Even Gordon, including Peter, harbored suspicions and concerns about Arthur, not to mention the ever-doubtful Batman. In their minds, Arthur was already equated with the Joker.
Arthur, observing his silence, chuckled, though no hint of amusement showed in his eyes. Regardless of the various Jokers across parallel timelines, in Arthur's eyes, he was a definite product of tragedy.
Peter hesitated, wanting to offer words of comfort but unsure of what to say. At that moment, Bruce's name illuminated on the screen, signaling him as the one of the winners of the Quiz game's reward.
Bruce squinted with a hint of anticipation. The screen displayed his name turning into a purple light, and from it emerged a vintage-looking belt. Light and airy in his hands, as Bruce Wayne acquired the belt, corresponding information filled his mind:
[ Adventurer's Belt: As a seasoned adventurer, navigating various quests is your daily life. Whether day or night, an unsettled heart always guides you to explore dangerous and mysterious areas. Be fully prepared, as sometimes the dilemma lies in the inconvenience of carrying items. Now, this Adventurer's Belt will rid you of all such troubles!]
Seemingly ordinary and vintage, the belt could transform its appearance based on conscious imagination. What made it extraordinary was its 99 compartments, each holding a different item, without restrictions on weight or volume, only limited by quantity, up to 99,999!
In other words, whether it's a small bat dart, a bullet, or a large vehicle like a tank or even an aircraft, or even a spacecraft, if you have it, you can store it in the Adventurer's Belt.
Upon learning the belt's functionality, Bruce was already envisioning several uses. As a tactical master, Batman's mind constantly simulated different scenarios and plans. Hindered by equipment limitations, many plans remained on paper. However, with the Adventurer's Belt, he could realize all those plans!
In a prepared situation, even the seemingly omnipotent Superman would find himself manipulated by Batman.
Holding the belt, Bruce felt immensely satisfied. If nothing else, he needed to create multi-functional equipment before this. There are indeed many things to carry with him, such as bat darts, surveillance probes, trackers, etc..
Other players, unfamiliar with the details of the Adventurer's Belt, observed it with curiosity. Peter remarked, "Mr. Wayne, purple rewards are exceptionally rare. In the quiz game's reward hierarchy, the lowest is white, followed by blue. Then comes purple, above which is gold, and even rarer are colored rewards."
He shrugged, adding, "Colored rewards seem to have only appeared once. Gold rewards are typically reserved for the top prize, making purple rewards already quite scarce."
Bruce Wayne nodded, stating, "I'm pleased; at least I didn't spend the night in vain."
He refrained from elaborating on the specific effects of the Adventurer's Belt, offering only a brief mention. It wasn't a matter of distrust but more of not trusting Arthur. Besides, he was aware this was being broadcast, and his words might be heard and seen by everyone.
Bruce understood the strategic significance of the Adventurer's Belt. It was undoubtedly an important trump card that couldn't be easily exposed.
Peter reminded him that after the Quiz game, the Points Mall would open, and he could spend the points or save them. However, Peter didn't recommend saving them.
"Look, I lost this game and also directly lost over 700 points. If you cash out in advance, you won't lose so much."
Peter wore a pitiful expression, using himself as a negative example.
After this round of answering questions, even new players realized the difficulty of acquiring points. Peter indeed suffered heavy losses this time.
Bruce Wayne looked at Arthur, who was eagerly rubbing his hands and felt a strange heaviness in his heart. As the second-place winner, he already received such a magical reward. Now, Arthur as the first-place winner, what mysterious grand prize would he receive?
A madman, a lunatic without extraordinary abilities, cast a shadow over the entire Gotham, and even the brilliant Batman couldn't overcome him.
It's hard to imagine the level of destruction Joker would cause when armed with powerful supernatural abilities.
Of course, Bruce believed in himself—or rather, in Batman's ability to handle Joker. The issue lies in the fact that in Arthur's world, Batman is still just a child.
If Arthur, armed with formidable powers, were to return, who could stop him?
But what must happen will happen. Arthur's name appeared on the screen, followed by a dazzling golden glow. A golden sphere slowly detached from the screen and flew towards Arthur.
Bathed in the golden light, Arthur smiled, extending his arms as if receiving a divine baptism, murmuring, "This is what I deserve..."
Initially, when Arthur entered this quiz game, he felt a mix of panic, nervousness, fear, and confusion. Later, as the quiz game released videos related to his future, Arthur became more eccentric—or one might say brave and confident. Some kind of determination or spirit lay dormant within him and slowly awakened after external stimuli.
Yet, Arthur himself was unsure. Was he really the Joker, or should he become the Joker?
"Yes, others have surely already taken me as the Joker, but I'm tired of their opinions. Why should I follow their lead?"
"Indeed, I long for the Joker, that joy... but I want to make my own choice, whether to become it, rather than being passive and having my identity decided by these people!"
At this moment, Arthur's mindset was quite complicated, or more aptly described as chaotic. However, he was inherently a chaotic person and had long become accustomed to it. Yet, compared to the complete Joker, Arthur at this moment still seemed somewhat immature, or one could say that his own personality still dominated.