It is estimated that no one except the clone Caesar and the original Kyle can understand the meaning behind the setting and creation of this game area. However, the charm of this special game area still attracts countless players to fall into it.
Skynet virtual platform, Gotham City area.
The moonless and starless night sky was overcast, weird Gothic modern buildings stood tall, and the streets were lit up with dim neon lights that were full of mood. However, the lights mostly did not cover the filthy dark alleys, where cats and dogs would occasionally pass by with their pupils revealing a faint green glow.
On the bustling and unique commercial street, intelligent AIs that look like ordinary gentlemen and ladies are walking around. Some are busy with business, some are going home from get off work, and some are shopping. It seems that they have been living in this city since they were born and are leading their lives in an orderly manner.
Among them, there are many pedestrians with strange shapes and looks. These are players, wandering in groups of two or three, whispering to each other while exploring and touring the inner city landscape.
At this time, at the intersection of the commercial street, on the dome of a cathedral nearly fifty meters high.
No one noticed that a handsome blond boy was sitting on the edge of the eaves with his feet sticking out. He faced the gentle night breeze and looked down at the city scene below with a pair of big blue eyes.
A black-haired cat gently jumped onto his shoulder, its tail wagging back and forth, with a very happy expression on its face.
Caesar glanced at the cat and said unhappily, "I say, Eddie, why did you create your game characters like this?"
The black cat raised his little face and spoke in human language: "In the real world, you always sit on my shoulders. Now in this virtual space, at least let me sit on your shoulders."
"Whatever you want." Caesar really couldn't understand Eddie's weird idea.
Black Cat looked at the street below, "Master. I don't quite understand your intention in creating this Gotham City recreation area. Your setting for this area is very strange. There is no daytime here. It is always such a gloomy and weird night."
Caesar chuckled and said, "Eddie, what do you know? Only the night has a charm that the day does not have, and it can easily induce the darkness and fear in people's hearts."
"Dark series style?"
The black cat twitched his mouth in a humane way, thinking, "You also asked the Lord God to set this place as: high crime rate, incompetent police. Is this all intentional?"
"This is what makes me feel involved. The original New York wasn't much better than this."
Caesar shrugged and said, trying to change the subject, "This is the play area of The Sims. Players can do the work they want and live the life they want. It is the best virtual area to realize their second life."
The black cat narrowed his eyes and complained, "It doesn't seem that simple. You little devil, you are so bad!"
"Of course it's not that simple. I also created some special AI characters in it."
Caesar blinked meaningfully, and just as he finished speaking, a powerful explosion suddenly occurred at the door of a bank store below, plunging the peaceful and prosperous street into panic and chaos!
"What's going on?" The black cat raised its fur and looked down.
Fires broke out in the bank and the shop, heavy waves rolled, the glass door shattered and debris was everywhere, the AI pedestrians at the door fled the scene in panic, some players caught in the middle were also frightened, and many players watched in surprise from a safe distance.
Soon after, three vans stopped in front of the bank, and a group of more than a dozen masked gangsters entered with guns. The well-trained ones were divided into searching and keeping watch. Soon they got into the vans carrying large and small bags of money.
During this time, five patrol police cars approached with sirens blaring, but the criminals didn't even bother to look at them. They took out rocket launchers from their cars and blasted all the police cars away with a few rockets. The explosion and flames flooded the road area of the street.
"Is this robbery? This is too rampant!"
Black Cat, like the other players, gasped with a tingling scalp and was stunned for a moment.
Caesar spread his hands and said, "The gangsters are better armed than the police. This is the normal rule in Gotham City."
The black cat was threatening with anger and said, "What kind of setting is this? It's too bullying, isn't it? How can players dare to settle here? They were inexplicably extorted of equipment by bandits!"
"Don't be impatient, wait a little longer."
Caesar smiled without saying anything, estimating the time in his mind. It was time for the specially designed AI character to appear.
On the street below, the armed bandits were unstoppable. After robbing the bank, they prepared to get into the car and leave the scene.
A wounded AI police officer fell in a pool of blood, looking at them unwillingly, and took out an object similar to a flashlight from his trouser pocket with difficulty and turned on the switch.
A bright beam of light shone into the night sky, and the mark of a bat with spread wings was engraved in the air, exposed to the eyes of the city's AI characters and real players.
Chapter 373 The Dark Knight, Batman
Virtual world, the central urban area of Gotham City.
A messy street bank crime scene, with flames and smoke, everything seemed like a real interpretation of the plot.
AI civilians fled in panic, criminal gangs committed crimes rampantly with weapons, policemen lay powerlessly groaning in a pool of blood, players watched in doubt from a safe distance, and even the neon lights on the roadside became slightly dim, with blurred light and shadows.
"Bat… Mark?"
On the top floor of the Pendulum Church, a Western-style building, a black cat lay on Caesar's shoulder, looking up at the strange cursor in the night sky, muttering to himself incomprehensiblely.
All the people in this city also looked up at the mark in the night sky. The animal, which was clearly a representative of dark creatures at night, inexplicably played a quick role in calming the panic of civilians and deterring criminals.
"Damn it! That guy is coming, drive for me and get out of here!"
Upon seeing this, the masked criminal leader let out a ferocious growl, revealing a hint of fear and dread. He waved his arm and called on his accomplices to get back into the modified van.
At the same time, all players within a one-kilometer radius of the area received a branch mission message:
"Choose 1, trigger temporary mission [Prevent terrorists from escaping]
As a good citizen of Gotham City, you should stop all unjust evil forces, even at the risk of sacrificing your own life!
Mission requirements: Use your own strength to stop the terrorists from escaping and delay the time as much as possible!
Mission Reward: One Righteous Citizen Badge, Batman Favorability +10."
"Choice 2: Trigger temporary mission [Help terrorists escape]
Abandoning the principles of justice and personality, crossing the bottom line of legal and ethical principles, obeying inner desires and becoming a member of darkness!
Mission requirements: Use your own strength to help terrorists escape and let them go unpunished!
Mission Reward: Gain recognition from evil forces, Batman's favorability -10."
Black Cat stared at the system pop-up window in amazement, and glanced at Caesar, "You did this mission... on purpose, right?"
"Where there is justice, there is evil. Gotham City is a place where the two extremes are clearly polarized."
Caesar smiled happily, looked at the players below, and whispered, "So, make your choice. Whatever they dare not do in reality, their desire will be infinitely magnified in this virtual space, tempting them to take the path they desire in their hearts."
The players below were all hesitant. After three seconds, no one chose to accept the mission.
Seeing this, Black Cat breathed a sigh of relief and squinted at Caesar, saying, "Not bad. Human nature is more gray and neutral, which means standing aside and watching things that have nothing to do with them."
Caesar smiled and said without any concern, "I guessed it a long time ago. This is just because the players have just arrived in Gotham City. Once they are familiar with the environment here, obtain certain weapons and equipment, and hesitate between justice and evil, they will make a new choice here sooner or later."
"This choice will have an indirect impact on reality, right? What will you do to the players who have joined the evil forces—real supervision and examination?" Black Cat asked Caesar with a slightly nervous look.
Caesar smiled but said nothing. In the virtual world, people would be more inclined to follow their own choices.
"Bang!"