"Apologies, I retract my earlier statement," the Clown said. "I don't like you, I love you to death. So, what do you say? Want to join the game?"
"The honor is mine," Bai Ye replied.
"Alex Avenue, 2250. It's an apartment building. You'll find something useful in the underground garage. Before sunset tomorrow, no problem?" the Clown asked.
"Of course, no problem," Bai Ye said. "Leave this to me. And I wish you and Batman a wonderful time."
The Clown grinned. "I believe it will be most enjoyable."
After speaking, the Clown retracted his head into the car and sped away.
Meanwhile…
"You successfully saved the Clown. Mission reward: Sin Points x100, Clown's Poker Chip x1"
Clown's Poker Chip (Item) (White): After committing a crime, the Clown always liked to leave his mark at the scene. A Joker card from a deck. His madness allowed him to constantly defy his fate. So, dare you gamble with his poker chip?
Effect: Fate. You will receive a poker chip. When the chip is flipped, it will reveal either a King or a Joker. If it's a King, you can specify two physical attributes to be randomly increased in value, or one ability to be randomly enhanced in quality. If it's a Joker, you must specify two physical attributes to be randomly decreased in value, or one ability to be randomly reduced in quality. Effect duration: 60 minutes. Cooldown: 24 hours.
Sin Points…
Bai Ye wasn't too interested anymore, having already accumulated a thousand Sin Points.
As for the Clown's Poker Chip…
It was quite straightforward. A fifty percent chance of a beneficial effect, and a fifty percent chance of a negative effect. Moreover, both the beneficial and negative effects were also random.
Therefore, it was somewhat unfair that the Clown's Poker Chip was only White in quality. Its quality should also have been random.
If you drew a King and then randomly increased two physical attributes, and the random increase was 200 points, then this item would undoubtedly be a Gold-quality enhancement item.
However, if you drew a Joker…
Then it was trash no matter what. The only question was how trashy it could be. Regardless, even White quality was undesirable.
Still, this uncertainty perfectly suited the Clown's style.
Bai Ye mused for a moment, then took the Clown's Poker Chip from his inventory.
When the Clown's Poker Chip was taken out, its back was invariably facing Bai Ye. Then…
He slowly flipped the poker chip over, feeling his heartbeat quicken slightly, until the answer was revealed!
A King!
Bai Ye let out a long sigh of relief.
"Please specify two physical attributes to randomly increase in value, or one ability to randomly enhance in quality."
Bai Ye thought for a moment, then said, "Ability quality."
Bai Ye's physical attributes were already excellent. Even a formidable enemy like Adam only surpassed Bai Ye in physical attributes after unlocking his gene gates. Under normal circumstances, few could crush Bai Ye in terms of physical attributes, and even fewer could match him.
Since physical attributes were already his strong suit, there was no need to improve them. It was better to randomly enhance an ability and diversify his strengths.
For instance, temporarily elevating the Mera Mera no Mi to Gold quality, wouldn't that be wonderful?
Unfortunately…
Bai Ye didn't get his wish.
"Your Invisible Blast has been temporarily enhanced to Black quality."
Invisible Blast (Ability) (Black): Capable of creating an invisible remote-controlled bomb out of thin air anywhere. Furthermore, bombs can be stacked at the same location, with their power multiplying accordingly. The maximum number of bombs is three.
The usage of Invisible Blast remained unchanged after being upgraded to Black quality, but it gained a bomb stacking effect. This means that after placing three invisible remote-controlled bombs at the same location, the explosion's power would stack. During Blue quality, multiple Invisible Blasts could not be placed at the same location; only one bomb per location. Even if placed in close proximity, the power would not stack, and it could only detonate twice consecutively, causing secondary damage.
Bai Ye pondered it and found it acceptable.
The Invisible Blast ability was already quite useful, and it became even more so at Black quality. It was just a slight regret that the Mera Mera no Mi wasn't temporarily enhanced to Gold quality.
As Bai Ye thought this, he waved his hand, making the screen disappear, and then strode away.
…
After the Clown was rescued, the missions for everyone else disappeared.
This conflict and chaos between the two major factions would also come to an end.
Bai Ye shamelessly mused that he was truly a good person. He saved the Clown, thus stopping the conflict. Otherwise, how many more people would have died?
However, the chaos in Sin City had not ended.
The Clown's escape meant…
He would stir up trouble again.
As the sun began to rise, Bai Ye drove his vehicle to Alex Avenue, 2250, as the Clown had mentioned. However, Bai Ye didn't enter immediately. Instead, he walked into a nearby coffee shop because the news on television was something he was interested in.
"One latte and one explosive beef and egg sandwich."
Bai Ye said to the server and then sat down in a corner.
On the coffee shop's television, the latest news was being broadcast.
A reporter, whose tight suit couldn't hide her explosive figure, stood in front of a pile of rubble, with the sounds of sirens all around. A large group of medical personnel could be seen carrying first-aid kits and stretchers, moving through the debris.
The rubble was the central hospital of Sin City. Half an hour ago, it had been hit by an explosion. A large number of bombs had been dropped, reducing the central hospital to ruins. Although the casualties had not been announced, looking at the collapsed ruins and the flames still burning around, it was clear that countless lives had been lost.
Inside the coffee shop, discussions were rife. Some looked pale, others cursed vehemently. But regardless of their emotional expressions, the underlying sentiment was the same…
Fear!
The news report did not mention the Clown, but Bai Ye knew this was undoubtedly his handiwork. To implement his plan, he needed to plunge the entire Sin City into a state of terror.
And what was the second step?
Bai Ye didn't need to guess, because the television screen suddenly went black, turning into a mass of static, making a "shhh, shhh" sound. After about half a minute, the picture reappeared.
On the screen, a Clown stood there.