Marvel Universe.
2008, United States of America.
In Times Square, New York, the massive digital screens were broadcasting the most urgent breaking news in the country.
The billionaire known across America,the playboy, genius, inventor,and CEO of Stark Industries — Tony Stark, has gone missing.His whereabouts are unknown, and his life or death remains uncertain.
Two weeks earlier, Tony Stark, as the CEO of Stark Industries, had traveled to the Middle East at the invitation of the military to demonstrate the company's most advanced weapon — the Jericho Missile.
After the demonstration, his convoy was ambushed by terrorists while returning.None of the escorting soldiers survived.Tony Stark vanished during the attack, and is believed to have been taken hostage.
No further information has been obtained since then.
"Stark Industries' stock value has fallen sharply following Tony Stark's disappearance.If he does not return, the corporation may soon face the most severe crisis in its history."The beautiful news anchor spoke solemnly.
Everyone knew that Stark Industries' cutting-edge weapons were almost all personally designed by Tony Stark — the genius engineer.
It was precisely because of Tony's innovations that the company dominated the military industry of North America, outcompeting Hammer Industries, Oscorp, and many others through massive military contracts.
Without the master weapons developer Tony Stark, Stark Industries would undoubtedly lose its greatest advantage, likely triggering a major reshuffling of the entire military market.
Tony Stark himself was always the center of attention — his scandals appeared continually in the headlines, and it was well-known that he had spent late nights with every single one of the twelve monthly cover models from Fashion Magazine within a year.
In every aspect — political, economic, and even entertainment — Tony Stark was a man whose actions could influence the entire nation.
Thus, his disappearance immediately became the biggest event in America.
The government, military, businesses, ordinary citizens, and even organizations operating from the shadows — all were watching closely.
Different forces began to act — some hoping he would never return, some eager to rescue him, others simply waiting to see how the situation developed.
...
Just a few blocks away from Times Square stood a building with a strikingly cartoonish and video-game style appearance.
Completely out of place among the surrounding commercial skyscrapers, its facade bore a large glowing sign:
"Genm Group."
This was the headquarters of the world's largest and most popular game development company.
The rise of Genm was considered a miracle within the gaming industry.
Eight years ago, the company had fewer than twenty employees — merely a small studio. After the current CEO, Dan Kuroto, inherited it from his father who died unexpectedly, he renamed it Genm, and within an incredibly short time released a series of blockbuster games that swept across the globe.
In just eight years, Dan expanded the studio into a multinational corporation with tens of thousands of employees.
Today, Genm was unquestionably the No.1 game developer in the world, without any rivals.
If Tony Stark was the genius king of engineering and military technology, then Dan was the unrivaled prodigy of game design.
At this moment, inside the CEO's office in Genm Tower, Dan leaned back in his chair, watching the news about Tony Stark's disappearance on his computer screen.
Chuckling softly, he murmured thoughtfully:
"The curtain of a new era is finally beginning to rise.
The preparations are nearly complete — it's time to begin the grand game."
Standing beside him, a short-haired secretary with a cute and dignified appearance asked respectfully:
"Master, what do you mean?"
Before he responded, another woman — identical to her in appearance yet completely different in temperament — answered instead.
"Izu, you still don't understand?
The Bugster Virus has been quietly growing for six years.
It is time for it to erupt — time to lead the world into the Master's game." said Azu, Dan's other secretary.
Izu and Azu looked like twins — identical faces, different styles.
Izu had short hair reaching just below her chin, its tips dyed green, giving her an elegant and gentle air.
Azu's hair fell to her waist, its ends bright red, with blood-red lips contrasting sharply against her pale skin — charming, dangerous, and seductive.
After speaking, Azu cast Izu a provocative look.
Izu puffed her cheeks slightly and glared back, then turned to Dan:
"Master, what is so special about Tony Stark? Why choose to activate the game and trigger the Bugster Virus right after his disappearance?
We still haven't found a suitable Lazer Rider candidate — we only have Kamen Rider Snipe and Kamen Rider Brave.
Are they enough to handle Bugster monsters?
After all, the ultimate goal of the game is to create powerful Kamen Riders."
After speaking, she calmly glanced at Azu, her expression emotionless yet clearly mocking — at least from Azu's perspective.
Azu pouted angrily, then leaned against Dan like a cat ready to pounce.
"Since the Master has decided to start the game, he must already have a plan.We only need to obey."
Izu's lips twitched, her gaze cold enough to kill as she stared at Azu's hand touching Dan's shoulder.
Azu ignored her entirely — in fact, she leaned even closer.
"Enough, enough," Dan said helplessly.
He lifted a hand and patted Azu's head.
"Stop teasing Izu and stand properly, will you?"
Like a pampered kitten, Azu lifted her chin and shot Izu a smug look.
"Fine, since Master says so. But you spoil Izu way too much!"
Dan chuckled,
"Only because you're always bullying her."
"I never bully her! She just pretends to be weak to win your sympathy!"Azu protested.
"I've never pretended. I'm simply not as shameless as you."Izu replied flatly.
"You–! Master, look, she's way meaner than me!"Azu whined, kneeling beside him like a cat.
Dan sighed. When he created them, he never programmed hostility between them, yet somehow they always fought like natural enemies.
"Tony Stark's kidnapping will become a turning point — transforming him from a shallow playboy into a true hero." Dan said, returning to the topic.
Both secretaries composed themselves immediately.
"But what becomes of Tony Stark is irrelevant to us — at least for now."
His gaze turned toward the city outside his window.
"What matters is that this marks the beginning of a new era. Soon, superhumans, gods, demons, and aliens — beings beyond ordinary human comprehension — will appear one after another. All of them will become key players in my game."
"We understand. We will prepare for their arrival."
Izu and Azu said in unison.
...
In truth, there was never a company called Genm Games in the Marvel world.
Dan was a transmigrator from another world.
He had blacked out from staying up late binge-watching Kamen Rider, and awoke in this universe with the system "Kamen Rider Chronicle."
He replaced a student who should have died in a car accident, renamed himself Dan Kuroto, and inherited the tiny game studio left by the deceased's father.
Using the Kamen Rider Chronicle system, he "developed" numerous high-quality and high-popularity games based on Ex-Aid's world and others from his original universe — turning the tiny studio into the world's largest game company within eight years.
(End of Chapter)