At the edge of the lavish manor's pool, a stout yet broad-shouldered man held a glass of red wine, his gaze fixed on the man standing respectfully beside him. That man bore a circular brand on his forehead — unmistakably Bullseye. And the man with the wine was none other than the kingpin of New York's underworld , Wilson Fisk, better known as Kingpin.
"How's the injury, Bullseye?" Fisk asked casually, though his eyes sharpened with curiosity.
He hadn't expected Bullseye to return from the Stark job with wounds. After all, Tony Stark was just an arms dealer — brilliant, yes, but without his tech? He should've been nothing more than a lamb to the slaughter. The idea that Stark had mounted a successful defense puzzled him.
"It's under control, for the most part," Bullseye replied, his brow creased with frustration. "But something was off. Stark had… protection. Some kind of energy shield or magical defense. I don't even understand it."
He clenched his fists. "One second, I had the kill shot lined up. The next, I'm blasted backward by a radiant light coming from Stark himself. Never seen anything like it."
Kingpin frowned deeply. "There are forces in this world beyond our understanding, Bullseye. Men like Stark don't always stand alone. It's not unusual for the elite to surround themselves with powerful allies — even supernatural ones."
"But—"
"This isn't up for discussion," Fisk cut in, firm. "Let it go. Don't bring more heat on us."
Bullseye lowered his head reluctantly. "Understood."
A pause. Then Fisk added with a calculating glint in his eye, "If another opportunity arises, I won't stop you. Whoever's behind Stark... they intrigue me as well."
"Yes, sir," Bullseye said, forcing the words out between clenched teeth. He would never forget the humiliation of being repelled like a child.
Just as the conversation began to shift, a disturbance drew their attention. A group of their own men — dressed in tactical gear — approached from the manor's interior. They moved silently, in perfect formation.
Bullseye's eyes narrowed. "What the hell are they doing here? Didn't I say no interruptions?"
He barked out, "You're not allowed in here without orders!"
A voice answered from within their ranks, cold and calm. "They follow your orders only when they still recognize you as their commander."
The group parted in eerie synchronization, forming a clear path. At the far end of it stood a tall, commanding figure. His presence alone seemed to ripple through the air — like a gravitational pull. It was Kurogai Blackwood.
He walked forward with measured confidence. The guards who had followed him all lowered their heads in subtle reverence — as if acknowledging their new master.
Bullseye stepped back instinctively, eyes darting. Kingpin straightened, his expression tense.
"Who the hell are you?" he demanded, though he already had a strong suspicion.
Kurogai ignored the question at first. He approached casually and sat in one of the poolside chairs like it was his home.
"I heard you were looking for me," he said coolly. "But now you're pretending not to know who I am?"
That confirmed it.
Kingpin's jaw clenched. "You're the one behind Stark. The one who interfered."
"You're the reason I'm injured?" Bullseye growled, rage bubbling to the surface. "Then you die here."
In a blink, a dagger appeared in Bullseye's hand, aimed directly at Kurogai's chest. He threw it with lethal precision — no hesitation.
But Kurogai didn't move.
The blade passed through the space he occupied as if striking air, embedding itself into the pillar behind him with a sharp metallic crack.
Kurogai looked at Bullseye without a shred of fear. "Did I give you permission to move?"
The words landed with the force of a hammer. Bullseye's eyes widened — he felt something… ancient. Dangerous. Before he could react, Kurogai's arm moved. Just once.
A punch, faster than human eyes could follow, landed squarely on Bullseye's chest.
BOOM.
Bullseye was launched backward like a missile, crashing into the pool with such force that the tiles cracked beneath him. Water erupted upward in a geyser. Chaos followed — the women in the pool shrieked and scrambled to escape, the once serene space devolving into panic.
Kingpin's pupils dilated. He hadn't even seen the punch until it was over.
This man was a monster.
And monsters weren't fought — they were bargained with.
"I think we can talk now," Kurogai said softly, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeve.
Kingpin took a slow breath, trying to steady his pounding heart. He prided himself on being one of the strongest men in New York — both in muscle and influence. But this? He hadn't even sensed the attack. Bullseye, one of his top enforcers, had been flattened in less than a second.
Negotiation was no longer a strategy — it was survival.
"I'm listening," he said tightly.
Kurogai smirked faintly. "Good. Because I'm not here for games. Your organization… I want it."
Kingpin's blood ran cold at the ease in his voice. As if taking over the city's most feared crime syndicate was as casual as ordering dinner.
___
Milestones
100 Power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
200 Power stones = 3 Bonus Chapters
___
My patreon link : patreon.com/Zphyr_
Support me, thank you.