Chapter 2

The police officer, Officer Lisa, was firm in her stance. "Of course you won't admit it. Come back to the station with me." She didn't forget to scold the three large men, "You three, attempted assault! Don't even think about running!" The men looked distressed. They had just gotten out of trouble; why did they have to go back?

"Officer, look, a UFO!" one of the men exclaimed, pointing skyward. Officer Lisa turned to look, and the three men bolted, ignoring her commands to stop.

After all, in Longsborough, police officers cannot shoot easily.

To prevent the potential criminal beside her from escaping, Officer Lisa tightened her grip on Mark West's arm, fearing he might flee. 

The three men had criminal records, easy to track down, but this supposed murderer had been hiding his identity for over ten years, making him a ghost to the authorities.

Once he escaped, finding him would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Moreover, Officer Lisa knew that catching a suspected murderer would be a more significant accomplishment than capturing a few would-be assailants.

Mark looked at Officer Lisa helplessly, "I have my ID in my pocket. I'm just a regular citizen!"

"Sure, tell it to the judge," Officer Lisa snapped, though her baby-faced look made her seem more cute than threatening.

"Whatever, I'm unemployed anyway. At least I can eat at the station," Mark quipped, though he felt uneasy. Did the system set him up?

The system log hadn't mentioned any identity changes from gaining the "Murderer" ability. It couldn't be that they just saw him and thought, "He looks like a murderer."

That's too far-fetched.

The girl and Mark were escorted to the police station by Officer Lisa. The girl kept her distance from Mark, wary after hearing he might be a murderer. Despite the handcuffs, she couldn't be sure he wouldn't suddenly become violent.

"Hey, Officer Lisa's back. Who are they?" a fellow officer asked upon seeing Mark.

"I'm a murderer," Mark joked, but the officer's reaction stunned him. The entire precinct seemed to think he was guilty on sight.

Surrounded by officers, Mark was taken to a single holding cell.

He sighed, wondering what kind of trouble the system had gotten him into.

After examining the system interface, Mark found the problem.

[When you gain abilities, you also gain corresponding titles. You can change your titles only by using another title.]

So the "Murderer" title was causing him trouble. As long as he held this title, everyone would subconsciously believe he was guilty, without question.

"Name?"

"Mark West."

"Gender?"

"Male."

"Confess to your crimes."

"I didn't commit any crimes!"

"Impossible, you're a murderer. Your crimes are extensive. Confess, and you'll be treated leniently; resist, and face severe consequences!" Officer Lisa slammed the table in frustration.

"Officer, you've got the wrong person. You think I'm a murderer, but what crimes have I committed?"

Mark was baffled. Did the title also make up crimes?

"Hmph, you want to know? Fine. Twenty years ago, you killed a family of ten and dumped their bodies. Fifteen years ago, you had a dispute and killed three people on the street. Ten years ago, you assaulted eight women, all of whom you killed."

"There are many more, but you get the point. Do you remember?"

Officer Lisa's face was full of righteous anger, clearly despising Mark.

Mark threw up his hands. "Is it possible I was only five years old twenty years ago?"

"Yes, you're a born monster. Your adoptive family didn't buy you toys, so you poisoned them!"

Officer Lisa's anger grew. Some people are just born evil, she thought.

Mark inwardly screamed, "If I weren't the supposed murderer, I'd almost believe it!"

"Do you have any evidence? Witnesses? Physical proof?"

"Don't worry; they're looking for you tirelessly!" Officer Lisa sneered.

With no confession, the station called for witnesses. But after so many years, there was no hard evidence, so Mark couldn't be charged directly.

Mark enjoyed his meals in the single cell until the next afternoon.

The ability to travel between worlds was ready.

"System, initiate transfer!"

[Initiating, searching for low-level worlds!]

[Discovered: doomsday zombie world, martial arts world, low-level supernatural world. Choose a world to enter.]

"The doomsday zombie world."

Zombies are perfect for a murderer to practice on. They're humanoid, no guilt in killing them, and there's plenty to go around.

[Choose transfer method: physical transfer! 100% attribute feedback; consciousness transfer! 30% attribute feedback.]

Mark chose consciousness transfer. Despite the benefits of physical transfer, it was risky.

Consciousness transfer was safer; dying in the alternate world wouldn't end his life.

[Transfer commencing! Consciousness will transfer, physical body will be protected in a subspace.]

Mark felt a flash of white light. When he opened his eyes again, he saw a horde of zombies wandering aimlessly below.

[Transfer complete. You may select one ability from four options.]

[Butcher: Killing large species marks the species, increasing damage by 1%, up to 100%. Killing 10 of the same species increases strength by 1 point, with no upper limit.]

[Game Master: Instantly understand any game's rules and a 25% chance to receive a game guide daily.]

[Gangster: Extort stores for free goods and special items.]

[Gourmet: Collect special ingredients to create magical dishes from ancient recipes.]

Mark immediately dismissed the Game Master, Gangster, and Gourmet abilities. Their benefits were unclear.

The Butcher was straightforward: kill zombies, gain strength, possibly blow up a building with a punch.

Combined with the Murderer ability, this could create a synergy greater than the sum of its parts.

Plus, the Butcher title could replace the Murderer title, hopefully clearing his name back at the police station.