Chapter 136 - Subduing Kingpin—The Nature of People!
'Who is he?'
'What is that golden light behind him, and those weapons within it?'
'Where did that golden throne come from?'
These were the thoughts racing through the minds of Kingpin and his men as they stared at Gilgamesh. Confusion and fear gripped them, especially with the imposing aura of royal authority emanating from Gilgamesh.
Human beings naturally fear the unknown, and Gilgamesh's regal presence amplified that fear tenfold.
To Kingpin's men, the sensation they felt was akin to what they experienced when standing before their boss—but magnified to an unbearable degree under Gilgamesh's gaze. It wasn't just the oppressive authority they felt in front of Kingpin; this was far beyond that.
For Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin, he didn't know what this "royal authority" truly was, but he was familiar with power. As the head of the largest criminal empire in the United States, Kingpin had often dealt with those in positions of authority. But what Gilgamesh exuded was beyond anything Kingpin had ever encountered, completely surpassing anyone he had faced before.
Feeling his body tense up, Kingpin frantically tried to figure out Gilgamesh's identity. Was he the son of some high-ranking official? A member of a prominent family? Or part of a large organization?
Kingpin wasn't the head of the largest criminal empire in the U.S. for nothing; he was far more composed than his underlings. After a brief moment of shock, he forced himself to calm down.
Although he hadn't yet deduced Gilgamesh's identity, from the power Gilgamesh displayed, Kingpin knew he was dealing with a superhuman.
In this world, superhumans were no secret—many heroes, like the Fantastic Four or Spider-Man, possessed such abilities.
Thus, Kingpin quickly classified Gilgamesh's abilities as superpowers, though he wasn't sure exactly what those powers entailed or if Gilgamesh was just putting on a show.
Kingpin's thoughts raced, and he tried to keep his voice steady as he asked, "I want to know who's backing you. Are they really capable of swallowing up my empire?"
Kingpin had no desire to submit, but he wasn't foolish enough to openly resist without understanding Gilgamesh's powers. He needed to proceed cautiously and bide his time, pretending to cooperate while figuring out who Gilgamesh's allies were.
After all, Kingpin's empire wasn't just vast—it was connected to numerous powerful interests. Many influential factions relied on him, and they wouldn't sit idly by if someone tried to take over his empire. The intricate web of favors, secrets, and blackmail he had accumulated ensured his survival and dominance for so long.
But Gilgamesh, through the power of his Sha Nagba Imuru had already seen through Kingpin's thoughts.
With his A+ Charisma, an inherent skill that surpassed normal human leadership, Gilgamesh regarded Kingpin's influence as insignificant. In the Bleach universe, Kennō, his zanpakuto, had helped him rule an empire that spanned over a thousand parallel worlds. His charisma was so great that it bordered on the supernatural, far beyond the reach of mere mortals—even rivaling gods.
In fact, after ruling his multiversal empire for so long, Gilgamesh sensed that his Charisma skill had grown, though it hadn't yet reached the EX level. Still, he knew it wouldn't be long before it did.
Without answering Kingpin's question, Gilgamesh spoke coldly, "This is the last time I'll say it—Submit, or die."
Kingpin gritted his teeth. Never before had he experienced such humiliation. But, realizing the dire situation, he lowered his head, signaling his submission. At the same time, he subtly signaled his loyal men to prepare to act.
Kingpin wasn't about to give up so easily. His elite bodyguards were highly trained, capable fighters selected for their skill and absolute loyalty. He intended to have them delay Gilgamesh long enough for him to escape through a secret passage in the basement—one that had been used earlier by his business partner.
Though he had considered fleeing earlier, Gilgamesh's sudden appearance had caught him off guard.
This particular deal was crucial, involving high-level U.S. officials and significant interests. Kingpin couldn't afford for his partner to be harmed on his turf.
Kingpin's men, completely loyal to him, prepared to act. But before they could move, Gilgamesh's voice rang out, "Kneel."
Boom!
Before they could react, a crushing pressure descended upon them, forcing them all to the ground, their knees slamming into the floor with a heavy thud.
They could barely feel the pain in their shattered knees; all they could comprehend was the unbearable weight pressing down on them, filling their minds with terror and leaving their bodies heavy and sluggish.
"You were given a chance, and yet you chose not to take it," Gilgamesh's voice was filled with lethal intent, and Kingpin and his men felt as if the Reaper's scythe was already at their throats.
Faced with overwhelming power and the looming threat of death, Kingpin couldn't bear it any longer. He kowtowed to the ground, trembling, and pleaded, "Please, give me another chance—I will submit!"
Gilgamesh raised his hand, preparing to unleash the rain of his Noble Phantasms to finish them off. Suddenly, a portal from Kamar-Taj opened in front of Kingpin and his men.
The Ancient One stepped through, placing herself between them and Gilgamesh.
"King of Heroes," she said, her tone calm but respectful. "Could I ask you, as a favor, to give him another chance?"
Gilgamesh frowned but said nothing.
The Ancient One continued, "You must know who he is. His own life may not be of concern, but his criminal empire spans the globe. Should he die without explanation, the entire global network of crime—and the powerful forces involved—will descend into chaos."
"That chaos could potentially trigger a third world war."
This wasn't just empty talk—the Ancient One had glimpsed this possibility through the Eye of Agamotto, one of many futures where Kingpin's death led to global catastrophe.
Even Daredevil, who had been eavesdropping from the rooftop, was taken aback by the Ancient One's sudden appearance.
What shocked Daredevil even more were the words she spoke. Using his enhanced hearing, Daredevil could detect the slightest change in a person's heartbeat, allowing him to know when someone was lying.
From the steady rhythm of the Ancient One's heart, Daredevil knew she wasn't lying.
Daredevil had always wanted to kill Kingpin, but hearing that his death might trigger a world war made him shudder with fear.
Had he acted on his desire to eliminate Kingpin, would he have unknowingly caused such devastation?
Cold sweat dripped down Daredevil's face as the realization hit him.
Unbeknownst to Daredevil, though, even if he had succeeded in killing Kingpin, it wouldn't have mattered. The Ancient One monitored all timelines and could use the Eye of Agamotto to rewind time if necessary.
But Gilgamesh was different.
His presence in this world disrupted the Ancient One's ability to fully control the future, and so she sought to prevent that chaotic future from ever coming to pass.
After a long pause, Gilgamesh slowly lowered his hand. "Very well. I'll grant you this favor."
The golden Gates of Babylon shimmered and faded from existence, their glow vanishing.
The Ancient One exhaled softly, relieved. "Thank you, King of Heroes."
She then used the Eye of Agamotto to rewind time for Kingpin and his men, as well as Daredevil. All of their memories of her intervention were erased, resetting the timeline to before her arrival.
With her task complete, the Ancient One returned to Kamar-Taj through another portal, leaving Gilgamesh with a parting invitation: "If you ever find yourself with time, you're welcome to visit Kamar-Taj."
Gilgamesh stood, retracting his spiritual pressure as the golden throne behind him disappeared into his King's Treasury.
His golden armor transformed back into a casual outfit, and he took a few steps forward, stopping before Kingpin.
"Look at me," he commanded.
Kingpin's heart raced as he slowly raised his head to meet Gilgamesh's gaze, fear evident in his trembling eyes.
"You have one last chance," Gilgamesh said coldly. "Do not disappoint this King, Wilson Fisk."
Kingpin, overwhelmed with relief, nodded fervently. "I swear, I won't let you down!"
It was only then that Kingpin realized Gilgamesh had been calling himself a King. A real king? From where?
Gilgamesh, having read Kingpin's thoughts through Sha Nagba Imuru, didn't care. Instead, he gave Kingpin three tasks.
"First, get me a legal identity."
"Second, prepare a residence for me."
"Third, get me a phone so I can contact you."
These requests were simple for someone with Kingpin's resources. He quickly agreed to all three.
After a brief pause, Kingpin cautiously asked, "Do you have any preferences for your identity? A name, age, educational background?"
Gilgamesh replied flatly, "My name is Gilgamesh. The rest is up to you."
Hearing this, Daredevil, still listening, quietly slipped away. He had a plan: to contact other heroes and strategize about how to deal with this new threat.
Kingpin's criminal empire was still a den of corruption, even if Gilgamesh was now in control.
For Daredevil, the fight against evil would continue.
Meanwhile, as Daredevil departed, Kingpin ordered his men to escort Gilgamesh to a nearby hotel and exploded in a fit of rage in his underground lair.
Kingpin had always prided himself on control and power. Now, being forced to submit left him seething.
Though Gilgamesh could sense Kingpin's inner turmoil, he didn't care. With A+ Charisma, Kingpin would eventually come to submit—or face a much darker fate truly.
In a matter of minutes, Kingpin regained his composure and began issuing orders to his subordinates.
"Prepare my private Long Island villa for him, and staff it with loyal servants. I want to know everything about his habits and preferences."
"And get him a black card with no limit," Kingpin added. "Also, find some top-tier women to send to him."
Kingpin planned to find Gilgamesh's weaknesses—whether they be power, wealth, or pleasure. Once he found one, he would begin working to regain control.
Kingpin was, after all, a master of human nature.
Gilgamesh, however, knew full well what Kingpin was plotting—and he smiled.
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