(A special thanks to Colleem for writing this chapter. You did an excellent job)
Lois now looked at him sternly and confidently. Herbert made himself ready to intervene but then an almost ingenious idea came to the owner. He waved to Herbert quickly and conspicuously. Much too conspicuous when the Lois could overlook it and turned in the direction.
"May I introduce you to my artificial intelligence. She listens to the name Herbert. Herbert, please welcome Miss Lois Lane from the Daily Planet." He said as normal as he could.
"Good afternoon, Miss Lane. Welcome to our store. Should I book an appointment for you?" asked the robot voice.
"An AI" Lois asked confused and he smiled.
"One of the few things I took over from the previous owners. I must confess that Robert is an excellent help. And I can assure you that he will not try to conquer the world!
"Aha? And why not?" Lois asked and Robert answered politely.
"My programming is limited to taking over the everyday tasks of the shop. The previous owners wanted to be able to concentrate fully on the customers."
"You mean while they've changed their minds and turned them into Mindless fuck puppets?"
"Right, Miss Lane." Answered the robot voice.
"And ... what else did they keep?" Lois asked the owner and was still skeptical.
"Oh, I kept some equipment. If you wish, I'd be happy to show you all the equipment. If you wish Robert can also deactivate all power consumers. Please believe me. I don't intend to take over the world or anything like that. I just want to have enough money at the end of the month to pay my bills and maybe afford a Coke." He laughed friendly and Lois weighed the possibilities. "Please. Please give Robert the order yourself. Robert. I want you to do all Miss Lane's orders as long as she's here as if they were mine."
"As you wish Boss. Do you have any orders for me?"
"Can you really turn off all the equipment if I demand it?"
"Of course. Do you want me to turn off all power consuming devices?"
"Yes... please... and then you can convince me that this shop is not dangerous" she nodded and was at least determined to give it a chance.
"Thank you Miss Lane! I promise I will never forget that" he said cheering and led them through the rooms. Everywhere there were appropriate devices which explained the sense and purpose of these rooms immediately. All the time he explained to her what he had bought, which devices had been taken over from the old shop and which had not. Of course he didn't tell her that there was a secret room in the warehouse where all the mind control poisons and the brain wave control devices were.
When she left the store she meant to wait for him. But the next day he could get a report from her about his store at the Daily Planet. It was much better than he had expected. Apparently he had convinced Lois that he wasn't a madman.
"Robert! Be so good and please send her an invitation and a voucher right away?"