Gotham was Gothic. And Brockton Bay was—Brockton Bay.

There was no grand design behind the creation of my city. I couldn't think of a vision that made Brockton Bay stand out. No identity like other American cities I could think of. Boston was charming, Los Angeles was dreaming and New York was humbling. But what was Brockton Bay?

Not rotting no matter what the outsiders said. We still had life left. Not prosperous. We were far from it. Not a city of capes. There was more than rubble left of the city.

Questions about my city rolled through my mind as drove in the heavy rain. It was a new perspective being in the driver's seat. Even with my new instincts from [Urban Warfare] making me an expert driver, I couldn't help but wonder what I was meant to do about Brockton Bay.

I knew what my goal was, It hadn't changed. I wanted to be a legend, I wanted to be remembered. But what was my city and what did I want it to be?

I kept thinking as the scenery outside my window visibly kept getting greyer and grimier.

—

The map on my car was interesting. It was far more detailed than any map of the city I had seen. Digital or on paper. As I drove, I saw the map gain even more clarity. The buildings around the area I drove through became 3D. It seemed like some sort of sensor was creating the models. I made a note to look into it.

I slowed down as I approached the pub. The instincts in me made me look around for vantage points and security cameras before finding an appropriate place to park it. I could have come here dressed in less expensive clothes, but my goal wasn't to hide around and scope for information.

No, I wanted to talk to the person who owned this place. I wanted to learn what they felt about being part of a multinational corporation. If they had any idea this existed. What they will do when they learn about this and why my power chose this place to be part of the reward?

I didn't know I was in for even more surprises than I was expecting.

—

My first surprise wasn't very big. It was just that this place had its own small parking lot. I was fully expecting to have to park by the roadside.

The pub itself was very shoddy looking. There were iron bars on the windows. it was not the first place I had seen those. However, the amount of rust on the bars and everything else was a first. The rust from the bars on the windows bled onto the grey-white paint below it.

My second surprise was that there were other cars parked there. Rich-looking cars. Nothing like mine, of course. I didn't need the [A Detective's Lens] to tell me something was wrong. I noticed the empty driver's licence on my own. I took another moment to take it all in and walked into the pub.

—

The inside of the bar was dim, dingy, and depressing. The wood floor was stained the same colour as the counter while the curtains and tablecloths were dark green. The only "real colour" or "brightness" was the bright yellow light cast by old light bulbs.

Two heads, one of the person tending the bar and the other of the person sitting at the table facing the bartender turned to me as I entered.

The look on the bartender's face was one of surprise, which only grew as he looked at my face. The bartender himself wore far better clothes than what I was expecting from such a rundown bar, my new instincts told me he looked like he had been tending bars for a long time. The way he mixed a martini told me all about it. I didn't know why [No Better Barista In Town] contained all that knowledge but I was thankful nonetheless.

But the bartender was the least interesting of the two heads that had turned to look at me.

The second person was a cape. A cape in their full costume. A cape I recognized in fact.

The person currently staring at me was Othala of Empire 88. A Nazi cape and the person rumoured to be in a relationship with the person I had put in jail not even two normal days ago. Victors, Girlfriend? Wife? Sister? All at once? I didn't know and wouldn't put past the assholes.

I walked forwards after fixing my posture and facial expressions and trying not to show how surprised I was at seeing a cape in this pub. I wanted to act like I was expecting the Superpowered Nazi sitting at the counter.

If the place had an exclusive clientele of Empire capes, that would answer why this place made so much money for a seedy place like this. I kept my inquiry about the bar's status in my mind and activated the skill [Detective's Lens] as I walked forward.

Three dots grew bright in my vision.

The first was the locks on the multiple booths. The conclusion to take from that was simple. There was a need for privacy here.

The second highlight was a box partially hidden in the far corner of the bar. What I could make out from such a distance told me there was text on it. Japanese text. Another simple conclusion to come to, but one that made the picture I was building of the bar in my mind crumble.

The third highlight was a picture, one of a smiling family, probably the one that 'owned' this place. However, I felt as if there was more to that picture that I was missing.

[Urban Combat] was good enough to let me use the damn shadows from the flimsy light of the bar to hide all my examinations. I hoped I looked as calm and collected as I was trying to be. Soon, I had reached the bartender who hadn't taken his eyes off me for even a second.

I sat down next to Othala as she continued staring at me. She was drunk, I could tell from how she smelled. Given her powers, I would have expected a bodyguard or another cape accompanying her, but I saw none.

"Just beer," I said. I didn't drink, I was not legally allowed to. But even beyond that, I remembered how dad got immediately after mom died. I remember how he drowned himself in alcohol. I didn't want to drink for that reason, but I had to do it to maintain my cover.

"Miss your identification, please." Said the bartender, sounding confused and suspicious.

Now, I had the required identification. Kate Wayne was 18 years old. I could have just shown him that. But I knew enough to not do it. So I took out cash from my pocket and slid it to him.

"Here's the ID, now get me something to drink," I spoke in the sweetest voice I could manage. I had decided that the sweet girl persona would work better than the hard-ass one for Kate Wayne.

The bartender took the cash I had slid him, removed his frown, shrugged and went to get my drink.

I looked toward Othala. I was expecting her to be aggressive towards me. But on a closer inspection, I saw that she was in no state to do so.

"Watchu doin' here… gud girls don drink." then she hiccupped. I immediately regretted sitting next to her when she hugged me.

"Tammy? Eri— why are you so boney…."

And there goes this life. I can't have Kate know the names of capes or people close to them. I should have sent in a stealth drone first. Though I wanted to see this timeline through to figure out what I can find out.

"Umm—Mr. Barkeep, why is there a Cape hugging me? Should I be here?" I asked just as the bartender, returned with my simple order.

His suspicious gaze hadn't dropped. But he replied as if he wasn't.

"Now you ask me? We don't usually get any civilian customers. Especially when a cape is going through—one of these. I recommend you run away before any more of the capes visit. And keep your damn mouth shut."

"Sure. Just, Why did you let me in?" I asked him as Othala, started to nuzzle into me. Gross. I think she was crying.

"Thought you had some business with some cape—what else?" He shakes his head. "And don't bother reporting this place to the cops or the PRT. They know."

"I see." And since this was a discarded timeline, I continued. "But I have 'business' with you, sir," I said.

"With me?" He asked with his eyebrows raised. Just as when Othala's hugs grew more frantic.

"Eric, why did you… Why did.." she mewled.

"Better not remember that name. Forget that you were ever here. You don't want to get involved with capes. Not with the Empire ones, especially wearing that. Trust me it never ends well." he said as he passed me a glass of rum. He also turned his face to show a scar running down his left cheek.

"You are so sweet. But please don't worry about me Mr. bartender." Was that a bit too much? and from the look on his face, it was. Sadly I didn't have a skill to help with acting nor any experience. [Urban Warfare] did not consider it an essential part of the [Skill].

"Rich daddies girls." I heard him mutter. "Call me Ebbe." He said, introducing himself.

"Ebbe, can you—" I started to ask when Othala perked up.

"Is that for meee…." she said as she picked up the glass of rum he had passed to me and drank it all in one shot.

"Jesus! I am so happy she has the least destructive power among the Empire capes." He said.

I decided to ignore the antics of the drunk Nazi and ask him what I wanted to know.

"Who owns this place?" I asked him.

He snorts.

"And here I thought, with that entrance that you were some bigshot. Get out, kid. Before any more of them comes in and sees you here." He says dismissively.

I wanted a different approach and just as I was ready to leave for the second place 'I owned', I heard the sound of two cars coming to a stop. I looked out to see more capes.

From the first car, came out the two capes I recognized. Kaiser and one of the Fenja/Menja twins, I could never tell.

And from the second, came out a girl in a purple costume and a boy wearing a Ren fair getup. There was also a guy with guns on his waist who acted like their bodyguard.

"Fuck. Girl, get out." The bartender urged me.

I was of half a mind to continue sitting there. But I decided that there were better ways to find out what was going on here in a second run.

"Ok. Thanks," I said as I extracted myself from Othala's grip. She had started drifting off. I was only thankful that she hadn't thrown up on me.

I made a mental note about everything I had to examine further.

Why was Othala here? Why were capes visiting this place? Why was it considered normal? What was the significance of that picture? Who were the two new capes, I hadn't heard of?

And the question I was originally here to look into.

Who owned this place?

—

I walked out to see all four capes studying my car.

"—definitely some tinker tech." Said the cape in violet.

A snort from Kaiser.

"No simple tinker tech car would look this good. Are you truly a Thinker as you claim?" he said in his pompous voice. It reminded me of Victor and just hearing it made me want to punch the guy. But maybe not in this timeline. He turned towards me without waiting to hear the Thinker's retort. "And you are the owner of this beauty, I presume."

Knowing that the violet cape was a thinker was good.

"Yes. Mr Kaiser, sir" I said, feigning anxiety. Ok, now I am thankful that I have a reason to drop this timeline. Kate Wayne is not keeping this persona. Makes me want to throw up.

The violet cape had a frown on her face. I took it to understand that she had picked up something about me already.

"Be at ease Girl. An upstanding young lady like you has nothing to fear from the Empire. I take it you are not a cape but came here to meet some?" He asked me.

"I—I will just get going."

"What's the rush? Tell me about this Car of yours. Impressive specimen. We could use someone like you on our side." Said, Kaiser.

"Neutral place, Kaiser. Or should I leave?" Asked the Thinker coming to my rescue.

"Now you are talking sense Tats, Let's leave. I don't want to be out in this shitty weather." Added the Ren Fair cape.

Kaiser seemed to appraise the situation and moved away from me.

"While I hate the implication that I would do something untoward, I think I can let the young lady be on her way," he said and walked into the pub expecting everyone to follow.

I reasonably assumed he was devising ways to follow up on me later. Not a matter to me since this was a dead timeline.

"No need to thank me, kiddo." Said the Thinker as she looked towards me. "You sure you are old enough to drive that thing? And I don't mean the age on whatever fake ID you are carrying."

I just crossed my arms. I was building a rough idea of her powers.

"Haha—I kid. I don't care if you are old enough to drive or drink. Here, take this. Call us if you need something—special." She said as she passed me what looked like a business card.

"I might even be able to help you with handling Kaiser. Because he will come after you." She said softly. I could barely make it out due to all the sound of the rain. "Now go before he decides to come out." She taps me on my shoulder and walks into the bar.

Interesting.

—

I walked into the car and looked at the magnetic mapper to see if she had put a tracker or something similar on me. The scan came up negative.

I drove back. I hadn't bought any of my drones or weapons. I had completely misunderstood the kind of place this would be.

Next time I will have to return as Vulpente. I asked myself if I should also go visit Fugly Bob's before a reset and decided that I will.

—

My trip to Fugly Bob's was a lot simpler. I ordered one of the less greasy burgers from their menu and asked the cashier if I could talk to their manager. I felt terrible as I did so. Probably the worst thing I had done so far but I had to do it.

She looked incredibly annoyed as she relented and let me. I internally apologized and walked forward to meet the manager.

Turns out the highest level of person I could talk to was the manager. When she heard that I just had a question about who owned the place, her incredibly annoyed reply was that "It was obviously Bob" the guy who started the restaurant.

I tested my luck and asked if I could talk to Bob and that's when she kicked me out. Telling her that "I probably own this place." didn't help either. I didn't blame her, I would have done the same.

Ah well, I had other options.

—

The third place I owned in Brockton Bay was an Italian restaurant called Molto Italiano.

I walked into the place and this time I decided to take things slightly differently.

"Hello, may I have your name to check for reservation?" Asked the receptionist.

"I don't have a reservation. This is more of a surprise visit from Wayne Industries." I said. I think I liked this level of peppiness for Kate. Sounded less embarrassing than what I had to do at the Pub. Though I was leaning towards cutting off the peppiness all together on my next run.

"Waynes?" She asked. I couldn't tell if she didn't believe me or didn't know who owned the place.

"Of course. Wayne Industries. I am Kate Wayne, I own this place. Do you not know?" Confidence was the key. I had to believe that I was right, that I did own the restaurant. I looked her in the face and she faltered.

"—I thought Mr Francesco owned the restaurant. I didn't—"

"Is he here?" I asked her.

"Yes of course. Should I get him?" She asked me. I didn't even have to ask her to get him as I was learning confidence made the difference.

"Yes, please," I told her as she went to get the 'owner' of the restaurant.

—

I was sitting down with Francesco. He was just the kind of guy I imagined would own a restaurant. He was in his late fifties. He was wearing an apron and I could tell that he enjoyed working in the kitchen as much as he enjoyed running the restaurant.

"So you are the one who bought my restaurant?" He asks me, his voice tinged with curiosity.

"Yeah. It's my company that bought it. We did pay you the right price, didn't we?"

He grins as he says. "Are you planning to pay me more money, Mrs Wayne? I won't say no to that."

I laughed along with the not-so-funny joke for the sake of that man.

"I am here to make sure that you are happy. I wasn't involved with the negotiation procedure. And you know how they get, right?" I prodded him.

"Don't know how much you paid, eh? Not the first time I've seen it. Don't worry Miss Wayne. I got my due. Was planning to sell this place anyway. Would have given it away for less than what your lawyers wanted." He then takes a deep breath. "Not that this is a bad place. of course. Just look out and see how many customers we have. We never had to let people in without a reservation in the past six years."

I was now curious.

"So then why? why did you sell this place?"

"That's the question, is it not? It's simple Miss Wayne. I want to retire. I love cooking, especially cooking for all the people here but age catches up to you, you know? And don't worry I won't slack off. I know what it said on the contract. I can do two more years."

Contract?

Of course, there were contracts. I hadn't found any copies of the contracts yet because I hadn't thought about looking for them. It should have been the first thing I searched for. The conversation was illuminating in how many blind spots I had. The contracts might be on either of the computers.

I focus back on the conversation again. There was one more thing I could ask him.

"I came to talk to you since I was nearby. It's good to hear that you are happy. Is there anything I can help you with? Do you happen to be in need of—chairs?"

Look, I had to get those chairs out of the Batcave. There were 200 of them lying around and taking up space.

"Chairs? Do you think our chairs are bad Miss Wayne?" He asked me. And that was the grimmest I had seen him in the entire conversation. I looked around and saw the perfectly fancy restaurant chairs. I suppose they won't need the chairs.

I sighed.

"Nothing. Let's talk business, I want to hear what you want and what you think you can do better now that you have us backing you up." I said, channeling people I had seen on TV.

From there we talked about the minutia of business, I managed to learn how the profits were split, management details and even got a new copy of the contract.

I spent a few more hours learning how to run a business. Francesco was only happy to do so.

I also discreetly prodded to see if he had any cape-related business going on. It seemed as if this was an entirely above-board location. There weren't even any 'Hero-related' items on the menu as many other places I knew of did.

While the picture the contract painted for me was that of a self-sustaining system at least when It came to day to day operations, I was starting to see how I had to at least be nominally involved in other special cases.

I needed help. I had to set up a company, I needed employees. And I had no idea how to do any of that while operating under the name of Kate Wayne before any of the carefully balanced Jenga pieces of the retroactively created organization started falling apart. And do it all when the restaurants I owned were scattered throughout the world.

I left a few hours later. The sun was starting to set and the rain was calming down.

For the management of all other restaurants, I will find the contracts, read them and take care of the issues as they come up. And for Somer's Rock, I liked to think I knew how to take care of that.

I wrapped my fingers around my bracelets and abandoned that timeline.

—