"Life is a maze without meaning," Daniel said while wearing a white doctor's coat and looking seriously at the man sitting across from him.
"People continue moving even when they have no destination. We're like leaves floating in water without knowing where the current is taking us."
The man sitting in front of the desk stared at him awkwardly before clearing his throat.
"...Umm, I just came here to collect the rent."
"Exactly," Daniel replied calmly. "That's why I'm giving you free consultation."
The landlord looked at him in complete silence.
Eventually Daniel sighed, waved his hand, and handed over the money. The man immediately grabbed it and left the office as fast as possible without looking back.
Daniel leaned back in the chair afterward and shook his head. "Unbelievable. People pray for the opportunity to speak with gods and this guy wasted it discussing rent."
He slowly turned in his chair and looked around the office proudly.
This was his newest hobby.
Dr. Daniel Haken — Miracle Doctor.
He had advertisements spread all across Central City promising consultation, healing, and solutions to "problems beyond modern understanding." The office itself sat near his mansion mostly because he got bored one afternoon and decided playing doctor sounded entertaining.
Daniel wasn't even pretending there was some noble reason behind it. He genuinely just wanted to wear a doctor's coat and say dramatic lines to people.
More specifically—
There was one line he desperately wanted the chance to say.
"I'm sorry," Daniel practiced quietly while staring at the empty room, "if you brought him ten minutes earlier, I could have saved him."
He placed a hand over his chest afterward and nodded to himself.
"Perfect."
Unfortunately nobody had arrived dramatically carrying a dying patient yet, so he still hadn't gotten the opportunity.
But today was the official opening of the office.
Daniel remained optimistic. Sooner or later somebody dramatic was going to burst through those doors carrying a dying patient, and when that happened he would finally get to use the line properly.
Almost as if the universe heard him, the office door opened.
A woman stepped inside.
Daniel looked up from behind the desk and paused for a second.
Dark hair. Calm posture. Sharp eyes that quietly observed the room the moment she entered. Attractive enough to draw attention immediately, but carrying herself in a way that suggested she preferred not being noticed too much.
Daniel recognized her almost instantly because she looked extremely similar to Anne Hathaway.
Considering Anne Hathaway had once played Catwoman, there was about a ninety-nine percent chance this woman actually was Catwoman.
Daniel accepted that logic immediately and decided not to question it further.
"Welcome," Daniel said smoothly while leaning back in the chair with a smile. "My first patient. Tell me your problem and I shall help you."
The woman looked mildly confused.
"Umm… I came here for the receptionist job interview," she replied. "The ad your office posted yesterday."
Daniel blinked once.
"I did?"
"Yes."
Daniel stayed quiet for a second before waving his hand casually. "Right. Whatever. Come sit down. Let's do the interview."
The woman walked over and sat across from him before handing over a resume.
Daniel glanced down at it.
Selina Kyle.
Internally, he immediately nodded to himself.
Yep. Definitely Catwoman.
That was absolutely one of her aliases.
Daniel looked back up at her while trying not to look too amused.
Selina, meanwhile, was quietly studying the painting hanging on the wall behind him rather than Daniel himself.
Because that painting was worth nearly twenty million dollars.
And it was casually hanging inside a small office located on the first floor of an ordinary building in Central City like somebody forgot basic financial survival instincts existed.
Selina could tell immediately it was genuine too.
Which was exactly why she came here personally instead of sending someone else to investigate.
Either this place was the easiest target she had ever seen—
Or something about it was deeply wrong.
"Hmm," Daniel said while looking through the resume again. "You have experience as a personal assistant, office management, security coordination…"
His eyes lifted toward her afterward.
"With qualifications like this, why would you want to work for me?" Daniel asked.
Selina lowered her eyes slightly before answering, her voice softening at just the right moment.
"I have a sick mother at home waiting for me," she said quietly. "I've had to take care of her for years, and this office is close enough that I can still look after her properly."
A faint tremble entered her voice afterward with impressive precision.
"So honestly…" she continued while forcing a weak smile, "I don't really have the luxury of being picky anymore. I just need a stable job so I can keep supporting her."
By the end of it, there were even tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
Daniel watched the performance in silence.
Internally, he wanted to stand up and hand her an Oscar.
The acting was incredible.
If he didn't already know she was almost certainly Catwoman, he might have actually believed her.
Absolutely professional-level deception, Daniel thought while staring at her fake emotional breakdown with admiration.
Honestly, Gotham criminals really were built differently.
*****
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