As for Xiao Jia listening to the commands of people in special uniforms, such a concept simply does not exist in this world.
However, SCP containment objects manifested through the Manifestation System will only unconditionally obey Wang Ya's commands and manipulations.
Of course, regarding SCP containment objects of supreme divinity, Wang Ya has no idea and cannot determine whether they can accept his manipulations and commands.
Because supreme divinity has already far surpassed ordinary containment objects; they are existences more incomprehensible and unimaginable than high-level reality benders.
A name flashed through Wang Ya's mind; that name consisted of four characters: Scarlet King…
He somewhat doubted if he could control such a big shot; that was a conceptual being spanning countless multiverses!
Even any attempt to explore It would only further strengthen It.
Because the essence of the Scarlet King is an idea, a manifestation of the tension between modernity and pre-modernity.
Wherever there is modernity, there will be the Scarlet King; It views modernity as a sin, but at the same time, modernity shapes It, allowing It to revise modernity into barbarism.
This incomprehensible existence, which even the SCP Foundation cannot completely contain, can only be dealt with by the best method: not containing It is the best way to handle the Scarlet King.
…
Time passed again, and the SCP Foundation was gradually developing.
With the strong support of the Landon Group, the original floors were built up at a visible speed, and various facilities were gradually perfected.
And Wang Ya's career mission progress was also gradually increasing at a rate that Wang Ya was very satisfied with.
At the same time, with the help of the Landon Group and Landon Fury's personal efforts, the SCP Foundation Technology Company gradually entered the sights of various major forces, who began to investigate it.
However, currently there are no technological products being produced; it is just a shell company operating under the Landon Group.
Because Wang Ya's own career mission has not yet been completed, and the SCP Foundation's headquarters has not been fully renovated, how can the next step of the technology blueprint plan be developed?
Alright!
The main reason is that Wang Ya's system level has not reached the point where he can exchange manifestation points.
It is currently D-class; it is estimated that he needs to reach C-class to unlock exchange options, and the Manifestation System will also develop new functions.
Now, the first step is to complete the career mission; the second step is to face the new crisis!!!
And there is an old employer who has been eyeing him covetously; it is estimated that after all this time, he has already investigated everything thoroughly.
The original scumbag employees, led by Sende (Black) and old Hans, have already taken root in the Hank Area, completely becoming a new gang force there.
Outwardly, they are still the Hank Gang, but with a new word added.
That old Hans and Sende (Black) seem to have some unusual ideas!
After all, they have moved to a new place, a relatively more affluent area than the Bru District.
It is no wonder they are acting this way; they have so many subordinates, still under their control, and no terrifying and troublesome Wizard to get in their way.
Their ambition must have instantly swelled, plus they took over the original Hank Gang's industry chain, so funds are no longer lacking…
Under these circumstances, anyone with a bit of ambition would have unusual ideas in their mind.
Their failure to actively report to Wang Ya these days is precisely because of this!
But little did they know, they were merely bait thrown out by Wang Ya.
The SCP Foundation still needs time to develop, but the stingy Penguin, after so many days, has completely understood the whole story and certainly won't let Wang Ya continue to develop like this.
Of course, for the noble Penguin, a small matter in the Slums is not worth too much thought, even if the Landon Group, with a muddled mind, is setting up industries and technology companies in the poorest part of the Slums.
Yes, the stingy Penguin has long regarded the SCP Foundation as a boring experiment by the Landon Family, who had nothing better to do.
Any guy with a bit of sense would not invest in a place with no profit to be made, but the Landon Group did it anyway.
The stingy Penguin thought for a long time but couldn't understand why.
And he stated, if the Landon Group wants the Slums, it is no problem to sell it all to them.
After all, it is just a Slums with limited value.
If it weren't for the city planning, where the stingy Penguin needed a good image in front of the citizens, he would not have taken on the Slums renovation project, this mess!
After so long of renovation, it was useless anyway, so it was better to let it develop on its own and just let his subordinates do something in the Slums.
Mr. Penguin said that the Landon Group's useless small actions in the Slums showed that Landon Fury's vision was too small.
Couldn't you just buy it from me? I would give you the whole package, and even a 50% discount.
But if you don't buy it, and yet you want to make small moves in Mr. Penguin's territory, how can the stingy Penguin tolerate it?
He declared, no matter how useless or unappealing the Slums may be, Landon Fury, you absolutely cannot get it for free!
If you know what is good for you, hurry up and pay to buy it out!
In fact, Landon Fury did receive an invitation from Mr. Penguin to attend a private dinner.
But Landon Fury stated that he was Wizard's man, how could he attend the stingy Penguin's private dinner?
What if Wizard misunderstood? He directly refused the other party.
At this, the somewhat humiliated Penguin decisively prepared to cut off the Landon Group's arrangements.
Landon Fury, you want to get it for free, don't you? Today I will break the hand you extended, and see if you still dare to refuse Mr. Penguin's private dinner.
And so, the Hank District, as the forefront of the SCP Foundation's influence, and the New Hank Gang, perfectly bore the first wave of pressure from Mr. Penguin.
To be precise, Mr. Penguin did not care much; it was just a casual remark he gave as an order.
But all the gangs in the Slums have almost become adversaries of the SCP Foundation.
Of course, this was at the behest of the White Eagle Gang, and the surrounding gangs began to put pressure on the SCP Foundation, such as the Iron Blood Gang and the Stick Boys.
However, the New Hank Gang in the Hank District was clearly more conspicuous and directly became the first target of attack.
At this point, they couldn't help but seek help from the great and mysterious Wizard.
Wang Ya said, have you finally remembered who your boss is? But I know, I see, I just won't help; hold on a little longer.
As for why Landon Fury refused Mr. Penguin's various subtle hints, it was entirely Wang Ya's opinion.
If all the surrounding areas were bought out, although it could develop quickly, too many opportunities to complete various tasks would be lost, which would be a disadvantage.
Wang Ya: The path must be taken one step at a time, and so must the development of the SCP Foundation.
Without missions, how can I manifest more SCPs? How can I raise my system level? How can I get more manifestation points to exchange for Grandpa 682!
Speed up! Speed up!
The famous DC characters should make their appearances now, let's make it lively. Batman, Joker, Two-Face, Poison Ivy…
They will all appear as soon as possible in the upcoming story… Additionally, the SCP Foundation must also quickly establish itself in Gotham City and develop rapidly…
Welcome to urge for updates, book reader group: 1063560417
I hope everyone can give me some suggestions in the group, recommending some SCP anomalies to me…
After all, there are so many… It really takes the author a long time to find the ones he likes!
When recommending SCP anomalies, please suggest ones that aren't too powerful in the early stages…
Also, the author is very conflicted about the protagonist's next anomaly ability, unsure which one would be better! Either too weak or too strong!
It's really agonizing!
You might think I write slowly, but in reality, I spend half the day agonizing over what to use!
Sende (Black) has been in high spirits lately. Not only did he occupy Hank District, but he also took over all the former Hank Gang's businesses. The constant flow of money allowed him to live a luxurious life he had never experienced before, something he couldn't get in Bru District or from the Shark Gang. As his power grew, so did his ambition, and he no longer feared the so-called Wizard still holed up in Bru District. He even thought about challenging the Wizard's authority, but a lingering apprehension kept this thought buried deep in his heart. However, he believed that as long as he and Old Hans (Black) developed the New Hank Gang, constantly expanding its members and increasing its weapons, they would eventually possess the power to overturn everything.
Ambition had taken root and sprouted in Sende (Black)'s heart!!
Old Hans (Black), however, was somewhat uneasy. His fear of Wang Ya was deeply ingrained; Wang Ya's shadow constantly influenced him. While he might have considered betrayal, he couldn't bring himself to actually do it.
His brother had already been an informant once, and he didn't want to repeat the mistake and become the second. The price paid was severe, and his current life was something he had barely fought Death to win back.
If the New Hank Gang wanted to betray Wang Ya, he would likely be the first to jump out and stop them.
Sende (Black) had considered this, so he never revealed his thoughts to Old Hans. Instead, he played along, secretly developing the gang's armed forces and winning over people's hearts. Until he fully controlled the New Hank Gang and dismantled Old Hans's influence, he would continue to appear law-abiding.
Originally, Sende's plan was exactly this, but plans are always subject to change. An unexpected incident disrupted his plan and the New Hank Gang's development, leaving all members unsettled. Sende even wanted to return to that terrifying boss and acted on it, but he only received a perfunctory response.
How could this be! How could this happen!
That was the Iron Blood Gang from the High-Tech Zone, a gang even more powerful than the original Hank Gang. They even had to pay a portion of their money to them; the law of the jungle was enforced with brutal reality.
Now, the Iron Blood Gang suddenly sent some members to openly collect protection fees in his territory. This represented a gang's dignity. If other gangs meddled in your territory, everyone would look down on you, and your reputation within the gang world would be utterly ruined.
Sende also took action, sending someone to the Iron Blood Gang to inquire about the situation, why they were doing something so overstepping, and if they weren't afraid of sparking a conflict between the two gangs.
Although the original Hank Gang was not their opponent, the current New Hank Gang was different. It not only included members of the Shark Gang but also some elite members of the original Hank Gang who had surrendered and joined. Combined, they almost all had AKs, giving them the strength to fight the other side.
If it really came to a fight, they might not necessarily lose!
But if Wang Ya knew his thoughts, he would definitely tell him mercilessly: 'Stop dreaming. If you useless employees had such good combat power, would I have thrown you into Hank District to be cannon fodder? If you can win, I, Wang Ya, will jump directly from the top of the SCP Building. My death would prove I was full of shit.'
But something happened that infuriated Sende (Black) so much that he wanted to go all out against the Iron Blood Gang: the other side directly sent back the head of the gang member who had been sent to deliver the message.
In war, one does not kill the messenger. The Iron Blood Gang completely violated this bottom line... then don't blame me, Sende, for being ruthless.
Sende, still unwilling to give up, sent out another member to ask why they were invading the New Hank Gang and also killing the messenger.
But that member never returned. Sende had a very bad premonition, and sure enough, the next day, the member's body was found again at the entrance of Hank District, with dense blood-red characters from his back to his butt.
The general meaning was: 'You cowards of the New Hank Gang, surrender obediently if you know what's good for you, otherwise we'll kill you all. And you ask why we're attacking you? We're attacking you traitors!'
The reason was that the member Sende sent also carried an extremely important mission: to bring the New Hank Gang's sincerity and determination to form an alliance with the Iron Blood Gang and advance and retreat together.
But when that member didn't return overnight, Sende had already vaguely guessed the answer. When the body was laid before him, the crimson words once again stimulated his rationality.
He finally couldn't take it anymore. Sende (Black) had spirit, too. He immediately pulled out the pistol from his waist and fired a shot at the ceiling in the room. Fortunately, no one was injured by ricocheting bullets, but even so, the members of the New Hank Gang were terrified, quickly dodging and seeking cover.
"Cough, cough!"
Sende cleared his throat and said seriously: "Members, our trouble has arrived. Our territory is being encroached upon by other gangs. It's time for us to fight back."
"And the Iron Blood Gang is attacking us!"
The echo of this sentence lingered in the room, filling all the New Hank Gang members with panic and fear. This was the Iron Blood Gang, a gang even crazier than their Hank Gang. What should they do!
Seeing this, Sende knew it wouldn't do, so he continued to speak solemnly.
"We don't need to fear the Iron Blood Gang; instead, they need to fear us. Because we are the New Hank Gang, possessing greater strength than the old Hank Gang. Our firepower is stronger, and we have more members, so there's no need to fear them at all."
"So we can totally defeat the Iron Blood Gang and protect our territory, and perhaps even seize theirs. Then, wouldn't beautiful women and money come pouring in?"
For his power and status, Sende unprecedentedly utilized all the oratorical skills he had from this life and the next.
Only by driving away the Iron Blood Gang could he maintain his power. And from the previous two incidents, it was clear that the Iron Blood Gang came with a murderous intent, with only one option: to destroy the New Hank Gang. So he could no longer sit idly by.
He refused to believe it; the New Hank Gang was so strong, yet it couldn't withstand an attack from the Iron Blood Gang.
Sure enough, his words ignited the fighting spirit of all the members. Yes, the New Hank Gang was so strong, how could they not defeat the Iron Blood Gang? And they were fighting on home turf.
"Let's do it! Brothers!"
Sende shouted loudly!
"Let's do it!"
"Defeat the Iron Blood Gang!!"
The members shouted unevenly. Although not uniform, the momentum was there, and Sende was quite satisfied. Now it was time to confront those guys from the Iron Blood Gang.
Sende (Black)'s eyes held a suppressed ambition; perhaps this would be a turning point for him.
Since the Wizard ignored him, he would establish his own faction!
He had completely made up his mind. The Wizard had betrayed them first; the Wizard had betrayed the members of the Shark Gang.
Oh, Sende (Black) seemed to finally remember his former boss, but what he thought of was to completely establish his own faction, and with his pitiful brain capacity, he pondered how to break away.
Sende (Black)'s eyes lit up. He seemed to have thought of a perfect idea, and by leveraging the Iron Blood Gang's commotion this time, he could completely eliminate Old Hans's influence.
The New Hank Gang was destined to belong only to him!
Whether it was Old Hans or the annoying Wizard, he had already had his trusted subordinates investigate the situation within the New Hank Gang, which was divided into three factions.
Old Hans's faction.
His own faction.
And the original Hank Gang's faction...
So, for this sudden attack against the Iron Blood Gang, he could arrange for those stubborn members to lead the charge, with his own members following closely behind.
Sende (Black) was planning in his mind. The members of the original Hank Gang had joined, but they were not united, so perhaps he could do this...
...
Thump thump thump!
The originally silent night was now covered by gunfire and enveloped in fireworks. This was a fierce gang war between two ruthless gangs, where a moment of carelessness could lead to being hit by a stray bullet.
The residents of Hank District tightly shut their doors and hid under their beds, fearing that a grenade or some other deadly device might be thrown in.
Gang fights disregarded everything, especially when gang members were seeing red.
The residents in the Hank Area initially thought this battle would end quickly, and they would soon return to their previous lives, busy with work, instead of trembling in fear at home. However, this battle seemed to last longer than they had imagined.
Sende (Black) hid behind cover, a thick wall that could defend against bullets. He began to feel a little anxious. The battle had lasted from evening until around eight o'clock at night, for two or three hours, and the firepower was still intense.
Sende (Black) vaguely felt whether he had misjudged the enemy's firepower and ammunition. He had brought almost more than half of the New Hank Gang's ammunition and firearms and had built some defensive fortifications here in advance.
Sende (Black) stated that he had watched television when he was a child and knew strategy and tactics. At this moment, he was going to leverage his advantages to strike at the enemy's weaknesses, making them taste defeat at the New Hank Gang, a defeat brought to the Iron Blood Gang under the leadership of his brilliant and mighty boss, Sende.
Everything was conceived beautifully, but reality dealt him a head-on blow. The Iron Blood Gang's firepower was incredibly fierce, but in his mind, shouldn't the opponent have probed first? The first attack on the New Hank Gang should only use a portion of their firepower and personnel to test, and then they would completely devour them and grow like a snowball.
However, from the current situation, the Iron Blood Gang not only completely failed to follow his plan but also seemed to have a blood feud with their New Hank Gang, directly going all-in, committing all their members and firepower.
Why...
Sende (Black) was very confused. If the great Wizard were present, he might give him an answer and leave a mysterious smile.
Fortunately, one part of his plan was perfectly executed: successfully having some disobedient, stubborn members stationed at the first line of defense. Sende (Black) was at the third line of defense, with members of the original Hank Gang brothers in front, and those at the third line with him were all part of his faction.
Sende was very satisfied with this arrangement, and he had personally implemented it.
That way, even if there were casualties, the first two factions would suffer more. Even if all the disobedient, stubborn members died, Sende would not feel pain. He only needed the support of his loyal followers; that was the future of the New Hank Gang.
And it was the New Hank Gang that belonged entirely to him, Sende (Black).
No Old Hans, no damned Wizard, no annoying Hank Gang members, only the New Hank Gang!!!
"Oh, sh*t!"
Sende (Black) uttered an elegant word. He just poked his head out a little, ready to check the battle situation, and his pupils constricted. A dark RPG was launched, flames spewing, and its target was precisely the wall where he was.
This thick wall could stop bullets, but whether it could stop an RPG, Sende had no idea. So, he scurried away, covering his head, making a sudden retreat and dive from his spot.
Fortunately, he was indeed lucky. The wall actually withstood the power of that RPG and did not shatter.
He only suffered a slight impact. Due to his undignified diving posture, he fell face-first, making his posture even more ungraceful. With a buzzing head, he opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was a dark, grimy steel bar that almost poked into his eyeball. This steel bar was even darker than his skin tone, startling his pure black face to instantly turn pale. This was truly incredibly rare, even in such a tense moment of battle, his few loyal subordinates around him looked over with curiosity and immense desire.
The unspoken thought was probably: 'Boss, where did you find a way to whiten your skin? We want to whiten too, to become as white as you.'
Sende: 'No! You understand boss's privilege, right? Only the boss can have such white skin, you are not worthy.'
Sende was initially terrified, then filled with immense anger. Those scoundrels from the Iron Blood Gang dared to use an RPG to blow him up and almost killed him. How could Sende tolerate this? He decisively gave orders to release all the big guns from the inventory. 'Don't save money for your boss Sende, it's best to blow up those turtle-sons on the other side.'
The gunfire and clamor echoed through the night, causing the residents in the Hank Area to suffer immensely and quietly accumulate grievances.
In response, Sende declared that protection fees would be doubled, to teach these foolish people some manners about what to say and what not to say!
Sende was to be respected, not to be privately discussed by you worthless individuals.
Thus, the battle between the New Hank Gang and the Iron Blood Gang continued to intensify, with both sides suffering casualties. But the Iron Blood Gang seemed determined to wipe out the New Hank Gang, fighting relentlessly with overwhelming firepower.
Nearby residents had already moved away; some bullets had started penetrating rice cookers in kitchens. There was no food to eat anymore. If they didn't leave now, when would they!
(Residents: '?? We seem to be eating bread! Emm... it must be the toaster that got blown up, right!')
The surrounding buildings also gradually became engulfed in the smoke and flames of war.
Unlike the Hank Area, which is plagued by bullets, gunfire, war, and beautiful women, and where residents live in dire straits, the Bru District is much quieter and more stable. Although recently there have been many restless little rats, oh, and some small penguins, the great Wizard is now leisurely inspecting his own property.
Looking at the gradually improving facilities and the increasingly tall SCP Foundation Building, Wang Ya's mood was as joyful as if he had eaten malt candy from his hometown in Sichuan in his previous life.
Just in time, he had also called Landon Fury to complete this matter, and he believed that with the influence of American dollars, it would soon be delivered to Wang Ya.
The SCP Foundation is currently not short of funds. It has already purchased all the houses and buildings within a 500-meter radius, centered around the SCP Building. As for the homeless people sleeping on the streets, Wang Ya did not simply drive them away; instead, he gave each person a five-dollar bill and completely sent them off.
As for wanting to return, it would depend on whether the SCP security personnel, who had already set up barbed wire, would let them in. Of course, construction workers still had unhindered access, and the transportation of materials was also a troublesome matter.
Fortunately, Landon Fury directly used the power of the Landon Group to transport them by water from the Finger River.
Even in the Slums, as long as it bore the Landon Group's logo, no one dared to provoke it, except, of course, when the stingy Mr. Penguin gave an order.
However, Mr. Penguin didn't seem to intend to escalate to that point. Instead, he relied on his arrangements within the Slums, allowing his subordinates responsible for Slums affairs to make their own decisions.
Perhaps due to the Landon Group, things didn't get too out of hand. The White Eagle Gang merely gave a casual signal, and then the Iron Blood Gang attacked the New Hank Gang. As for more aggressive tactics, they weren't used.
It seems they are wary of the Landon Group, after all, it is a large enterprise and a prominent family. Although it cannot compare to their own boss, it is not something these small gang members can provoke. The Blue Gang, secretly supported by the Landon Group, is a dominant force in the Diamond District, let alone these small fry in the Slums.
Furthermore, there are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests. If some cooperation is reached, any unpleasant incidents that occurred beforehand will certainly require an explanation. So, who will be the scapegoat then…
The White Eagle Gang's boss was incredibly cunning. He merely watched the situation unfold; not acting would also be difficult to explain. So, he let the Iron Blood Gang test the waters.
The 'test' here naturally referred to wiping out the New Hank Gang. In their perception, they thought this was a branch of the SCP Foundation, like an extended arm. By severing it, they could see what the SCP Foundation's reaction would be, and what the Landon Group's reaction would be.
This is what the White Eagle Gang's boss wanted to know…
Anyone who can sit in the position of a gang boss is not simple, let alone a gang boss responsible for conveying Penguin's will, which is even more difficult.
But the White Eagle Gang's boss managed it, and he has been in that position for five years, which shows his capability. He is definitely not comparable to the Shark Gang or the Hank Gang.
And so, Boss Sende inexplicably received a surprise. This was truly a huge surprise, so much so that his current expression was becoming increasingly distorted and panicked.
Wang Ya turned off his phone, simply because a disobedient fellow kept calling him. If he answered, it would somewhat disrupt his intention of exploring the SCP Foundation's headquarters.
After all, he built it up with his own hands, relying entirely on Wang Ya's own efforts and talent, and he still felt a great sense of accomplishment.
At this moment, Wang Ya walked to a place where hired workers were building roads and street walls. These had all been purchased by the SCP Foundation and needed renovation.
Wang Ya was quite satisfied with the workers' construction progress and wanted to go over to say hello and ask how the work was coming along.
Wang Ya considered himself a people-friendly person and felt the need to offer comfort to those who were contributing to the SCP Foundation. Of course, his dedicated personal bodyguard, Xiao Jia, also closely followed Wang Ya, protecting his safety. To avoid unnecessary minor troubles, Wang Ya had specially disguised Xiao Jia, adding some clothes, making him look like a mysterious man wrapped from head to toe.
Xiao Jia followed Wang Ya to where several construction workers were laying bricks. Suddenly, Wang Ya's eyes changed slightly because a brick suddenly fell onto the empty ground in front of him, creating a small pit. If it had hit someone, they would probably have died instantly.
Unfortunately, that brick missed him by just a tiny bit, grazing past his nose.
Wang Ya's gaze fixed on a worker in a work uniform on the scaffolding that supported the wall from collapsing. The worker was smiling apologetically at him, seemingly having accidentally dropped the brick while laying it.
"Boss, I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… I didn't hold it steady, and it just fell!"
The worker was a middle-aged white man, his face and clothes were very dirty and messy, which were indeed caused by bricklaying work, but this person was not a bricklayer.
Wang Ya looked at him with a smile, unhurriedly pulling out a valuable, seemingly commemorative edition pistol from his in my arms. It was a gift specially given to him by Landon Fury.
The dark muzzle pointed at the bricklayer, and then he decisively fired.
Bang!
The bricklayer's face also changed drastically, not expecting Wang Ya to directly pull out a gun and shoot. He thought they could at least talk a bit more, but before being shot dead by Wang Ya, he forcefully pulled down something.
Crash!
This wall actually collapsed directly, and a large number of bricks came crashing down, enough to crush several people to death.
The remaining two workers' pupils constricted, and they quickly fled the spot, rolling away, but several bricks still hit them, leaving them all injured!
"Are they dead!"
"They should be dead. So many bricks came crashing down; if not dead, they're close!"
The two workers exchanged glances and headed towards the place where the bricks had fallen, seemingly wanting to check, while also pulling out a dagger, apparently intending to deliver a final blow.
"Are you looking for me!"
Wang Ya leisurely walked out from behind the pile of bricks. Aside from his clothes being a little dirty and messy, he was completely unharmed, not even a hair out of place.
Shock flashed in their eyes: "How is this possible!"
Wang Ya chuckled, "Don't show such an expression, it's really ugly. Perhaps I was just lucky!"
In fact, it really was just his luck… For example, when the bricks fell, he happened to be under the part that didn't collapse, and the falling part just cleared his head.
"Kill him!"
Fierce glints flashed in the eyes of the two workers, and they rushed forward with knives to stab Wang Ya to death.
Wang Ya unhurriedly shouted, "Xiao Jia, there are assassins, quickly protect me…"
Wang Ya hadn't expected to be attacked right at his doorstep; perhaps it had been premeditated for a long time, and he couldn't be bothered to guess who sent them.
Now it was Xiao Jia's time!
As two assassins, disguised as workers, pulled out their daggers to attack Wang Ya, a figure in a special police uniform appeared before Wang Ya, drawing the retractable steel baton that struck fear into villains.
Just a mere bodyguard, the two assassins thought nothing of it; they had killed too many people. So what if there was a bodyguard? They would just kill the bodyguard too.
What surprised them most was that their target, that damned Asian kid, hadn't taken the opportunity to leave. Instead, he stood quietly behind the bodyguard, watching—how incredibly foolish!
Did he really think a mere bodyguard could protect his life? Don't be ridiculous!
The two assassins felt insulted, swinging their daggers at the vital points of the strange figure in front of them, who was covered head-to-toe and wearing a tactical helmet.
First, kill this bodyguard, then kill that Asian kid, to show him how foolish his choice was.
Unfortunately, ideals are beautiful, but reality is harsh. The daggers didn't penetrate Xiao Jia's body at all. Instead, the assassins' hands became swollen and red, and their daggers dropped weakly to the ground.
This made the two assassins' faces change dramatically. This bodyguard was not simple; they had run into a tough opponent. They took a step back, observing Xiao Jia for any weaknesses.
Xiao Jia just stood there, saying nothing. When the opponents attacked again, the steel baton, carrying immense power, struck the assassins' lower backs. The pain twisted their faces, but the violence in their hearts was also unleashed.
One of them actually took the initiative to hold Xiao Jia back, while the other rushed towards Wang Ya, preparing to kill Wang Ya first. As long as Wang Ya was killed, the mission would be accomplished, and they wouldn't have to keep entangled with this troublesome bodyguard.
They really couldn't seem to beat this secretive fellow.
"Oh dear! This is too much. I'm not someone from the battlefield…"
Wang Ya blinked, yet made no move. Just as the assassin was about to tackle Wang Ya, Xiao Jia appeared, kicking the assassin down and handcuffing him behind his back.
But the other assassin saw an opportunity, picked up the dagger from the ground, and stabbed it towards Xiao Jia's neck.
It did indeed stab in, but the assassin felt as if it were air; there was no sensation of a body at all.
Wang Ya shook his head at him, worried about this person's fate!
One minute later, one assassin was beaten beyond recognition, covered in blood and marks from the steel baton, and had long since lost the signs of life.
The other assassin seemed to have been stimulated by something. Although his hands were bound by handcuffs, he was filled with terror towards Xiao Jia.
"He's not human… he's a monster… he's a monster…"
The assassin muttered to himself, his mind seemingly twisted by some reality-shattering stimulus.
This sudden incident was over. Wang Ya's newly built makeshift prison finally welcomed its first user. Good, it enriched a future D-level personnel.
Wang Ya no longer had the mood to continue wandering. The building was almost complete, and the battle in Hank District was probably nearing its end. It remained to be seen who would have the last laugh.
…
One day, the battle in Hank District concluded. The New Hank Gang won a tragic victory, but most of its members had died, with only a dozen or so remaining, including Sende (Black) and Old Hans. They were lucky; both of them survived.
Boss Sende was now in high spirits. Although this battle was brutal, they won. They actually won, defeating the arrogant Iron Blood Gang.
This also earned Boss Sende the loyalty of a wave of members. It seemed most of the remaining members in the New Hank Gang were his trusted subordinates.
Old Hans was the only one who survived; as for his other brothers, they all died in the battle.
The gang fight also made Old Hans incredibly fearful, even contemplating retirement.
Old Hans: It's so scary outside. I want to return to the side of the Wizard Lord, to serve him with all my heart and soul until death…
Boss Sende was very happy, extremely happy. Everything was according to his plan and completed perfectly. This time, at least half of the Iron Blood Gang's members were eliminated. The opponent was no longer capable of fighting, and perhaps there was even a possibility of occupying the Iron Blood District in the future.
Boss Sende thought with longing, but for now, the most important thing was to deal with the situation within the gang.
After all, so many people were gone, and positions and responsibilities needed to be changed.
For example, Old Hans, who was in charge of the gang's finances, had to be removed. He was too old to be in the way within the gang.
A cold light flashed in Boss Sende's eyes. Old Hans was not foolish either. As he gradually thought things over, he discovered clues and became even more determined to leave. That very night, he secretly left the New Hank Gang under the cover of darkness, also leaving Hank District, and returned to his home in Bru District, which had changed greatly.
In the moment he embraced his family, Old Hans still felt that this was his true home, the place where he should truly exert himself.
Alright! Looking at his old face in the mirror, he suddenly realized he really seemed too old. Some of the ideas he originally had gradually faded away.
But the situation at home couldn't continue like this. After leaving the New Hank Gang, the family no longer had any source of income. Two, and even his two nephews, also depended on him.
Why hadn't they grown up and gone to work, to support themselves? Even picking up trash would be better than this. Originally, only one family depended on him; now two families depended on him.
And so, his idea of just resting was once again bound by family responsibilities. He had to start over again…
…
The New Hank Gang was a new beginning, so it was for Boss Sende, and the great victory over the Iron Blood Gang made him even more ecstatic. A party went on all night, but before two days of happiness passed, another piece of news came that plunged him into despair.
The Baseball Boys had also begun invading their Hank District, as if Hank District had become a prize. The Iron Blood Gang had just been repelled, and then the Baseball Boys arrived again.
Boss Sende was utterly desperate. Oh God, why are you playing with me like this? I, Sende, refuse to accept it…
Another gang fight began. This time, the New Hank Gang had no chance and was directly wiped out. The Baseball Boys occupied Hank District and began to have their members take over the New Hank Gang's original work.
If a name were to be chosen, perhaps it would be the New New Hank Gang?
Night does not bring peace, at least not for those living in the Burnley District. Although the situation here appears good, it actually hides deeper hardships.
Gangsters are a characteristic of Gotham City and are naturally indispensable. Whether in the Burnley District, Diamond District, East District, or Otisburg District, from the Slums to the wealthy areas, and even on Arkham Island, the presence of gangsters is unavoidable.
If Gotham is divided into two sides, then for the residents of Gotham City, only the daytime belongs to them, while the night belongs to the gangsters. All the bloodshed and crime are enacted, with sickening filth hidden beneath the dazzling lights.
Boom!
Explosives and the shockwave blew open the heavy bulletproof door, also cracking the noticeably fragile bulletproof glass around the vehicle.
Inside the car, a strange man, restrained from head to toe, wore a purple suit and exaggerated makeup, his mouth seemingly split open. Especially as the vehicle was thrown into the air by the explosion's impact, his smile became even more maniacal, even ferocious.
A dozen heavily armed personnel were escorting a bulletproof vehicle to a certain location. They traveled in their respective vehicles, constantly surrounding the central bulletproof escort vehicle.
This was solely because inside was a person: the Joker, who instilled fear in the hearts of everyone in Gotham City.
The Dark Knight, Gotham City's protector, Batman, had once again captured the Joker. Adhering to his no-kill principle, Batman naturally handed the captured Joker over to the Gotham City Police Department.
This time, the secret nighttime escort was also to prevent the Joker's subordinates from rescuing him. For this, the Gotham City Police Department went to great lengths, splitting into three teams to confuse the Joker's subordinates who were preparing a rescue.
The destination was not the usual Arkham Asylum, but a new detention facility: Blackgate Penitentiary. Commissioner Gordon had gone to great lengths to modify Blackgate Penitentiary for this purpose.
He was confident this time that once the Joker was locked inside, he would never be able to escape.
Unfortunately, they were still discovered. The escort convoy was attacked. Just as the convoy was driving past the road near Evanston High School, an RPG, flashing with flames and incredibly bright and conspicuous in the night, struck the rear door of the bulletproof escort vehicle.
It appeared the RPG had even been fired from within the school building of Evanston High School.
This RPG had been specially modified, even incorporating tracking and ultra-long range capabilities. "Damn it, the guys who modify weapons for these criminals should be shot. This could be called a tracking missile," Matt, the head of the escort convoy, said with some helplessness.
But the light and heat of the explosion swept over everything, spreading instantly from the bulletproof escort vehicle as its center. Several Gotham City Police Department motorcycles were toppled by the sudden air blast, losing their balance in a chaotic pile-up.
"Hahaha... It seems I'm getting out... Goodbye, Officers... See you next time!"
The bulletproof vehicle had already tipped onto its side, but the Joker, who had been firmly bound inside, had somehow managed to free himself. He laughed, squatted down, and gave a 'V' sign to the Officer guarding him inside the car.
This Officer, being closer to the car door, had sustained some explosion damage. Now, after several impacts from the vehicle's rolling, his face was covered in blood, his expression was excruciatingly painful, and his entire body was too sore to move.
"No, no, no... Officer, it shouldn't be like this. You should smile... You should be smiling... Isn't the Joker's escape what you all wanted to see!"
The Joker pulled the Officer's face into a smile with his hand and continued to laugh, saying, "You also hoped I wouldn't be locked up in that special cell in Blackgate Penitentiary, which was specially modified for me at the request of our beloved Commissioner Gordon, right? If I really couldn't get out, wouldn't you have no achievements... Hahahahaha..."
"So, as you wished, the Joker is now free again!"
The Officer seemed to want to say something, but his voice was too faint. The Joker had to lean his ear closer to hear the Officer's weak cries.
"You will... be brought... to justice again... I will catch you..."
"Oh... Officer... don't be like that. I just got out, and you're making me so sad... Hahaha..."
The Joker made a smiling face at the Officer and took a grenade from another Officer who had already passed out nearby.
Then he pulled the pin, but still held it with his finger to prevent it from exploding.
"Hahaha... Officer, let's play a game!"
The Joker pulled out the right hand of the Officer, whose consciousness was gradually blurring as blood flowed, and spread it out as wide as possible. The Officer, wracked with pain and almost powerless, naturally couldn't resist.
The Joker placed the grenade into the Officer's right hand, making him grip it, then laughed loudly and said,
"Hahaha... Now there are three people in the car, but soon there will only be two. You and your colleague. Here's a grenade, and I'm putting it in your hand. The pin has already been pulled, oh..."
"Ha... If you can't hold it... it will go 'boom' and explode, and then you and your colleague will both die here, oh!"
The Joker seemed to think of something amusing and couldn't help but laugh even more wildly.
"So, in your current state... how long can you hold it... I'm really looking forward to it... Hahaha..."
"This is a choice of fate. If your colleague wakes up, he will help you hold the grenade, and then both of you can survive. If your colleague doesn't wake up, then you must hold on, gripping this grenade, waiting for him to wake up. Otherwise, if you don't hold it properly, it will go 'boom'... Hahahahaha..."
"How about I name this game 'Redemption'? Your mutual redemption..."
"Good luck, Officer... I'm leaving now... I'll be cheering you on..."
The Joker climbed out of the bulletproof escort vehicle with a cheerful stride, stretched, and took a deep breath of fresh air.
"This is the taste of freedom in Gotham City... I haven't smelled enough of it yet, so how could I stay in prison..."
The Joker looked at the mess all around him, his mouth splitting into an exaggerated grin.
"I have a feeling something very interesting will happen tonight..."
Thud!
A bullet struck near the Joker's feet!
"Joker... you won't escape!"
Matt was a Black man, but he was tall and deeply righteous, and also Commissioner Gordon's capable subordinate, which was why he was in charge of this escort mission.
But he never expected something like this to happen, and he would absolutely not allow the Joker to escape like this.
He raised his pistol, the dark muzzle pointed at the Joker, ordering him to surrender!
The evening breeze was already intoxicating, but the slightly biting cold wind of the deep night made the Joker's face, a blend of comedy and tragedy, break into a loud laugh.
"Oh~ My dear Officer Matt, what are you trying to say? Did I hear you correctly? You want the Joker, who has regained his freedom, to go back to prison, to be locked up in that damned cage…"
The Joker spoke in a comedic tone, as if talking about the most unbelievable thing in the world.
"No… you wouldn't think that. If the Joker went into that damned Blackgate Penitentiary, you would be the saddest, because without the Joker, that would be the most tragic moment of your lives…"
Matt's dark face was now flushed with anger from the Joker's words.
"Damn it… you're talking nonsense… Joker, all the residents of Gotham City know your crimes… your best destination is to be locked up in prison forever, and that's what all of us expect!!!"
Matt tightly gripped his police-issued pistol. If the Joker made any sudden moves, he would fire without hesitation.
Such a vicious criminal must be dealt with in this manner, because the Joker is the most terrifying of them all.
A reckless lunatic! Red Hood, Joker Monster…
Not a single resident of Gotham City doesn't fear him, and even Commissioner Gordon is extremely wary.
"Officer Matt, hahaha, why are you so nervous? You're making me nervous!"
The Joker began to walk towards Matt, step by step!
Thump!
A flash of gunfire, and a bullet shot between the Joker's legs, missing him. But Matt did it on purpose; it was his warning.
"Joker, I warn you again not to try to challenge my bottom line, otherwise I will shoot you dead right here!"
A stern look flashed in Matt's eyes. He was absolutely serious. If the Joker overstepped again, he would truly shoot him dead, even if it meant facing Commissioner Gordon's reprimand.
To be Commissioner Gordon's right-hand man, Matt had his exceptional qualities, and his current decisiveness was one of them.
"Oh~ Look at our renowned Officer Matt, so calm even in this situation. But have you really seen clearly… what does Officer Matt think the current situation is…"
The Joker seemed to completely disregard the gun in Matt's hand, even though it could take his life with one shot. But what was there to fear… The Joker had no fear… and no fear of death…
Because the Joker is immortal!!
Cold sweat began to drip from Matt's forehead, very noticeable on his prominent brow. Unbeknownst to him, at least a dozen fully armed criminals had surrounded them. His Officer had just recovered, only to be met with menacing gun barrels and shot in the feet, letting out painful wails.
Matt's gaze was incredibly complex, and the pistol pointed at the Joker began to waver hesitantly.
At this moment, the Joker suddenly lunged forward, snatching the pistol from Matt's hand and tripping him, executing a perfect takedown.
"Officer Matt, I was really nervous just now. If you had actually shot, I would have been dead… But why did you hesitate, when you had so many chances!"
The Joker handcuffed Matt's hands behind his back with his own handcuffs, then sat on Matt's back and said with a yawn,
"I think Officer Matt knows, doesn't he? He knows he doesn't want to kill the Joker, he wants the Joker to live, so that the residents of Gotham City won't discover how mediocre, incompetent, and even corrupt everyone in the Gotham City Police Department is…"
The Joker's words were incredibly low, as if each word was a dagger, piercing Matt's heart.
However, he was a man of strong will and wouldn't be easily swayed. He firmly told the Joker, "You will eventually be brought to justice. The net of heaven is vast and spares none…"
The Joker naturally knew this. He was unusually interested in Officer Matt, and a exaggerated smile stretched across his lips.
"Officer Matt, if tomorrow's headline is about the Gotham City Police Department's helplessness, almost unable to resist the Joker's rescue team, and the Joker being directly abducted, I don't think you'd want to see such news, would you…"
The Joker said with a smirk, "So I secretly controlled the Gotham City Daily. Do you think tomorrow's headline will satisfy you, me, and everyone else…"
Officer Matt had a bad premonition and anxiously shouted, "Joker, your conspiracy will not succeed. Whatever your conspiracy, it will be stopped, stopped by Batman!"
"Hahaha… My dear Batman… He and I are actually the same kind of people. Believe it or not, only he in all of Gotham is the same as me…"
Suddenly, the Joker seemed to think of something, or something triggered him, and he couldn't help but burst into uncontrollable laughter. His laughter was incredibly exaggerated, and its frequency was unprecedentedly high, to the point that Matt even experienced some mental hallucinations, and a faint smile tugged at his lips, but he controlled it with his strong will.
What in the world is going on…
Matt strangely noticed that his Officer also had smiles on their faces.
Even some of the Joker's unmasked subordinates also wore identical smiles.
It was as if some inexplicable force had descended upon this place, making them all maintain the same smile.
The Joker's laughter, though still ongoing, had gradually subsided, but the smile on his face almost covered half of it.
The Joker said to Matt, "Officer, I won't kill you. On the contrary, I'll let you go…"
"After all, police-community cooperation, isn't it!"
The Joker used the pistol he had taken from Matt to shoot Matt in each leg. With a muffled groan from Matt, blood slowly flowed out.
"I must change my statement. Now Gotham City doesn't just have the Joker and Batman as two of a kind; there's another… It's too interesting… It's really too interesting…"
The Joker took a dark suit hat from his subordinate, pulled a glove from his bag, kissed it, and then threw it to Officer Matt.
"So long! Officers!"
The Joker and his subordinates did not return directly to their lair, but purposefully went to a place, a place he sensed, a place that silently attracted him.
That was his new kind, a new kind besides Batman…
I can feel it, my kin, it's calling me, waiting for me…
The Joker couldn't help but burst into maniacal laughter. His subordinates were confused, wondering why their boss wasn't leading them back to their Diamond District lair, but instead continued deeper into Burnley District.
Ahead was the Spran River. After crossing the Vince Finkel Bridge, they would be on the other side of Burnley District, which was not an ordinary place, but where other gang forces were active.
That was the Strange Circus, a force not to be underestimated. Its leader, Professor Pig Face, was an even more terrifying individual with a crazy personality, skilled in various dreadful poisons.
No, it should be said that the Strange Circus toured throughout the United States. Although the Joker's subordinates knew a little about the inside story, they didn't know much. However, for some reason, Professor Pig Face was very fond of performing in Gotham City.
That was where the Strange Circus performed. In half a month, a supposedly grand and spectacular circus show was set to begin, lasting for a full month.
One of the Joker's subordinates felt it necessary to remind his boss. They were the Red Hood Gang, and the Joker was the only Red Hood. They were drawn to and worshipped by the Joker's charisma, willing to do anything for him.
For example, now, as he had just opened his mouth to utter a single word, a 'bang' sounded. The Joker shot the poor fellow's head off. The lifeless body collapsed, yet the Joker's expression remained filled with a grotesque smile.
"Hahahaha… Almost there… My kin…"
The Joker spoke to himself. He seemed to sense something, but he didn't care in the slightest that he had just killed a loyal subordinate. His other subordinates also showed no change in expression; they were born for the Joker, and the Joker was their god. Whatever the Joker did was right.
What exactly was the Joker looking for that made him go to such great lengths to come to the territory of the Strange Circus?
A school building ahead had already come into view—the Louis E. Griff Memorial Middle School. In the past, the Joker might have been interested, but now he only wanted to quickly see his almost infinitely familiar kin.
The curve of his lips stretched even wider upwards. The Joker suddenly stopped, covering his face with his hands, and burst into unrestrained, wild laughter. He felt it, the aura of his kin, the sensation of his kin, incredibly strong, making him want to have a grand musical party!
Finally, the Joker led his subordinates to Grant Park, not far from the Gotham Children's Museum. The lush trees and landscaping were very well done, but the Joker wouldn't even spare them a glance.
No, he stopped, his gaze falling on a spot: a huge old tree, with a red balloon slowly floating amidst its canopy, not quite reaching the sky.
Seeing that red balloon, the Joker suddenly received some intense stimulation. He put his fingers into his mouth, stretching his lips, creating what he considered an incomparably perfect smile. This was the true, maniacally laughing Joker.
"Hahahahaha…"
An eerie, continuous laugh emanated from the Joker's mouth, as if a terrifying power had descended upon the place. Those of the Joker's subordinates who heard the laughter also burst into laughter, dropping their firearms to the ground without even realizing it.
The Joker enjoyed everything with perverse pleasure. He walked to the big tree, stood on his tiptoes, and elegantly took the white string of the balloon into his hand. Holding the balloon, he followed his inner sense and arrived at a secluded spot in Grant Park, where there was a manhole cover.
The Joker's subordinates, their faces filled with eerie smiles, worked together to open the manhole cover. The deep, dark well below was completely Can't see clearly anything, as it was midnight.
Another red balloon floated out from the sewer, easily caught by the Joker.
"Hahaha… My kin, you are also waiting for me, anticipating me… I am also anticipating you… Hahahaha…"
The Joker couldn't help but laugh loudly again.
A few minutes later, the Joker directly took the lead, entering the sewer and disappearing into the darkness. Then, one by one, the Joker's subordinates also entered the sewer, and finally, the last person closed the manhole cover.
The sewer was originally very dark, filled with the omnipresent smell of decay and the sound of flowing water.
The two red balloons in the Joker's hand had somehow started to glow, emitting a dim, faint red light, barely illuminating the path ahead.
The group followed the Joker for about ten minutes. The Joker's laughter had not stopped during the journey, and its frequency and amplitude were growing steadily.
Finally, the monotonous sewer gave way to something else: many red balloons, just like the ones in the Joker's hand, densely filled the passage ahead.
The Joker released the red balloons in his hand. As if drawn by an invisible force, the two red balloons floated directly to join the others.
"Hahahaha… My kin, I've come for you. What a comforting aura! Won't you come out and meet me?!"
The Joker laughed as he spoke, tearing off his suit tie. He took the semi-automatic rifle handed to him by a nearby subordinate and began to shoot at the red balloons.
Bang, bang, bang!
One shot after another, each shot bursting a red balloon, and then an unknown something fell from the balloon into the foul water of the sewer.
The Joker looked over. They were tiny grasshoppers. These grasshoppers were very lively, leaping out of the foul water and onto the Joker and his subordinates, beginning to bite.
"Oh… shit…"
"Fuck… Damn little things…"
The Joker's subordinates were in a chaotic mess, trying to get the grasshoppers off themselves.
The curve of the Joker's lips was exaggeratedly wide. He stomped on a grasshopper that tried to pounce on him. He felt it; his kin was waiting for him ahead, provided he wasn't burdened by these troublesome subordinates.
So…
The Joker's smile suddenly became eerie. He took a sleeping gas grenade from his pouch, filled with sleeping gas.
The Joker pulled the pin, then gently rolled it towards the back. Soon, a large amount of sleeping gas erupted, and all of the Joker's subordinates fell unconscious.
And the Joker, of course, left the scene immediately, heading deeper into the sewer.
He was going to meet his kin…
How interesting!!
Hahahaha…
…
[Today is for Lord Zhou D/O. The extra chapter will only come tomorrow… A bit uncomfortable, can't write it. I'll make it up tomorrow, three chapters!]
[Guess who he's going to meet… My first attempt…]
Tick-tock, tick-tock!
The sewers were dark and damp, water droplets dripped from pipes, and the Clown, carrying a semi-automatic rifle, headed in the direction his senses guided him.
Splash!
A wave of water from the gutter surged, and it seemed as if an invisible pair of eyes was watching the Clown.
This made the Clown even more excited, this captivating and intoxicating feeling.
"Hahahahaha…"
Bang!
A red balloon was popped again, with a strange eye on it, and the Clown mercilessly shot it with his gun.
A cry of pain came from the depths of the sewer, a sharp sound that even the Clown's own cries somewhat resembled.
"Hahaha… My kin, I've come for you!"
The Clown laughed even more happily upon hearing this sound, his lips seemingly about to tear apart.
He arrived at an open area in the sewer, which was empty, seemingly containing nothing, but he knew his kin were all here, such as…
Bang!
A bullet shot in one direction, where a giant shadow flashed by, seemingly some ferocious monster with six long, phantom limbs, but it was just a fleeting glimpse.
It missed, the bullet hitting the wall instead.
It was gone again, but the Clown showed no panic, instead adjusting his tie, as if to display his elegant side.
"Oh… my friend, are you going to keep hiding, or shall we have a face-to-face chat?"
The Clown's smile was incredibly cruel as he suddenly fired his gun at the monster that lunged at him from behind.
The bullet hit, but only struck the monster's shoulder, spraying a pale yellow liquid, and six sharp, blade-like feet pierced the Clown's abdomen, lifting him up and sending him crashing against the wall.
"Oh… damn it… my friend, you hit really hard… hahaha!"
Even with a serious abdominal wound and continuously bleeding, the Clown still had a smile on his face.
He looked at his kin, the entity that had been giving him a sense of presence, which turned out to be a giant grasshopper monster, and the upper body of the grasshopper was clearly a humanoid figure.
"…This is indeed very interesting… So why aren't you afraid…?"
The monster spoke in human tongue, its body beginning to change, slowly contracting, and soon its body transformed into a different appearance.
A hideous face, yellow pupils, and thick greasepaint were chilling, and it pulled a balloon from its pocket and began to inflate it.
Soon, a red balloon appeared in its hand, and its overall appearance transformed into a comical Clown in a costume holding a balloon.
"Who are you!!"
It asked the Clown in a sharp voice!
This question made the Clown burst out laughing: "Oh… my friend, I am the Clown, and you…"
"And I am also the Clown!!"
It finished the Clown's unfinished sentence!
It was the Clown, indeed, the Dancing Clown, Pennywise, the source of children's fear; as long as there was fear, it would be incredibly powerful.
It had been living well in Derry, keeping the children of Derry in constant fear, eating one or two when hungry, living a very leisurely life.
But for some unknown reason, it came to this strange world.
This was completely different from the former Derry; the city above the sewers belonged to another.
Pennywise was annoyed, and amidst its annoyance, it felt its power constantly draining, and it was genuinely weak.
It wanted to replenish its power as quickly as possible before considering anything else.
But this required fear, and there were no terrifying legends of it in the city above, so naturally, there was no source of fear, and it couldn't replenish itself there.
"So… Clown… you are the Clown… I am also the Clown… What do you want with me…?"
Pennywise's yellow pupils gleamed with an interesting expression, as if seeing through the Clown's essence; it was a monster just like it, its kin!
Calling it kin was truly accurate; they were both the same existence!
The Clown struggled to stand up, laughing wildly as he said: "You must be very weak, the other Clown, I feel your weakness, you need a source of power, a replenishment of power, you need fear…"
"I feel all of this, and Gotham City simply doesn't have the fear you need, because all their fear is with me… Hahahahaha!"
The Clown could no longer hold back his wild laughter, even putting his hands into his mouth, stretching his mouth even wider.
Pennywise's face, covered in white greasepaint, showed no discernible expression, but it was very displeased right now.
No one had ever been able to get a hold of the Dancing Clown; it was Pennywise, the nightmare of children, the bane of children.
But facing this kin, it had to admit he was right; there was no fear of it in the city above, which was a very troublesome matter.
"So, my kin… What do you want to express… what do you want…?"
Pennywise's yellow pupils flashed with a strange light, as it said eerily.
The Clown also laughed loudly and said: "I want cooperation… Cooperation between a Clown and a Clown… To plunge Gotham City into greater darkness, into the darkness we desire… And I don't need fear; that part of fear is for you to obtain!"
Pennywise smiled; it had to admit it was tempted.
The source of fear was now available, and it only required cooperation with the Clown.
It seemed to have no reason to refuse!
"Then I… Pennywise, the Dancing Clown, can cooperate with you… I want the fear of Gotham City that you spoke of…"
"But I don't want your giving… True fear must come from within… And fearing the Dancing Clown is what I want…"
Pennywise's yellow pupils gleamed with a strange light as it said: "And I, I need a way, a way to declare the fear of the Dancing Clown to Gotham City…"
"I think my collaborator, Mr. Laughing Clown, will help me, won't he…?"
"That's natural… Hahahaha…"
The Clown spread his arms, his smile growing more manic: "One Clown has already driven Gotham City into madness, so what about a Gotham City with two Clowns… Will it fall into an even higher level of madness!"
The Clown could no longer imagine that scene, but in any case…
Gotham City, welcome the arrival of the Clown!
This time, it's different; it's the union of Clown and Clown!
…
[One harvests the fear of children, eating children! One harvests the fear of adults, plunging the adult world into madness, thereby combating the darkness of the world… The Clown is righteous, love can influence it… Hahaha!]
Good morning!
A pleasant breeze swept through the streets, perhaps the only fair thing about the Slums; everyone could enjoy its caress. Nature is always the most fair and just!
"Indeed, having this breakfast of soy milk, fried dough sticks, fried dough fritters, and pancakes from the East is truly comfortable!"
Wang Ya expressed his heartfelt sigh. Beside him were Landon Fury and several high-ranking members of the Landon Group, most of whom were also key members of the Landon Family.
Landon Fury had decided to fully tie his family and company to the great Wizard. This was a huge gamble; if he won, it would be the biggest change in history, potentially reaching unprecedented heights.
However, Landon Fury felt he had already won this gamble. He had probably guessed the Wizard's thoughts, and precisely because of this, he firmly believed that the SCP Foundation could go further.
For this, most of the core executives of the Landon Group had quietly become members of the SCP Foundation. However, the SCP Foundation here was merely a technology company, with no shares, just an internal staff member.
Wang Ya had his own considerations regarding this.
Landon Fury was still a bit unaccustomed to eating food from the East. At least, he never quite understood the method of dipping fried dough sticks in soy milk, nor did he grasp its deliciousness. But for the Wizard, he was willing to try things he had never attempted before.
Including several core members of his Landon Family, they were all on the fifth floor of the SCP Foundation building, munching on delicacies from the East.
Xiao Jia dutifully stood behind Wang Ya. Landon Fury and the core members of the Landon Family had already witnessed the formidable power of this seemingly inconspicuous bodyguard, another new magical product from the Wizard. It seemed the Wizard was no longer hiding, deciding to proactively develop the SCP Foundation's business.
They also gradually accepted dual positions at the Landon Group and the SCP Foundation. Although the latter might be an insignificant small position, it made them willingly give up their high positions in the former to further advance in the latter.
All because of the prospects, the development prospects. The SCP Foundation was undoubtedly going to become an unimaginable behemoth.
Currently, the SCP Foundation had emerged in the eyes of some upper-class elites in Gotham City. However, more people thought this was a new venture by the Landon Family, a small company affiliated with the Landon Group.
Wang Ya had made three main contributions to the development of the SCP Foundation: first, to build its reputation by having SCP Technology Co., Ltd. (on the surface) possess its flagship products, which was for the public.
Second, for some affluent individuals, those with the ability and qualifications to purchase, the mass-produced SCP Foundation containment objects that were not yet open to the public. Since the target audience was people like the former Landon Fury, the price was naturally very high. However, due to Wang Ya's system authority level, it needed to be upgraded to C-level before mass production and manifestation exchange could begin. But it was coming soon, with only a few final steps remaining, Wang Ya expected his authority to be upgraded.
Third, operating in secret, the SCP Foundation, dedicated to world security and social stability, had the motto: We Control, We Contain, We Protect, We Command Order. It is both an unbreakable shield and the Sword of Damocles hanging in the sky.
Currently, Wang Ya was the only member. Well, perhaps Landon Fury should be added, as Wang Ya was in the process of assessing him, and if he passed, he would be brought in.
For the division of power within SCP Technology Co., Ltd., Wang Ya chose an equity model. He held 80% of the shares and was also the largest boss of SCP Technology Co., Ltd. Landon Fury, through his performance, owned 3% of the shares. As for some other core members of the Landon Family, some had no shares, while others only had a few tenths of a percent.
Everything was still developing, and this makeshift team at SCP Technology Co., Ltd. was gradually improving. At least Wang Ya was very pleased, especially seeing that the completion of the career mission on the system panel had reached ninety-eight percent. He expected it to be fully completed today or tomorrow, and his second containment object ability was coming soon.
"How do you all like the delicacies from the East? Do they suit your taste?"
Wang Ya took the tissue handed to him by Xiao Jia, pulled out a sheet, and wiped his mouth.
At the long table, all the company members nodded and said they were good.
"The Eastern delicacies recommended by the Wizard are truly well-deserved."
"I think I'm addicted to this round ball; I can't do without it for breakfast anymore!"
A middle-aged man in a suit with a receding hairline expressed his heartfelt praise. He picked up the fried dough fritter he was referring to, took a bite, gave a thumbs-up, and with a mouthful of oil, said, "Delicious!"
Wang Ya paused, his mouth twitching. This person seemed to be the head of the logistics department from the Landon Group. He really had a way with words!
"Exactly, exactly! This long object, which looks uneven on the surface, I thought it would be very hard, but I didn't expect it to be soft inside. It tastes even better than buckwheat bread!"
The head of the human resources department from the Landon Group said, not to be outdone. He picked up a fried dough stick and actually swallowed it whole without chewing, which made Wang Ya stare in astonishment.
"Cough, cough!"
Wang Ya quickly coughed a few times. He had to stop such behavior. While Eastern delicacies were delicious, there was no need for such exaggeration.
He had to put an end to the ostentatious style and flattery, and instead focus on practical, down-to-earth development work!
Starting today!!!
"Alright! Everyone has witnessed the development of our SCP Technology Co., Ltd., and it will soon be completed. However, it's undeniable that we've encountered some minor troubles!"
Wang Ya brought up the serious matter, and everyone else listened attentively.
Landon Fury probably knew what the Wizard was going to talk about: likely the third-rate gangs occupying the Hank Area, and some potential threats from Penguin.
However, even though these minor issues could be easily resolved with a little pressure, the Wizard had specifically instructed him not to interfere with anything in the Slums. From now on, everything had to be resolved by SCP Technology Co., Ltd. itself.
Perhaps this was a small personality trait of the Wizard: he liked to personally watch the forces he created defeat one powerful enemy after another, then experience a sense of immense accomplishment.
Landon Fury thought he understood Wang Ya's heart and expressed that Wizards usually have some quirks. "I understand, I understand everything…"
No one understands the Wizard better than I do!
SCP Technology Co., Ltd. has run into a bit of trouble, thanks to our friendly Mr. Penguin, but it's not a major issue. We have plenty of time!"
Wang Ya said with a smile.
The only purpose of those scumbag employees in Hank District had been served. Although Hank District was occupied by the Baseball Boys, they had recently shown signs of wanting to probe Bru District.
However, the SCP Foundation's infrastructure was nearing completion. Once Wang Ya finished his career mission and obtained a second SCP ability, he could proceed with the next step: reclaiming lost territory and further extending the SCP Foundation's influence to more distant areas.
Presumably, the subsequent hidden missions and achievement missions would also be triggered one after another.
"Now, if anyone has any questions, please speak up!"
Wang Ya sat down in his chair, quietly observing the brilliant minds and eloquent top talents of the industry below him.
"Boss, my concern is that while SCP Technology Co., Ltd. is a technology company, it lacks a flagship product, which makes it feel a bit hollow!"
The head of the technology department from Landon Group, now the Chief of Technology for SCP Technology Co., Ltd., a capable white man with gold-rimmed glasses named Stim, concisely presented the problem he observed.
Wang Ya nodded, recognizing this as the mark of an elite, and said, "I have my own plans regarding this. Everything will be arranged once all facilities of SCP Technology Co., Ltd. are fully constructed!"
Many other department heads then raised their respective questions, and Wang Ya answered each one. The overall atmosphere was very good. Landon Fury also understood Wizard's thoughts very well, silently watching Wizard's figure without speaking.
Suddenly, Wang Ya's eyes narrowed slightly, and a clear smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Gentlemen, I think I need to excuse myself for a moment. This morning meeting concludes here!"
Wang Ya left the meeting room and returned to his private quarters.
With a thought, the system panel appeared before him.
[Wang Ya]
[Level: D-class personnel (700 / 1000)]
[Manifestation Points: 5230]
[Existing Containment Objects: SCP-127 - Living Gun (Safe), SCP-247 - Harmless Kitten (Euclid), SCP-120 - teleportation pool (Safe), SCP-912…]
[SCP-682 - Hard-to-Destroy Reptile, Exchange Qualification!]
Wang Ya brought up his career mission!
[Career Mission - Initial (100%)]
[You have initially built the SCP Foundation and acquired a certain number of personnel, but your construction is not yet fully complete. SCP Building height (50/50), SCP underground base (100%), SCP basic construction (100%) Note: Already constructed, demolition will result in mission failure!]
[Reward: One random SCP containment object ability replacement!]
A prompt sounded in his ear.
[Congratulations on completing Career Mission - Initial!]
[Reward: One random SCP containment object ability replacement!]
Wang Ya's heart inexplicably stirred with excitement. The last ability granted him the power of the luckiest person in the world, so what about this time?
Although the ability of the luckiest person in the world had side effects, Wang Ya had eliminated them due to the Manifestation System!
He hoped this time would bring Wang Ya a big surprise!
With a thought, Wang Ya immediately used this rare opportunity.
[Ability replacement successful, obtained ability: SCP-106 - Terror Elder]
Wang Ya's pupils contracted. What? What did he hear!
The ability of SCP-106 - Terror Elder?
Yes, he hadn't misheard. This ability draw made him feel as excited as if he were floating on a cloud.
It was like winning a million-dollar lottery when you hadn't expected anything, so much so that our mysterious Wizard had to use a trembling hand to pour a cup of 42-degree hot water to calm his agitated and shaking heart!
Wang Ya's emotions were incredibly complex, but more than that, he was excited, with countless 'yes, yes' appearing in his mind!
Unlike the first ability, this one possessed incredibly strong combat power and was relatively unresolvable.
It could cause a kind of "corrosive" effect on solids it touched, leading to the physical collapse of the material within seconds of contact.
If Wang Ya used this ability to touch a door in a room, the door would immediately rust, decay, become covered in cracks, and then completely collapse in just a few seconds, leaving only a black, slime-like puddle.
The same applied to living beings; it would cause the target to completely decompose, eventually becoming a viscous black liquid.
"Why do I feel more and more like a Wizard? This feels like black magic!"
Wang Ya muttered to himself, and with a thought, he integrated the ability into his body.
"So this is what it's like to use the ability!"
Wang Ya extended his hand, pointing a finger at the mirror in the bathroom. The mirror visibly began to corrode, rust, become covered in cracks, and then completely collapsed in just a few seconds.
A smile appeared on Wang Ya's face. Now he felt relatively at ease, having an ability to protect himself. Wang Ya named this ability Source of Terror!
It also had a connection to SCP-106 - Terror Elder!
"Perhaps I can also do this!"
A faint layer of black liquid appeared on Wang Ya's body, seemingly identical to the black liquid formed after the mirror's corrosion.
Wang Ya's body slowly passed through the wall, and the wall also began to corrode and rust at a visible speed, in a state of collapsing but not yet completely collapsed, seemingly under some intentional control!
Wang Ya passed directly through the wall, emerging from the other side into the resting room.
"Does this mean I won't have to use the main entrance anymore?"
Wang Ya made a small joke, but when he turned and saw the damaged wall, he still thought it best not to use this ability unless necessary, especially in his own home.
Yes, that's right!!
Wang Ya picked up a phone from the bed and dialed a number.
"Jiedun, help me with the room. I need a major renovation plan!"
Jiedun, the cat slave, was not only Orange Cat's feeder but also Wang Ya's errand runner!
Chief Steward?
However, Wang Ya's new ability meant he had little to fear. The only things that might somewhat restrain it were perhaps...
SCP-106 - Terror Elder had a strong aversion to sudden bright light, as well as an aversion to lead and a confusion regarding liquids. Confusion would prevent him from using his ability to pass through, or rather, from corrupting liquids, and would relatively disrupt his own ability.
Aluminum and liquids, since his ability came from Terror Elder, would likely present relative difficulties, making them his only weaknesses.
As for bright light! Wang Ya felt that he shouldn't be afraid, after all, he only possessed its ability, and was not the true Terror Elder himself.
After taking care of all the miscellaneous tasks, Wang Ya put on a respectable suit, preparing for an impromptu speech to motivate the work efficiency of the SCP Technology Co., Ltd. members.
With the completion of the career mission, SCP Technology Co., Ltd. had initially grown in scale and needed detailed departmental divisions.
For now, there were only the Technology Department, Human Resources Department, Finance Department, Marketing Department, and Security Department.
More detailed divisions would certainly follow, and Wang Ya was gradually preparing to handle these matters, but some pressing minor troubles also needed to be resolved to further expand the influence of the SCP Foundation.
As for the hidden, true SCP Foundation, there was no capital yet for its construction.
He would have to wait until Wang Ya had initially taken control of the entire Slums before he had the capital to build it.
However, that underground base would be an important place in the future; otherwise, Wang Ya would not have left the only opportunity for the teleportation pool there.
Everything was proceeding as planned, but a sudden system notification message surprised him immensely, forcing him to halt the upcoming speech.
He returned to the brand-new room once again!
With a thought, Wang Ya placed the system notification message in the void before him and carefully read it.
"Space-time Anomaly Crisis! Warning!!!"
"Due to SCP containment objects not being native to this world, as you, the source, manifest more containment objects into the world, space-time anomalies will occur. Each time a peak is reached, people or objects from another space-time world will be replaced into this world."
"One space-time distorter has already appeared."
"Location: Gotham City!"
"Information: ???"
Wang Ya's expression was somewhat grim. He hadn't expected such an event, that manifesting containment objects would lead to space-time confusion, causing people from other space-time worlds to arrive in this world.
And there was already one space-time distorter. Who could it be, and in Gotham City?
It seemed it was his own doing, and he would have to resolve his own mess.
Perhaps influenced by Wang Ya's sense of responsibility, the manifestation system had a new change.
"Containment Mission Activated!"
"As the source of the SCP Foundation, due to the emergence of the space-time distorter being closely related to you, you feel unease and responsibility. You are determined to prevent this world from being overly affected by chaos, and also to uphold our motto of 'We Control, We Contain, We Protect,' to control and contain the space-time distorter."
"Reward: Randomly draw one Mobile Task Force (Personnel: 2 people)"
Wang Ya's pupils contracted, then were filled with surprise. He had only made a decision, yet he hadn't expected to trigger a mission, and it was for a Mobile Task Force. Although it was a random draw, it would bring Wang Ya's SCP Foundation closer to true establishment and provide him with significant help.
It seemed that recent plans and tasks needed to be put on hold. This matter completely disrupted Wang Ya's arrangements. He had to mobilize the Landon Group's forces to investigate if anything unusual had happened recently.
This matter concerning the space-time distorter had been elevated to the highest level of importance.
And the minor troubles in the Slums also had to be resolved as quickly as possible, even though they posed no real threat, they were annoying like flies buzzing in one's ears.
"It's time to reclaim the Hank District, and the renovation of the Bru District must be thoroughly completed in the next few days."
Wang Ya no longer wanted to see homeless people lying on the streets or searching for food in garbage piles.
Decay, despair, laziness, darkness, chaos—this was the current state of the Bru District.
The base of SCP Technology Co., Ltd. was in the Bru District. Now that its initial construction was complete, the next focus would be to transform the environment and humanistic aspects of the Bru District.
In his own territory, with feces, urine, garbage, filth, and decay everywhere, the thought alone was unbearable!
Wang Ya wanted to see no more homeless people lying on street corners within three days, nor did he want any scavengers searching for food in garbage piles.
Labor! Only labor could make the Bru District new again, completely transforming it.
And to make those deeply entrenched, despairing, and decadent homeless scavengers work and change them,
He had to give them hope. And before this, no one or any force had ever been willing to give them hope, because it was meaningless and without value.
But the SCP Technology Co., Ltd. founded by Wang Ya was willing to give them such hope.
And this hope was the almost omnipotent franklin, the dollar!!!
If labor was linked to franklin, Wang Ya didn't believe that the scavengers and homeless wouldn't change. Before, there was simply no opportunity; now, Wang Ya had placed that opportunity before them.
Desire drives people mad, but today Wang Ya would use dollars to ignite their hope, letting a tiny, faint spark of red light temporarily emerge in the Bru District!
It would start with cleaning!
Wang Ya also didn't want to see his own territory reeking and messy; that would truly be too...
He would provide tools to the homeless on the streets and then use franklin to motivate them to work, initially solving the sanitation problem.
Next would be the construction of public toilets, the cleaning of drainage ditches, and house renovation and reconstruction projects.
With a home, there was hope. During this period, labor would be exchanged for franklin and food, but it was not a gift. Although the houses were built by themselves, they also had to pay Wang Ya, or rather, SCP Technology Co., Ltd., monthly mortgage payments for twelve installments, expected to be paid off in one year. Each mortgage payment would be exactly one-third of their hard-earned wages.
This was one aspect of Wang Ya's Bru District transformation plan.
The remaining issue concerned the garbage piles. The western suburbs of the Bru District had completely become a scene of mountains of accumulated garbage, a practice by some so-called bosses to save money.
The environment there was terrible, extremely terrible, yet some people still lived there, even building houses within the garbage mountains and living their entire lives there.
They were scavengers, a large population completely disconnected from society, living almost their entire lives within it, even forming their own small society.
A society within garbage—this was truly an incredibly ironic outcome.
But the garbage mountain had been forming for an unknown period. As time passed, the amount of garbage increased, gradually occupying at least one-tenth of the Bru District. Wang Ya had to quickly resolve that rather troublesome mess.
This would be an incredibly long process.
But the Bru District was his territory, and these problems absolutely had to be resolved.
But Wang Ya was confident. Although a continuous stream of events had been arriving recently, Wang Ya was not without gains!
For example, three missions had already been triggered at this stage. Besides the containment mission for the space-time distorter, there were two other missions, related to the Bru District renovation and the troubles in the Hank Area.
In short, Wang Ya had a lot on his plate!