No fingerprints of the girl were found on the half-eaten banana. Even with a photograph, the search for the brown-haired girl yielded no results, and the clue seemed to hit a dead end.

Meanwhile, Batman had indeed lost one of his batarangs.

As the banana slowly oxidized over time, Gotham’s streets witnessed many peculiar changes.

After confirming with Peter that the girl had been spotted at the city hall, Tim naturally began to pay attention to the new policies implemented at the city hall:

• A shooting incident occurred, involving only gang members, so it went unreported.
• An investment was made in a chemical plant located in the remote area of Gotham, seemingly linked to Black Mask.
• A group of unproductive employees were fired, salary structures were adjusted, and slogans about these changes appeared throughout Gotham. The logistics department began planting trees, streetlights were changed, new public newspapers and magazines were ordered, and road signs were updated…

“The conclusion is — the busiest department in city hall is logistics.”

Holding his coffee, Tim leaned against the table, “All these changes occurred after Ms. Alek arrived in Gotham. Considering her new role as mayor, her actions seem minor for now…”

For instance, Tim couldn’t understand why the mayor would involve herself in trivial matters like tree planting instead of engaging in necessary diplomacy with the council, leaving such tasks to her secretary.

— This had caused some dissatisfaction in the council towards Anna Alek.

Even if the listening devices were removed, Tim could guess they didn’t care, judging by their actions.

“No mercury bombs or anything else,” he shrugged, “that mysterious power has gone into hiding.”

“Anna Alek…” Batman, not in his armor but as Bruce Wayne, which seemed to soften his demeanor, pondered for a moment, “Perhaps I should invite this lady as Bruce Wayne. Since she arrived in Gotham, she hasn’t participated in any social events.”

Tim was startled, “Hasn’t anyone invited her?”

Bruce: “No one has.”

She was isolated by Gotham’s high society.

“——”

Suddenly, an alarm sounded on the screen, turning red.

The vigilante father and son looked up simultaneously, and Tim frowned, “There’s been an explosion at a factory… the underground safety system detected the release of poisonous gas. It’s a mercury bomb!

*

This explosion occurred in a deserted district in western Gotham, where the only human activity was a factory.

The factory, named “Iceberg Pharmaceuticals,” had an unknown investor and was relatively new and unremarkable, not selling any products.

Unknown to many, the lady mayor had spent two hundred thousand gold coins on this factory.

Just fifteen minutes ago, she had personally selected the option “Detonate Material” on the system panel.

— Two hundred thousand gold coins vanished into thin air.

Tomorrow’s newspapers would describe the incident as an “accident” due to improper handling and storage of construction materials. However, those “in the know,” such as Black Mask or Penguin, might speculate that the city government-funded factory was conducting some dangerous experiment.

Vivi intended them to think so, as it was crucial for her next move — to continue the experiment, she needed to quickly repurchase raw materials.

Certain rare components in the materials, like “mercury,” would inevitably rise in price.

She needed to deceive someone.

That someone was “Oswald Cobblepot.”

“It’s all part of my plan,” Vivi said to Shelk in front of her, “I thought you wouldn’t get hurt.”

Her reliable tool, better than any tool, had his arm wrapped in a bandage, looking pale from blood loss. Despite being injured in the explosion, he arrived at city hall the next day on time, even thoughtfully bringing newspapers for Vivi.

---

The newspapers highlighted “Playboy Bruce & His New Girlfriend” on the front page, with a small corner on the second page dedicated to “Unnamed Chemical Factory Explosion in Arkley, all residents were evacuated and security personnel have taken control of the scene.”

---

In designing the explosion, Shelk, as the person in charge, was actually far from the site, but he rushed back and was saved by the guards, making him the only person injured in the incident.

The behavior of NPCs is hard to understand; Vivi decided to ignore it.

She said, “Let’s start buying all the materials again, but this time raise the prices ten to twenty times higher. Prioritize buying mercury if available…”

Because her real objective was to inflate the price of mercury.

“Other materials will be bought at a high price only for today. Once you confirm the purchase at the price I allow, release news that the purchase is complete, except for mercury—”

Buying other materials was a ruse to hide her real intention, blending mercury into the mix.

“Then, keep inflating the price of mercury. Buy it whenever someone offers, no matter who the seller is.”

Unsurprisingly, in current Gotham, there weren’t many who could sell this item

.

Shelk: “Our funds…”

“I’ll allocate some funds to you,” Vivi said, “More will be injected later.”

“First, buy from Penguin, but make multiple purchases. Use excuses other than insufficient funds to delay him, but don’t delay too long. Can you do that?”

She had to make Penguin believe the government had sufficient funds and would keep raising the price, thereby luring him to invest all he had.

【You have added 710,000 gold coins to “Iceberg Pharmaceuticals”】

【Current City Government Funds: 5000 gold coins】

After Shelk left, Vivi ensured the door was closed and joyfully rolled onto the bed in the restroom.

Indeed, she was scheming against Penguin, but the actual success rate of her plans, Vivi could only say — was zero. She was merely gambling.

Until the last moment, who knows what the outcome will be? But uncertainty is the charm of gambling!

Her plan was actually quite simple—

Manipulate the economy by buying up all the mercury on the market under a false identity. Then, concoct a credible reason for the government to step in and purchase mercury at high prices, inflating its value. Following that, she would sell the mercury bought from Penguin at a high price back to him.

It was April 13th, four days away from the deadline set in the 【Wager Contract】, which was April 17th.

If Vivi could achieve the first phase of her plan, she would make a substantial profit from Penguin. And if she could accomplish the second phase, she would win her bet with Penguin.

But Vivi never imagined herself losing.

— She would only make her opponent lose everything.

The idea was beautiful, but executing it was challenging—

“Why can cities that are merely backdrops actually manage to buy mercury?”

The plan nearly failed at the first step, as if the game designers fundamentally thwarted any player’s ability to manipulate the market. But Vivi refused to give up and played the time difference!

Relying on the “Option C” for handling corpses to force a purchase, a week after their last transaction, she once again successfully tricked Penguin into selling her mercury. She now had a total of 15 liters in her possession and ensured that it would be at least half a month before he could restock. Then, Vivi detonated all the inventory in the “Iceberg Pharmaceuticals” bought through another channel.

— If she was going to put on a show, it had to be complete!

If there was no reason to raise prices, she would create one.

According to the system’s labels, Penguin was more a businessman than a gangster. Since this kind of business was profitable, he would surely give it a try.

Penguin would never guess that the mysterious buyer of mercury and the mayor issuing the order were the same person.

… Perhaps a normal mayor wouldn’t make money this way?

Two days later, on the evening of the 15th, Vivi confirmed that the news had spread. Even the 710,000 gold coins had depleted by 260,000 in just two days, quite unusual for a mayor. She touched the corpse, and skilfully chose “C,” and the call connected smoothly, but the voice on the other end sounded weathered.

“Sorry, we don’t have any mercury for sale, yes, none…”

“But I do,” Vivi’s voice was tinged with a smile, “Let your boss come and talk.”

A moment of silence on the other end: “…Okay. Please hold.”

【Congratulations to the player for triggering the special event “Encounter with Investor·Cobblepot”】

Vivi: “…”

Was this really a trigger? Vivi was speechless. She had chosen Option C many times, but only this time did she get to talk to Penguin—

This wasn’t a trigger; it was a result of her efforts!

Vivi reflected for a moment, then realized something: “Isn’t this how the game is supposed to be played?… Knowing about Penguin’s smuggling through this option, buying his stuff in bulk with real money, upgrading to a high-level VIP, and then getting the boss himself to serve you…”

Embarrassing.

She hadn’t spent a penny, yet made the boss pay her, even aiming to swindle his money.

Normal people probably don’t play games like this?

“Is it you… Do you think I’m a fool?” Cobblepot’s voice wasn’t pleasant, and distorted by the electric current, it sounded even worse, “You buy goods from me and now want to sell them to me?”

“I thought you might have some channels and heard about the chemical plant,” Vivi spoke calmly, “I’m offering to sell it to you for half the price Iceberg Pharmaceuticals is buying. Don’t be too hasty to refuse—”

She continued: “This is a rare metal, and surely both the government and your people are buying it from abroad, but that takes time. For some reason, that Pharmaceutical seems to need it urgently. It’s an opportunity not to be missed, right?”

“Why don’t you go yourself?” The voice on the other end became more playful.

“I can’t really,” Vivi coughed lightly, “I can’t explain my source, and if there’s a problem with it, I’d have to forge an identity to get the money. But you can handle it, right?”

“Let’s call it making a friend.”

Penguin on the other end raised an eyebrow.

He still felt something was off, but the deal seemed feasible.

“Where’s the transaction? The sewers again?”

“No,” Vivi said, “I’ve already mailed the first liter to you. After you confirm receipt, make the payment.”

“Once you confirm the transaction with Iceberg Pharmaceutical can proceed normally, we’ll do the rest.”

“— I’m quite considerate when doing business.”

On the map, an item named 【Mercury 1L】 was placed in the back kitchen of Iceberg Lounge. The delivery guy probably didn’t understand why this delivery was so heavy.

Half an hour later.

【You gained 150,000 gold coins】

【Current Personal Funds: 177,900 gold coins】

Vivi then opened another panel—

【Invested in Iceberg Lounge, investment amount: 500,000 gold coins (Settlement time: April 17th 00:00:00)】

【Can view the current financial situation of Iceberg Lounge】

【Fixed Asset Settlement: 2.75 million gold coins】

【Liquid Asset Settlement: 900,000 → 750,000 gold coins】