Chapter 7 — Understanding Superheroes and Technology
Merp began organizing his advantages, especially the fact that he didn't exist in the real world—this was an enormous advantage. Even if a robbery failed, there would be no trace of him. He could simply hide within the virtual world of the network.
Even if S.H.I.E.L.D. existed in this world—even if they investigated a bank robbery—they still wouldn't be able to find him.
Merp was confident in that.
"However, if I want to make use of my advantages, the first problem appears—have those superheroes already begun their activities? What exactly is the timeline right now? And is this really the Marvel world? Even though transmigration novels always say so, I'd better confirm it myself."
The first thing Merp was concerned about was superheroes. He might be able to plan a bank robbery, but if superheroes truly existed, then they would be an unpredictable variable.
"The second issue—how advanced is the technology in this world? If the bank's security systems are too outdated, then I won't have much to work with. I need to understand the technological level of this world and choose the most advanced bank as my target."
"The third issue—during the escape, can I control the traffic surveillance systems? Can I control traffic management systems? Can I manipulate nearby police deployment? Looks like there are quite a few problems to solve."
Merp had no real experience in this area. His only references came from movies and TV shows. There was no such thing as a perfect crime—but his situation was unique, and he needed to fully exploit his advantages.
He didn't need rest. He didn't need food. He just kept thinking through every step of the plan.
However, there was one aspect he wasn't worried about at all—
The robbers.
Why?
Because in a place like the United States, life was heaven for the rich—but hell for the poor. Merp had heard this countless times and naturally believed it to be true. As for the exact reality? In a country where firearms were so widespread, finding a few people willing to rob a bank wouldn't be difficult at all. All he needed to do was locate them and choose a few suitable candidates.
If that failed, he could always tempt people.
There were always desperate individuals in this world. And when you gave hope to someone in despair, they would take risks without hesitation.
Merp himself was almost in that state.
He truly feared that he was already dead, that what remained was nothing more than digitized thought patterns—just like Arnim Zola, whose mind had been preserved in a vast database.
He kept thinking about that man.
Because they were too similar.
Not in life experiences, nor in personality—but in the way they existed.
Arnim Zola, as portrayed in the movies, was highly human-like, yet he was undeniably dead. What remained was a thinking pattern—one that still retained evil and fanatic loyalty to Hydra.
Did that mean he still had emotions? Or was it merely a simulation of thought?
And what about himself?
Merp didn't dare continue down that line of thought. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that he was already dead.
The fear ran deep.
Fortunately, at that moment, Paul turned his computer back on. Merp no longer needed to dwell on those thoughts. He activated the webcam and watched Paul, curious to see what he would do.
This time, Paul didn't start chatting.
He began working.
Paul was a shut-in, and his work was done entirely from home. His job turned out to be graphic design.
He accepted commissions online, created designs and illustrations according to client requirements, made revisions based on feedback, and finally completed the work.
"Hm? Not a high-paying job, and not very stable either… but I guess Paul could be considered a pioneer of this emerging industry."
The current year was 1997. Computers were not yet widespread, and prices had not dropped significantly. Merp compared this with what he remembered from his previous life, though he couldn't be entirely certain.
The reason he was observing Paul was simple—
He needed an agent.
Without a physical body, Merp's ability to act in the real world was extremely limited. And this world likely hadn't reached the stage where drones and autonomous robots filled the skies. So he needed a human intermediary.
Since he had nothing better to do, observing Paul wasn't a bad idea—but that would only come after he had money. After all, an agent required incentives. Without benefits to offer, how could he attract anyone?
Merp reopened Google and began searching.
The first name he looked up was, naturally, Tony Stark.
If Tony Stark had already become Iron Man, then things would become much more complicated. Although Iron Man didn't usually deal with small-scale city crimes, his existence might signal the beginning of the superhero era—at least, that was how it was portrayed in the movies. As a web novel author, Merp was somewhat familiar with theories like "multiverse reflections."
There was plenty of information about Tony Stark online.
His reputation as a playboy was well-earned. Gossip and scandal filled the headlines, though Merp couldn't verify their authenticity. Still, it was clear that Tony Stark was a media darling.
Some models even publicly claimed to have spent nights with him, boasting about their encounters without the slightest embarrassment—in fact, they seemed proud of it.
However—
Iron Man had not yet appeared.
And Tony Stark had not experienced his kidnapping.
Merp's worries eased by half.
Next, he began searching for other famous superheroes. There were many in the Marvel universe, but the next one he looked up was Spider-Man—Peter Benjamin Parker, usually called Peter Parker.
This was a well-known superhero, and a major threat to Merp's plans. Spider-Man patrolled the city, monitored police radio channels, and actively maintained public order. Most other superheroes didn't do this regularly—they tended to handle larger-scale events, like Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and the Hulk.
Of course, that was based on the movies. Whether they actually behaved the same way here remained to be seen.
Merp searched for Spider-Man.
Nothing.
No results at all.
That allowed him to relax significantly. He continued searching for other superheroes, including their real names.
At the same time, he investigated the technological level of this world.
This, however, surprised him.
The technology here was actually quite advanced—especially in computing. Urban traffic systems, bank security systems, industrial automation lines—all of these had already begun to see practical application.
That realization made Merp smile.
This world…
Was far more interesting than he had expected.