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Negotiations

[God's Cafe, Kira POV]

"Welcome to God's Cafe. How can I help you?" I stand up, welcoming the visitors with a smile.

What the heck was that greeting just now? What am I, a Starbucks employee? Never doing that again.

Batman's gaze sure is intense. It's almost like he is trying to glare a hole straight through my head.

"You guys can take a seat, you know, these tables aren't here just for decorations." Trying to alleviate the silence, which seemed to make the two ladies nervous, I offered them all a seat. The women happily oblige, but Batman instead appears to have made up his mind and starts his interrogation without paying attention to the other two he had initially been chasing after.

"So... Kira... Many before you have claimed to be a god only to in the end be exposed as much less than that. Can you prove your claims of being a god?" He asks with his signature rough voice you would hear in the movies.

The smile never leaving my face, I don't even bother to reply before releasing a tiny amount of divine aura. The two women sitting by the table widen their eyes and lower their heads instinctively, while Batman doesn't even so much as flinch.

Even if it was a minuscule amount of divinity, his willpower is quite amazing to be able to resist kneeling before me.

"I see." He says and retreats to a back corner to sit down on a couch. I see him close his eyes and fall into deep thought.

Seeing her opportunity to speak, the woman dressed in a skin-tight cat costume introduces herself. "Hey there, don't mind the broody old man. In Gotham, I go by Catwoman but feel free to call me Selina."

Feeling pressured to introduce herself, Selina's neighbor starts talking. "Poison Ivy or Pamela Isley, feel free to call me whatever you want."

Should I set up some plants around the place for the next time she comes to visit? It wouldn't hurt to have some more decorations up either way.

"We have been given 100 of the currency you have here, right? Any recommendations on what we should spend it on?" Selina asks with an eagre expression. No wonder she has to keep stealing when she is so quick to spend money.

Pamela doesn't say anything to this, but her face tells me she is just as interested.

"Well, If you don't feel like looking through the whole store yourself, I guess I could recommend something fitting for both of you."

"Pamela, for you, I suggest a mixed leaf salad. It might seem simple, but it will improve your affinity with nature slightly, making it easier for you to communicate with your plants and cast nature magic in the future if you obtain some. The effect is very weak but sticks with you permenantly"

She nods and quickly finds it on the menu. Purchasing it without a second thought, she sees 25 of her coins slip away.

"Selina could get low-leveled Shadow Camouflage. As the name suggests, it allows you to blend into the shadows to hide for a short period of time."

Looking it up on the store menu, which is just a hologram that any customer can access through mental controls, she buys it for 75 coins.

"Pricy, but it will be handy for getting out of a sticky situation," She comments, trying to use her new technique.

I make it nighttime outside so it would be easier for her, and soon enough, she disappears completely. Not for me, of course. I can see her just fine.

Watching her play around with Pamela, who has no clue where Selina is touching her from, I notice Batman finally opening his eyes and standing up.

"I will let the Justice League know about this place. If we help other worlds during missions, can we expect them to extend a helping hand to us when Darkseid makes his move?" He doesn't even bother to explain who Darkseid is, understanding that I probably already know about him.

"Of course, I'll issue a mission when the time finally comes. The Justice League members will also be able to grow stronger in the meantime from getting rewards."

Selina has noticed Batman getting up and left Pamela to her salad as she focuses her mischief towards Batman.

She starts doing jumping jacks next to Batman, trying her best to hold back a burst of laughter. I wonder if I should tell her that Batman can see her just fine. As expected of the greatest detective in Gotham, his perception is outstanding.

"Selina, what are you doing?" He asks in a monotone voice.

Selina stops her antics and blushes. "Kira, the power I bought is faulty. I demand a refund!"

"Sorry, we have a no refund policy. Also, you just need to train more, you only just got the power."

Turning toward the two villains, Batman makes them an offer. "I want you two to keep this place a secret. In return, I promise to pull some strings and get both of you cleared of all your crimes."

"What's got you feeling so charitable now?" Selina asks, knowing full well why Batman would want this place to stay a secret.

"You don't want us to tell other villains about his place, right? I wasn't planning on it anyways. A superpowered firefly would happily set fire to every forest he sees. I'll gladly take you up on that offer." Pamela agrees without a big fuss.

"Right, if someone demented like The Joker were to gain powers, he would get even more dangerous than he already is," Batman says. Did I just see him shudder while thinking about that?

After some negotiations, it was agreed that Selina and Pamela would keep this place a secret, and in return, they would be cleared of their crimes and work together with The League but not join it. Pamela also got Batman to agree to use some of his billions on reforesting the planet.

Selina just seemed to be giddy about going to other worlds to steal their treasures. I can already tell she will cause many unfortunate rich people headaches.

Batman starts heading towards the door to leave but then turns to me and asks another question. "The door to this place is currently in a random alleyway. Is it possible to change its location to somewhere more secure like The League's headquarters?"

"While I agree that the door shouldn't stay in the alley, how do you expect us to get here if you hide it away at your headquarters?" Pamela exclaims, giving Batman an uneasy look.

"Neither of you have to worry about a thing. I'll set up a permanent door at your space station. Also, anyone who has been here once can return through any door just by thinking that they want to come here." I give an answer to both of their questions. Happy with the response, Batman turns back, walks through the door, and ends up at the alleyway he originally entered from.

Just as the door is about to close, Selina chases after him, exclaiming in a loud voice. "You have a fucking space station?"

I'm not 100% happy with how this chapter turned out, but at least there is only one or two more before the first mission starts.

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