CG unlocked

Having a bodyguard sleeping in the room was pretty reassuring. Although the guy claimed he needed a place to crash because his mattress was dirty, the truth was that he hadn't had his fill of fighting yet.

Charging into Wayne Tower and going on a killing spree wasn't a mercenary's style, but maybe Talon would double back for another attack?

Using me as bait?

Interesting!

William couldn't be bothered with Deathstroke anymore. He rolled over and began exploring the system.

The AI assistant had said that completing three missions would unlock the Shop. From Zsasz to Casey and finally Slade, he had filled all three slots, and sure enough, a shopping cart icon had appeared beneath the Character Menu button.

He tapped the icon, and a dialog box popped up.

[You have completed the missions. You have been awarded 10 Shop Coins.]

William impatiently closed the dialog box. Right now, he just wanted to know whether there was anything useful beyond that list of junk longer than a mummy's wrappings.

"Don't you have any potions that increase stamina or strength?"

He muttered as he scrolled down the menu.

[Sorry, this game has no combat elements. If you wish to demonstrate your masculine prowess, please complete missions as quickly as possible to upgrade the Shop.]

"Ha, I'd love to! But what girl would dare move into this dump..."

William's finger hovered over an icon that looked like a picture frame. Its label read: Hidden CG.

"What's this?"

[Drag it onto a character's portrait to unlock an unforgettable memory of theirs. This will help you better understand your romance target and grow closer to them...]

Two coins each. Let's get two and test the waters.

He had finally found treasure among the trash. William eagerly waved his hand to make the purchase.

But he didn't go all in, because there was something even more interesting at the very bottom of the menu.

"What's this thing, then? Is this even a proper game?!"

[Are you asking about the "AI Clone"? This invaluable tool allows you to conduct multiple dates. After use, it will generate a clone of you for a limited period, allowing your real body to attend another date. Please note that only one clone can exist at a time. Its intelligence is relatively low: it can handle everyday conversation, but cannot deal with intricate, complex problems.]

Although it cost only five coins, unfortunately, the low-level Shop only allowed him to buy it once.

With his shopping done, William closed the system.

Only when his attention shifted back to his surroundings did he notice the chilly draft against his back.

He turned around and saw Deathstroke sitting on the windowsill with his arms folded.

"You're opening the window in the middle of winter?"

"I can't sleep."

"Why?"

"You're too loud. Your breathing, your heartbeat, the creaking of the bed frame when you roll over..." He rubbed the bridge of his nose through his mask.

Deathstroke had discovered that his abilities went beyond superhuman healing. His hearing, sense of smell, and even his night vision had improved enormously. Even a cockroach crawling down the hallway could wake him from a dream.

Of course, there was another, more important reason.

At this hour, he was usually playing Batman.

"Looks like Talon won't be coming tonight. I'm going for a stroll. Just around the neighborhood."

Deathstroke leaned forward and tipped headfirst out the window, like a raven's feather falling into an abyss, without making a sound.

How about using that item I just bought to look at his memories?

William was quite curious about what Slade Wilson's most profound memory might be.

Following the system's instructions, he dragged the CG icon onto Slade's portrait, and three locked boxes appeared.

William picked the middle one at random. The next second, everything went dark.

It hurts!

It hurts so much!

Agonizing pain shot through his back, yet he couldn't move his body.

[A thoughtful reminder from Little A: this memory contains significant pain. Would you like to disable sensory nerve synchronization?]

"Turn it off... hurry!"

William felt that if he waited even another second, he would pass out from the pain.

He had thought the CG would be like watching a movie. He hadn't expected VR mode.

As nerve synchronization shut off, William let out a long breath.

Then someone pried open his eyelids, and a flashlight's harsh beam shone into them.

"His pupils aren't focusing, his blood pressure is extremely low, and his heart has practically stopped. This one's done for... Looks like we'll have another name to add to the casualty list. What was his name again?"

A woman's voice drifted in and out.

William felt something being pulled off his neck.

"Slade Wilson. So it's you."

As though summoned by her voice, Slade opened his eyes, allowing William to survey his surroundings through them.

It was a moldy basement. Plaster kept flaking off the ceiling as the building shook. Medical staff in white coats hurried in and out, and wounded soldiers were carried in on stretchers from time to time.

A young woman with short blond hair came into view, her left hand in her pocket and a set of Dog Tags pinched in her right.

Slade said:

"I'm really sorry you had to see me like this..."

"So Mr. Wilson knows how to apologize? I thought the man who kept sneaking into the infirmary to harass me was a shameless bastard! While you've still got this last burst of life in you, isn't there anything you want to tell me?"

"No!" Slade's answer was firm and decisive.

"Or any last wishes?"

"My little guy hasn't had any action in six months. Help me out?"

Smack!

A slap struck him square in the face. Even with pain blocked, William still felt his head ringing.

"Is that any way to treat a dying man?"

"Slade, death is too light a punishment for you."

The woman leaned closer, stroked his blood-soaked hair, and planted a deep kiss on his cracked, battered lips.

"Hey, hey, hey, is there still time to turn nerve synchronization back on?"

[No problem, dear user.]

The system restored nerve synchronization, but the woman's kiss had already ended.

In place of that sweet kiss came a thick needle plunged into his heart.

William gasped and hissed through the excruciating pain, tears of regret streaming down his face.

"You goddamn bastard, remember what I'm about to tell you. Hide your identity. Don't let anyone know you're still alive. This injection will bring you back and grant you abilities beyond ordinary humans, but you'll have to experience death once to fully awaken them."

"Heh. Then maybe I'll never awaken them in my entire life."

"Slade Wilson, when are you going to fix that arrogant streak of yours?!"

"But my dear Erin, isn't that exactly why you fell in love with me?"

"And what about you?"

As the building shook violently, tears filled the woman's eyes.

The memory cut off abruptly, and William sat up, trembling all over.

In a way, that memory had really been worth more than he'd paid for it.

He had never experienced such torturous pain before: a damaged spine, and a needle driven into his heart.

Remembering the syringe gleaming in the dim light, William shuddered involuntarily. That metal needle was at least twice as thick as one used for a rabies shot. Even with his medical training, he found it terrifying.

He wiped away his tears and washed his face. Once he had calmed down, he suddenly became interested in what happened next.

What happened to that woman named Erin afterward?

Did Slade end up with her?

Only he could watch a CG and get hooked on finding out what happened next.

Early the following morning, William finally remembered that he had a job at the Police Station, after missing two days of work.

Sure enough, the moment his left foot crossed the threshold of the Police Station, Norman caught him from his third-floor office, which overlooked the whole place.

"Badge number GC912566, get to my office right now!"