Ian ultimately overestimated Franklin's purchasing power, or perhaps he
underestimated the economic strength of the cosplay community. The money he carried
only allowed him to buy a low‑quality replica outfit.
of course.
Clutching a plastic bat dart and adjusting his ill‑fitting cloth armor, Ian remained
confident as he used the darkness to reach a secluded public phone booth.
Such communication facilities are still ubiquitous in America, and thanks to his
parents' professions and his own excellent memory, Ian has memorized the contact
information of many well‑known media outlets.
The first call was, of course, from the renowned editor‑in‑chief of The Daily Planet.
"Hello? I'm a concerned citizen."
He deliberately made his voice sound like an adult.
"I saw Batman in the old town! Yes! It was him! I swear on my father! If I'm lying, may
my father run into a bunch of supervillains every time he goes out!"
"Yes, yes, I always like to swear oaths, even if it means meeting a supervillain." Ian
ended the first call, and then made two, three, four, five, six, seven... a total of eighteen
calls.
Ian, the local television station, wasn't spared either.
"Batman! Oh my god! I saw Batman! He's on a date with a woman in the old town! I
have no idea why he'd be out on a date dressed as a superhero."
"Maybe his date has unusual tastes... Look at what you're saying, of course you should
avoid your own city when you go on a date, it's perfectly reasonable for them to come to
the metropolis!"
then.
This is yet another media outlet that seems to enjoy gossip and sensationalism.
"Exclusive news! Is there a chance to win a TV prize for this story? I saw Batman
emerge from an alleyway, a place where cheap prostitutes often frequent."
"I believe Batman must have come to Metropolis on a business trip and then took the
opportunity to help those poor women. As for the exact location? It's in the old city area
where the black guys like to hang out."
"Enough said, Batman is walking towards me, pulling up his pants."
Every media outlet.
Ian chose the news stories that the recipients liked best. Having once worked with UC
Browser and been involved in UC's news department, he naturally knew how to seize upon
marketing opportunities. After reporting to most of the media outlets he knew, Ian
hesitated slightly before finally calling his mother, a journalist.
He didn't want his mother to miss out on her bonus because she missed today's
Batman news. The Metropolitan reporters were incredibly persistent; some of the news
reports his mother made about Ian were obviously staged with his father's help.
"Drip drop~"
The call is connected.
From the other end came my mother's voice asking who it was.
"Louise, it's me, Batman, your old friend⋯ Tonight I'm going to expand my
superhero career to your Metropolis."
Ian lowered his voice and imitated Bruce Wayne's deep, cancer‑ridden voice perfectly.
His talent for learning allowed him to easily acquire many life skills.
only.
"No, I'm not Ian, and I haven't caused any trouble outside." To be fair, Ian's voice is
indeed a 100% accurate recreation of Batman's voice.
However, he still faced strong skepticism from the person on the other end of the
phone.
"I really am Batman, can't you just believe me for once? — Damn it, don't come out
here, Batman isn't going to the Old Town tonight, he's heading back to Gotham!"
"I rushed back to Gotham overnight... Ouch, no, I gasped not because I got beaten up, I
was just touching my head to see if I'd grown any pointed tips."
"Okay, Mom, I'll be right back."
Ian hung up the phone with Louise in frustration.
Of course, he wouldn't choose to go home immediately. "Immediately" never means
"right away," but rather "when he gets home" is when the "immediate" part ends.
The right to interpret this statement must lie with Ian.
of course.
Louise has the right to disregard the right to interpret the law and to beat him up.
"Whatever! You have to overcome fear to become fear itself!" Ian used Batman's clip
bubble voice, re‑entering the role he was playing.
The old town is also bustling with activity at night.
No robbery was found.
However, this did not stop Ian from wearing his cheap bat suit and imitating the
running posture of ninjas in "Naruto," crawling onto walls and rooftops wherever there
were many people.
It's as if he's afraid people won't be able to spot him in the dark.
[Job Change Quest: Gain sufficient public attention and support (432/100000)]
As it turns out, Ian's approach was correct. He and his system were still very
compatible, and after only a short while, his job change quest had already made good
progress.
The darkness concealed his cheap battle suit, leaving most people with no doubt
about his identity. After all, not just any cosplayer could leap seven or eight meters
between skyscrapers to another rooftop, and then do a dozen backflips in mid‑air—
something even Bruce Wayne himself probably couldn't do without technology.
"Oh my god! Batman is here! Has some super terrible disaster struck Metropolis
again?"
"Look! He lost his footing and fell from the fourth‑floor rooftop! But he didn't die! He
got up and ran again! It's Batman! This must be the real Batman!"
"Yeah! Just like everyone says—the one who can't be killed is Batman!"
⋯⋯
[Job Change Quest: Gain sufficient public attention and support (841/100000)]
[Job Change Quest: Gain sufficient public attention and support (1367/100000)]
[Job Change Quest: Gain sufficient public attention and support (1842/100000)]
⋯⋯
Amidst the chaos.
Ian also meddles with some trivial matters, such as drunkards fighting, small‑scale
gang brawls, and PC debtors who refuse to pay.
Actually, it's not that Ian hasn't encountered bank robberies or similar cases, but he's
afraid of a Superman vs. Batman scenario, so he can only pretend he didn't see them and
doesn't dare to get involved.
This was for Batman's reputation; they didn't want the outside world to see Batman
being brutally beaten by Seven Wolves. Fortunately, the media who arrived were far more
friendly to the "foreign superhero" than to the local hero.
"Helping the elderly! Helping children! And even disabled people who might not want
to cross the street! He even smiled at the camera. Is this still the Batman we know?"
"Yes, this is Batman, this is true chivalry! We've all been fooled by our Gotham
counterparts! Batman understands the plight of the underprivileged better than
Superman!"
"I see. Just like how we like to smear Superman, it seems that the news coming from
Gotham can't be trusted at all. Does Batman seem like someone who likes to appear and
disappear mysteriously?"
"Batman's chin is so cool!"
"Something's off about Batman's outfit? Maybe it's just my imagination, it must be!
For tonight's overtime pay! It can only be my imagination!"
⋯⋯
The local reporters were really friendly.
They vividly demonstrate what it means for a hero from outside to be more appealing.
And then these reporters arrived.
[Job Change Quest: Gain sufficient public attention and support (3232/100000)]
[Job Change Quest: Gain sufficient public attention and support (4331/100000)]
Ian truly experienced the benefits of having a large enough reputation. If he had used
the account "Rose Superman" to do good deeds, he would never have been able to attract
such a huge crowd.
"Look! The TV station is broadcasting it live!" Ian stood on a rooftop, facing the
spotlight, and spoke in a low voice.
"How did you know I came to the Metropolis? I don't need your attention—with
great power comes great responsibility, and justice never needs anyone else's approval."
Ian was reciting a medley of lines.
He asked the question knowingly, as if he'd been caught off guard. To be fair, Ian's
actions wouldn't fool the locals of Gotham; they'd probably see right through him
immediately. However, this was Metropolis, and the citizens of Metropolis weren't as
familiar with Batman as the people of Gotham.
This is why Ian chose the top‑tier Batman instead of stealing his father's account. He
had also considered the gentler Wonder Woman, but his legs simply weren't long enough.
Some people use information asymmetry to resell goods, while Ian uses it to resell the
image of a hero. Reality is always absurd; he not only succeeded, but he succeeded
immensely.
"Kakaka~"
The sound of cameras clicking could be heard continuously.
Does Superman know you're coming to Metropolis?
Some busybodies asked loudly.
"I came here because I saw a lazy Superman. In the corners of Metropolis, there are
still many criminals active, but Superman only focuses on the big cases. I came to
Metropolis to tell the world that what Superman doesn't care about, I, Batman, will. What
Superman won't arrest, I, Batman, will arrest!"
Ian mimicked Batman's tone, his voice impassioned, "And, criminals that Superman
wouldn't dare kill... well, I don't kill them either. I just put them all in jail."
He almost did something out of character that didn't fit his persona.
Fortunately, I was able to get back into character in time.
Countless applause erupted below the high‑rise buildings, and perhaps also on the
other end of the live television broadcast. In any case, the attention, recognition, and
support Ian gained were rapidly approaching the goal of mission completion.
[Job Change Quest: Gain sufficient public attention and support (34133/100000)]
[Job Change Quest: Gain sufficient public attention and support (47568/100000)]
⋯⋯
A TV station was broadcasting it live, and the feedback was truly impressive. Just as
Ian was overjoyed and racking his brains for something that would resonate with others,...
"Buzz buzz buzz~!"
A tremendous roar of engines echoed across the sky. A reporter looked up and
exclaimed in surprise, "My God! It's the Batmobile! He really is the real Batman!"
Now, even the sharper reporters who noticed Ian's unusual attire had to believe it.
After all, everyone knows that only the real Batmobile belongs to the true Batman.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Only Ian, who was standing on the roof, froze in place.
He knew, of course, that his "account theft" couldn't be kept secret from Bruce Wayne,
but he never expected that Bruce Wayne would actually come to stop him overnight.
good news.
The Batmobile is in an unmanned state.
As for the bad news...
"Paji~"
The Batmobile airdropped a cell phone down.
Ian pretended not to catch it.
Unexpectedly, this phone was even more hardcore than a Nokia. Despite falling onto a
concrete roof, it was completely undamaged and even automatically connected to a call.
Sensing something was wrong, Ian rushed forward and stomped on the phone several
times, but he couldn't break it. Just as Ian was regretting that he hadn't brought his
hammer, a very calm male voice, having anticipated his actions, rang out from the other
end of the phone.
"Kid, what are you doing?"
Very magnetic.
That old bat smell was authentic.