"Sis, listen to me!"
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 time 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 moment, 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 me, your sister will help you decide."
Yuhan stared wide-eyed at her. "Sister, weren't you against this just a moment 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 me, 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 me?"
"I'm sorry, I was wrong!" Yuhan quickly apologized. Then she admitted softly, "Fenric… he already gave me something."
"Oh?" Vivienne's irritation melted 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 meant 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 memory.
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 governments who would shamelessly demand it from her sister.
Yuhan nodded seriously. She wasn't naive—she understood exactly what her sister meant. "Fenric said that in the first ten floors of the Samsara Tower, these two things will help me a lot."
"He's right," Vivienne agreed, then added, "And even that's an understatement. 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 meaningless. You should avoid expensive things and instead choose something with true sentimental 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 name. Note: your identity defaults to that of a civilian and cannot be altered."
Without hesitation, Fenric entered the name: Ronan Anderson.
It was the same name 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 confirmed. Mission begins. Good luck."
The red light faded.
In the next moment, Fenric opened his eyes to find himself in a new world.
A bustling metropolis stretched before him. Night had fallen, neon lights painting the city in gaudy brilliance. The streets pulsed with life—yet something 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 home. Startled by Fenric, he panicked and immediately begged, "Sir, please don't hurt me! I only have fifty dollars in cash—take it all if you want!"
Fenric blinked, momentarily 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 home."
"Why?" Fenric pressed.
"Because…" The man's voice dropped to a fearful whisper. "This is Gotham. At night, the whole city belongs to criminals."