C22: 1 Moment of Life and Death
"…Two speeding vehicles just tore through Third Avenue near Seaford Road heading towards Fourth Street, one black, the other a bright red Audi R8. Suspects may be armed or meta-powered. All nearby patrols, respond."
"Roger that."
"Yo, Old Taylor! We've got another hot one."
"What now?"
"Suspected vigilante evasion. Possible connection to Stark Industries."
"Copy that. Let's roll!"
…
[Reputation from Tony Stark +55]
Having once again shaken off the unmistakable red blur of Tony Stark's customized Audi R8, the same model first showcased during the Monaco Grand Prix incident, Li Ran glanced at the updated data panel in his system. The surging number of +Reputation values curved into a victorious grin across his face.
As the saying goes, provoking Tony Stark isn't just thrilling, it's practically a shortcut to legendary status.
Stark, the infamous futurist and tech mogul behind Stark Industries, wasn't just a billionaire with a jetpack. He was a one-man PR engine. Every encounter with him felt like injecting raw fame straight into the system. Li Ran suspected that with one or two more passes, he'd unlock the [Black Iron Treasure Chest], which, according to system lore, often contained rare character fragments and even high-tier artifact blueprints.
Tee tee tee—
Mid-thought, Li Ran snapped to attention at the shrill pitch of NYPD sirens growing behind him. In his rearview mirror, black-and-white patrol cars swarmed in, red-blue lights bouncing off nearby buildings like scenes straight out of Gotham Central, except this was Midtown Manhattan, and the Dark Knight wasn't coming.
"Well, that's rich," he muttered. "Aren't the police supposed to show up after the superhero ruins everything?"
Despite his complaints, Li Ran's reflexes moved like clockwork. He slammed the brakes, and with the [Stunt Racing] passive skill inherited from the E-Class [Character Card: Baby], performed a precise J-turn that sent his car into a backward slide just inches from the pursuing squad cars. With a seamless spin and quick throttle punch, he brushed past the stunned officers like a phantom, rubber burning in his wake.
"WHAT THE—?"
"You filming Fast Five over here?!"
"…We need backup. Repeat, we've got a possible enhanced driver. Dangerous."
…
"Sir, you appear to be in escalating legal jeopardy," Jarvis reported calmly from the HUD on Tony's dashboard.
Tony, eyes locked on the blinking GPS, arched a brow. "Define 'legal jeopardy.'"
Before the AI could answer, sirens wailed in the distance like banshees in a concrete jungle. Stark frowned.
"Yeah, got it."
"Shall I initiate evasive protocols, sir?"
"Jarvis, clear the chessboard."
The AI immediately pulled up a detailed 3D map of Manhattan, flagging every known patrol car en route and offering a high-speed maneuver simulation akin to the Stark Tech's Crisis Management AI used during the Skrull Infiltration Event.
"At the next light, take a hard right, then veer left past 41st. There's an alley with minimal surveillance."
Tony grinned. "Now we're talking."
…
Tee tee tee—
Tee tee tee—
"Did you call for backup?"
Li Ran had barely escaped one swarm before another emerged like hydras at the next intersection. Multiple patrol units flanked him now, boxing him into the shrinking lanes like he'd stumbled into a Gotham-style Bat-trap.
Still, his heart didn't skip a beat. He thumbed the music button on his dash, flooding his ears with pulse-pounding rhythm. The drumbeats synced perfectly with the [Baby] skillset, shifting his cognitive reflexes into hyper-awareness. The [Tinnitus] side-effect, a low-frequency hum, faded beneath the sonic clarity, transforming city traffic into a fluid obstacle course.
Twisting the wheel with surgical precision, Li Ran yanked the handbrake, letting the car pirouette 180 degrees and slide between two shocked patrol cars in a move worthy of Clint Barton dodging Chitauri fire in downtown Manhattan.
[Reputation from NYPD +0.5]
[Reputation from NYPD +0.5]
"Hmph."
Li Ran squinted at the panel.
After growing used to Stark's juicy 50-point reputation bumps, these NYPD micro-donations felt like tip change. It was like going from cosmic battles with the Beyonder to arguing parking tickets with Gotham P.D.
"I see now… it's hard to go back once you've flown with eagles."
And just when he thought the thrill was easing off, the infamous red Audi R8 re-emerged from a side alley like a demon summoned by Stark's ego.
Tony?!
"Sir, incoming threat at two o'clock!" Jarvis warned, but it was already too late for evasive maneuvers.
Tony: "Oh, hell no!"
The distance closed in a split second. For a terrifying moment, it looked like the two cars would crash, ending Stark's story before the Avengers Initiative even formed.
In Li Ran's cabin, the music dropped into a snare roll. Reflexes kicked in. In one sweeping motion, he countersteered, feathered the clutch, and let inertia swing the rear of the car just inches from the Audi's front grill. The screech of tires was deafening. Somehow, Li Ran's vehicle slithered past and slipped into the very alley Tony had come from, leaving Stark staring slack-jawed.
Screeech—
Tires smoked as the Audi ground to a halt. The steering wheel trembled under Tony's grip.
"Sir, are you injured?"
Jarvis' voice broke through the stunned silence.
"Am I dead?" Tony asked, half-serious.
"No, sir. Although statistically speaking, you should be."
The AI paused, then added, "Had the other driver lacked such absurd reflexes, you would now be part of a Stark Industries obituary press release."
"Thanks, Jarvis. I really needed that."
"If I may, sir, your reckless pursuit initiated this sequence. Perhaps future altercations could include... less dying?"
Tony, still reeling, sighed. The vengeful fire he'd felt toward the mysterious thief dimmed into ash. Right now, he didn't want revenge. He needed a drink. And maybe a therapist.
"Jarvis… what was that car?"
"The one you nearly collided with, sir? That was the same 'Phantom Thief' you've been chasing for 42 city blocks."
Tony's expression soured. "Of course it was."
Then the car's comms buzzed.
"Sir, call from Ms. Potts," Jarvis reported.
"Put her through."
Chili Pepper's voice cut in, high and tight with concern. "Tony, what exactly did you do this time? Happy said you left him outside a club then disappeared!"
"Pepper."
The sharp edge in his voice softened at the sound of hers.
"What happened, Tony?"
Tony rubbed his face. "Well… you may have to bail me out. I think I might've… kind of… led the NYPD into a high-speed mess."
Outside the car, patrol vehicles boxed him in. Officers approached, grim-faced and armed.
Tony let out a breath, grinned like a rogue in a courtroom, and leaned back in the seat.
"Tell Happy to bring a coffee. I'll be here a while."
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