James stood alone on the rooftop. His enhanced hearing tracked her for several blocks before she disappeared into a vehicle.
"AEGIS, analysis."
"Encounter confirms external observation by major organizations. League of Assassins interest suggests your operations have achieved significant visibility. Recommendation: prepare for additional tests from other factions. Probability of interference from Lex Luthor, Kobra, H.I.V.E., or other major players: eighty-four percent within next sixty days."
James had expected this. You couldn't operate as an enhanced vigilante in Gotham without attracting attention. Batman dealt with it constantly.
The question was how to handle it. Batman stayed independent through sheer competence and force of will. He made it clear that he was more useful as an ally than as an enemy or a recruit.
James would do the same. Demonstrate that Sovereign was someone to work with, not to control.
But first, he needed more power. The League operative had been highly skilled. If Ra's sent multiple assassins, or if they came with metahuman backup, James needed to be ready.
Time to push his enhancements further.
---
Over the next two weeks, James focused on two critical projects.
First, mental defenses.
His enhanced intellect was his greatest advantage, but it was also a vulnerability. Telepaths existed in this world. Martian Manhunter. Gorilla Grodd. Manchester Black. Dozens of psychics who could read minds or control thoughts.
Batman had protocols against mental intrusion. James needed his own.
He couldn't build psychic shields through biology alone. Mental resistance required training and discipline. But he could create technological countermeasures.
James designed a neural inhibitor system. Small implants that would attach to his skull under his helmet. The devices generated a specific electromagnetic field that disrupted telepathic intrusion attempts.
The science was based on research he remembered from both DC and Marvel comics. Professor X's Cerebro used specific frequencies to detect mutant minds. Magneto's helmet blocked those frequencies through electromagnetic shielding. The principle was sound.
James built the first prototype in four days. Tested it extensively using electromagnetic field generators and his own attempts at self-hypnosis.
The device worked. It created enough neural noise that reading his surface thoughts would be difficult. Deep telepathic intrusion would still be possible, but it would require significant effort and time.
Good enough for now. He could improve the system later.
Second project: wealth expansion and strategic positioning.
His current net worth was twelve million dollars. Substantial for a private citizen. Not substantial compared to Bruce Wayne or Lex Luthor.
James needed more capital. Not just for equipment and enhancements. For influence. For the ability to affect change at scale.
He'd been conservative with his investments so far. Making steady returns through careful stock picking and real estate. But conservative meant slow.
Time to be aggressive.
James used his meta-knowledge to identify a major opportunity. In the Marvel universe, Stark Industries had grown massively in the late nineties. In the DC universe, there was a parallel. A small tech company called KordTech was about to announce a breakthrough in telecommunications.
Ted Kord, the second Blue Beetle, owned the company. It was currently valued at eighty million. After the announcement, it would jump to over three hundred million within a year.
James liquidated half his portfolio. Six million dollars. Invested all of it in KordTech stock at current prices.
It was a massive risk. If he was wrong, he'd lose half his wealth. If he was right, he'd triple his money in twelve months.
But his meta-knowledge said he was right. KordTech would boom. Ted Kord would become one of the world's leading tech innovators.
James just needed to be patient.
While waiting for his investments to mature, he continued his other work. Training. Operations as Sovereign. Building his civilian network.
He attended another Wayne Foundation event. This time, a fundraiser for Gotham's public schools. Bruce Wayne was there, playing the charming billionaire philanthropist. Lucius Fox was discussing technology partnerships with various companies.
James worked the room carefully. Met education officials. Donated fifty thousand dollars to the scholarship fund. Made connections with people who could be useful later.
Bruce approached him during the cocktail hour.
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