Captain America refused to sit in the storage compartment of the children’s motorcycle or entertain the idea of the three taking turns riding. After all, at the motorcycle’s modest speed, his adult-sized stride could easily keep pace.

Vivi, with her flashlight dangling from her mouth, swapped places with Diana, claiming she was tired and needed to rest. So, Wonder Woman took the wheel.

The terrain beneath them was oddly uneven, and the limited beam of their flashlights could not reveal the entirety of the surroundings. For all they knew, they might be walking in circles, only thinking they were making progress.

Anything was possible.

Leaning against Diana’s waist with her arms wrapped securely, Vivi closed her eyes—not because she was truly tired but because her other account, Professor Diamond, had encountered a situation back at the circus.

Professor Diamond, who had been keeping Damian company, was suddenly “invited” away by someone. A glance at the map revealed their captor’s skill; even the sharp-eyed young assassin didn’t realize the professor was missing until minutes later.

The ones who had taken her were hired by none other than the Metropolis billionaire, Lex Luthor. The conversation was taking place in a room that was less a proper meeting space and more of a hastily-assembled rooftop loft near the docks.

If it was merely a discussion, why not choose a more conventional venue? Why resort to assembling a makeshift meeting room on a rooftop?

The man standing before the professor had a rather unforgettable “hairstyle”—a bald head that gleamed under the light.

Though Professor Diamond’s persona was intentionally stoic, Luthor seemed to detect a flicker of curiosity in her gaze. He offered an explanation:

“This room is assembled from portable, detachable lead panels, with a few other design elements added. You see, Miss Diamond, sometimes humanity must prepare for the challenges of the extraordinary—those beyond ordinary human comprehension.”

Diamond, as in “a gem of unyielding strength.”

The Diamond family certainly lived up to their name. A powerhouse in American industry, their fortune was built on oil and other sectors. In the context of the game world, where wealth equates to political control, it wasn’t a stretch to say money could dictate the course of elections and the very parties involved.

“Let’s talk about superhumans, then,” the professor suggested.

“Superman,” Luthor said with a faint smile, “his super-vision can pierce almost anything but not lead. He wields unimaginable strength, yet he wastes it playing the role of a tights-wearing ‘hero.’ But this world doesn’t belong to heroes…”

The light reflected off Luthor’s bald head as he shook it. “This is a world meant for humanity. Heroes only stagnate our progress.”

“Have you heard of Arkham, Professor?” he asked.

“I’ve heard of two,” Diamond replied succinctly. “One in Gotham City, and one outside it.”

“Both Arkham facilities house countless lunatics,” Luthor remarked obliquely. “One shows us what madness can accomplish in this world. The other delves into the deeper secrets of reality, creating even more madmen in the process. But I see a difference between Bletchley University and Miskatonic University—”

Was Luthor here to give away information for free? Vivi thought, analyzing his cryptic words.

If Miskatonic University churned out crazed adventurers eager to stir up global catastrophes and Bletchley specialized in self-destructive bookworms who preferred staying home, both seemed equally suspect. But Bletchley’s reputation was better—perhaps due to fewer world-traveling lunatics.

“—which is why you can understand my perspective,” Luthor continued. “Humanity doesn’t need heroes. Only by relying on their own strength to combat evil can people truly grow. Heroes let society grow complacent. At the first sign of danger, they cry, ‘Superman, save us!’ Isn’t that absurd? They lose their courage. But this—” he gestured meaningfully, “—this must be why you’ve come to Gotham City, Professor.”

Vivi: “?”

Wait, what now? Why did I come to Gotham?

“To establish a school,” she replied, borrowing from her plans for South Hinckley. “I want students to come here and see the city. Isn’t it wonderful?”

She rattled off the excuse quickly, then added, almost as an afterthought, “And there’s a festival happening this week.”

Luthor’s expression faltered.

From his research, this Miss Diamond had come to Gotham chasing after a historic artifact controlled by the League of Assassins. He didn’t know the artifact’s exact contents, but he was familiar enough with Bletchley to know the sort of people its professors were. If the league was involved, it likely pointed to something tied to the hidden, darker layers of reality.

Lex Luthor, as he often declared, was a human supremacist. To him, non-humans—whether Kryptonians or gods—had no inherent rights. He believed that eliminating “heroes” who impeded humanity’s progress, even at the cost of sacrifices, was a price worth paying.

—This “small portion” of humanity that Lex Luthor is willing to sacrifice fluctuates somewhere between zero and several billion.

During his clashes with Superman, Luthor stumbled across Miskatonic University and gained glimpses into the hidden world: inescapable otherworldly entities, ancient beings residing on Earth, grotesque tentacles, islands lurking in the deep sea, slumbering malevolent gods, and the forbidden rituals to summon them. What shook him most was realizing that these so-called “gods” had no concern for humanity. They didn’t care about worshippers or enemies; the mere act of confronting their terror was enough to drive humans to madness or death.

Instinctively repulsed by these aberrations, Luthor sought to better understand the elusive mysteries of the hidden world. Yet, the records he unearthed offered no comprehensive insight—only a pervasive, unspoken dread. He suspected that even Batman had conducted similar investigations. The more Luthor read, the more he felt the suffocating weight of fear. Eventually, he sealed away these records, choosing instead to seek a reliable ally within this hidden world—someone capable of combating its horrors.

Finding such a person wasn’t easy. Luthor needed someone sane, experienced, knowledgeable, and still alive—a rare combination. The emergence of “Mr. C” led Luthor to finally select Miss Diamond as his candidate.

“Let’s stop speaking in riddles,” Luthor said, his expression unreadable. “The League of Assassins will kill you once your collaboration is complete. I can save you.”

Luthor’s words carried weight, but Professor Diamond, impassive as ever, appeared unbothered by his offer.

In reality, Vivi’s attention was divided.

“Ah—” The ground beneath the maze shifted suddenly, undulating like waves. Vivi barely had time to grab hold of Diana before Steve was thrown several meters away, swallowed by the surrounding darkness. Left behind, Vivi and Diana quickly realized their team had been split.

Diana immediately turned the motorcycle around, resolved to find Steve. Just then, a gargoyle descended from the shadows, speaking in a calm, enigmatic tone:

“The path of heroes is sweet and joyful, but it can also be fraught with confusion and fear. If you cannot overcome your fears, if you find yourself alone, call upon me, and I shall escort you out. Be warned: should one of your teammates choose to leave, even standing before the final foe, you will be unable to triumph.”

Vivi whispered, “Psychological warfare too?”

Was this game trying to make them doubt their teammates’ resolve to stick around? She wasn’t worried about Steve, but “Jack”… well, he was a wildcard.

Diana decided, “We’ll find Steve first. He’ll figure out how to regroup.”

Meanwhile, Luthor continued his pitch in another part of Gotham.

“I need information about ‘Mr. C,’” Luthor pressed. “I know you’re here on his behalf, Professor. The mayor is your niece; you can remain by her side without arousing suspicion.” He paused before adding, “We could even trade information. I’ve collected books you might find intriguing…”

But the professor remained unresponsive, her expression edging into irritation.

Not moved by knowledge? Is she really a Bletchley professor?

Luthor’s thoughts were racing. Perhaps Bletchley’s library simply had more extensive resources—resources not even someone like him could buy his way into.

A message from his men arrived, stating that the diversion for the League of Assassins was running out of time. Luthor, realizing his window of opportunity was closing, decided to sweeten the deal.

“Do you need funding for your school?” he asked bluntly.

Professor Diamond blinked, surprised.

---

Back in the maze, Vivi and Diana managed to locate Jack among a group of ten or so participants. Vivi let out a breath of relief. At least one teammate hadn’t quit yet.

---

Professor Diamond, feigning surprise, coughed lightly. “You want me to infiltrate the mayor’s circle?”

“Infiltrate?” Luthor chuckled darkly. “If you want to call it that. I’ll handle the troublesome assassins around you. As for the little assassin, I trust you can deal with him yourself.”

“And in return—” Luthor smirked as if granting a benevolent gift. “Consider me your investor. I’ll cover everything for your school.”

【You have obtained a Side Quest: Investment from Lex Luthor】

【Quest Description: Inspired by your dream of founding a school, Lex Luthor is deeply moved. He offers to fund all school expenses as long as you occasionally send him reports to maintain the façade.
Hint: He’s not easily fooled, but the rewards are substantial.】
【Reward: Unknown amount of gold coins.】

---

Back in the maze, Vivi tackled Jack, shoving “Thomas” aside as she grabbed the masked boy’s arm.

“Diana, should we tie him to us with a rope? If he quits now, we’re doomed!” she said brightly.

Jason, a.k.a. “Jack,” glared. “?”

Diana looked down. The only “rope” available was her Lasso of Truth.

---

Elsewhere, the League’s hired hands retreated, leaving Luthor’s men behind. Quiet returned briefly before Damian crashed through a window, his young assassin face thunderous.

Clearly furious—mostly at himself—he demanded, “Who took you?”

Professor Diamond tilted her head, feigning innocence. “A kind man?”

The “kind man” had not only paid for her to infiltrate her own circle but had also eliminated the League assassins and offered to fund her school project in South Hinckley.

A saint, really.