"Sis, listen to !"
Yuhan spoke quickly, her face flustered. "I’m not in a puppy love! No, I... I..."
Her words faltered, and she didn’t know how to continue.
Because, truthfully—was exchanging gifts with Fenric considered puppy love?
"Who is it?" Vivienne Song asked, her voice calm but her eyes sharp.
Yuhan froze. "What?"
"I asked you—who’s the boy you want to give a gift to?"
"This..." Yuhan fidgeted, unable to answer.
Vivienne’s gaze sharpened suddenly. "Is it Shura?"
At once, Yuhan lowered her head, her two fingers nervously twining together. She didn’t respond, but her silence said everything.
Vivienne’s eyes narrowed. So it really is Shura.
"This Shura—he usually looks honest and upright, but behind my back he quietly stole my sister’s heart! Next ti I see him, I’ll have to ask him a few questions." She muttered, irritation flaring. "I treated him as a friend, yet he dares to aim for my brother-in-law’s seat?"
Yuhan blushed furiously. "Sister, you’ve misunderstood! It’s not what you think between us!"
"Oh?" Vivienne tilted her head. "Then what is it?"
Yuhan struggled to explain. After a mont, she finally murmured, "For now... we’re still just friends."
"What?!" Vivienne blinked in disbelief. "You haven’t secured him yet? Then you’d better hurry! So—what gift are you giving him today? Tell , your sister will help you decide."
Yuhan stared wide-eyed at her. "Sister, weren’t you against this just a mont ago?"
"When did I ever oppose it?" Vivienne scoffed. "If the boy in question is Shura, I have no objections at all!"
Yuhan didn’t know how to respond.
Vivienne leaned closer, suddenly asking, "You’re agonizing over what gift to give him—but what about him? Did he give you anything?"
"And listen to , Yuhan—girls can’t be too proactive. That’s a lesson from your experienced elder sister!"
"...You’ve always been single, haven’t you?" Yuhan muttered under her breath. "What experience could you possibly have?"
Vivienne bristled like a puffed-up cat. "What did you say, you brat?! I’m helping you out of kindness, and this is how you treat ?"
"I’m sorry, I was wrong!" Yuhan quickly apologized. Then she admitted softly, "Fenric... he already gave sothing."
"Oh?" Vivienne’s irritation lted into curiosity. "And what did he give you?"
"Two special items," Yuhan answered honestly. "One is the Iron Man Mark VII suit, and the other... is a sentinel robot."
"..."
Vivienne’s face instantly changed.
Those two things ant little to her personally—but she knew their true weight.
Especially the sentinel robot. She had once encountered one while tackling the fifteenth floor, and nearly lost her life under its relentless pursuit. Its terrifying power remained etched in her mory.
Moreover, the technology behind it was no less astonishing than Stark’s armor. The sentinel could adapt, simulate mutant abilities, and fight endlessly—a machine built solely for killing.
If any country could fully unlock the sentinel’s secrets, it would easily dominate the world.
"Yuhan! These gifts are priceless," Vivienne said gravely. "You must never reveal that you have them. Not to anyone."
She feared the news would spread, drawing governnts who would shalessly demand it from her sister.
Yuhan nodded seriously. She wasn’t naive—she understood exactly what her sister ant. "Fenric said that in the first ten floors of the Samsara Tower, these two things will help a lot."
"He’s right," Vivienne agreed, then added, "And even that’s an understatent. The sentinel robot alone is extraordinary. For Shura to acquire one... it’s incredible."
Her eyes softened slightly as she continued, "Since Shura has given you such valuable gifts, the gift you prepare for him must be chosen with care."
"What should I give him, then?" Yuhan asked earnestly.
"With his current status, money is aningless. You should avoid expensive things and instead choose sothing with true sentintal value." Vivienne began her lecture, despite her own twenty-plus years of singlehood.
How reliable such advice was... was another matter entirely.
—---
Samsara Tower, Sixteenth Floor
Inside the preparation room, a system prompt echoed:
"Teleportation countdown begins. 10... 9... 8... 3... 2... 1!"
The instant it ended, Fenric was engulfed in crimson light and vanished.
A virtual interface appeared before him.
On the screen stood a young man bearing three distinct resemblances to Fenric himself.
"Samsara Player Shura, this is your default appearance for this world. If you are unsatisfied, please modify it now. Note: this is a major dungeon world. When you re-enter in the future, you will retain this identity."
Fenric glanced at the generated appearance and found it satisfactory. He chose to confirm.
Another prompt followed:
"Please select your na. Note: your identity defaults to that of a civilian and cannot be altered."
Without hesitation, Fenric entered the na: Ronan Anderson.
It was the sa na he had used in the Marvel world. Now that he had stepped into DC, he intended for "Ronan Anderson" to echo in both universes.
"Identity confird. Mission begins. Good luck."
The red light faded.
In the next mont, Fenric opened his eyes to find himself in a new world.
A bustling tropolis stretched before him. Night had fallen, neon lights painting the city in gaudy brilliance. The streets pulsed with life—yet sothing felt off.
Though crowded, the pedestrians all moved in a rush, as if fleeing from unseen pursuers.
Curious, Fenric stopped a passerby.
It was an ordinary middle-aged white man in a cheap suit, clearly a weary office worker on his way ho. Startled by Fenric, he panicked and imdiately begged, "Sir, please don’t hurt ! I only have fifty dollars in cash—take it all if you want!"
Fenric blinked, montarily stunned.
Does he think I’m a robber?
"Do I really look like a criminal to you?" he asked wryly.
The man only stared at him in fear, too afraid to answer.
"Relax. I just want to ask a few questions," Fenric reassured.
Still tense, the man replied quickly, "W-what do you want to know? I’m just an ordinary worker. I don’t know much."
Fenric frowned. The man was like a frightened bird, ready to scatter at any sound.
"Why are you in such a hurry? What are you so afraid of?" Fenric asked. Then, seeing the man’s hesitation, he added, "I just arrived here. I’m not familiar with this place."
Only then did the man exhale slightly, relief flickering across his face. "Sir, if you’ll take my advice—leave this city as soon as you can. And if you must stay... never go out at night. Stay ho."
"Why?" Fenric pressed.
"Because..." The man’s voice dropped to a fearful whisper. "This is Gotham. At night, the whole city belongs to criminals."
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