.

It was an uzi machine gun, and as I raised it and looked through the iron sights, it felt as comfortable as holding Ebony and Ivory. I knew I could use it as proficiently as the twin pistols, despite never touching the machine gun until now.

'Nice...' I nodded in satisfaction as I put the uzi back into my inventory and equipped my gear, making my way outside, looking forward to grinding out the Guns skill.

'Maybe I can max out the Gunman class before Richard even gets back if I'm lucky...'

...

Somewhere in Upper Gotham

Black mask hummed, tabbing the armrest with his finger as he listened to his most trusted subordinate and second command, Tattoo, report about their latest failure.

Tattoo was a tall man, standing roughly 6.3 feet tall with a broad, muscular frame. He had a bald head and vicious, tattoo-covered visage that seemed frozen in an eternal scowl that would scare the most wilful of children into their going into bed early.

Tattoo was quite an intimidating sight, which was quite fitting considering his notoriety for violence and cruelty as he crossed every line in service of Roman Sionis' whim.

But even such a violent, brutal man could not help but sweat and feel suffocated as Black Mask calmly stared into his eyes, gently and slowly tapping at the luxurious chair's armrest.

"We had the Vietnamese in Bludhaven by the balls, an' we were ready to take over..." Tattoo uncomfortably explained, opening the top button of his shirt as he felt suffocated.

"But that freak Nightwing showed up, hospitalized half of our boys, and sent the rest to Black Gate along with the Vietnamese..." Tattoo added, unable to take Black Mask's gaze any longer as he turned away.

"I'm not happy, Tattoo. I'm not happy, and despite appearances, this ain't a damned smile on my face," Black mask remarked, his tapping turning more rapid, much to Tattoo's chagrin as he visibly cringed.

"First, it was that bitch Harley Quinn and that new guy... then the Intergang encroaching on my city, and now this..." Black Mask remarked, his tone growing colder and his face turning more menacing with every word.

"And there's wasn't a goddamned thing any of you could do about it..." he scowled as he stood up and turned to the window, staring into the dark, grin cityscape.

"This is your last chance to do something about it... or I'll have to resort to finding outside help..." he concluded, and Tattoo understood that the conversation had officially ended.

"I won't let you down, boss."

...

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