The city was buzzing with the dual reality of Batman's arrival and Bruce Wayne's spectacular return to public life. Commissioner Gordon had begun a full-scale operation against the Falcone supply chain, armed with the Bat's precise intelligence.
Bruce, meanwhile, was playing the part of the distracted billionaire brilliantly, which made the press ignore the massive R&D spending at WayneTech.
> [LEVEL PROGRESS: 110/350 XP (Level 7 \rightarrow Level 8)]
> Current Objective: Establish Critical World Relations.
> Goal: Secure First Contact with Diana Prince (Wonder Woman).
The Diplomatic Intrusion
The next event was not a party, but a strategic social engagement: a Wayne Foundation Gala honoring international cultural preservation—a perfect, neutral ground for high-level diplomatic contact.
His target was Diana Prince. Bruce knew that at this stage in the timeline, Diana was likely operating in the world of museums and cultural exchange, maintaining a low profile while studying humanity.
He spotted her immediately. She stood out among the sequined guests—a woman of statuesque height, classical beauty, and a quiet, ancient power. She wore a simple, elegant gown and carried herself with the dignity of royalty.
Bruce—in full, charming Playboy mode—approached her, champagne flute in hand.
"Ms. Prince, isn't it?" Bruce drawled, offering a lazy smile. "Bruce Wayne. Welcome to Gotham. I apologize for the... scream of the city. We have a few new, shall we say, colorful elements causing a fuss."
Diana turned, her dark, serious eyes locking onto his. Unlike anyone else, she didn't seem fooled by the playboy facade. Her gaze was sharp, dissecting the man beneath the silk suit.
"Mr. Wayne," Diana's voice was low, melodic, and held a distinct, non-placeable accent. "I am here as a representative of the Aegis Foundation—a museum dedicated to ancient Greek and Roman history. Your foundation's work in cultural preservation is commendable."
"Just trying to save the pretty things before Gotham consumes them," Bruce shrugged, trying to project disinterest. "But the ancient world is truly your passion, I assume?"
Diana's expression softened slightly, recognizing the subtle shift in focus. "It is my history. But I find modern humanity, despite its flaws, far more fascinating than any ruin."
The Scrutiny and the System
Bruce knew he couldn't play his usual games with her. The System had classified her as a high-level anomaly; she had the equivalent of The Detective trait, magnified by centuries of experience. He had to appeal to her intellectual curiosity and her sense of duty.
"I agree," Bruce said, leaning closer, his voice dropping slightly to a confidential level that cut through the gala noise. "But what interests me most about the ancient world is power. The kind of power that built temples and raised armies. And the kind of knowledge that allowed them to manipulate materials far beyond our current understanding."
He pulled a discreet holographic projector from his pocket and flashed a tiny image only she could see: a highly magnified digital render of an intricate Lasso design, pulled from the KNOWLEDGE TREE data on Themysciran lore.
Diana's composure vanished. Her eyes flashed with surprise, and a wave of pure, concentrated alertness radiated from her. She gently placed a hand on Bruce's silk-covered arm, her grip instantly firm.
"Where did you acquire that image, Mr. Wayne?" her voice was suddenly urgent, stripped of pleasantries.
"From a highly protected, unnamed archive that I inherited," Bruce lied smoothly, leveraging his Master of Disguise to maintain his cool. "It's listed as 'Prototype X-7: Advanced Themysciran Binding Material.' The molecular structure alone suggests an impossible level of metal-magical integration."
He looked directly into her eyes, maintaining the lie while projecting genuine intellectual inquiry. "My foundation is researching the feasibility of recreating ancient Themysciran metallurgy. It requires a consultant—someone who understands the history and the chemistry of impossible metals."
Diana studied him. She saw the Playby façade, but her Amazonian instincts saw the trauma, the intelligence, and the desperate, burning need for knowledge. This boy wasn't just rich; he was searching. And he possessed forbidden knowledge.
"Your research is highly dangerous, Mr. Wayne," Diana warned, her voice low. "Some knowledge is best left buried. The metallurgy of my home... it is not meant for the hands of man."
"And the evil that lives in Gotham isn't meant for the hands of the police, Ms. Prince," Bruce countered, pressing the point of his dual mission. "But we work with the tools we have, or we find better ones. I am not trying to conquer. I am trying to defend. I require knowledge of ancient protection wards and binding enchantments to protect this city from things that haven't even arrived yet."
He passed her a burner phone containing a secure, encrypted link to his foundation's research portal. "I require a consultant on the history of ancient protective arts. A discreet, highly paid advisor. Think of it as ensuring these ancient secrets don't fall into the wrong hands."
Diana took the phone. She knew the moment she accessed that link, she would be entering a complex, shadowed world. But the boy spoke of defense and ancient threats—two things she could not ignore.
"I will consider your proposal, Mr. Wayne," Diana said, her voice now carrying a tone of deep, cautious promise. "The world requires its artifacts to be protected. Perhaps your wealth can be channeled for noble purposes."
> [QUEST 6 COMPLETE: Secure World Advisor (Diana Prince)]
> Reward Gained: +75 XP.
> Level Progress: 185/350 XP (Level 7 \rightarrow Level 8).
> Ally Status: Diana Prince (Future Wonder Woman) - Historical Consultant (Ancient Arts/Magic).
The Final Spark
Bruce returned to Alfred, feeling the intellectual victory of securing his most powerful external ally.
"A success, Master Bruce?" Alfred inquired, observing the sudden tension in his employer's shoulders.
"A complication, Alfred," Bruce corrected. "She is the most dangerous person I have ever encountered. And I just gave her a direct line to my research."
As the gala wound down, Bruce activated his neural link for a final status update before his nightly patrol.
> [THREAT ALERT: High-Level Theft Imminent.]
> Target: The Diamond Necklace (The one Selina Kyle was after).
> Location: Currently being moved off-site via armored transport.
Bruce realized his encounter with Selina had been a distraction. She hadn't left empty-handed; she had used the encounter to confirm the necklace was still in the manor, then tracked its planned security transfer.
"Alfred, contact Lucius Fox. Tell him to divert the delivery of my 'micro-adhesive polymers' to the Gotham Bank and Trust. It's time to test out some sticky toys," Bruce said, his eyes already assessing the most efficient route for the Batmobile.
He was Level 7, armed with the counsel of a future Amazonian princess, and about to chase a cat burglar across the rooftops of Gotham. The night was young.