You could argue that being a detective in Gotham had a certain level of irony to it, given that the city was protected and advocated for by the superhero known as Batman. Indeed, he boasted both the physical and monetary support that would be required for the undertaking of such tasks. But that in no way was a reason to dismiss David Clark for being a detective himself.
Born in the darkest, most wretched corner of the city, David had grown up familiar with the criminal element. He understood its vile face from the inside and had always sought to illuminate these dark corners with a light of justice.
That had remained his motive until Joker killed his mother, his only surviving family, alongside a whole community of slum dwellers, then received a fair trial and a life sentence in prison. Which he escaped from, of course, showcasing the dark reality of truth, justice, and the reluctance to do what needs to be done.
David didn't hate Batman; on the contrary, he admired the hero. But he didn't agree with the ways employed by the guardian of Gotham. He believed that justice could be delivered in such a way that the harsh repercussions of crimes would be understood and taken seriously. If the criminals knew all they would be getting was sent to prison or the asylum, that hardly proved to be a deterrent.
Of course, David had long since abandoned any notion of justice. What he required was far more simple—revenge.
"Mrs. Williams, what can I do for you?" Sitting on the couch with a genial smile on his face, David addressed the woman before him.
Mrs. Williams was a tall, upstanding woman, her bright orange hair tied in a bun and her piercing blue eyes fixed firmly on him.
"I have heard great things about you, Mr. Clark," she said. "People say that you conduct private investigations with a success rate of one hundred percent."
They sat in a small room on the second floor of an old residential building. Besides the table and chairs, David had arranged for a relatively new couch and coffee table to create a more positive impression. The inside was dark, barely illuminated by a single lamp hanging from a cord.
"I believe people tend to exaggerate, don't you?" David smiled, offering a lighthearted gesture. "Besides, it has been barely a month since I first began this endeavor. I believe luck has played a great role in shaping my career."
Mrs. Williams sighed, slouching against the couch. "Regardless, since you have proven yourself a capable person, I would like you to do me a favor."
David leaned forward, intrigued. "What kind of favor?" he asked.
"My brother has gone missing. Please, help me find him."
—
David watched the departing figure of Mrs. Williams, waving the yellow envelope in his hands. It contained a modest sum of two hundred fifty dollars—advanced payment. The rest was to be paid after the investigation concluded.
And just as he had expected, a new Quest was generated by his power.
[Quest: Find and recover Mrs. Williams's brother]
Reward: 100 Points
[Quest: Investigate the cause behind his disappearance and resolve it]
Reward: 250 Points
It had been two months since David had activated this power. At first, he had been ecstatic, but that excitement waned when he realized it required him to complete quests to earn the power.
The beginning hadn't been easy. Without a single ability at hand, he had been forced to rely on his own genius and ingenuity to complete the quests, until he finally managed to earn an ability.
That first quest had taken him over two weeks of effort for a reward of barely fifty Points. He had used those to buy Critical Thinking, which increased his ability to analyze, evaluate, and interpret the knowledge he gained from observation.
With that as his foundation, David went on to conduct minor investigations, helping his fellow paupers. That was how he managed to complete his second quest and unlock another ability called Interviewing.
The knowledge that came with each ability was instinctual, easy to incorporate and use. Needless to say, he had decided to turn his skills into a proper business, and thus the office, with a nameplate to complete the aesthetics came to be.
Since then, he had managed to complete another quest, earning him a total of one hundred Points.
He would need to purchase three more abilities before he could unlock the next Tier, and so he had been saving.
Taking another look at the quest, David cursed under his breath.
"Damn, if I had known, I would've asked for more."
The fact that this single encounter had initiated two quests worth 350 Points was as exciting as it was concerning, highlighting the dangers of the job.
David turned away from the window and the decrepit city shrouded in darkness, then sat in his chair. Scattered on the table before him were papers, notes, and photographs, the latter provided by Mrs. Williams.
Her brother bore a strong resemblance to her, though judging by his haircut and the look of arrogance that carried even through the photograph, David realized the distinction between the siblings was quite stark.
As it was nearing late at night, David decided to call it a day rather than begin his investigation. This was, after all, the other reason he had arranged for a couch in the room.
Locking his windows and door, David drew the curtains before switching off the light. He then slumped onto the couch after he had removed his coat, and closed his eyes, letting sleep take hold of him.
Within minutes, David was dreaming of a future where he would have the power to avenge his mother, and the fame and fortune to stand at the top with the strength to protect it all.
—
Come morning, David sought his cup of dark brown poison. Sipping the drink, he sat in his chair and turned the pages of the folder before him. It contained information on Mrs. Williams's brother, though it proved hardly useful.
The truth of the matter was that more often than not, a crime could be traced back to a renowned criminal who had once tangled with Batman. Which not only made it more unpredictable but equally dangerous.
Though David was confident in his skills, he wouldn't compare himself to the likes of Batman. The guy was superhuman, despite appearing weaker than every other superhuman.
If he hoped to even scratch the truth behind Mrs. Williams's brother's disappearance, he couldn't remain just another average detective. He had to be more resourceful, smart, and cautious. The importance of the latter couldn't be overstated, especially in a city like Gotham.
David sighed, having read through the files and compiled a set of points that might prove useful in the investigation. Being a complete rookie who relied on nothing but his powers, he had had no choice but to devise his own method of investigation.
He would start by taking notes, jotting down anything suspicious or useful. He would then process each point, see where it led. Eventually, one of the routes would prove useful and lead him to the truth.
David wrapped his notes, donned a light brown coat, and left the building. Fresh morning air was scarce in Gotham City, a giant mechanical monster spewing filth and waste, polluting air and waters alike. Despite the choking quality of the air, its residents never complained, either too rich to care about petty issues or too poor to have their voices heard.
David didn't bother calling a cab, being used to the smog as he was. He preferred walking early in the morning to stretch his muscles and give himself much-needed time to think.
Already, Critical Thinking and Interviewing were helping him build a solid foundation for his career. But if he stayed that way, he would be no different from a minor, unrecognizable character. As awesome as his power was, it didn't make him overpowered right from the beginning, and the abilities it did offer were mundane in category.
Indeed, David had decided to expand his versatility, but he had yet to settle on a suitable choice.
If he wanted to increase his prowess as a detective, something like High Intelligence or Psychology would help immensely. However, if he hoped to increase his physical skills, Martial Arts or Boxing would prove beneficial. Regardless, he had to make a choice, since he didn't wish to spend the entirety of his points and leave himself without any hidden cards.
Walking by the bridge, the smell of salt assaulted his nose. David smiled and finally made his decision.
Since he was in no immediate danger, and increasing his physical capabilities wasn't a priority, David decided to go with High Intelligence. If a time came when he needed his fists more, it wouldn't be too late to purchase Martial Arts or Boxing then.
- Abilities
[Tier 1]
[Critical Thinking] [Interviewing] [High Intelligence]