When Mason woke up, he unsurprisingly found that his magic potion had boiled over and turned into a lump of black charcoal.

But he wasn't in the mood to clean up the nauseating failure.

Instead, the young man jumped up and ran to the door, where he saw a rusty box with seaweed and sea urchins still clinging to it, neatly placed outside.

There were still wet footprints on the bamboo steps leading to the beach, like a ghost story that sent shivers down one's spine.

But the appearance of this iron box with the Flying Dutchman emblem meant that Mason's dream just now was real, including the "obscure prophecy" about the apocalypse that Will Turner had told him.

And the truth that made Mason's heart race like ten thousand galloping horses.

"The zombie virus in this world was actually released by Old K? And according to Will's description, his team hadn't suffered a catastrophic disaster yet, which coincides with the time two months ago."

Mason rubbed his chin and wrapped the rusty box in a cloth before taking it back into the house.

Captain Will didn't say much more.

After Mason promised to take his wife and children out of this world, the captain of the Flying Dutchman promised to collect as many rare materials and items for Mason as possible in the future.

Although there were legends of ghost ships all over the world, there were not many ships that could sail underwater, and treasures buried deep in the sea could only be obtained by ghost ships cursed by the sea god like the Flying Dutchman.

The trade itself was great.

From Mason's perspective, it was a huge profit.

But the young man couldn't be happy at the moment. While turning the strange lock on the rusty box in front of him according to the hints left by Will, he thought to himself:

"Although I have known that the Star Group is not a good thing, spreading viruses throughout the world is a bit too much. The most important question is, why are they doing this?

If it's just to plunder resources, there must be more efficient ways.

And there's the "apocalypse" that Will Turner has been emphasizing.

He definitely didn't mean this zombie disaster that is spreading throughout the world. And according to him, this apocalypse has little to do with the Star Group."

Mason squinted, trying to get an answer.

But unfortunately, the information he had was too little to piece together the truth.

"Crack."

With a crisp sound, the box in front of him was opened.

The waterproofing inside was well done, and the things stored inside were not wet by seawater. On top was a sea chart marked with the location of a small island in the Caribbean Sea.

That was where Will Turner's wife and son were now, and according to the agreement, Mason had to pick them up and take them away.

Under the sea chart was a slightly worn sheepskin notebook.The upper half of this thing records the locations of all the cursed guys on the Flying Dutchman who buried their treasure, while the lower half is the knowledge recorded at Mason's request.

Will Turner's Forging Notes

Function: Learn the forging skills of a blacksmith, including some unique forging techniques mastered by the legendary pirate Will Turner.

Item Description: If not for love, the legendary pirate Will Turner might have become the world's top blacksmith.

Mason held the notes in his hand and flipped through a few pages, discovering some tips that Will had written specifically to teach novice blacksmiths how to handle special materials like cursed coins.

The notes also recorded many forging techniques and blueprints for weapons and armor, giving Mason a sample to learn the forging skills he had been struggling to start.

This somewhat dispelled the mysteries in Mason's mind about the Star Society and the end of the world.

He was a person who liked to follow plans and didn't like unexpected events, but considering that he still hadn't figured out the dark truth of the Star Society yet, thinking about the end of the world was a bit too much.

So a few minutes later, Mason calmed himself down, sat back at the workbench, and began to mix the brown owl potion again.

He liked this feeling of being focused on one thing, and it continued until evening. When Mason finished making the tenth downgraded weak brown owl potion, the prompt he had been waiting for finally popped up:

"Successfully completed an excellent craft alchemy item production, alchemy branch proficiency X20 increased, currently at Lv3."

"Using magic fire multiple times to complete item production, flame manipulation skill has been improved, currently at Lv1."

"Hmm, double egg yolk, I like it."

The young man stood up and stretched lazily, placing the yellow-brown advanced vitality potions he had made in front of him for a few seconds, then put them in a specially made wooden box and threw them into his suitcase.

He walked outside the bamboo building and looked at the sunset sinking slowly into the sea in the distance, and heard the unique engine sound of the flying motorcycle. Looking up, Charles was driving the motorcycle and carrying the tipsy Catwoman back here.

"Hey, Mason cutie, come over and let big sis give you a hug."

Selina jumped off the car with alcohol on her body, barefoot on the beach, wearing a gorgeous palace dress swaying towards Mason.

Mason refused her hug and frowned, "How did you get so drunk? Weren't you supposed to be doing business?"

"Yeah, doing business!"

Catwoman smiled and took a stack of files from Kite Man, who looked like he had also drunk a lot, and stuffed them into Mason's hand. She put her hands on her hips and said, "King's envoy of the British Royal Fleet Dai Ying, Mediterranean pirate king Captain Cheval, Black Sea pirate king Captain Ahmed, Pacific pirate queen Qing Madam.

There are also priests from the South American Church, tribal witch doctors hiding in the forest, and gentlemen aristocrats from the thirteen states of North America...

Too many to count.""They all ordered at least 50,000 'Hope' divine pills from us, and of course, those 500 samples have been divided among them.

As a reward...

Charles!

Open our little cutie Mason's eyes!"

Selina snapped her fingers.

The Kite Man behind her immediately took out several large boxes from his luggage and opened them in front of Mason, with a momentary surge of pearls and gems that even illuminated the evening beach.

Catwoman drunkenly took out a purple velvet and luxurious pearl and gem-studded ladies' crown from a nearby box with both hands, and put it on her head. She then took the platinum scepter handed over by the Kite Man and twirled it in her hand.

"The Queen's crown of the French court, and the Pope's scepter brought out from the Vatican. These are the peerless treasures that I couldn't steal no matter how powerful I am over there.

But now they have become my private collection.

I really love this trip, my lovely little brother Mason."

Catwoman laughed and pounced on Mason, leaving several "flaming red lips" on his neck and cheeks as he resisted with disgust. She climbed onto the young man's back and said with drunkenness:

"Maybe I'm drunk, but do you want another French kiss? Little cutie, for the sake of these wonderful gains, sister can..."

"You smell like alcohol! Oh my god, you're like a drunkard."

Mason pushed her down, but with gentlemanly manners, he held her hand to avoid her falling.

He looked at Selina who was walking unsteadily and rubbed his forehead, saying to the Kite Man who was playing with a gem-encrusted golden pipe and filled with rings:

"Charles, go to the tavern and call Constantine back. Since the contract has been signed, we will return to Gotham tonight."

Mason assisted Catwoman, who was holding the crown, scepter, and a large box of various top-grade jewels, and placed her on the steps. He then took a few steps forward to the beach and said to the female pirate Angelina who followed:

"We are going 'back' for a while and will be back in seven days. During this time, you take care of Jack Sparrow. These things are for your self-defense."

He handed a bag containing weapons, explosives, and a large number of low-level potions to the female pirate, and also stuffed the map left by Will Turner into her hand, instructing:

"Go with Jack to this island to pick up a mother and son. This is very important, Angelina. I hope you and Jack can complete it with care."

"Elizabeth Swann?"

The female pirate frowned when she saw the name marked on the map.

"Isn't she the 'Pirate King'? I heard that Jack had a relationship with her. That child couldn't be..."

"Jack is a suave and romantic person, so don't think too much. Here, hold this."

Mason pinched his K Squad captain identity card and summoned it, letting the female pirate touch it with her hand. The red light quickly wrapped around her arm, causing Angelina to tremble with pain.In Mason's gaze, a dim black ghost claw tattoo appeared quickly on her left arm, representing her official status as a reserve member of both the K team and the Star Society.

"Now, we are a team."

Mason took out the tight battle suit that Catwoman wore before and handed it to the pale-faced female pirate, saying warmly:

"Welcome to the K team, Angelina. May we have a pleasant cooperation in the future."

"Thank you for inflicting pain on me, Captain."

The female pirate sneered, holding the battle suit and luggage in her arms, feeling her growing power, and blinking her eyes.

"So, can I use your flag to recruit underlings... um, I mean command the Black Pearl and Jack?"

"That depends on your ability to handle men, miss. After all, Jack is the soul of that ship."

Mason looked back at Constantine, who was being carried back by Charles, and shrugged his shoulders, saying to the new member:

"Anyway, don't forget to collect resources. The more you collect, the better our future will be."

"See you in seven days."

---

While Mason and his team were preparing to "go home" in another world, a "farewell" was also taking place in Gotham. However, compared to the excitement over there, it was much more painful here.

"Bang!"

A black figure fell from the pouring rain in mid-air.

The grappling hook that was supposed to catch his body and let him glide was cut in mid-air by flying blades, causing Batman's action to fail and he fell into a dirty alley under the night.

His Batman suit was full of bullet holes and blade marks, and even the bulletproof cape still had traces of being burned by flames.

Master Batman rarely looked so embarrassed in his own city.

But he did not give up the operation because of the pain coming from all over his body. Instead, he supported the wall and quickly moved forward, trying to hide in the darkness that had always protected him.

"Barbara... call... the Bat Network... for support!"

Batman's tone was intermittent.

It was obvious that he was suffering from heavy blows that made it difficult to breathe, and the world spinning in front of him meant that the toxin injected into him during the ambush had begun to spread in his body.

He called for the person he trusted most in his communication.

That was a member of the Batman family who had worked with him to maintain order in the city. But tonight, when Master Batman needed him most, the reliable communication fell into a long and strange silence.

No one responded to his call for help.

It was like another invisible cold blade had stabbed his already broken heart fiercely once again.

"Bang!"

A low gunshot came from behind.

Batman dodged the bullet, but the shooter's marksmanship was obviously extremely strong.

The specially made bullet flew and hit the crack in the torn battle suit on Master Batman's back, drilling into his body and bringing up a handful of blood.

The impact made the poisoned Batman fall to the ground.But his reaction was still swift, he grabbed a first aid needle from his combat belt and was about to inject it into his own neck, but a black combat boot kicked his wrist and sent the needle flying.

A pair of strong hands covered with battle armor reached out and grabbed Master's shoulder, pulling him up from the ground. In the dark, two men were wrestling like wild beasts in the falling rain.

They saw each other as prey.

The cold raindrops flowed down Batman's helmet, mixed with blood from his nose and mouth, and fell from his chin.

In the eyes of the silent and cold man, who was becoming weaker due to the poison, was reflected a red streamlined and round helmet.

There were no eyes or facial features, it was some kind of high-tech protective material.

The metal armor worn by the other person was very similar to Batman's battle suit. His movements were agile and deadly, and every time Master tried to counterattack, he was detected in advance and given even more crazy blows.

He was like a younger, angry version of Batman.

But he used a gun!

This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

This made the attacker even more dangerous.

"I know you, Batman!"

A hoarse voice came from the red helmet in the rainy night, filled with extreme hatred and a touch of madness caused by pain. He charged like a bull and fiercely slammed the weakened Batman against the wall, causing the bricks to shatter.

He roared:

"Your attacks! Your defenses! Even your battle suit and weapons! I know you better than anyone else, I know how to defeat you.

Just like this!"

"Swish"

The attacker threw his hands apart, and a dark shark-toothed combat knife popped out of his metal armguard, leaving an X-shaped scar on Batman's body, causing blood to burst in the rain and making the poisoned man moan lowly.

He fell to the ground and was lifted up again by the attacker, who held his neck. A heavy punch hit Batman's abdomen, followed by a rain-like flurry of blows venting deep hatred.

"I won't kill you, but I will make you experience my pain! In every nightmare that will never wake up, just like I prayed for you to save me, you will also pray for someone to redeem you from the darkness...

But there won't be anyone.

No one will ever respond to your desires, praying for the enemy's weakness in despair. Remember? You taught me not to be defeated by fear.

I have never lost to fear, but you have made me suffer a crushing defeat."

He looked at the man in front of him, whose face was covered in blood, and a low laughter echoed in his helmet. He said:

"They gave me a name, they called me the 'Crimson Knight', they hoped I would become their deadliest weapon instead of you.

I agreed.

This is the reward they gave me.

An opportunity to settle this blood feud with you in your city.

Bruce Wayne!

Get up!

Keep getting beaten!"

"Who...are you?"The nearly unconscious master was immediately filled with anger when he heard the other party call out his real name. He struggled to resist the continuous punches, and while retreating crookedly, he took out a smoke bomb from his arms and smashed it on the ground.

Thick smoke rolled in the heavy rain, forming a smokescreen. The attacker could have continued his assault, but instead, he chose to stand quietly in the smoke, waiting.

By the time the smoke dissipated in the rain, there was no trace of Batman left.

"Run, Batman."

The attacker, who called himself the "Crimson Knight," lowered his hands, letting drops of blood fall from his gauntlets.

He crouched down.

Picking up the torn, bloodstained cape in the dark alley, he thought of the days when he had traveled through this city under the protection of this cape.

Those beautiful past memories seemed like a long-finished dream.

The more beautiful the dream, the more desperate the awakening.

The Crimson Knight held the shattered cape in his hand, and whispered as if saying goodbye:

"The power that made me will destroy you. May pain and despair turn into poison and flow through your veins. Tonight, Batman dies.

Gotham will soon follow.

You will know who I am, Bruce.

When this city and all your expectations begin to burn, you will know."