[Mysteries On Marvel] Chapter 100/101 (Patreon)

Standing at the intersection of a bustling street, Eren seemed to find himself at a crossroads in life. He planted the black cane firmly on the ground, its silver inlay gleaming faintly under the streetlights.

Behind his sunglasses, his eyes deepened as he entered a semi-meditative state.

As his spiritual intuition surged, the ever-present, mysterious world of spirituality unfolded before him.

Mentally repeating the phrase, "Take me to a place where I can grow stronger," seven times, Eren released his grip on the cane.

In the next second, the black cane tipped forward, pointing straight ahead.

"Straight ahead, then?"

...

Two hours later, following the guidance of his cane's divination, Eren passed through one intersection after another.

Unknowingly, he found himself in one of New York's most chaotic areas: Hell's Kitchen.

This place was infamous—not just in New York but throughout the country—as a cesspool of filth and depravity, a breeding ground for sin.

The cracked, sunken roads were littered with discarded trash, exuding the pungent stench of rot that assaulted the senses.

Flickering streetlights, barely functioning from neglect, cast eerie shadows over the cold streets.

Graffiti-covered alleyways stretched into darkness, and beneath the vibrant murals, figures could be seen huddled in shadows—vagrants, addicts, or worse.

Sometimes these individuals were mere beggars or unfortunates. Other times, they transformed into demons, attacking lone passersby for a scrap of food or a dose of powder.

On one graffiti-covered wall, a bold slogan declared: "Welcome to Hell's Kitchen."

"Hell's Kitchen? Never thought the divination would bring me here," Eren muttered.

He had been here once before, seeking revenge on the Water Ghost Gang's leader, "Giant Ghost" Onik.

It seemed fate had brought him back.

But what opportunity for growth could possibly await him here?

This place was rife with gangs, addicts, and petty criminals.

Could it be that his growth lay in sacrificing these human scums with his Curse Threads?

While such sacrifices would boost the Curse Threads' power, it wouldn't significantly enhance Eren's own strength. What he needed urgently was to elevate his abilities.

For instance, he needed to quickly digest the Jester Potion and advance to Spiritual Sequence 7: Magician.

Becoming a Magician would mark a significant leap in power, granting him greater confidence in dealing with the world's emerging superheroes.

Shaking his head, Eren dismissed the idea of sacrificing random criminals.

"Or is this a sign I should emulate that clown from Arkham and unify Hell's Kitchen's criminal underworld?"

Hmm.

That didn't seem like a bad idea either.

New York's gangs were no pushovers. If Eren could consolidate their power under his control, they would at least serve as useful cannon fodder.

After all, if the Joker of Gotham could unite his city's crime syndicates and become a symbol of chaos, why couldn't he?

Though Eren wasn't as insane, they were both "Jokers." What one could do, the other could too, right?

Unconsciously, a grin spread across Eren's face.

"Alright. From today onward, call me Joker—Joker Eren. Perfect to distinguish me from my original self."

With this decision made, Joker Eren reached into his backpack and retrieved a clown mask he had acquired earlier.

Placing the mask over his face, he admired his reflection in a nearby store window.

"Now I really look the part."

As he stared at the reflection, something intangible seemed to break free from the mask, flooding Joker Eren's mind.

An overwhelming surge of terror, madness, and chaotic, incomprehensible energy crashed into his consciousness like a tidal wave.

"Hsss—!"

Joker Eren drew a sharp breath as the onslaught of madness consumed him.

Suddenly, a maniacal laugh echoed in his mind. Piercing and relentless, it reverberated as if the source of the laughter was laughing itself to exhaustion.

The laugh carried a strange power, an infectious quality that attacked Joker Eren's spirit and soul, attempting to reshape them in its image.

Under the influence of this laugh, Joker Eren's consciousness began to spiral into insanity.

At the critical moment, a cosmic brain-like image emerged in his mind—a construct that seemed to contain endless galaxies and stars.

This manifestation solidified his spiritual power into the shape of the cosmic brain, isolating the deranged laughter.

Thankfully, even with only half his soul, Joker Eren's mental strength far exceeded that of ordinary people.

Otherwise, forming the cosmic brain would have been impossible.

"What the hell is this thing?"

Freeing himself from the influence of the eerie laughter, Joker Eren quickly tore off the clown mask.

He knew full well that the sinister laugh was undoubtedly linked to this mask.

"Damn it! This was supposed to be a mundane item! How the hell does it have abilities like that?"

Upon closer inspection, Joker Eren noticed something peculiar about the mask.

Though it appeared unchanged, its texture and aura were now subtly different.

Even a casual glance at the mask gave him a sense of dissonance and distortion, leaving an unsettling impression.

He shuddered to think how this mask might affect others. Wearing it in battle would undoubtedly instill fear and chaos among his enemies, paralyzing them with psychological pressure.

Flipping the mask over, Joker Eren's sharp eyes caught sight of a previously unseen inscription on the inside.

"To my dearest love—Jerome."

Jerome?

Holy crap.

This mask had belonged to that lunatic, Jerome—the original Joker.

No wonder it carried such a twisted, eerie laugh. It was imbued with Jerome's essence.

Realizing this, Joker Eren began to understand why this supposedly mundane mask possessed such bizarre powers.

Well.

It seemed only fitting for something tied to the Joker to be a little... abnormal.

(End of Chapter)

As Eren, the clown, gazed into the closet, seemingly admiring his reflection, a striking woman with fiery red hair stepped out of a nearby alley. Her daring, provocative attire left little to the imagination, even in the biting cold wind, as she confidently approached him.

Upon seeing Eren's youthful face, her eyes lit up, and she licked her lips lightly before speaking in a seductive tone:

"Hey, handsome. Looking for some company tonight? For just $100, I'll be yours for the night..."

Normally, given her stunning looks, her nightly rate would be at least $200, but she decided to cut it in half, charmed by Eren's boyish face.

Hmm.
She thought to herself, "I've dealt with plenty of old men trying to feel young. Tonight, I'll flip the script and see what it's like for the older one to indulge the younger."

Eren, standing opposite her, heard her proposition and quickly grinned, his mouth stretching wide.

"Only $100, and you're mine for the night? Sounds like a deal!"

Without hesitation, he eagerly pulled two crisp $50 bills from his pocket and handed them to her, as if afraid she might change her mind.

The red-haired woman, named Elena, couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. As she discreetly pocketed the money, she thought she had just snagged herself a promising young customer. Her face flushed slightly, and she unconsciously tightened her legs at the thought.

She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and leaned close to Eren's ear, her voice sultry as she asked, "So, handsome, where are we going tonight? A hotel, or... your place?"

Eren didn't hesitate. "Why go to a hotel? Of course, we're going to my place!"

Hearing his answer, Elena's smile deepened.

Perfect, she mused, "Looks like I just found myself a long-term customer."

"My place, huh? You're a naughty one, aren't you?" she teased.

Eren returned her grin with one of his own. "Wait till you see how naughty I can get."

He paused, then added, "But first, we need to pick up a few things."

With that, Eren began walking toward a nearby 24-hour convenience store, gesturing for Elena to follow.

Watching him stride ahead, Elena thought to herself, "Not bad, he's even covering shopping expenses. One less thing for me to worry about tonight."

She sauntered after him, her long legs moving gracefully as she added with a playful tone, "Oh? I can't wait to see what surprises you have in store for me tonight."

Not long after, Eren, empty-handed, and Elena, now carrying several shopping bags with a slightly annoyed expression, arrived at a soot-covered red brick building.

"Ah, here we are! My memory is better than I thought," Eren exclaimed, pleased with himself as he looked at the fire-blackened structure he had personally set ablaze.

But as soon as they reached the door, Elena froze. Her gaze fell on the police tape still sealing the entrance. Her complexion turned pale as she recognized the building.

This was the site of a gruesome arson-murder from a few weeks ago. Several people, including the infamous gang leader "Oni" of the Water Ghost Gang, had been burned alive in this very building. Their charred bodies had been carried out as little more than cinders.

Since the fire had gutted the interior, leaving only the acrid stench of burnt remains and blackened debris, even homeless squatters avoided the place, considering it cursed.

Elena stared at the excited look on Eren's face and the faint flicker of madness in his eyes. She suddenly felt a chill run down her spine and had the urge to drop everything and run.

But as she turned to leave, her gaze met Eren's. Beneath the dim yellow streetlight, his black eyes gleamed with a strange warmth, and he smiled at her.

Earlier, she had thought his smile was charming. Now, with the eerie house looming behind him, that same smile filled her with dread.

Eren, noticing her shivering, kindly took off his expensive suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

"You're shaking so much. You must be freezing. Come on, let's get inside. It'll be much warmer in there," he said warmly.

Before she could react, he grabbed her hand and led her up the steps.

With a casual tug, Eren ripped off the police tape barring the door. Tossing it aside, he opened his bag, revealing an array of items: an intimidating M500 revolver, a small grenade, and a vial of hallucinogens. He calmly took out a wire and began working on the slightly warped lock.

Watching him pick the lock with unnerving ease, Elena's legs trembled. Any thoughts of escape fled as her courage drained away entirely.

Finally, with a satisfying click, the lock gave way. Eren beamed with joy, opening the warped metal door with a flourish.

"Beautiful lady," he said, bowing slightly in mock politeness, "please, step inside."

(End of Chapter)

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