Marvel: Beginning with the Collection of Shinra Tensei

Chapter 53: Chapter 54: Joker



During regular dining hours, they agreed to pay three times the price of a dish. If it was after closing hours, the price went up to six times.

The profit margin was staggering. No one could resist such an offer. Before long, the head of the western restaurant was speaking obsequiously over the phone:

"Please feel free to contact us anytime. Even in the middle of the night, we will deliver the finest meals for you!"

Ultron, true to his nature as a super-intelligent robot, repeated the statement word for word with perfect accuracy.

Hearing this, Han Yu couldn't help but laugh. "This extravagance… you're really something else."

Not that Han Yu minded. Once the game was released online, its monthly revenue alone would surpass what most people could earn in a lifetime. Such expenses were insignificant in comparison.

"From downstairs, I could already hear the commotion. So you're back now, huh? These two have been waiting for you for days," Wanda said, stepping into the room. She smiled when she saw Han Yu sitting between Ultron and Pietro.

"It hasn't been that long," Han Yu replied. "Sorry I didn't even get a chance to say hello before they dragged me here."

"It's fine," Wanda chuckled. "They already told me about this game. It looks pretty good. I'm thinking of giving it a try myself."

"Great! Then let's all play a round together!" Han Yu exclaimed.

Eager to dive in, he quickly found a computer, sat down, and turned it on. The desktop had just one icon: GTA.

When he launched the game, the first thing that appeared was a logo featuring a silver lightning bolt intertwined with a dark-toned mechanical skull. Glancing at Ultron and Pietro, he noticed their smug expressions. Clearly, the logo was inspired by their own characteristics.

Next came one of the game's standout features: character customization.

"Boss, this part is optional for now," Ultron advised. "I loaded so much data that the customization options are extensive. You can skip it for now and come back to it later."

Thanks to their unlimited budget, Ultron had used a massive dataset to build the character customization system. By refining and condensing the data, they ended up with a system capable of generating hundreds of unique appearances. With endless combinations, every character could look distinct.

Han Yu chuckled. He already had a clear idea of the character he wanted to create. Browsing through the customization options, he quickly began sculpting a face.

His mouse movements were so rapid that it seemed as though he wasn't even thinking, clicking haphazardly. But when the screen revealed the results, it was anything but random.

The character's body was dressed in a sleek tailcoat, with a lean, elegant physique resembling that of a refined gentleman. However, the face was an entirely different story.

Pietro and Wanda felt a chill run down their spines as they looked at it.

The skin was ghostly white, the lips painted with exaggerated red lipstick that extended from the corners of the mouth almost to the ears. When the character smiled, the mouth stretched unnervingly wide. And the hair? A striking, bright green.

Han Yu smiled at the familiar face he had created. He typed five letters into the character's name field: Joker.

This was The Joker—the archenemy of Batman and the most terrifyingly insane villain in all of DC Comics. No one knew his real name or his origins. The only certainty was that when a Joker playing card landed before you, it was a warning.

The Joker had marked you.

Han Yu exhaled deeply, admiring the face and figure he had crafted. In the chaotic world of GTA, this bizarre character was a perfect fit.

"Boss, you have quite a… unique taste," Pietro muttered.

After a moment, Pietro finally murmured his thoughts, and even Wanda nodded in agreement. The character Han Yu created looked undeniably eerie.

"He's perfect for this world," Han Yu said, staring intently at the Joker on his screen. Noticing the odd glances from the others, he turned to check their screens. "What kind of characters did you create?"

When he looked, Han Yu was instantly at a loss for words.

Ultron had created a young man around 18 or 19 years old. His aura was bright and cheerful, and the character was so lifelike it felt as though he could step right out of the screen. The face, impeccably handsome, would undoubtedly captivate women in the real world.

Pietro's character was a towering giant, nearly two meters tall. With chiseled facial features and muscles that were powerful yet not overly bulky, the sheer visual impact was striking.

Wanda, on the other hand, had created a petite girl about 1.4 meters tall, exuding cuteness from her outfit to her demeanor. She seemed to bounce with energy, radiating an irresistible charm.

Han Yu didn't even know what expression to wear.

A deranged clown, a ridiculously handsome young man, a muscular giant, and an adorably small girl—after all that effort, not a single one of them had gone for a "normal" human design.

What an utterly bizarre group!

"Alright, let's start the game!"

Not wanting to dwell on it further, Han Yu clicked to begin.

The in-game city was a one-to-one replica of Los Angeles. While the interiors of buildings had been modified to respect privacy, the external layout and locations were identical. Mastering the game's map essentially meant mastering LA's geography.

In the game, the city retained its familiar name: Los Santos.

As soon as they entered, the four of them plunged into the chaotic fun. Anything that could be done in real life could be done in the game.

This version of GTA far surpassed the one Han Yu had played in his previous life—it was practically a miniature world. The four ran wild, engaging in heists, races, and general mayhem. They played non-stop from morning until late afternoon.

By the time Han Yu came back to reality, it was already 4 p.m. Stretching and exhaling deeply, he leaned back in his chair.

"How is it, boss? Does it meet your expectations?" Ultron asked smugly.

"No," Han Yu replied, shaking his head with a thoughtful expression.

Ultron froze, his confidence wavering. Just as he was about to speak up and offer to fix anything that wasn't right, Han Yu continued, "It has far exceeded my expectations. Honestly, to achieve this in such a short time is incredible."

Ultron couldn't help but metaphorically roll his eyes. Though he didn't physically have eyes to roll, Han Yu's dramatic pause had been nerve-wracking.

"Just make sure to put enough attention into the DLCs," Han Yu added. "That's one of the key features of this game. Don't let the focus on the main content overshadow those."

The term "DLC" referred to downloadable content, such as new maps, game modes, characters, or story expansions.

GTA's expansive world was brimming with potential. Once players tired of the base content—and if their system could handle it—they'd be able to download whatever DLCs interested them to continue exploring and having fun.

"Heh, don't worry, boss," Ultron said with a grin. "I'm already working on that. I promise you won't be disappointed!"

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