American comic book: My Father is Superman, am I just an NPC?

Chapter 232 The Passion of Superman and Ultraman Tiga!
Golden Superman stared at the shocking words on the ground.

He looked at Ultraman Tiga, who was on the verge of death and frantically blowing bubbles, and froze.

Light...is poisonous?
What the hell kind of place is this?!
Golden Superman's brain was buzzing. He didn't know whether he should be glad that he had lost the ability to absorb light. After all, if he still had the ability, he might end up lying on a board like the suited alien.

Seeing Ultraman Tiga on the ground, foaming at the mouth, convulsing, and clearly on the verge of death from poisoning, Golden Superman Clark, after his initial panic...

An inopportune moment... of relief rose within me?
Damn it! Something filthy has corrupted my heart!

Golden Superman shifted the blame, and just as this thought flashed through his mind, his gaze inadvertently swept over his wrist, and then his eyes suddenly fixed on it.

This is not his original thing.

Sometime during his life, a strangely shaped wristwatch appeared on his left wrist! Clearly, it was some kind of terminal that had been forcibly "installed" on him after he came to this world.

The watch is entirely matte black, made of neither gold nor iron, yet the screen is exceptionally clear, displaying constantly scrolling data and icons.

If someone knowledgeable were here, they would notice that its design style is subtly similar to the Reincarnator's Watch from the strange God Space called "Infinite Terror".

Yes, Ian is indeed a true king of plagiarism, capable of finding material to copy from every angle. He would never put his extraordinary brain to work on anything that can be copied.

"Is it a controller used to monitor and manipulate us?" Poor Golden Superman had never seen Infinite Terror, so he could only speculate based on his past experience.

He stared intently at the wristwatch screen, which clearly displayed a wealth of information.

[Name]: Golden Superman (Temporary NPC ID: A-007)

[Status]: New immigrant (temporary residence permit)
[Account Balance]: 10 Energy Coins [Voucher], [Second-generation new resident limited-time super luxury gift, valid until 24:00 today in this universe calendar]

[Education Level]: Unverified. Requires submission of materials for verification. Verification fee: 5000 Energy Coins.
[Skill Tree]: Not unlocked (Click to view)

Credit Rating: E ​​(Initial rating for new users, low loan amount, high interest rate)

[Health Status]: Sub-healthy (Unknown energy dormancy detected; it is recommended to purchase the [Basic Energy Activation Package] as soon as possible).

[Legal Status]: Clean (No criminal record yet, please keep it!)

……

The series of messages made Golden Superman's eyes twitch.

This is practically a citizen's identity file in a highly digitized city, complete with everything from diplomas to credit history. But the content just seems a bit ridiculous!

His finger unconsciously tapped the option for the [Skill Tree].

The next moment, a complex and massive tree diagram popped up on the watch screen, densely packed with various skill icons and names.

However, when Golden Superman saw the names of those skills, he froze, stiffened, and felt as if many of his well-trained nerves had finally snapped.

[Iron Body (Beginner)]: Price: 100,000 Energy Coins

[Thermal Vision (Beginner)]: Price: 50,000 Energy Coins

[Biofield (Basic)]: Price: 200,000 Energy Coins

[Super Speed ​​(Low Speed)]: Price: 80,000 Energy Coins

【Frozen Breath (Arctic Temperature Version)】: Price: 30,000 Energy Coins

……

"Isn't this all my original ability?!" Golden Superman finally broke down, unable to hold back his curses. His innate ability, as natural as breathing and drinking, was being openly sold for a price?! This wasn't just robbery; it was stripping him naked and then weighing him!

Human beings must have their limits!

How could someone be so heartless!

Golden Superman's gaze was fixed on the top of the skill tree, on a skill that was sealed by a gray chain icon and emitted a dim golden light.

This is his ultimate manifestation as the Golden Superman. And just below the skill tree, a seemingly ordinary skill caught his eye, yet it made his pupils shrink in shock.

[Legitimate Photosynthesis (Passive)]: Allows users to safely and legally absorb light energy within the scope of this dimension's certification for basic energy replenishment.

Monthly card price: 3,000 energy coins.

Yes.

Skills can't be fully unlocked even if you pay for them; they're essentially "rented." Not only that, but you also need to pay an exorbitant price to unlock flight abilities, and even then, you have to buy additional things like "Flight License (Low Altitude) [High Altitude]".

[Flight License (Low Altitude) [High Altitude]] Since it is not a skill, it adopts a point card system. The price of one minute of flight qualification for the low altitude flight license is 10 energy coins.

It's more expensive at high altitudes!

Upon seeing the watch give this notification, Golden Superman completely lost his composure. He had completely lost the ability to make sarcastic remarks, and his mind was filled with thoughts of alpacas galloping through his mind.

Say something.

He thought he had witnessed the darkest side of human nature.

however.

His gaze fell upon a shopping mall option on the watch, and after clicking on it without thinking, Golden Superman realized that perhaps his knowledge in this lifetime was indeed far too limited.

A dazzling array of product listings popped up.

The familiar categorization and sales tactics instantly brought back memories of certain games that he considered spiritual opium, games that only children of his age, free from life's pressures, would become addicted to.

And the shopping mall here.

It's far more of a rip-off than the in-game store in the game that Golden Superman played.

It was a category he had never heard of before.

First recharge bonus! Only 6 Energy Coins!
Includes: [Small Bottle of Energy Potion] x1 (restores a small amount of stamina), [Newbie City Life Guide] x1, [Random Pet Egg] x1 (99.9% chance of hatching a decorative husky).

[New Immigrant Support and Growth Fund]: Invest 1000 Energy Coins and immediately receive a return of 10000 Energy Coins!
Is this really ethical?

Unfortunately, there were two lines of small text below that were almost impossible to read.

The expected return of 10000 energy coins is the product's target. The word "immediately" is only for the name of this investment product. The return energy coins will be distributed over 120 years.

You can receive 83.33 energy coins by signing in annually. Failure to sign in by the deadline will be considered a forfeiture.

There wasn't a single thing on the watch that made Golden Superman feel any meaning. The small print was so small that he couldn't even see it unless he looked very closely. It was truly a trap, with countless holes dug in the already pitted areas.

【Battle Pass System (Limited-Time Benefits for New Immigrants)】: Lasts for 30 days. Complete daily/weekly tasks to increase your Battle Pass level and unlock generous rewards while learning about this world!
There are free options, and of course, there are paid options, such as the Deluxe Battle Pass (priced at 680000 Energy Coins): Instantly unlock the Silver exclusive skin [Dull Kryptonite Gloss], receive double mission points, and receive 1 [Random A-Rank Skill Fragment] upon reaching max level (collect 100 fragments to synthesize a complete A-Rank skill)!

Besides.

The online store also uses a sense of urgency marketing strategy.

There are limited-time flash sales, VIP memberships for citizens, and even dynamic titles for sale. There's also a gamble—a gashapon machine for daily necessities—that you have to gamble to get food and other necessities.

"Is this only the case for so-called new immigrants, or is it the case for everyone in the world?"

Say something.

These are all "urban planning" directions that overturn the Golden Superman's worldview. He thinks that even someone as wicked as Lex Luthor couldn't come up with such a resident management plan even if he ate ten thousand pounds of poisonous mushrooms.

"This..." Golden Superman felt his temples throbbing wildly, a deep sense of powerlessness and absurdity enveloping him.

of course.

Compared to this absurd residential shopping mall.

Actually, Golden Superman is more concerned about the skill called Photosynthesis in the skill tree.

"Legal...legal photosynthesis? Does that mean you need permission to absorb light?" Golden Superman chewed on the word, then looked at Ultraman Tiga, who was still foaming at the mouth on the ground. He instantly understood!

The reason Tiga convulsed and collapsed was most likely because he absorbed the light here without purchasing the [Legal Photosynthesis] skill!
This damned world has even started charging for breathing (photosynthesis)! That's why the illegal "breathing" here caused Ultraman Tiga to get poisoned!
“It’s that kid… that Kent kid from this universe…” Golden Superman gritted his teeth, finally deducing the key information, “He’s not a simple superhuman… he’s a dimensional lord! And a dimensional lord with extremely bad taste and extremely twisted rules!”

"This guy has a dimensional world that he completely controls, and he's brought in outsiders like us and put us under this ridiculous 'gamification' rule system!"

Golden Superman is also a superhuman variant who has traveled through the multiverse and is very knowledgeable, so he quickly analyzed some of the information about Ian.

only.

Finding out the truth will not alleviate the current crisis.

"He's dying." Golden Superman looked at Tiga on the ground, whose chest energy indicator light had become extremely dim, as if it would go out at any moment.

Golden Superman frowned.

He couldn't just stand by and watch this guy, who might be his only "fellow sufferer," die like this.

"Alien suit man! Hang in there! I'll call an ambulance for you!"

Thinking of everyday wristwatches, Golden Superman quickly swiped on his watch and found an "Emergency Services" option, which included "Call an Ambulance".

He was about to click the call button.

however.

"No...no..." On the ground, Tiga struggled to raise his hand and began frantically writing on the ground, trying to stop Golden Superman's actions as quickly as possible.

"Call...call an ambulance...it's too...too expensive...I...I need to wait a bit..." Clearly, Tiga seems to have learned about the rules of life in this world in some way.

Like Belial and Ultron, he possesses functions similar to those of a wristwatch, all of which are now displayed on his retina, making him somewhat more advanced than humans like Golden Superman.

of course.

The discounts are all the same.

"?????"

Upon hearing this, Golden Superman glanced at the estimated cost listed below the ambulance call – [Starting price: 5000 energy coins, subject to change based on the severity of the illness and distance].

He was silent.

Looking at the pitiful "10 energy coins" voucher balance on his wristwatch, and then at Tiga on the ground who was so poor he didn't even have a wristwatch, his balance was probably about the same as his own.

"Then I... have no other choice."

Having lost his superhuman abilities, the Golden Superman is now no different from an ordinary, healthy human. Faced with this "regular" poisoning, he shrugs his shoulders, indicating his helplessness.

Just when the two were at their wits' end.

Just when Tiga was about to die, the light went out and he was about to perish.

A series of steady footsteps came from the alley entrance.

A burly man with a thick cigar dangling from his mouth, a full beard, sharp, wolf-like eyes, and a faint metallic glint between his knuckles strode in. He wore a brown trench coat in a retro detective style, but the epaulettes on the coat bore the logo of Ian's smiling face.

It has the same icon as the one on the Golden Superman watch.

If someone knowledgeable were standing here, they would be able to recognize that the person is Wolverine Logan! However, the Golden Superman from the DC Universe does not recognize Wolverine from the Marvel Universe.

Before Golden Superman was banned by Ian.

There is no dimension or level high enough to perceive information about the universe beyond that level.

"Two more newcomers who don't know the rules and are causing trouble."

Logan's sharp gaze swept over Tiga lying on the ground and the helpless Golden Superman standing to the side, finally settling on Tiga.

He exhaled a smoke ring, his voice deep and authoritative: "I'm from the law enforcement agency. Now, please raise your hand and hand it over."

"let me help you."

He gave instructions to Tiga.

Golden Superman sized Logan up and down, and figured Logan didn't seem to be lying, so he quickly asked, "Enforcer, can you save this suited alien?"

As the saying goes, when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Golden Superman accepted the fact that he had come to a new dimension and prepared to wait for an opportunity to contact the Supreme Council to rescue him.

"Ah."

Wolverine didn't answer Golden Superman's question, or even glance at him. He just stared intently at Tiga, using his eyes to signal that Tiga needed to do as he said.

"it is good."

Tiga struggled to raise a trembling arm. Logan stepped forward and, ignoring the smooth feel of the "suit," grabbed Tiga's wrist with his strong hand.

Without offering any explanation, he took out a more complex law enforcement device, similar to a POS machine, and scanned Tiga's wrist.

The instrument emitted a soft "beep," and a string of data scrolled rapidly on the screen.

A few seconds later, Logan released his grip, looked at the instrument screen, and said to Tiga in a businesslike tone, "It has been detected that you have engaged in illegal energy intake, violating Article 7, Paragraph 3 of the 'Interim Regulations on Dimensional Energy Management.' Therefore, I have now forcibly applied for an emergency medical loan for you."

"Approximately 500,000 energy coins. Now, you only need to pay the fine for illegal photosynthesis and the purification fee. After the payment is settled, the light you inhale will be marked as 'legal'."

Logan gave a brief explanation of the situation.

"?????"

Upon hearing this, Golden Superman's eyes widened like saucers, deeply shocked.

"What do you mean you applied for a loan for him? You... are you sure you're an official?" Golden Superman couldn't help but confirm again, his voice filled with disbelief.

If you don't say it.

He thought they had stumbled into a gang's hideout. How could law enforcement officers claim to be helping others while simultaneously implying that their so-called help involved using someone else's information to apply for a loan?
Even America isn't this sexy!
"Is there a problem?"

Wolverine finally glanced at Golden Superman.

His eyes seemed to say, "You're making a fuss over nothing," and then he nodded very firmly and confidently: "The law enforcement bureau is honest and fair to everyone, young and old."

No, how are these two sentences connected?

"!!!"

Although Ultraman Tiga, like Golden Superman, was filled with the urge to complain, his extreme physical discomfort left him no time to think about anything else. He could only concentrate on his own visual interface, which only he could see, and painstakingly operated according to Wolverine's instructions to pay the 3000 energy coins "photosynthesis fee".

Almost the instant the payment was successful, the excruciating pain and numbness that had been gripping Tiga's body receded like a tide! The dim energy indicator on his chest also returned to stability!

The faint blue light is very healthy.

of course.

It was only slightly healthier for a short while.

Tiga struggled, using his arms to support himself on the ground, and sat up.

However, he didn't feel relieved; instead, he immediately looked at his debt screen. The next second, he looked at Wolverine with a somber, almost desperate expression.

After purchasing the ability to communicate telepathically with a loan, Tiga finally regained the channel to express his inner thoughts. He looked at Wolverine with his large, expressive eyes.

"You said... you lent me 500,000... why do I see countless zeros after my debt?" Tiga firmly believed that he had not mistakenly fallen into the trap of loan sharks.

Because loan sharks really aren't that bad.

He truly couldn't count those endless zeros!
(End of this chapter)