Got a C-Rank Skill! (Bonus Chapter—Please Vote with Monthly Tickets)

"Black-Hand Zorro." Ke Mingqing searched the name on his phone.

Just as the Superman Species panel had described, this man had indeed once been a hero of the Round Table Society. However, only a small amount of information about him could be found online; no other related details had been leaked.

It was as if the authorities had controlled the information.

Ke Mingqing looked up from his phone and sized up the owner again. The man was around six feet three, with a white ponytail. Though he was over fifty, he still looked vigorous, and his shirt could not conceal the contours of his muscles.

The owner's facial features remained sharp and well-defined, and his eyes were bright and spirited, but he wore reading glasses on the bridge of his nose.

"Forget it... it has nothing to do with me anyway. I should come here less often from now on, just in case I step on a landmine." With that thought, Ke Mingqing rose and pushed open the wooden door, leaving the café amid the soft chime of wind bells.

At that moment, the owner seated behind the counter turned his head and glanced at Ke Mingqing's retreating figure through his reading glasses.

"So he's that kid's younger brother..." He shook his head and chuckled quietly.

Ke Mingqing got on the bus and scanned his transit code. When he looked up from his phone, he saw that there were no seats left. He could only find a spot in the corner to stand, holding onto a strap with his right hand as he stared blankly at the streetscape flowing past outside the window.

The air conditioning was on inside the bus. Going from heat to cold always made people drowsy. He yawned, rested his head against the window, and closed his eyes for a brief nap.

Before long, the bus arrived at his stop.

Ke Mingqing got off, unlocked the front door with his silver key, changed into indoor slippers, and entered the living room.

Xia Zili had not gone out today. She was leaning against the sofa, drinking Fanta while watching the animated film Summer Ghost. Her pretty face was expressionless.

Ke Mingqing sat down on the sofa and casually asked, "It's rare to have a day off. You're not going out to have fun?"

Without looking up, Xia Zili said, "Third Sister is taking the college entrance exam today. I'm waiting for good news from her."

"True enough." Ke Mingqing nodded. "She'll definitely be happy to see us both at home when she comes back. I didn't expect you to be this thoughtful. Is your rebellious phase over?"

"None of your business."

"Then stay out of my business too. You nagged at me forever just because I got a girlfriend."

Xia Zili lowered her eyes, screwed the cap back onto the Fanta, and set it on the table.

After thinking for a moment, she said, "When are you bringing your girlfriend home... If Third Sister and Mom approve of her, then I won't have any objections either."

Ke Mingqing fell silent. How could I casually bring another player home? If our alien mom notices something, won't I be completely screwed?

He said nothing and turned to glance at Xia Zili.

She had her eyes lowered, seemingly lost in thought, as though she were still waiting for his answer.

"You're not drinking this anymore? Then let me have a sip." Ke Mingqing changed the subject as he picked up the drink Xia Zili had placed on the table.

He unscrewed the cap, brought the bottle to his lips, and took a big gulp. The summer heat seemed to ease at once. Back at the orphanage, if there was a bottle of soda, the children would fight to take turns drinking it. But Ke Mingqing thought that family members would not have to fight him over a drink, right?

Xia Zili belatedly looked up, swiftly turned her head, and stared blankly at the mouth of the Fanta bottle.

"You..."

"What's wrong?"

"Forget it. I don't want it anymore."

Xia Zili frowned, her ears turning faintly red. Ke Mingqing shrugged. Sure enough, having family was different from being an orphan. At least no one had to fight over soda.

He opened the skill shop.

Today's five skills gradually appeared.

[Skill 1: *Small! Small! Small!* (E-Rank Skill) (1,000 Superman Coins)]

[Skill 2: *Big! Big! Big!* (E-Rank Skill) (1,000 Superman Coins)]

"You two really are a pair of star-crossed lovers," Ke Mingqing thought as he looked at the names of the two skills.

[Skill 3: *Steel Drill* (C-Rank Skill) (5,000 Superman Coins) (Temporarily transforms your right fist into a devastatingly powerful drill)]

"If I were playing Gold Miner, I might consider this skill." Ke Mingqing tilted his head, leaned back against the sofa, and continued reading.

[Skill 4: **It's Raining** (E-Rank Skill) (1,000 Superman Coins) (Snap your fingers to create a heavy rainstorm around yourself)]

"This one's pretty tempting," Ke Mingqing thought. "Whether it's useful or not, at least it looks cool."

[Skill 5: **"Gate of Truth"** (C-Rank Skill) (5,000 Superman Coins) (Open the Gate of Truth to obtain three little paper figures, each capable of carrying the abilities of one "philosopher")]

[Note 1: After obtaining this skill, you may randomly draw one "philosopher" as an initial paper figure. Afterward, spending 2,000 Superman Coins will unlock the ability of one famous philosopher.]

[Note 2: You may possess the abilities of up to three philosophers. Each philosopher possesses a different number of abilities.]

"An evolving skill?" Ke Mingqing raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? Good thing I rolled it in advance. If this skill had appeared in another player's shop, they definitely would've snatched it up."

But then he reconsidered. "Unlocking one philosopher costs 2,000 Superman Coins. It comes with one philosopher by default and can have up to three, meaning I need to spend 4,000 to unlock two more. Added to the original price, that's already 9,000 Superman Coins. With that much money, I could buy a B-Rank skill... Is it really worth it?"

"Forget it. I rolled it, so I might as well buy it." With that thought, Ke Mingqing raised a finger and long-pressed the skill icon.

[You have spent 5,000 Superman Coins and successfully purchased the C-Rank Skill "Gate of Truth." This skill has been equipped above your fourth skill slot.]

[Your current Superman Coin balance: 500]

Ke Mingqing stretched, put the Fanta back on the table, and opened the skill's description panel.

[Based on the effects of the C-Rank Skill "Gate of Truth," you currently have one opportunity to draw a "philosopher."]

[You have drawn your first philosopher: "Nietzsche."]

[Nietzsche grants the following three skills:

1. **"God Is Dead"** (This skill unlocks when your player level reaches Level 10)

2. **"Superman Philosophy"** (For 1.2 seconds, places you or a nearby target in a state where they cannot be harmed or controlled) (Duration increases with the Mental attribute)

3. **"Eternal Recurrence"** (Returns you or a nearby target to the position they occupied 1.5 seconds ago)]

"Holy shit, what kind of broken utility skill is this?"

Ke Mingqing silently marveled, then immediately collapsed onto the sofa, sincerely apologizing to himself for having hesitated for even one second.

After a while, he opened the weekly missions again.

[Weekly Mission 2: Kill one Superman Species (Reward: One chance to draw from the item roulette)]

He stared at the blood-red text of the mission and thought, "Tonight's target... kill a Superman Species. Even the weakest one will do, as long as it's a Superman Species."