C23: Escape Smoothly
"Hoo~"
Drifting through the narrow alley in the stolen red Audi R8, Li Ran felt the residual adrenaline surge through his veins as he let out a long breath of relief.
The close shave just now had been far too dangerous, something straight out of Fast and Furious: SHIELD Files.
Thankfully, the legendary driving skills derived from the E-Rank [Baby] card based on Baby from Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 7's speedster arc had proven more than effective.
On the surface, Li Ran maintained the composure of someone like Alfred Pennyworth calmly navigating Gotham traffic, but underneath, he was as panicked as Peter Parker caught in a SHIELD lie. Still, his precision behind the wheel was enough to evade a devastating wreck.
[Famousness from Tony Stark +165]
[Famousness from J.A.R.V.I.S. +25]
The legend value from Tony Stark was expected. After all, a high-speed near-collision with Iron Man—who once drove this very car during a chase scene in Iron Man 2 would earn some serious notoriety. Even the always-composed J.A.R.V.I.S. had upgraded his internal response priority, impressed by the evasive maneuver that rivaled one of Nick Fury's infamous SUV chases through D.C.
Yet Li Ran found himself puzzled by the notoriety gained from J.A.R.V.I.S., Stark's AI assistant. After all, J.A.R.V.I.S. wasn't human or was he?
Then again, remembering Avengers: Age of Ultron, where J.A.R.V.I.S. later evolves into Vision, a fully sentient synthezoid recognized globally by S.W.O.R.D., it suddenly made sense. This wasn't just any AI.
Fame from an evolving post-human? Li Ran figured it was best not to overthink. Legend points were legend points.
Just then, the signature Doppler howl of NYPD squad car sirens approached from multiple vectors. Time was up.
It was no longer viable to flee by vehicle. Besides, driving off in Stark's own car, a recognizable Audi R8 with Stark customizations and an active GPS feed linked to J.A.R.V.I.S. was just asking for trouble. Tony already knew his exact location thanks to the embedded Stark satellite telemetry network.
Without hesitation, Li Ran swapped his E-Rank [Baby] card for a D-Rank [Phantom Thief Kid] based on Kaito Kuroba from an obscure Marvel–Manga crossover featured in Spider-Verse: Multiversal Files #3 and instantly felt the shift. The tinnitus from the high-speed chase vanished. Dexterity in his hands returned, ready for sleight-of-hand brilliance.
Now seated in the driver's seat, he reached into the car's glove box, applied an instant prosthetic from the Kidd Card Arsenal, and stared into the rearview mirror.
Staring back at him was an elderly white woman with thick spectacles, gray curls, and a posture as hunched as Aunt May's in her earliest Amazing Fantasy appearances.
One of Kidd's trademark techniques, perfect disguise—may have seemed mundane next to gamma rays or motherboxes, but it had baffled even the Watchtower's internal scans in Justice League x Marvel Annual 2023. And that was enough for Li Ran.
With his disguise complete, Li Ran hobbled out of the car with a wooden cane, bent low, squinting as if searching for lost car keys. He slowly shuffled around the parked R8 like a confused Gothamite who took a wrong turn into Metropolis.
"Target vehicle located!"
Tires screeched at the alley's mouth. Two NYPD squad cars pulled in, their doors swinging open. Out stepped two typical New York cops: the burly, donut-fueled stereotype and a young, brash rookie who looked like he was auditioning for GCPD: Blue Justice.
The older officer muttered into his shoulder radio. Both men approached the R8 cautiously, service pistols drawn. The rookie gestured toward Li Ran.
"Ma'am, please step away from the car!"
"Huh?!" croaked Li Ran, affecting an authentic Brooklyn accent like a seasoned member of the Metropolis Theater Guild. "Why? I just wanted a peek! Such a fancy car…"
"No, ma'am," the younger officer softened, noting her apparent frailty. "This vehicle was reported stolen, possibly dangerous. Please stay back for your safety."
"Stolen? I don't see nothin' wrong!" Li Ran retorted with indignation that would've made Aunt Harriet from Batman '66 proud. "You two sure it's not your car? Up to no good, maybe?"
"Ma'am, we're the police."
"Police, huh? So's everyone in Arkham Asylum these days!"
The older officer, who resembled Crispus Allen from Gotham Central, stepped closer to the vehicle. "No one in the driver's seat," he announced. "Looks like the perp bailed on foot before we arrived."
The rookie relaxed and holstered his firearm. "Classic smash and grab. Took Stark's ride for a joyride, saw us coming, ditched it."
Unbeknownst to them, the "perp" was standing inches away.
"Old ma'am, did you see anyone suspicious come through this alley?" the rookie asked.
Li Ran feigned confusion and tilted her head. "Suspicious? Hmm… no, no suspicious folks…"
He paused dramatically. The officers leaned in.
"If I had to name someone suspicious…"
"Yes?"
"It'd be you two!" she barked, jabbing a bony finger.
"…Ma'am, we're law enforcement."
"Exactly!"
The officers exchanged looks that screamed why me, before deciding to end the absurd exchange.
"Please, ma'am, if you remember anything, call this number," said the younger officer, handing over a business card.
"I ain't senile, sonny. I can walk just fine!" she snapped, waving away the offered hand.
As she tottered away, the two cops finally exhaled.
"What do you think?" asked the younger.
"No real leads. No prints, no footage. This guy's a damn ghost."
"You think it really was the Phantom Thief Stark mentioned?"
"Stark blames everything on that guy since he missed that fundraiser with Bruce Wayne," the older one muttered.
Then the rookie added, "They say that guy can turn into anyone…"
The two men froze. They turned, slowly—then sprinted toward the alley exit.
[The legend from the NYPD +0.5]
[The legend from the NYPD +0.5]
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