The Dawn Trail in the World of American Comics

Name: Mason Cooper

Race: Standard humanoid creature, human template

Age: 17

Identity: Gotham City high school dropout, low-level security guard at the Iceberg Lounge, Penguin Gang reserve pals

Status: Dazed (7 minutes and 27 seconds), on security duty (slacking off)

Special traits: None

Skills: None

Recommendation: The boss is approaching, it is recommended to end the slacking off state immediately.

”Swish ”

At the busiest street corner of the Gotham slum, outside the Iceberg Lounge, Mason, who was in a daze, suddenly came to his senses.
His dull eyes blinked and he stood up straight, looking around vigilantly among a group of horsemen who were also slacking off.
Just then, the little boss who was smoking and walking out of the bar saw him.

”The quality of this batch of newbies is not bad. ”

For some unknown reason, the little boss with the word ”soup ” tattooed on his shoulder nodded in satisfaction and patted Mason's shoulder, encouraging him.

”This is the spirit that our Penguin Gang reserve members should have.
You bunch of useless druggies and losers should learn from him! ”

He shouted a few times while drunk, making the other horsemen around Mason, who were about the same age, scared and fawning.
But after the little boss left with a grin, their eyes towards Mason were no longer friendly.

We agreed to slack off together, but you just had to secretly stop, right?

Mason didn't care about the malicious glances around him.
After confirming that the little boss had left, he skillfully entered the mode of staring blankly at the words on the semi-transparent screen in front of him, seeming to want to pry them open and crush them to see what secrets were hidden inside.

Mason Cooper, the ”True Black Flag ” of old Gotham.

His father, who died in a gun battle on the pier last month, was a key member of the Penguin Gang, and it was said that he had fought alongside the famous Penguin in his heyday.
As a less outstanding ”second-generation black ”, Mason naturally could not complete his studies smoothly.

After his cheap father was hacked to death, he was summoned by the gang to become a glorious pals under the Penguin.

Before he was smashed to death by a bottle of alcohol falling from the sky last night, this young man had basically no objections to this career plan, but after another soul awakened inside him, the new Mason felt that this situation was simply rotten to the core.

”Devoting oneself to being a gangster in Gotham City is no different from joining the German army in 1944 and pledging allegiance to the captain in 1949.

No.

It's even worse. ”The young man with bandages on his head was bored watching the traffic on the street, and glanced at the luxurious Iceberg Lounge behind him.

For the seventh time, he refused the ”cigarette ” offered by the black guy next to him, and couldn't help but complain, ”In a bad drama, I would be a cannon fodder role that wouldn't survive a single episode.
This won't do! I need to find a way to clear my name, earn money, and leave Gotham.
I can live under the protection of Superman in Metropolis, or follow the handsome and cool Wonder Woman in London.
Wouldn't that be great? ”

”Boom! ”

Just as Mason, the ”second-generation black, ” had a rebellious idea of ”stay put and do nothing, ” a loud noise suddenly exploded on the top floor of the Iceberg Lounge behind him.
A group of little pals hadn't realized what was happening when large burning debris fell from the sky, knocking down several unlucky people next to Mason and causing chaos on the street.

”Quick! Someone stole the boss's treasure! He ran that way! Follow me! ”

The little head of a few moments ago now went crazy and rushed out of the bar with his boss and a group of real gangsters.
He shouted at his new pals, and took out a black gun from his pocket and threw it to Mason, saying, ”You, come with me! Remember your dad's contribution to the gang.
Do a good job tonight, and your future is limitless. ”

”Ah, yes, limitless future.
I understand. ”

What else could Mason say? The boss's gun was loaded.

He could only hold the gun with worn-out rifling and follow his boss into a car.
In an instant, more than a dozen cars full of gangsters rushed into the night traffic on the main road, chasing in the direction of the bold thief who dared to provoke the Penguin gang.

”That guy was injured by the boss and can't run far.
He's dead for daring to provoke the Penguin gang! ”

The little head in the car was very excited.
He drank alcohol that made his face turn red and maybe even took drugs, making him look like a crazy bull.
But Mason only regarded his self-talk as nonsense.

His attention was focused on the gun in his hand.
In his unique translucent screen view, this thing also had a small label on it:

Name: Gangster's Old Gun

Quality: Junk item, discarded item

Effect: There is a 15% chance of a gun explosion each time it is fired, and the highly worn rifling causes a 50% chance of the bullet entering Brownian motion.

Item description: For the sake of your life, try not to use it.
Using it as a warhammer is the correct way to use it.

After reading this label, another line of text appeared in Mason's mind: Holding Engineering Creation, Engineering Skill Branch Unlocked, currently at Lv0, Engineering Item Modification Unlocked.

”Swish. ”Mason's eyes flashed, and a three-view of a handgun appeared in front of him.

It was obviously modeled after his ”Blowback Gun, ” but it was more concise and powerful than the gun in his hand.
The blueprint even listed the assembly process and suggestions.

It was basically a foolproof tutorial.
With the materials, one could assemble a new gun.

”This thing is really cool. ”

The young man exclaimed.

He felt like he had unlocked a new career as a ”black gun dealer ” on his first day of rebirth.

The convoy stopped at the entrance of a dark alley filled with garbage.
The shouting gang members jumped out of the car and rushed in.
The small boss also led Mason into the unsettling darkness in front of him.

”You go over there, I'll guard the rear. ”

The boss grabbed his gun and pointed at Mason, making the young man angry.

What rear am I guarding?

He was obviously making me a cannon fodder scout.

The damn alley was pitch black, without even a street lamp.
But considering that the persuasion power of the Blowback Gun in his hand was a bit insufficient, Mason, who had a bandage on his head, did not refute and walked into the slanted alley with his gun.

Loud noises and chaotic gunshots came from the other side, along with screams of terror and the sound of heavy objects falling, which startled Mason.

A black figure jumped over a low wall and hit the black garbage pile, flapping a few times before becoming still, as if dead.

”What happened? ”

The boss guarding the entrance of the slanted alley also heard the noise and walked over with his gun.

Mason pointed to the front and looked at his boss dragging a woman covered in blood out of the garbage pile.
She was wearing an exaggerated black bodysuit that almost showed off her terrible and slender figure.
She also had a strange red visor on her head, resembling the red eyes of a black cat.
The most peculiar thing was that her headgear had two cat ear decorations on the left and right.

Wow, a bodysuit cat ear girl, too seductive.

”Isn't this Catwoman? ”

Mason immediately recognized the woman who was heavily injured by gunshots from her unique attire.
She had a wound on her abdomen, which was probably caused by the Penguin when she stole something.

”Ha, I knew it.
Today, I have the advantage! ”

The boss was overjoyed when he saw his little brother discovering the thief.
He bent down, lifted the unconscious Catwoman on his shoulder, and gestured to Mason, whispering:

”Go drive! Don't alert the others. ”

”Huh? ”

The young man was stunned for a moment, then he heard his boss imparting some ”tips for a gangster career. ” ”You're stupid.
What's the use of sharing the spoils with so many people? In our line of work, you ha