The Queens District at night was still as simple and honest as ever. Meng Ran was standing on top of a clock tower, looking down at the streets and lights below.
With the name "The Evil Ghost" becoming more well-known, the crime rate in the Queens District had noticeably decreased.
Those criminals were clearly wary of The Evil Ghost, afraid of his sudden appearance.
Of course, these were mostly petty thieves. The real criminal organizations didn't care about Meng Ran; they didn't think they needed to fear a costumed lunatic.
Meng Ran's strength also grew as his fame and Points increased.
Especially that basketball game; it was the beginning of his fame skyrocketing.
Someone posted his one-on-one video online, which immediately caused a sensation, and he enjoyed his first big harvest of Points.
Later, the surge in Points was due to "The Evil Ghost." As he continued to fight crime every day, people would film his actions, or those he saved would spontaneously promote him online. Now, there was even a forum about The Evil Ghost online.
At the same time, the media also keenly noticed the correlation between his appearances and the drop in crime rates. The more agile reporters began to report on him, simultaneously criticizing the police for their inaction.
In short, Meng Ran was on top of the world. He was doing good deeds while also increasing his own strength.
Of course, he would never admit that the real reason for his happiness was actually related to Gwen.
After the basketball game, their relationship had become even closer, and they had even done homework together a few times.
This Saturday, they had also arranged to have dinner together, fulfilling the bet.
Meng Ran thought about the date on Saturday and couldn't help but grin. After the Venom Suit's voice changer, the laugh turned into an unpleasant, unsettling "The Evil Ghost laugh."
Luckily, no one was around, or they would definitely be scared and have nightmares.
"Two more days. Better work hard now," Meng Ran collected his wandering thoughts. He had already made fighting crime his job, even though it didn't pay.
He leaped from the rooftop towards the ground, but as he fell to the middle of the building, he kicked off the wall with both feet, propelling himself towards the rooftop of a shorter building across the street.
He landed directly on the rooftop, needing no further action.
This was the excellent aspect of the Venom Suit; it automatically absorbed impact during his descent, requiring no additional maneuvers from him.
He traversed between the buildings while also keeping an eye on the situation below.
Venom was also helping him, watching for any crimes in progress. After several attachments, Venom had evolved to the point where it could engage in simple communication.
Bill Neal was strolling down the street. He had recently been released from prison, and the gang boss had promised him a lucrative position as a reward for taking the fall.
He was currently in the waiting period before starting his new job and spent his days doing nothing. He'd just had a few drinks.
As he was pondering where to go next, a beautiful figure suddenly appeared in his line of sight.
Mia was a college student who had just been invited to a bar with her friends for a few drinks.
Because her friend had gone for a drive with a handsome guy to "deeply communicate," Mia had to go home by herself.
It wasn't far from home, only a ten-minute walk, or she wouldn't have dared to wander the streets alone at night.
I wonder how Martha is doing, maybe she's having a chicken dinner for extra fun. Mia shook her head; she had already tried to advise Martha.
Mia could tell from the way the blue-eyed upperclassman looked at her that he wasn't a good person.
But Martha didn't think much of it, after all, everyone just took what they needed and had some fun.
It didn't matter if he had a good character, as long as he was handsome and could bring her joy.
Mia obviously couldn't agree with her friend's point of view, otherwise she wouldn't be walking home alone so late.
Mia, who was walking quickly ahead, clearly didn't know she was being watched.
Bill was following behind her at this moment, observing which alleyway would be best.
Just as Mia had walked a distance and passed an alley, a pair of hands suddenly reached out from the darkness within, pulling her in. She didn't even have time to scream before her mouth was covered.
Bill tied Mia's hands to the railing, preventing her from moving, then covered her mouth with one hand, slowly enjoying Mia's panicked expression.
"What a beauty," Bill inhaled deeply, savoring Mia's scent, then grinned. "You little slut, you'll open your legs and your mouth later. I've got a lot in store for you."
Mia was terrified, tears streaming down her face as she shook her head frantically, as if expressing her refusal would somehow save her. But the more she resisted, the more excited and happy Bill became.
Bill released the hand covering her mouth; it was late, and no one should be passing nearby.
And even if someone did pass, they probably wouldn't dare to stop him. Hearing Mia's pleas and cries would only make him more excited.
Bill
After getting dressed, Mia finally felt a little safer, and her emotions gradually stabilized.
She looked up at Meng Ran's ferocious face and narrow eyes.
At this moment, this terrifying face seemed more gentle and safe to Mia than anyone else in the world.
Clutching herself, she kept thanking Meng Ran, saying, "Thank you, thank you."
After comforting Mia, Meng Ran sent her home.
Mia stood at the window of her room, watching the dark figure disappear into the night.
For Meng Ran, this was just one of many acts of heroism. But for Mia, it was a life-saving act that saved her from being violated.
Therefore, Mia was also very grateful to The Evil Ghost. If he hadn't been there, she definitely wouldn't have escaped today.
After Meng Ran sent Mia home, he returned to Bill's location.
Bill was still unconscious beside the wall, his lower body bare. The heavy kick, coupled with the pain in his groin, was enough to keep him out until morning.
Meng Ran tied his hands with a rope and then hung him on the lamppost outside on the street, letting him display his arrogance for all to see.
"This is the treatment for capitalists. You got off easy." After writing down Bill's crimes and hanging it on him, Meng Ran turned and left.
With the evidence clear, attempted rape, the New York police should take care of Bill. He wouldn't waste his time; he had many other things to do.
On the way, Meng Ran taught a few petty thieves a lesson.
"Phew~ No wonder Spider-Man in the movies is always late. He barely has time to date. This job is really not easy. Why are these people always coming out? There's always more."
"What a garbage country, a garbage big city. The public security here is far worse than in my heavenly country." Meng Ran continued to wander through the city, complaining about the really terrible public security of this sinful city.
The people of Europe and America are living in dire straits; capitalism is doomed to fail, as expected.
It was close to dawn when Meng Ran returned to his room and began to meditate.
He had earned quite a few Points recently. Meng Ran had already upgraded all of his previous skills to Intermediate level (Close Combat; Firearms Proficiency; First Aid Proficiency).
He also bought Cold Weapon Proficiency and upgraded it to Intermediate level.
Buying a Beginner skill only cost 20 Points, upgrading from Beginner to Intermediate cost 100, from Intermediate to Advanced cost 500, and from Advanced to Master cost 1000.
Cultivation techniques were different from skills. Each upgrade usually added a zero to the cost. Even though Meng Ran's reputation had exploded recently, earning him over a thousand, nearly two thousand Points, he still couldn't use Points to directly upgrade his Free Breathing Technique and Treading Waves Movement.
Fortunately, his usual practice and comprehension could save him some Points (upgrading by adding a zero meant upgrading without practice, solely using Points).
He barely managed to upgrade his Free Breathing Technique and Treading Waves Movement to Intermediate level, and Meng Ran still kept some Points as a reserve.
After meditating for a few cycles, Meng Ran dispelled his fatigue. He lay on the bed, and his mind couldn't help but drift back to his date on Saturday. Lost in thought, he drifted off to sleep.