Vivi was slightly surprised when the system prompted her to “beware of retaliation.” As a player, she couldn’t truly die, so the warning wasn’t about her personal safety. However, retaliation could take other forms—such as assassinating the subordinates she had painstakingly trained or orchestrating arson and bombings in the city.

After all, destruction was always easier than construction.

Frowning, Vivi instructed Violin to prepare the necessary evidence for a public trial. Since they had decided not to take illegal measures to put these loan sharks behind bars, they would follow the proper channels—having borrowers sue the lending companies for illegal practices.

Finally, she added, “Stay safe.”

Violin, who had survived assassination attempts by the Talons, understood the gravity of her words. He nodded and said, “From the time I started the company until now, I’ve learned plenty about how to handle dirty tricks.”

After he left, Vivi made a call to Nora.

Nora Fries, the wife of Mr. Freeze, had been recovering in a hospital since being revived. While her husband served his sentence, Nora was trying to adjust to her new life. The two rarely had opportunities to speak—but as long as she could feel her pain, she could also feel her husband’s love.

Vivi refrained from commenting on their relationship, but during Nora’s rehabilitation, she had developed a good rapport with Jane and the other victims of the mine disaster. Nora seemed to believe that her husband’s past inaction toward others’ suffering was something she needed to atone for herself. After observing her for a few weeks, Vivi decided to take a chance.

She invited Nora Fries to become the director of the Diamond Orphanage.

Currently, the orphanage was just a placeholder on a plot of land filled with public toilets, but its location was prime—situated at the heart of South Hinckley. Next to it, there were plans for a kindergarten (not yet built), a small elementary school (just two floors), and even a potential university campus (perhaps a future branch of Miskatonic University). The idea was that children could receive free education up to high school.

As for where the orphans would come from—

“If they don’t want their children,” Vivi smiled, “then they belong to Gotham.”

“And if all goes as planned, South Hinckley will one day have its own prison, where Mr. Freeze could be transferred. You can think about whether you want to take the position.”

With her educational background, Nora was fully capable of carrying out Vivi’s vision. However, on the other end of the line, Nora hesitated and said, “I need to think about it. I want to see the children first.”

If she chose to become an orphanage director merely to be closer to her husband, how would she be any different from those who ignored the needs of the children?

After ending the call, Nora left her hospital room and headed to the children’s center—a colorful, whimsical building within the hospital complex.

Nora and Victor Fries had no children. During the years when she grew increasingly frail, children had never been part of her envisioned future. Each day was a countdown to death, and every night she worried it would be her last.

Greeting the nurses, she donned protective clothing and carefully stepped inside, sitting beside a small bed.

The boy sleeping before her rolled over in his sleep, his little fist punching his pillow, drool glistening at the corner of his mouth.

It was hard to believe that just three days ago, he had been frail and gaunt, barely clinging to life. Some feared the magic that had saved Nora, Jane, and these “toxic babies,” believing it could bring danger. But for those at the heart of the storm, they were genuinely grateful for the divine intervention.

Nora herself was thankful for the strange magic that had brought her back to life. She was willing to pay the price for it, even for debts she hadn’t personally incurred.

She tucked the blanket snugly around the boy before leaving. The next morning, city hall staff quickly completed the paperwork, clearing the children for discharge once their health was confirmed.

Nora was surprised by the efficiency. The timeline seemed almost too rushed, leaving her worried that the necessary personnel and supplies wouldn’t be ready. However, the city employees seemed unfazed. One commented, “That’s just how the mayor operates—she’s a woman of action.”

This veteran employee had seen it all: the previous mayor’s assassination, the wave of layoffs that followed, the transition to a bustling and demanding work environment. Over time, they had become accustomed to the pace. If the work was completed early, they could clock out early too, which, oddly enough, felt less stressful than the idle days of the past.

Still, the employee occasionally wondered—was the mayor too hasty?

It was as if someone—or something—was chasing her, compelling her to transform the city with extraordinary speed.

Nora also learned more about her new workplace and employer from the staff.

Her new boss, Daisy Diamond, was reportedly in poor health and rarely appeared in public. She had invested a great deal of money into South Hinckley’s redevelopment and even brought her team to live there, showing remarkable generosity. Yet she barely seemed to manage day-to-day affairs. It was clear the mayor had roped in another wealthy sponsor.

That afternoon, a timid knock came at Daisy’s door.

…It was the mother of one of the children.

The woman was desperate. She had no means to support herself but couldn’t bear to abandon her child. Even in her destitution, she had clung to hope. Upon hearing about the new orphanage, she thought perhaps she could find work there—surely Nora would need caregivers.

But after listening to the woman’s hesitant plea, Nora, despite feeling cruel, replied, “I’m sorry, Nina. If you want to take Libya and live with him, you’re free to do so. But I’m not planning to hire anyone… from among you.”

Nina’s eyes widened in shock, her voice trembling. “But… but I… I don’t know where else to go…”

After all the suffering she’d endured in South Hinckley, she was homeless and helpless. Even though she knew her future lay in the same desolate town, she still wanted to return.

Nora sighed softly.

The curtain fluttered gently in the breeze, and the hospital’s soundproof walls muffled any outside noise. Nora closed the door, sitting beside the woman. “If it had been Jane who came to me with this request, I might have considered it. But she didn’t. Do you know why, Nina?”

The woman opened her mouth, then lowered her head, awaiting judgment like a condemned prisoner. “She’s looking for a new job. Every day, she talks about it in the ward—how she wants to become a police officer. She says she’ll lock up all those men who hurt women.”

Nina paused. “Because of the female vigilantes, female heroes, and even female police officers… she believes she can do it too.”

“But,” she quickly added, “what does that have to do with me?”

Her eyes carried a desperate plea, but Nora’s response was steady: “Of course, I’m not demanding that everyone be strong. There’s no fault in retreating into yourself after being hurt. The fault lies with those who caused the harm. The foundation will continue to provide monthly compensation, regular check-ins, and ensure your safety. Even if you live alone with Libya, you’ll be able to raise him, let him grow up in Gotham’s city center, attend a decent elementary school, and receive a good education.

“But as I’ve said, South Hinckley is still rebuilding. Everything there is basic—from the hospital to the schools. Nina, you don’t want to move forward. You just want a new place to hide. But my place is not a shelter for people running from their problems.”

Caring for children, after all, was a skill—not something someone could do just because they were a woman. Nora could tell Nina wasn’t someone who could provide a solid foundation for these children. On the contrary, placing her in such a confined environment might make her more withdrawn, even harming the children she was supposed to support.

Nora stood, ignoring Nina’s dazed expression, and opened the door. Outside, a group of eavesdroppers scattered. Smiling faintly, Nora thought to herself, They’ll need more sessions with the therapists.

She had another concern about hiring the children’s biological mothers: bias. People could have preferences, often for reasons they didn’t even understand, and favoritism could be harmful.

After discussing it with the staff, Nora decided the children would move on June 4th. In the meantime, she planned to visit South Hinckley to assess what supplies would be necessary. The children, the oldest of whom was eight, were all aware of their traumatic pasts. This awareness had left many of them with psychological scars.

One such boy came to mind. Just last night, she had seen him try to crawl under the bed to sleep, dragging his frail body despite his weakness. Only the darkness beneath the bed made him feel safe.

The medical staff had worked hard to help him understand that the bed was a safe place, the light posed no danger, and no whips or kicks would come from above. The blanket, they reassured him, was as light as a feather.

While Nora busied herself with preparations, Vivi worked tirelessly to complete the orphanage’s initial setup. She upgraded it twice, enabling it to house up to 300 children—though the upgrades left her nearly broke.

“It’s like playing a simulation game,” Vivi muttered, watching her dwindling resources. “Opening the panel every minute doesn’t make the numbers go up any faster.”

Unable to decide on a manager for the watchtower, Vivi claimed it as her private domain for the time being.

With some spare funds, she upgraded the watchtower, allowing her to observe nearly every non-private area of the town.

Meanwhile, Damian was sneaking around the bus station, apparently hoping to test drive a bus. As he climbed onto the roof like a curious kitten, he was startled to find William silently watching him from below, his expression as stoic as ever.

Elsewhere, the chief physician grimaced while cleaning out the hospital’s small office, preparing to sort through supplies and medications for the long haul.

The supermarket manager, overseeing the store’s inventory, stationed his team in appropriate roles. But with few customers—mostly the professor’s entourage—he worried aloud, “If things stay this quiet, keeping the store open will just be a loss.”

As for Professor Daisy Diamond, she had acquired a rocking chair with soft cushions. She now spent her days alternating between reading ancient scrolls and napping for hours.

By the night of June 2nd, Vivi sat perched on a tree near the collapsed mine, watching her resources trickle upward. Finally, when the numbers hit her target, she leapt down.

The area surrounding the mine was still a wasteland. After the collapse, no attempts were made to repair it, leaving it as nothing more than rubble.

【Underground Prison (10/10), 200,000 sparklers required, can be upgraded.】

【Criminals can be detained locally.】

【Note: You’ll need a significant number of guards and a reliable warden.】

Confirming her purchase, she placed the structure.

In the darkness, the ground trembled. Unlike other buildings, this prison utilized the old mine’s location. The rubble was cleared to the surface, and Vivi entered the underground facility, flashlight in hand.

Inside, she found skylights—narrow gaps in the stone above, letting in faint starlight. The scattered beams seemed like a rare luxury in the gloom.

She switched off her flashlight and chose to upgrade the prison underground.

The upgrade options required 400,000 sparklers, offering various directions such as [Low-Temperature Prison], [Luxury Prison], [Underground Water Dungeon], and more. Vivi quickly made her choice: [Fortified Walls].

This option ensured the prison’s structure was completely impenetrable, with every inch reinforced against damage. The only access to the underground facility remained a single sloping roadway, much like the original mine entrance. Vivi beckoned, and two Gargoyle guardians flew to her side.

She walked into the largest cell at the heart of the prison.

Perhaps because all 400,000 tokens had been spent on reinforcing the walls, the cell’s interior was bare, with no advanced technology or luxurious design. The cell was crude, functional, and entirely secure. Standing in its center, Vivi placed a single item.

[Silent Eternal Night]

A miniature replica of Gotham City now covered the cell floor, with the Gargoyles stationed as its vigilant guards. Vivi exchanged a nod with them, acknowledging their silent agreement.

This item wasn’t meant to imprison criminals forever; she was well aware of that. Preparations for contingencies were already underway.

After leaving the cell, Vivi stood near the sloping entrance, hands in her pockets, examining and measuring its width. She made a quick decision.

One. Two. Three… five public restrooms materialized, completely encircling the entrance.

These high-IQ criminals might find a way to escape through conventional routes, but that didn’t worry Vivi.

William and Damian had already demonstrated to her that max-level public restrooms were virtually indestructible.

By blocking the entrance with restrooms, even the Joker wouldn’t be able to crawl his way out.