Don't forget to read the ending
----------------------------------
"Ha‑ha! This evening was unusually wonderful!" I laughed heartily, sprawling in the chair like a king after a victorious campaign. "Everything went perfectly. I am such an amazing actor… No, really, I need to find a mirror — imdiately. I must see this incomparable man for myself." I craned my neck as if searching for one.
"I liked today's show too!" giggled the White Rabbit, covering her lips with a gloved hand. "Alex, you were born to be a villain."
"I'm just glad we didn't have to fight," Katana said, settling onto the sofa beside Lorina. "Taking souls is never a pleasant task… although, I wouldn't have minded putting Ulysses Klaue's into the blade. I haven't t such a nasty man in a long ti."
"His personality leaves a lot to be desired," I agreed, leaning back. "But he's a reliable supplier, and our cooperation will bear fruit. Most importantly—we got what we ca for."
I produced one of the glass capsules filled with pure vibranium ore, holding it up to the light and admiring its dull, absorbing shimr.
"There's one thing that bothers ," Tatsu said suddenly, her tone serious. "You always say you never lie. Yet tonight you perford an entire act based on lies. You contradict yourself, don't you?"
"Not at all," I replied instantly. "You yourself called it a performance. That's acting — theater, pretense. I didn't lie; I played a role. To get the desired effect, I had to fully imrse myself in the character. There are many subtleties in my 'never lie' principle that might make it seem like I'm breaking it, but I'm not. For example, if I tell a joke, I can lie — that's fine. Or if I impersonate soone else and speak on their behalf? Sa rule. It's not lying; it's the role."
"I see… It's complicated," she said slowly.
"It depends how you look at it."
"What are you two talking about?" Rabbit asked with an exaggerated pout. "I don't understand a word!"
"We're talking about Alex's distinctive trait," Yamashiro explained patiently.
"Really? Which one?" The villainess perked up instantly, her bunny ears twitching.
"I never lie," I finished for my bodyguard.
"Honestly? Honestly‑honestly? How interesting!" she gasped, blushing and clutching her cheeks. "That ans everything you've told before has a whole new aning! We must celebrate! I'll tell them to set the table, and then we'll continue this conversation."
Lorina Dodson bounced to her feet and left the room, white boots tapping on the floor, her ridiculous ears swaying with each step.
"Alex, besides the two of us, she's the only one who knows Jack of the Shadow's true identity. If anyone else wants that information, they'll co for her. Can she be trusted with such an important secret?" Yamashiro asked bluntly.
"You don't need to worry about that," I said without hesitation. "She'll never talk."
"Why are you so sure?"
"Three reasons. First — my intuition says so, and my intuition doesn't get things like this wrong. Second — her feelings for . She likes , though in… a slightly perverse way, because she's not exactly 'healthy' by normal standards. And third — precisely because she's crazy, she's one of the hardest people in the world to break. If she doesn't want to betray a belief, nothing will make her. So our secret is safe. Still… I'll need to consider every possible scenario and be ready to protect Miss Dodson's life. She's my responsibility now."
"…And not only that," the swordswoman murmured.
******************************
[Eight o'clock. Morning. Gotham City — Babylon.]
"Two kilos of vibranium, as ordered." I set the box on the lab table with a satisfying thud. "Sign here." I slid a sheet and pen toward the two won in white coats.
"Well, that was fast," Kavita Rao remarked with a crooked smile.
"Delivery services are quite punctual these days," Pala Ivy added dryly.
"You're lucky it didn't co through Gotham's courier service." Pala smirked.
"What?"
"Never mind…" Ivy was already lifting the box lid.
Inside, the precious gray‑silver tal glead with its strange, light‑and‑sound‑devouring sheen. Pala handled it with almost maternal care, removing the containers one by one.
"You've got the vibranium," I said. "How long until you can grow the flower?" I turned to the red‑haired beauty, now donning protective gloves.
"A day," the dryad replied without looking up.
"So fast?"
"This flower is unfamiliar to — these past days were for studying it," Pala explained. "Now that I understand it, the actual growing will be quick. As soon as I prepare the soil with these adorable little nuggets"—her green eyes sparkled—"the babies will sprout."
Yes… I had clearly underestimated her florokinetic powers. She was Mother Nature, incarnate, and I couldn't be happier I'd persuaded her to join Team .
"Well, my work here's done," I said, dusting off my hands.
Two kilograms of the rarest tal on Earth — as fertilizer. It sounded insane, but there was no more accurate way to put it. That left with eight kilos.
Five, I decided, I'd keep for myself — vibranium isn't just valuable; it's irreplaceable, with applications limited only by imagination. The remaining three… I'd probably pass on to my dear friend.
Well, not pass on. Sell. After all, he had far more money than — and I'd spent a small fortune to pull off this deal.
......…
......…
[Later — Wayne Tower.]
"Buddy, today you're getting the deal of the century!" I announced, placing a small, locked case on Bruce Wayne's desk. "Three kilos of vibranium — thirty thousand per gram! A dream co true, no? No need to thank . But just so you know, acquiring this rare mineral involved fire, water, and copper pipes. Applause, please. Go on."
Bruce's eyes narrowed. "How much did you pay for it?"
"Ahem… you don't need to trouble yourself with that detail. Let's just say it wasn't cheap." I waved a hand airily. "And frankly, it's rude to grill your business partners about procurent costs."
"Business partners don't — but a friend does." His gaze sharpened. "And my instinct says your price is… inflated."
"All right, fine… $29.99 thousand per gram. See how generous I am today?" I spread my hands in mock benevolence.
"Twenty‑five," he countered flatly. "No more."
"Hey! I risked my life for this 'scrap tal.' My starting price is more than fair, given the risks."
"Nothing personal, Alex. Just business."
"I'm starting to see exactly how you made your fortune."
"I inherited it," Bruce replied, expression dead serious.
I sighed. "Fine. Shake."
We clasped hands. "You owe $75 million — pocket change for a billionaire."
"It's a pleasure doing business with you," he said with the ghost of a smirk. "But why so generous?"
"I thought your… night‑ti alter‑ego could make use of vibranium. As a sign of friendship, I sold you a chunk of my haul."
"Did you keep so for yourself?"
"I'd never shortchange my beloved self. Don't worry."
"Will you tell how you got it?" Bruce asked, curiosity breaking through his usual steel control.
"A trade secret…"
"I'll find out anyway." The Dark Knight's voice dropped to a theatrical growl. "Better confess now."
"Oh, frightening," I mocked. "But all right — I'll tell you, in all its glory. It happened on a Tuesday…"
And so I recounted: being tasked with sourcing the rarest mineral on the planet; tracing its trail into Marvel's New York; staying at the lair of the villainous White Rabbit; arranging a tense eting with the unpleasant Ulysses Klaue; becoming possessed by the demon persona known as Jack of the Shadow; watching him steer the negotiations with perfect nace until the deal succeeded; securing Klaue's agreent for future work; and, finally, wrestling that dark persona back into the mask where it belonged.
For now.
Because when the ti ca, I could don it again — to beco Jack of the Shadow: scourge of mankind, nightmare of heroes… and, in particular, of one brooding bat in Gotham.
After all, he's exactly the villain this world deserves.
But not the one it needs right now.
.
.
.
Thank you all for reading, hope you all enjoyed it.
Btw, today's word is "Obfuscate"
One again, a gentle reminder to let you all know where you have to drop your power stones.
Don't forget that you all can read 40 extra chapters on [email protected]/annihilator009
Just by replacing @ with a.
Reviews
All reviews (0)