An Odd Man

Splitting up in the middle of the city, outside the leader's mansion, everyone chose a path to take to learn what they could about this world where a battle would soon take place. Information about the world and the enemy is what every professional hero needs before he can find out how to proceed.

With everyone being accustomed to such work it was not long before they started finding people to chat with and dig out what they needed. Finding information dens in the back streets or just the most knowledgeable old people around, all where found and asked what they knew about the world at large and drawing what conclusions they could.

Larry, being his talkative self and a natural people person, found it easy to strike a conversation with almost anyone from the nicest old lady he could find, to the poorest beggar and make it feel like they have known each other for years. Even with people looking at him funny with a small creature riding on his shoulder.

Shaper, using his transformation ability crept into alleyways to dig out the secrets of those behind the scenes, and who ran the darker side of the city. Who would expect a rat in the alleyway to be a person spying on them?

Reaper, despite being a more of a loner could not chat with people like Larry, he could only try his best and ask the people diligently and honestly acting like a man sightseeing the city for the first time. Despite being turned away often, he still found people willing to give him the answers he was looking for.

Captain Yama took over the job of identifying the market with his powers. Acting like a mercenary coming to get his weapons repaired he could identify what metals were in the shop by using his lightning to gauge its conductivity, density, and magnetism traits. Although most stuff for sale in shops was sub-par for his standards, a few shops had metals that they could not identify and were metals he could only find in higher tier worlds.

Gremlin, despite not liking to talk to people at all or even the ones she does know, still got her information fairly easy. Despite wearing a mask, her trained body shone through her outfit too many men who came to talk to her hoping one might catch her attention. Using her newfound popularity she just asked simple questions the boys were more than happy to answer before she went away without even looking in their direction Leaving them feeling downtrodden and used.

Face on the other hand always had a particular way of talking to the locals in a new world when he needed information. Despite it being an odd way and frankly frowned upon by more senior heroes in his line of work, he always knew who he could get to talk whether it be in his original world or any other. In his experience, no person is as talkative as a woman who just loves to gossip.

Walking down the street trying to find a target he kept looking till a certain person entered his eyes. A woman coming out of some store caught his eye, sporting straight blond hair and wearing a pale red dress and while carrying what looked like a woven basket she looked around before heading for his direction. Without even noticing him at first, she was surprised when he suddenly stepped in front of her, blocking her way forward.

"Excuse me miss, I seem to have lost something, can you help me look for it?" Face said before she could show an expression of displeasure at this man so rudely blocking her way.

Before she could even wonder who this man was she responded hesitantly "Uum sure, what is it that you lost?"

With an almost bashful tone he answered: "Yea, I seem to have lost your phone number, could you help find it for me?"

With a slight tilt of her head to indicate her confusion she asked back "I'm sorry, what is a phone and how can it have numbers?"

Immediately following her response Face said awkwardly "Nevermind, It's not important." After hearing that, the woman just shook her head and walked past him thinking what an odd fellow he was.

He knew where he messed up after she left and facepalmed before reeling in his head "Right, middle-age technology, can't use that one. That one usually works." With a short reflection of his failed attempt, he continued on his way down the road looking for more women to hit on and hear what they know.