Since the client was a lawyer… Jack Kadere made a guess. That probably means they're asking Jessica to find evidence for some case…At least it's not another request to catch someone's cheating spouse…
A lawyer was a rare client for Jessica Jones' private investigation agency. After all, not many people knew that the young woman running this agency was also the superhero known as Knightress. Most of the residents nearby were too jaded, apathetic, or distracted to pay attention to news about costumed heroes.
And when she was actually in the office, Jessica always wore a beret and plain glasses—her idea of a disguise.
Jack had once tried imagining her in "detective mode" and still remembered his reaction. Oh no… back then I thought she was just playing around…I didn't expect that I'd barely gotten back from visiting her agency, and now…I might just have her try that look again tonight…
Knock knock—
At that moment, a knock came from the door.
"Come in," Jack said casually, not even looking up. "It's not locked."
Outside, there was a pause.
Matt Murdock—better known as Daredevil—hesitated mid-knock. Why was there a man's voice answering?
As a street-level hero with a long-standing vendetta against Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin, Matt had been looking for a way to bring Fisk down once and for all. After Kingpin had himself thrown into jail, Matt saw an opening—an opportunity to gather enough solid evidence to send Fisk to real prison, not the cushy private setup Fisk controlled from the inside.
It was around this time that Jessica Jones, newly arrived and running her PI agency, came onto Matt's radar. He had quietly confirmed her superhero identity. Compared to him—Daredevil, whose reputation rarely left the boundaries of Hell's Kitchen—Knightress had been trending online lately.
That alone was reason enough for Matt to drop by and see if she might be willing to help in the fight against Kingpin. But now… a strange man was answering the door?
A new assistant? Possible. But this voice… it didn't sound like an errand boy or a secretary.
Daredevil couldn't see, but his other senses were razor-sharp. He could hear the confidence, the measured calmness in Jack's tone. Whoever this was, he wasn't intimidated.
All these thoughts passed in less than a second. Then Matt set his curiosity aside, pushed the door open, and stepped inside.
Jack glanced up and took in the sight immediately. Ah. Red tights. Tsk.
In an instant, he recognized him— Daredevil.
Jack had a fair impression of this particular Marvel hero. Many superheroes led tough lives, but Daredevil's was a masterclass in tragedy. Not only was he constantly harassed, beaten, and manipulated by Kingpin and his crew, but every woman he cared about seemed destined to suffer.
His nemesis Bullseye had a habit of targeting Matt's girlfriends, either killing them off or driving them to mental breakdowns. In some versions, Karen Page—once his secretary—ended up in a dark downward spiral, far from her days at the law office.
In short, Jack's life philosophy and Daredevil's luck were exact opposites. This guy's world is one I'd never want to live in.
"Hello, sir," Jack said, lounging back with one leg crossed over the other, deliberately relaxed. "Jessica's out on business. I'm her brother, Jack Kadere, here in her place. You got a case to commission?"
So he's her brother… Matt thought. They don't sound like blood relatives, though…
He shook his head slightly. "It's better for civilians not to be involved in what I'm here to discuss. You know your sister's other identity, right?"
Matt didn't want to drag an ordinary person into his dangerous circle.
But Jack? Jack had no intention of letting his sister get tangled up in the dangerous mess that would eventually become the Defenders' business.
"Then you should also know," Jack said with a small, knowing smile, "that Jessica is just a high school student. Your judgment's being skewed by her superhero status, Daredevil."
"That…" Matt faltered. The words hit like a bucket of cold water.
Right. Jessica was young. Still practically a kid. Why would he even consider pulling her into something like this?
It was one thing if Knightress chose to put herself in harm's way of her own accord. But coming here, seeking her out, and recruiting her—that was different.
Matt sighed, realizing how it must look from a protective older brother's perspective.
"You're right," he said at last. "It was careless of me. Please just tell her I've canceled the meeting."
After apologizing to Jack Kadere, Matt Murdock felt a little ashamed of his earlier negligence. Too embarrassed to linger any longer, he turned toward the door, intending to leave quietly. But the next moment, he froze, his body tensing.
"…Someone has set their sights on this place and they're closing in—fast. And it's not just one group…"
Matt pulled out his twin billy clubs, spinning them in his hands with practiced precision, the subtle whir of air cutting around him.
"It might be me they're after, Mr. Kadere. You'd better hide."
His heightened senses had already picked up the disturbance. Matt's superhuman hearing stretched across several city blocks, and the dissonant rhythm of footsteps, murmured orders, and concealed weapons stood out like firecrackers in a church. Something unnatural was headed their way.
Jack remained seated, unflinching. His brows knitted slightly, but not in fear. If anything, he looked contemplative, almost as though he were already deciding how best to make whoever was coming suffer.
[Detected: Jessica Jones' destined enemy — "Purple Man," Zebediah Kilgrave]
....
On the rooftop of an abandoned building across the street, a graceful blonde crouched low, her eyes focused on the detective agency through a telescopic lens.
"…The man in red tights," Bobbi Morse muttered to herself, adjusting the SHIELD-issued detection scope attached to her binoculars. "That's got to be Daredevil, the vigilante from Hell's Kitchen."
She paused, reaching into the greasy bucket of fried chicken she had carried along, pulling out a drumstick and taking a bite. She had followed Jack Kadere here after finally finding him without his usual entourage of women—Ghost-Spider, Jessica, or Black Cat. It seemed like the perfect chance to approach him. But Hell's Kitchen was no ordinary neighborhood. Too many shadows moved in silence here.
And sure enough, Daredevil had appeared almost immediately.
What's he doing meeting with Kadere? Trying to recruit him for something? Building some new little superhero coalition?
Barbara frowned, suspicion flickering in her eyes. The Ghost Spider Club had grown in popularity far beyond what Nick Fury had initially anticipated. Gwen's presence, along with Jack's growing list of allies, was drawing worldwide attention. Fury's interest had grown proportionally. Which meant Barbara's assignments were getting heavier and heavier.
Her job now involved investigating Gwen Stacy, monitoring Jessica Jones, keeping tabs on Felicia Hardy, contacting Cindy Moon, befriending Daisy Johnson, and—most difficult of all—tracking Jack Kadere himself.
The thought made her grit her teeth.
Damn Fury.
She tore into the chicken leg angrily, crunching through the brittle fried bones.
Why didn't you send Natasha to help me? What could possibly be keeping you so busy right now…?
Her frustration didn't end there.
And that smug Hill—always posturing over comms. If she really had guts, she'd show up in person at the Ghost Spider Club. With those thicc thighs of hers, Jack would probably welcome her in a heartbeat…
Barbara froze mid-bite, her lens catching a new movement.
"…Who are they?"
A group of armed figures was moving swiftly toward the detective agency. She set the half-eaten drumstick aside, fingers quickly adjusting the focus on her scope. The detection lens scanned the leader's face, running it through the SHIELD database.
A moment later, the result appeared across the HUD.
[Identified: Super-criminal "Purple Man" — Zebediah Kilgrave. Possesses the ability to hypnotize and control hundreds of people at once. Wanted for numerous violent crimes, including repeated sexual assault and psychological manipulation.]
Barbara shivered involuntarily.
So it really is him… the infamous Purple Man.
She had undergone mental resistance training as part of her SHIELD conditioning, which gave her some protection against psychic or hypnotic influence. But Kilgrave was different. His powers had enslaved women and men alike, leaving scars that could never fully heal. He wasn't just dangerous—he was revolting.
And worst of all… she knew his appetites weren't limited to women.
Barbara's eyes widened.
That means Jack is in serious danger.
She hesitated.
Should I call Gwen and the others? Or… do I request backup from SHIELD?
Her instincts as an agent warred with her curiosity as an investigator. Daredevil was already inside with Jack. Could the two of them handle Kilgrave on their own?
After a moment of thought, Barbara decided to request SHIELD surveillance support. At the same time, she readied herself to either intervene directly or alert Gwen's team if things escalated.
That's the mark of a professional agent, she thought smugly, reaching into her bucket again and pulling out a piece of popcorn chicken. She popped it into her mouth, the crunch echoing faintly in the still night air.
"…Burnt. Ugh. I'm not buying from this place again."
....
Meanwhile, on the street below—
"This is it… my little beauty~."
The strange figure in the purple suit sauntered through the bustling crowd as though he owned the city. His skin carried a faint lavender hue, his smirk wide and predatory. Behind him trailed a dozen armed men, their eyes glassy and lifeless, their steps perfectly synchronized.
Yet none of the pedestrians noticed.
To the average passerby, there was nothing unusual about him. Their gazes glazed over briefly as he passed, like marionettes caught in a momentary lull, before continuing their day as if nothing had happened. Kilgrave's presence rewrote perception itself, bending reality around his will.
"I'm here~," he murmured with satisfaction.
Word had reached him that the new detective agency in Hell's Kitchen was run by a stunning young woman. He couldn't resist. He never could. With a smile of anticipation, he had hypnotized a small army of pawns and marched them straight here.
After all, it was what he always did. Find beauty. Take it. Break it.
This time would be no exception—at least, in his mind.
"It's such a shame," he whispered, glancing up at the faded sign over the agency. "Too close to Hell's Kitchen… too far from heaven."
The door wasn't even locked. Kilgrave smiled and pushed it open, ready to welcome his next "toy."
Only—
Just as he was about to act, he noticed a figure standing just behind the door.
Kilgrave instantly stepped back, letting his hypnotized goons form a shield in front of him.
An arm clad in crimson swung the door wide open, revealing a man holding two batons.
"Purple Man?" the man asked sharply.
"Daredevil?" Kilgrave's eyes narrowed.
The Purple Man's expression shifted as he took a step back, keeping more men between them. "Why are you here, Daredevil?"
Kilgrave had good reason to be wary of Matt Murdock. His mind-control didn't work on everyone—people with exceptional willpower or those whose physiology worked differently could resist him entirely.
Daredevil not only had the mental discipline to fight such influence, but also possessed a radar sense far beyond normal human perception. That made him one of the rare few immune to Kilgrave's abilities.
Why am I here? Matt thought, momentarily confused. Kilgrave hadn't been targeting him…
But the lawyer's quick mind pieced it together fast.
So… the Purple Man probably doesn't know who the "knightress" really is. He thinks she's just another pretty detective…
Once he understood, Matt didn't consider walking away. Taking down criminals was what he did.
He spun one of his batons, splitting it in two, the halves connected by a steel cable. The head of the weapon whipped out, catching a gun and yanking it away. The next strike knocked another weapon from a thug's hand.
Kilgrave's smirk vanished. He barked an order, and his gunmen opened fire on Daredevil.
The air cracked with gunshots.
Matt's radar sense allowed him to predict bullet paths and move just before impact, but there were too many shooters, too much firepower. This wasn't the quiet, shadowed terrain of Hell's Kitchen—he was at a disadvantage.
Whenever Daredevil closed in, Kilgrave shoved hypnotized civilians into his path. And Matt's no-kill code kept him from pushing past them recklessly.
Watching from inside the office, Jack Kadere had no urge to step in yet. Seeing Daredevil dance around like this, he couldn't help but think:
He puts more limits on himself than the villains ever do. No wonder he's always getting beaten half to death.
Kilgrave's voice rose over the chaos. "Daredevil! You're just a rat in the night! There's no place for you in the daylight!"
Jack sighed at the theatrics. The dog barks again.
He tapped the black bracelet on his wrist and made a quick gesture. The ring-like device spun, and Jack vanished instantly.
The stealth function of the bracelet completely masked his presence, even from Daredevil's heightened senses.
Then—
A boom sounded overhead as a hole split the clouds.
A metal shape plummeted from the sky like a missile. With a whirr-click, mechanical wings unfolded mid-descent, turbines roaring to life.
It was the Vulture—Jack's upgraded armored ally.
"What the hell now?!" Kilgrave cursed, ordering his pawns to fire upward.
Bullets rang off metal—ping-ping-ping!—but the Vulture's reinforced armor, enhanced further by Jack's arcane tech, could have gone toe-to-toe with Stark's suit. Street-level firearms didn't even scratch it.
Kilgrave tried to command the Vulture's mind… and failed completely. Not resistance like Daredevil—complete immunity. The armored bird-man was utterly emotionless, beyond mental influence.
The predator closed in, talons gleaming.
"No!!" Kilgrave roared, shoving more human shields forward, hoping to force hesitation.
The silver claws didn't slow. They pierced through his meat shields and into Kilgrave's shoulders with surgical precision.
In one motion, the Vulture locked its claws around Kilgrave's scapula and launched skyward, the Purple Man dangling helplessly as they disappeared into the distance.
Daredevil stood frozen, processing what he had just seen.
"…Who the hell was that?"