DC: The Gamer

[1st POV]

Home sweet home.

Harley wasn't around, and we left her to look after the house.

She had probably gone to the store or was wandering around, enjoying a walk.

Then I went to the basement, dispelling the clone I had left behind to take care of the "Mouseman."

I dismissed him and received the following notifications:

"Ding!"

[You have achieved synchronization with nature. The probability of mixing natural energy with your own is 50%.]

[+550 Chakra Control]

[+2750 Chakra]

I understand the increased control and chakra came from the clone's meditation.

Of course, I didn't unlock the Sage Mode path, but there are signs I might achieve it faster than I originally thought.

After that, I released more than twenty clones from the seal, dispelled them, and placed all the remaining chakra back into the seal.

This remains will come in handy later. Even though I lost a bit of chakra, it's not a big deal.

Then, I finally decided to buy the "Chakra Absorption Technique," spending sixty points on it.

I still have twenty left, but I think I'll catch up on the lost ones soon enough.

"Pam, did you call Harley? Where is she?"

"She's at the store. She'll be home soon."

"Good. Will you meet her? I want to visit a couple of places. Then, I'll return home, and we'll celebrate the last day before I start work."

"Sure, darling."

Pamela kissed me on the cheek and ran upstairs.

First, I started marking various rooms in our house with seals, then the car.

Afterward, I went around Gotham, placing my seals at shady locations. At our "police bar," I met only Harvey.

There were very few people around.

"Hey, Harvey, how are you?"

"Well, well, look who decided to show up!"

Harvey smiled, already a bit drunk, "The one and only Isaac Dinklage, who apparently got tired of the warm sands of Bialya and decided to return to the 'warmer' places?"

"And I see you're already 'warmed up' yourself?"

I replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah."

He chuckled, "Jim's out of town with his wife and daughter. By the way, it's not just you who's back in town. We've had a transfer come through. Two new people for your department, both from New York. Your hometown."

"Well, Gotham City isn't exactly foreign to me."

I said with a grin.

"Alright, sit down and tell you what's new."

Harvey said, inviting me to relax as he poured another drink.

After briefly filling him in on what I'd missed over the past month, Bullock had gotten completely drunk, so I gave him a ride home.

I continued my tour around Gotham, leaving markers in several places.

 I didn't even realize how much time had passed until evening fell, and some members of the Bat-family went out on their "hunt."

I briefly thought about following them to say hello but decided to leave that for later.

Returning home, I was wrapped in Harley's arms.

Then, as usual, I got to cooking while eavesdropping on the girls' conversation.

With nothing else to do, I half-listened to their chatter.

"Wait!"

I interrupted Harley's words, "Did they catch Killer Frost?"

"Yes, yes."

She nodded energetically, "A couple of weeks ago, Batman did it, with one of his new protégés. It seems like his family has expanded recently."

"And where is she now?"

"In Arkham."

"Are you planning to... "fix her for the greater good"?"

Pamela frowned.

"Don't be jealous, my precious dryad. She interests me only from a scientific and, to some extent, a strategic perspective."

Pamela gave me a look that could be tell as: "I know you're blatantly lying to me, but I'm not really opposed to your plan, but for the sake of propriety, I'll have to pretend to be upset!"

"Heh. You're such a dog!"

"But I'm a very loyal dog!"

I smiled.

"So, he wants to deal with the icy bitch, but I get the dynamite again?!"

Harley jumped up in anger, "Where's the justice? I've been chasing you for how long, and I end up with another failure! You're a rare scoundrel!"

She began accusingly poking me with her finger.

"Ow! What, are you wearing a bulletproof vest? It felt like I just hit a rock. Hmm!"

She's so cute when she's angry.

"I promise, one day you'll get what you deserve, Harley. But not today! Now, sit at the table, the stew's ready."

"Hooray! Stew from Isaac…"

Did I mention how forgiving she is?

...

The next day, I went to work.

Overall, the atmosphere was calm, and my instincts were quiet. I hope nothing happens while I ease back into my duties.

I went straight to the boss, Gordon. Apparently, there were three people.

"Dinklage?"

Gordon raised an eyebrow slightly as he sat in his chair, "Welcome back from your vacation. Did you have a good rest?"

"Well, at least it was better than the last one."

I hinted at my trip to Greece.

Next to him stood Bullock, clearly still feeling the effects of yesterday's drinking, and a woman in her forties who was still attractive but no longer young.

She's a blonde with a bob haircut, her blue eyes hidden behind glasses. She has a stern look and is dressed in business attire—no skirts, just trousers and a blazer.

"Hmm. Got it. Well, I think you arrived just in time. Meet Sarah Gordon-Essen, your direct superior."

"Nice to meet you..."

I extended my hand for a handshake, but she handed me some kind of folder instead and briskly walked towards the door.

"Nice to meet you, detective. Now, time to work. We can ask each other later what kind of beer we like."

I was in shock.

Gordon sighed, and Bullock sympathetically looked at me.

"Hang in there, kid! You're in for Hell."

"You're dismissed, Dinklage. And..."

He started to say something but changed his mind, "Anyway, go work."

"Yes, sir!"

I feel like it's going to be tough working with Gordon's wife.

Sarah Gordon-Essen had her own spacious office, where my colleagues from the organized crime division had already gathered.

In the corner were a couple of old-timers who remembered the previous police commissioner, Larry Lance, and near the window stood my boss.

Renee was also there.

"Here you are. Hi, Isaac, I was starting to think I'd be working solo today. Although Rick did a decent job filling in for you."

"Rick? He transferred to us?"

"He transferred himself and we've got two more new faces."

"Yeah, I heard a bit about that from Harvey. But I don't even know their names."

At that moment, two more people entered the office: a blonde woman who resembled Gordon but was more masculine-looking and a medium-height, brown-eyed brunette wearing glasses with a slightly goofy expression.

Using "Player's Gaze," I realized these weren't just any people:

Name: Nicholas "Nick" Krauser/&(%$#&(

Level: 54

Race: Human

Class: Assassin

1st Subclass: Martial Arts Master

2nd Subclass: Sharpshooter

3rd Subclass: Spy-Thief

4th Subclass: Poisoner

Feature: Willpower, Genius, "Argus" Agent

Age: 27

Attributes: See details.

...

The lady turned out to be quite something as well:

Name: Margaret "Maggie" Sawyer

Level: 40

Race: Human

Class: Law Enforcer

1st Subclass: Detective

Feature: Stubbornness, Sense of Justice

Age: 33

Attributes: See details.

"Good morning,"

Nicholas greeted everyone cheerfully, waving his hand and smiling.

To be continued...

...

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