The Game Cafe in Marvel and DC

92 – A late night Confrontation

Within a few hours, dozens of Guilds had cropped up, some dedicated to specific games, such as Kyle's The Lone Wanderers or a guild named 'Dragonslayers' for the Elder Scrolls. The largest guild, by far, was called 'The Free,' and it had an astounding 76 members. At the current moment, clans are limited to a maximum of 100 users. I had plans for future events where it would be a sort of 'Raid Dungeon' or 'Siege' that would allow two guilds of 100 members to battle it out, but would also be smaller events, such as tournaments, crafting competitions, or challenges.

I did not know what I would use for rewards yet, but I knew it would be incredibly competitive once the first tournament came around in a few weeks. Even then, I have not yet decided what I wanted the tournament's parameters to be. A full-power duel? That would be relatively unfair to the normal people of my store; if someone like Superman entered the competition, he'd be unbeatable. Perhaps a duel between their set characters and the characters' builds, such as Kyle's Fallout 2 character and Harley's Skyrim character.

Regardless of what I choose, I'd also have to decide if there would be an entrance fee or something similar. I assumed a few thousand would likely participate in the tournament, especially since I planned to open another four or five more entrances.

Speaking of the entrances, some of the Wakandans set up a barrier around their entrance as multiple customers had noticed the new entrance and began asking about it, even trying to go through that entrance, only to be repelled back into the store. I shrugged, knowing that it was inevitable with the xenophobic nature of the Wakandans. Despite the barrier in place, I could still see the many defensive installations they constructed at the entrance to protect themselves and, more than likely, keep everything inside.

I did not fault them; after all, I did kick their mascot's ass; sorry, I should have said 'King,' though it could also very well be the Prince. If I could hazard, I guess, I bet they were looking into my store and what it stands for; they were too...advanced for them, not too. Hell, one of their royal members, the sister, was known to browse the world wide web and keep track of worldwide events, and with the rising popularity of my store, I had no doubt that they'd learn about it soon.

It makes me wonder what would happen if Wakanda played some of the VR Games. Would their Xenophobia worsen, making them even more isolationist and xenophobic? Would they attempt to reverse engineer some of the technology from the games, such as Ark Survival Evolved or Fallout? Wakanda was already the strongest nation on Earth due to its copious amounts of Vibranium and advanced technology, but what if they got their hands on something like Element from ARK? Sure, Vibranium could be compared to Element, if not superior, but having another way to advance their technology may bring forth new ideas and creations.

For example, in Ark Survival Evolved, the humans of Earth managed to create teleportation, energy-matter conversion, and so much more. Thought that was if the arrogant isolationists actually looked towards other avenues of advancement, instead of being stuck on only Vibranium as they currently were.

Snapped from my thoughts, I noticed a creepy pervert stalking my customers in the corner of the store, hiding in the only dark spot in the entire store.

Walking up to the figure with one of my clones, I asked, "If you are not here to buy, I will need to ask you to leave."

The figure's eyes beneath the cowl instantly snapped to my clone's form as he stared in silence, making it rather awkward.

"Is that a 'Yes, I will buy something' or a 'No, I would rather be kicked out of the store?'" I asked after a few moments of silence.

The figure glared menacingly, not that the human fazed me before me.

Finally, Batman stepped out from the corner and began walking towards the main desk where my original body stood.

The stalker was lucky that it was so late in the night. Not many people were currently here playing games, but there were still quite a few, as flashes of light took pictures of the 'mythical' figure of Gotham walking through the store.

Batman soon came upon my original body, his glare not leaving my form even the slightest. You had to give Bats some props; for a human, he sure is intimidating, even managing to outsmart and threaten a literal God in a different universe and entities much more powerful than him in countless others. Still, so long as he doesn't become the Batman who laughs, I'll be happy with whatever version stands before me.

"What can I do for you?" I asked, straight to the point.

"You need to stop," Bats replied instantly.

"Stop what?" I asked, wondering what he meant.

"Stop this, all of it. You are causing chaos. Vigilantism is on the rise. Those guns you are selling to everyone are flooding the streets, and already seven murders have the guns from your store linked to the crime," Batman stated, not breaking his glare or rough tone.

"Ah," I said in realization. He didn't like the fact that I was selling a gun for karma or cash, which would indeed give criminals and normal citizens a way to obtain firearms without a trail leading back to them. However, that wouldn't be foolproof, as I remembered every purchase and face that had entered my store.

Hmm, now that I realized it, I was essentially breaking quite a few US laws. As for one, I did not pay taxes of any sort, and I sold unlicensed firearms to just about anyone for cash or karma. I have caused quite a bit of PTSD in many of the people who have visited my store and so much more.

It makes me wonder how high my sentence would be if I were to be arrested or allow myself to be, that is.

"And did you really expect me to shut down and close my store if you asked?" I asked Bats.

He glared in response, so I continued.

"Listen, Bats. I am not changing the way I run my store. Do you have a problem with the goods I sell? Too bad, don't blame the goods. Blame the buyer. If someone buys a pencil and then goes and stabs somebody with it, do you blame the factory that made the pencil?" I began, only to be interrupted.

"These are guns," he emphasized, "They should not be sold for so cheap and to so many without some way to keep track of those who purchased them."

"Have a problem with it? Find a solution. You know that they are coming here, and I know you have a couple dozen cameras outside the store. I know you have been monitoring everyone who has bought some rather specific things from my store," I mentioned, knowing he was stalking some of my customers already, notably the more dangerous of my customers.

"And the others?" He asked.

"Others? Do you mean the other weapons I sell? If you actually came into my store as much as the older gentleman that has a name that starts with 'A,' you'd know that most of those weapons can only be purchased from the Credit Store, which rotates every month, sometimes there are no weapons, sometimes there are very specific ones, regardless, I will continue to sell if anyone buys," I stated, watching with amusement as his face only slightly twitched at the mention of his butler.

"If you have any doubts or questions, take them to your friend. He, of all people, should be able to tell you why this is futile," I scoffed, leaning back with my main body only to freeze when I noticed yet another figure appear in the corner, said figure being a man of African ascent in a strange robe. This man, I recognized as one T'Challa of Wakanda, the Prince, and if not already, the future Black Panther.