C24: Open Treasure Chest
In addition to giving Li Ran a minor boost in notoriety, the encounter only brought fleeting confusion to the two New York police officers.
Naturally, aside from the momentary spectacle and a few scribbled notes in their patrol reports, they walked away from the incident empty-handed.
After emerging from the alleyway near Hell's Kitchen, Li Ran promptly activated the transformation granted by his [A Xing] card. With the enhanced lower-body strength mimicking that of a martial arts master from Shaolin Soccer, he effortlessly leapt between rooftops and vanished into the Manhattan skyline.
Near Third Avenue, the incident sparked urban legends: rumors quickly spread of a mystical old woman seen vaulting across buildings with the agility of a seasoned vigilante.
[Reputation Gained from New York Citizens: +0.3]
…
Li Ran's hasty departure wasn't merely an effort to avoid NYPD pursuit though given his current notoriety, it was still a prudent decision. Ever since drawing the [Kaitou Kid] card, a persona based on the elusive master thief of Japanese fame, now cleverly adapted into the Marvel-DC crossover universe, Li Ran had come to treat local law enforcement like background NPCs in an open-world game. Their pursuit was routine, manageable, and, frankly, even a little dull.
His confidence wasn't unfounded. His recent heists, including infiltrating a Stark Industries gala and snatching intel from a SHIELD black site disguised as a museum exhibit, had given him a wealth of experience. The New York police? They were no longer a genuine threat.
His earlier behavior in the alley confirmed it. Li Ran had remained calm, even cooperative, as if acting out a well-rehearsed scene in a Gotham courtroom drama.
The real reason for his urgency lay in his system interface.
With reputation points accumulated from both Tony Stark and J.A.R.V.I.S.—yes, the Tony Stark and the sentient AI butler—Li Ran had finally amassed enough value to redeem one of the coveted [Dark Iron Treasure Chests]. This wasn't just a minor windfall; it was the culmination of meticulous planning and execution.
In game terms, mission complete. In narrative terms, arc concluded. And with the loot available, Li Ran had no reason to linger.
Right now, he was a man possessed, not by fear or guilt, but by sheer, unadulterated anticipation. His heart surged like Barry Allen sprinting through the Speed Force. The treasure chest was waiting. His potential bloodline upgrade beckoned.
…
"So what you're saying, Mr. Stark," the NYPD detective said carefully, "is that everything you did today, driving over sidewalks, running through traffic cameras, blowing past four red lights was all in pursuit of a phantom thief?"
Inside the NYPD's 15th Precinct interrogation room, Tony Stark sipped his coffee nonchalantly. His reputation, forged through years of Avengers-level crises and Senate hearings, ensured the cops treated him more like an eccentric celebrity than a suspect.
"Exactly," Tony said with a smirk, eyes glinting behind his red-tinted sunglasses. "The coffee's surprisingly decent. You guys use imported beans?"
"It's just basic instant." The officer across from him, Detective Montez, replied dryly. Stark's flair for drama was wearing thin.
To be fair, the department didn't want this trouble. Interrogating a billionaire superhero-slash-celebrity came with too much baggage, especially since the last time they detained a member of the Avengers, their precinct got partially leveled by a symbiote rampage.
"Captain, we've got a call, military wants to know about Stark."
Captain George Stacy, already battling a migraine, waved off the update with a grimace. "Tell them we're just asking routine questions. Once we confirm he's not connected to the theft, escort him out. No… send him out with courtesy."
"Chief, City Council is on the line too—"
"Tell them no one's being mistreated. This is standard protocol," Stacy snapped, rubbing his temple.
"Chief—"
"What now?" he barked. Then realized the officer wasn't holding a phone.
"Cough, is the handwriting analysis done yet?" George recovered.
Officer Sidis, a composed Black woman with sharp eyes and an FBI internship under her belt, nodded. "Yes, sir. Based on comparative analysis of the calling card left behind, we've confirmed that the note Tony Stark received earlier was indeed authored by Kaitou Kid."
"Again?" George muttered. "That masked freak's becoming Gotham-level annoying."
[Reputation from George Stacy: +4]
The confirmation didn't bring relief, it added more headache. Kaitou Kid's antics were increasingly disruptive, and now they involved Stark Industries? Great. That meant both SHIELD and the press would descend on them soon.
"Sir, Tony Stark's legal team is here."
And just like that, the interrogation was over.
Pepper Potts arrived like a thunderstorm in heels, followed by an entire fleet of Stark Industries attorneys, many of whom George recognized from past nightmares involving property damage, classified tech, and one particularly vicious media libel case.
"Tony, are you hurt? Did they mistreat you?" Pepper asked, worried but clearly fuming.
"Nah, just stiff from the chair. Also, remind me to grab some of their coffee on the way out. Seriously, it's shockingly good."
"Tony!" Pepper snapped. "Do you have any idea how reckless that was? You were street racing with a flying sports car, in reverse, through Manhattan!"
"I know, I know." Tony lifted his hands in surrender. "But it's fine. Nothing blew up."
"It's only fine because we have enough lawyers to sue half the city," she muttered.
"Exactly. That's why I pay them."
With Pepper giving orders to the legal team, Tony's carefree expression slowly faded. He pulled out his smartphone finally returned by the NYPD and issued a quiet command.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., start a new subroutine. Track everything related to Kaitou Kid. I want updates, patterns, and possible identity matches."
"Affirmative, sir," J.A.R.V.I.S. responded, his voice calm and British as ever.
…
Back at his apartment in Brooklyn, Li Ran didn't rush to open the chest.
Despite the thrill pulsing through his veins like Asgardian mead, he forced himself to slow down. He took a shower, changed into clean clothes, and lit an incense stick he'd picked up from Doctor Strange's Sanctum gift shop just for mood. He focused on centering his mind.
Opening the chest wouldn't change the outcome. According to system mechanics, loot drops from the [Dark Iron Treasure Chest] were predetermined once purchased. But Li Ran was a creature of ritual. Maybe it was superstition. Maybe it was desperation.
After all, a man capable of drawing cards like [Hiroshi Nohara], with the ludicrous foot odor debuff that once defeated an entire Hydra squad had every reason to fear disappointment.
But today might be different.
He approached the system interface with reverence. On screen, the treasure chest glowed with a sleek black finish, etched with faint magical runes, like something looted from Latveria's secret vaults.
Li Ran's finger hovered over the confirmation.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
"Open!"
A flash of white light erupted from the chest.
---