Chapter 191: Two New Colleagues
Night fell.
Off the coast of New York, Justice League base.
Lights flickered on, and the night view of the sea was fully visible through the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows.
In the spacious living room, soft music flowed slowly.
On the dining table, it was filled with a grand meal carefully prepared by the chef.
Tonight was an internal victory celebration for Justice League after its resounding victory in Wakanda.
Since Tony and Steve were still staying in Kamar-Taj for advanced studies, tonight's dining table seemed a bit empty.
Luka was wearing a loose shirt, lazily leaning against the back of the chair in the main seat.
On his left side, Gwen was wearing a fresh white dress, enthusiastically cutting the steak on her plate.
On the right side, Wanda was wearing a red slit long dress with slightly flushed cheeks, from time to time feeding Luka a piece of cut fruit with a fork.
Peter and Pietro sat on both sides of the long table.
The two were arguing endlessly about whether using spider webs or Super Speed for food delivery was more profitable.
And on the periphery of the dining table.
Natasha and Jessica were acting as waitresses as usual.
Wearing a set of black and white maid outfits, they expressionlessly poured wine and changed plates for everyone.
To be honest, having been at Stark Industries for so long, they were already used to being waitresses.
After all, it was just pouring drinks and similar matters, much easier than the documents they handled at Stark Industries.
Regardless of what they were thinking, everyone else was very happy.
Seeing this scene, Luka also felt a pang of emotion.
Gently raising his wine glass and taking a sip, a look of satisfaction was beyond words.
Look at these fallen superheroes!
This is the power of capital!
Shaking his head, he looked at the night outside the window, and casually called out to Jarvis.
"Jarvis, report the final proceeds of this poverty alleviation."
"Alright, sir."
Jarvis's gentle voice sounded in the miniature communicator in Luka's ear.
"After preliminary counting, the total weight of the first batch of Vibranium raw ore shipped back from Wakandaexceeds four hundred tons. According to current black market prices, this is an immeasurable wealth."
"At the same time, Wakanda's Royal Science Laboratory has opened all permissions to us."
"Mr. Tony issued remote instructions in Kamar-Taj, and I have started to parse the molecular structure of Vibranium."
"It is expected that next month, Vibranium can be integrated into the new generation of armor and the upgrade plan for your combat suit."
Hearing this, Luka nodded with satisfaction.
Hundreds of tons of Vibranium were just the beginning.
With Wakanda as a continuous material library, the equipment level of Stark Industries would usher in a qualitative leap.
"What about the outside world's reaction?"
"Very enthusiastic, sir." Jarvis continued to report.
"The "Strategic Cooperation Agreement" video you published on the global network has caused a huge sensation."
"The stock price of Stark Industries directly locked the daily limit after opening, and the company's market value has broken through the three trillion US dollar mark, steadily ranking first in the world."
"Wall Street analysts believe that Stark Industries, having mastered Vibranium, is no longer a simple technology company, but a commercial empire with the power to set global defense standards."
"In addition, The Pentagon and S.H.I.E.L.D. are surprisingly quiet. Director Nick Fury has not issued any statement, seeming to have adopted a tacit attitude towards our actions in Africa."
Tacit consent?
Luka sneered.
Black Egg was probably busy dog-fighting with Hydraright now, so how could he have time to manage Africa's affairs.
When he finished investigating the inner ghost, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s building would probably be half demolished.
After reviewing the gains, Luka felt refreshed all over.
He could clearly feel that after absorbing the backlash power, he had completed another transformation.
His base strength under normal conditions had now steadily broken through the thousands of tons level.
If coupled with the seventy-fold amplification of the symbiote suit...
Tens to hundreds of thousands of tons level of destructive power!
At this level, to be honest, he didn't know how strong it was.
But he understood that from now on, no one would dare to speak loudly to him again.
"The feeling of getting stronger every day is simply too addictive."
Luka put down his wine glass, looking at everyone talking and laughing at the dining table, in a great mood.
"Everyone."
"For the generosity of Wakanda, for the technological progress of all mankind, cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Peter, Gwen, and others raised their wine glasses one after another.
Just when the atmosphere of the banquet was most harmonious.
"Ding."
The elevator made a soft sound, and the elevator doors slowly slid open to both sides.
Pepper was holding two thick folders in her hand, stepping out of the elevator quickly.
Behind her, there were also two men with completely different temperaments.
The person walking on the left was wearing a suit, holding a red and white blind cane in his hand, and wearing a pair of red round sunglasses.
Although he looked like a blind person, his chin was slightly raised, seemingly observing this luxurious space with his ears.
The person walking on the right was completely a different style.
He was wearing a ragged black trench coat, inside which was a tactical vest printed with a white skull.
He had a stout figure, a cold and rigid face, and exuded a strong killing intent all over his body.
The feeling he gave was like an emotionless killing machine.
Pepper led the two to the dining table, glanced at Natashaand Jessica wearing maid outfits, and shook her head helplessly.
Then, she placed the folder on the desktop in front of Luka.
"Luka, these are the two candidates I have screened out over the past half month."
Pepper pointed to the two people behind her, with a serious tone.
"I personally conducted background checks and capability assessments on them."
"Their current activity range is all in Hells Kitchen of New York, their abilities are very outstanding, but their style of action... um, there is some controversy."
"So I brought them over for you to do the final interview and make the final decision."
Luka put down his wine glass with interest, his gaze sweeping over these two uninvited guests.
In fact, behind the scenes long before, he and Tony had secretly investigated most of the Superpower holders of this world.
Therefore, almost in an instant he recognized the identities of the two.
The blind lawyer of Hells Kitchen, the vigilante of the night.
Daredevil, Matt Murdock.
And, the ruthless killer who made all New York gangs terrified.
The Punisher, Frank Castle.
"Interesting."
Luka chuckled inwardly.
Pepper's vision was indeed not bad.
Although these two people were only street-level heroes, their combat literacy and willpower were definitely top-notch.
If they could be recruited, Justice League would have the most suitable candidates to handle those trivial matters.
Chapter 192 Welcome to the Justice League
"Welcome to Stark Tower, you two."
Luka lazily leaned back against his chair and pointed to the empty seat opposite him.
"Natalie, pour two glasses of wine for our guests. Then, you can begin your introductions."
Natasha walked over expressionlessly and poured two glasses of red wine.
Matt did not touch the wine glass, his ears twitched slightly, and his brows furrowed tightly together.
Ever since walking into this base, his hearing and sense of smell had been frantically gathering information.
He heard Peter Parker's heartbeat, which was faster than an ordinary person's.
He smelled the bizarre energy aura on Wanda that did not belong to the scope of science.
He perceived the dangerous fluctuations emanating from the two women wearing maid outfits.
But what terrified him the most was Luka, who sat in the main seat.
In Matt's perceptual world, Luka's existence was like a burning sun!
That massive life energy and sense of oppression made it almost impossible for him to breathe.
"Luka Stark..."
Matt was secretly shocked in his heart.
"The news says he possesses Superman-like power, and it turns out to be true. If a person of this level loses control, who can stop him?"
Matt took a deep breath, gripped his blind cane, and spoke in a calm tone.
"My name is Matt Murdock. On the surface, I am a lawyer. But at night, I am accustomed to using my own way to uphold the law of Hells Kitchen."
"The reason I agreed to Potts's invitation to come here is not for a paycheck."
Matt looked straight at Luka, as if he could see.
Moreover, although wearing sunglasses, his attitude was neither servile nor overbearing.
"I have seen your news."
"Your power is very powerful, but also very dangerous. You act without any scruples, placing yourselves above the government and the law."
"Therefore, I came here to see whether the so-called Justice League is truly a hero team protecting the weak, or a private armed group wearing a legal veneer."
As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere at the dining table instantly turned cold.
Everyone looked at each other, seeing a trace of awkwardness in each other's eyes.
After all, what Matt said was precisely what they had worried about at the very beginning.
However, facing Matt's questioning, not only did Luka not get angry, but instead chuckled aloud.
"Attorney Murdock, I have to say, your sense of justice is touching."
As he spoke, Luka picked up his wine glass with a mocking gaze.
"But how many innocent people can the law in your mouth protect in a place like Hells Kitchen?"
"Every night you wear tights, beat those drug dealers and gangsters half to death, and then hand them over to the police. This looks very perfect, and there seems to be no problem."
"Yet what is the result? The next day, as long as they pay bail, they can continue selling powder on the street, collecting protection money, or doing things like murder and looting."
At this point, Luka leaned forward slightly, his gaze turning sharp.
"Let me guess, is your so-called no-kill principle just to satisfy your own pitiful moral cleanliness?"
"And every single one of your indulgences is providing a cost for the next crime!"
"Oh Matt, Matt, you look dirt poor, how did you still manage to contract Batman Syndrome?"
"But we are different. In my team..."
Luka pointed to the floor, his tone icy cold.
"No bail, no trial. When encountering hopeless trash, send them directly to meet God. This is the most efficient justice."
"If you are here to discuss morals with me, the door is over there, you can go back to the law firm and continue playing house."
Seeing this, Matt's expression turned somewhat ugly, gripping his blind cane tightly without saying a word.
Indeed, he could not refute Luka's words, because this was precisely the reality he struggled painfully with every single night.
"Well said, Stark."
Just at this moment, Frank, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.
Afterward, he picked up the red wine and drank it in one gulp, then heavily smashed the glass onto the table.
"My name is Frank Castle. I used to be in the Marine Corps."
"I don't care what alliance you call yourselves, nor do I care whether you are doing this to make money or to show off."
"Miss Potts told me that if I join you, you can provide me with infinite firepower support and the most advanced intelligence."
"Moreover, killing those gang scum is completely legal, and there are even bonuses to take."
Frank split his mouth, revealing a cruel smile.
"My purpose for coming here is only one."
"Give me guns. Give me coordinates. Then, I will slaughter New York's gangs and drug lords until not a single one is left."
"If you can guarantee this point, this life of mine is sold to you."
Hearing Frank's simple and crude self-introduction, Petershrank his neck.
Good grief, this guy has such a heavy murderous aura!
This is not a superhero at all, he should be a killing machine!
Compared to Peter's fear, Luka instead smiled with satisfaction.
"Frank Castle, I like your straightforwardness."
"However, there is one thing we haven't achieved yet. The matter of legalizing the killing of criminals, we still have to go talk to the White House during this period of time."
"But for now..."
Luka snapped his fingers.
"Jarvis, pull up the weapon inventory of the Stark Industries security department, and open the highest authority to Mr. Castle."
"Very well, sir. Starting today, Mr. Castle will have the right to use Stark Industries' newly developed armor-piercing explosive rounds, miniature tracking missiles, and individual combat exoskeletons."
Jarvis responded gently.
Hearing this, Frank's eyes lit up, the fanaticism that only appears when seeing weapons.
"Very good." Frank nodded.
"When do we start working?"
"No rush."
Luka turned his head to look at Matt Murdock, who was still hesitating.
"So, Attorney Murdock, what is your decision?"
"Will you continue to uphold your ridiculous bottom line, watching the cycle of evil in Hells Kitchen? Or join us, and excise those tumors completely all at once?"
Matt fell silent for a long time.
He heard Frank's declaration, and he also heard Luka's undisguised decisive killing intent.
This was a concentration camp for madmen.
But if he didn't join, if Frank was allowed to take weapons and go on a killing spree in Hells Kitchen, then the entire neighborhood would turn into a battlefield flowing with rivers of blood.
He had to stay, even if just to pull back the reins of these madmen at critical moments.
And...
Matt thought of the pitifully small savings in his bank account, as well as his law firm whose air conditioner had been broken for several months.
"Uh... um... is the starting salary of two hundred million U.S. dollars real?" Matt suddenly asked.
As soon as these words came out, the whole place fell silent.
Peter almost spat out the juice in his mouth.
The Daredevil who was just full of moral justice actually started asking about salary?!
Luka was slightly stunned, and then burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha! Of course it's true. At Stark Industries, justice has never been free."
Luka raised his wine glass, signaling to the two of them from afar.
"Welcome to the Justice League, gentlemen."
"Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, go to the equipment department to collect your new battle suits. Afterward, we will have a massive cleanup targeting Hells Kitchen."
Chapter 193: Sleeping Together in One Big Bed (Two-in-One)
Midnight, 12:00.
The celebration banquet finally came to an end in a subtle yet euphoric atmosphere.
Carrying aspirations for the future, Peter took a Stark Industries private plane back to Queens.
Before leaving, Peter also swore that he would report to the Equipment Department early tomorrow morning to thoroughly study the various hidden functions of the new suit.
Pietro yawned and returned to his room.
Recently, his mind had been brainwashed by Steve's theories, completely filled with how to go to a bar and practice the pickup skills taught by Old Popsicle.
As everyone left, only three people remained in the spacious dining room: Luka, Gwen, and Wanda.
After cleaning up the dining table, Natasha and Jessicawere also dismissed back to their rooms by Luka under the pretext that assistants needed to ensure adequate sleep.
In fact, Luka just found them an eyesore being here.
After all, the subsequent internal construction was not suitable for outsiders to be present and watch.
Outside the window, the waves gently patted the breakwater on the island, making a rhythmic sound.
Luka lazily leaned against the sofa, holding a glass with half a drink left.
He slightly turned his head, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the two women.
Today, Gwen was wearing a white off-the-shoulder evening dress, a hint of barely concealable minor sexiness amidst her innocence.
Her long golden hair was casually draped over her shoulders, and her fair neck shimmered with charming colors under the light.
As for Wanda on the other side, she wore a deep red tight slit long dress.
This dress breathtakingly outlined her explosive figure, her slender legs faintly visible at the slit of the hem, exuding a fatal temptation all over.
Two completely different beauties sat quietly there at the moment.
But now, an indescribable heat and tension began to permeate.
"Phew..."
Luka gently exhaled a breath and drank the red wine in one gulp.
Immediately standing up, he stretched lazily.
With his movement, the muscle lines under his shirt instantly tightened, catching the gaze of the two women.
"Alright, two beautiful ladies."
Luka walked between the two and smiled gently.
"Irrelevant people have all left, and the base now is our private territory."
He reached out and wrapped his arms around their waists.
"It's late at night, and I think it's very necessary to go to the room to have an in-depth discussion about the future development of the Justice League. What do you think?"
Hearing these words, Gwen and Wanda's bodies trembled slightly at the same time.
They naturally understood what Luka meant by in-depth discussion.
They hadn't been alone with Luka for several days.
For young girls who had tasted it, separation was hard to endure.
Especially Wanda.
Ever since that night when she first experienced the feeling of transforming from a girl into a woman,
that feeling of riding the waves amidst the howling wind and rain was like poison, causing her to toss and turn every late night, with Luka's figure filling her mind.
Although Gwen was slightly more reserved than Wanda,
as Luka's official girlfriend, her longing and desire for Luka were not a bit less than Wanda's.
Furthermore, she had now completely accepted Luka's playboy nature.
After all, having such a powerful, protective, and extremely charming man, she had long decided to grab hold tightly and never let go.
"Since it's the boss's request, as an employee, I don't seem to have the right to refuse."
Wanda spoke first.
She raised her head, looking at Luka with big, watery, gem-like eyes.
She even deliberately puffed out her chest to show off her assets.
"Besides, my charging task for today hasn't been completed yet."
Wanda's voice was soft and sweet, carrying a hint of spoiled coyness.
Hearing this, Gwen's eyebrows immediately twitched slightly.
"Charging?"
What a fresh and refined excuse to come up with!
Gwen felt that she was Ghost Spider, who dared to wear tight clothes in the middle of the night to catch robbers!
Although she accepted Wanda's presence, when it came to competing for favor, she would never easily concede.
"That kind of thing like charging can be done anytime, no need to rush right now."
Gwen met Wanda's gaze without showing any weakness.
Then she took the opportunity to press her body more closely against Luka's, naturally wrapping her arms around Luka's neck.
"We just finished attending the dinner, and Luka must be very tired. I think what he needs most right now is a gentle relaxing massage."
Gwen emphasized the word "gentle" and glanced provokingly at Wanda.
"And when it comes to massage, I'm a professional. After all, a spider's flexibility is something certain people who only know how to play with magic can't compare to."
Hearing Gwen's barbed words, Wanda's desire to win was also ignited.
"What's the use of good flexibility? A man's exhaustion needs to be resolved from an energy level."
Wanda retorted unyieldingly, then wrapped her arms around Luka's waist without showing any weakness.
"Chaos Magic can not only alter reality, but also stimulate nerve cells, allowing people to instantly restore vitality. This is an advanced relaxation method, which massage can't compare to."
"You..."
"What? Unconvinced?"
The two women bickered back and forth across Luka like that.
Although it wasn't as tense as on the battlefield, the tit-for-tat gunpowder scent could not be concealed no matter what.
One was a pure yet wild Spider-Woman, and the other was a sexy and alluring Scarlet Witch.
To compete for the starting spot tonight, they pulled out all the stops.
If this scene were captured by the media reporters outside, men all over the world would probably go crazy with jealousy, wishing they could line up and jump off the Empire State Building like King Kong.
But Luka, who was at the center of the Shura field, wasn't panicked at all.
On the contrary, he enjoyed the feeling of being fought over.
"This is the privilege of being the strong."
Luka sighed inwardly.
If he were still that ordinary wealthy second-generation heir from back then, the two women probably wouldn't even give him a second look.
But now, he had completely conquered them, making them willingly stay by his side and grow jealous over him.
Such a sense of conquest was even more refreshing than beating up ten Hulks.
"Alright, two beautiful ladies, stop arguing."
Luka smiled and shook his head.
"Whether it's massage or charging, both are very important to me."
"Since you are both so actively eager to serve the leader of the Justice League, of course I have to give you a fair opportunity to compete."
Luka lowered his head and gave them each a kiss.
"Let's go, to my room. Tonight's time is still long, we can... discuss it slowly together."
As soon as these words were spoken,
Gwen and Wanda's cheeks instantly flushed down to the roots of their necks.
Although they had already experienced zero-distance contact, they still felt shy and nervous.
"Th... This won't do..."
Gwen stammered, wanting to break free from Luka's embrace, but her body felt limp and unable to muster any strength.
"Luka... You're too bad..."
Wanda also lowered her head in shame and anger, not even daring to glance at Gwen.
But her hands wrapped around Luka's waist showed no intention of letting go.
"Bad? No, I'm just reasonably allocating resources."
Luka laughed heartily and exerted strength in both arms.
Amidst the exclamations of the two women, he swept them up in his arms!
With his strength, picking up two girls weighing just over a hundred pounds was simply easier than picking up two feathers.
"Let's go! Let's start tonight's field inspection!!"
Luka laughed heartily, walking towards the base's ultra-luxurious room.
A few minutes later.
Bang!
The room door was kicked open by Luka, then heavily closed.
The size of this suite was absurdly large, occupying nearly a third of the top floor of the base.
In the center of the room was a super custom-made large bed big enough for five or six people to roll around on at the same time.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows were the boundless starry sky and the surging ocean.
The lights in the room had been thoughtfully adjusted to warm tones by Jarvis.
Luka walked to the bed and gently tossed the two women in his arms onto the mattress.
Gwen and Wanda rolled around on the bed like two startled little rabbits.
Then they looked at each other and quickly averted their gazes, blushing like ripe apples.
Luka stood by the bed.
Leisurely unbuttoning his shirt, he tossed the garment casually onto the floor, revealing sculpted muscle lines.
"Two ladies, what are you waiting for?"
Luka looked down at the two women from a height and chuckled.
"Didn't you two compete to serve me just now? Now that the stage is set, begin your performance."
Facing Luka's gaze, Gwen and Wanda gritted their teeth.
They knew they couldn't avoid it tonight.
Since that was the case, there was nothing to be shy about!
They were superheroes!!
They must never concede defeat in front of Luka!
Late at night.
New York, Hells Kitchen.
This was a neighborhood soaked in sin and blood.
Even at two in the morning, it was still filled with the piercing wails of police sirens, the angry curses of drunkards, and faint gunshots.
Matt Murdock walked through a dark, damp alley leaning on his blind cane.
His pace seemed as steady as usual.
But upon closer inspection, one would notice that his fingers holding the blind cane exerted some tension.
He returned to the law firm.
Pushing open the door, Matt didn't turn on the light.
For a blind person, light and darkness were no different.
He walked to the window, took off his sunglasses, and tossed them casually onto the desk.
Then, he slumped into the chair, covering his face with his hands, and let out a deep sigh.
Everything he experienced in the Justice League basetonight was like an unreal dream, tearing at his nerves.
Matt's super senses allowed him to see things that ordinary people couldn't see.
He could see the abnormal bio-electric signals on Peter.
He could also see the aura of slaughter on the two women wearing maid outfits.
However, none of these were enough to make him feel fear.
What truly made him feel lost was Luka Stark.
When Matt stood in front of Luka, his super senses nearly collapsed.
In his perceptual world, Luka Stark was as dazzling as the sun.
At that moment, Matt even had the impulse to fall to his knees and submit.
"Too powerful..."
Matt muttered to himself.
"If he wants to destroy New York, or destroy this world... who can stop him?"
"Law? Morality? In the face of his power, these things will instantly vanish into thin air."
Besides power, what caused Matt even more pain was what Luka said to him.
"Your no-killing principle is simply to satisfy your pathetic moral cleanliness. And every tolerance of yours provides the cost for the next crime!"
"No bail, no trial. Encountering hopeless trash, send them straight to meet God. That is the most efficient justice."
These words mercilessly cut open the scars deep inside Matt's heart.
As a devout Catholic and as a lawyer,
Matt had always believed in procedural justice.
Believing that everyone should be put on trial in a court of law, rather than having life and death decided by a vigilante.
This was also the reason why he had put on a mask day in and day out for ten years, fighting criminals in the dark of Hells Kitchen, yet always refusing to deal a fatal blow.
But what was the result?
Kingpin was still the underground emperor, and drug dealers were still peddling death on the streets.
Those gang members whose legs he broke and sent to prison would be bailed out in less than a month.
Then, they would retaliate with vengeance against the civilians who testified against them.
He was like Sisyphus pushing a boulder, struggling in this quagmire of sin, yet changing nothing.
"Am I wrong?"
Matt grabbed his hair tightly, his faith beginning to waver.
Tonight.
When Frank obtained the authority over the Stark Industries arsenal, the bloodthirst and fanaticism erupting in his eyes were seen crystal clear by Matt's senses.
He knew that tomorrow morning...
No, perhaps tonight.
Frank would take those weapons and grind the gang strongholds of Hells Kitchen into dust piece by piece.
No trial, no defense.
Only unilateral slaughter.
And Stark Industries would use its massive capital and matchless power to legitimize all of this.
"If I refuse to join, if I try to stop them..."
Matt gave a bitter laugh.
Stop them? What with?
Beat Tony Stark wearing armor with this broken blind cane?
Or fight Luka Stark, who could crush him to death with a single finger?
If he didn't join, Hells Kitchen would turn into Frank's slaughterhouse.
Although Matt hated criminals, he wanted even less to see his home turn into a sea of blood and mountains of corpses.
"I have no choice."
Matt raised his head, his out-of-focus eyes seemingly flashing with a hint of determination in the darkness.
He walked to the desk and picked up the Stark Industriesaccess card personally handed to him by Pepper.
"Perhaps Luka Stark is a madman without a bottom line. Perhaps the justice he talks about is merely to expand the territory of Stark Industries."
"But if he really can uproot the sin of Hells Kitchen like he said..."
Matt gripped the black card tightly in his palm.
"Then I am willing to become this madman's subordinate."
"I will stay in the Justice League. I will send those who can still be saved to prison before Frank pulls the trigger."
"I will try to hold back Luka Stark's reins when he is ready to destroy everything."
"Even if... this causes me to fall into hell."
The demon of Hells Kitchen, on this night, finally bowed his head to capital and power.
He decided to put on the new helmet equipped with built-in high-frequency sonar radar provided by Stark Industries.
Then go forth to welcome the sweeping purge about to engulf the entire New York underworld.
Chapter 194: The Great Cleanup Begins
The next morning.
The Justice League base, Underground Equipment Department.
This was Luca and Tony's private playground.
Holographic consoles and robotic arms of various exaggerated shapes were placed everywhere.
At this moment, Luca was standing in the center of the laboratory.
Opposite them stood two new employees of the Justice League.
Matt Murdock, and Frank, who was oozing murderous intent.
"Listen up, you two."
Luca walked over to a silver metallic console.
"Although I really don't want to hand Tony's brilliant inventions over to two laymen who only know how to brawl on the streets,"
"since you've joined the Justice League, I can only reluctantly offer you some high-tech charity."
Saying so, he snapped his fingers, and the iron plates of the console slowly slid open to both sides, revealing two sets of high-tech gear.
The moment Frank saw the gear on the left, his eyes lit up.
It was a heavy assault rifle, with a backpack shaped like a turtle shell placed beside it.
"This is a Gauss Armor-Piercing Rifle."
Luca walked over, casually picked up the rifle, and tossed it to Frank.
"It eliminates traditional gunpowder firing and uses a miniature electromagnetic rail for acceleration."
"The bullets fired from this gun can easily penetrate tank armor from a kilometer away."
"As for those mobsters hiding behind walls in Hells Kitchen? Standing behind a wall is no different from standing behind a glass window in front of this."
Frank caught the rifle steadily and skillfully pulled the bolt back.
Listening to the crisp click of the mechanism, he gave a cruel smile.
"Good gun. Much better than the junk from the the military."
"Of course. This is made by Stark."
Luca smiled with confidence and pointed at the backpack.
"This is a Micro-Homing Missile Backpack. It contains thirty-two heat-seeking micro-missiles inside."
"Once you press the switch, it will automatically connect to Stark Industries' satellite network and lock onto all enemies within your line of sight."
"All you need to do is walk in and watch them turn into fireworks."
Frank took a deep breath, put the backpack on, and nodded in satisfaction.
With this set of gear, one person could win a localized war.
Then, Luca turned his head to look at Matt.
"As for you, Pianist on the Ocean."
He picked up a silver cane from the right side and handed it to Matt.
"You had a lot of demands—no killing, but still effective in combat. So I custom-made this new type of blind cane for you."
Matt reached out to take the cane. It felt slightly heavy in his hand, with a peculiar texture on the surface.
"I fitted a miniature ultrasonic radar inside. It can convert all terrain and tactical info within a five-hundred-meter radius into electrical signals and transmit them directly to your auditory nerves."
"Besides that, it also has a bioelectric stimulation feature."
"Whenever you tap it on the ground, the released current can incapacitate ordinary people within twenty meters. Of course, not even a mouse can escape it."
"How about it? This perfectly fits your hypocritical 'no-kill' standards."
Matt was momentarily speechless.
How could this guy speak in such a punchable way?!
How on earth was he hypocritical?!
But gripping the cane, his fingers gently traced the patterns on its surface.
He could still clearly feel that with this cane, his sensory abilities had been amplified countless times over.
"Thank you. This is exactly what I need," Matt thanked him earnestly.
Luca shrugged and spread his hands.
"Don't mention it. It's just an employee benefit."
"Alright, now that you've got your gear, it's time to talk business."
The two exchanged glances and looked over with serious expressions.
Luca nodded in satisfaction and let out a light chuckle.
"Frank, Matt. I didn't provide you with weapons so you could go play hero games of punishing evil and upholding justice in Hells Kitchen."
"Today, I want you to carry out a complete cleanup of Hells Kitchen. I want to uproot Hells Kitchen entirely."
Matt frowned and asked with some confusion.
"Boss, do you mean..."
"I mean control over commercial territory."
Luca sneered and revealed his true objective.
"Kingpin is a smart businessman. He covers the sky with one hand in Hells Kitchen and controls eighty percent of New York's underground transactions."
"But unfortunately, I don't like there being any boss in New York other than me."
"Tonight, I want him to understand that on this turf of New York, Stark is the sole rule-maker."
Luca patted Frank's shoulder, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
"Anyone who doesn't listen or refuses to hand over their territory, Frank will deliver them to the afterlife. Leave none alive."
Frank grinned, revealing a bloodthirsty smile.
"As you wish, Boss. I'll scatter their ashes into the sewers."
Matt wanted to say something, but swallowed the words back down.
He knew that no one could change Luca's decision.
Besides, if they could take this opportunity to eradicate Kingpin's syndicate, it might not be a bad thing for the civilians of Hells Kitchen.
...
At the same time.
Hells Kitchen, Fisk Tower.
In front of the floor-to-ceiling window stood Kingpin, his massive frame built like a mountain of meat.
Today, he was wearing a white suit.
He held a glass of whiskey in his hand, looking down at the chaotic district beneath his feet.
But now, the usual composure and dominance were absent from the underground emperor's face, replaced by creeping anxiety.
"Boss."
A bald henchman pushed open the office door and walked in hurriedly, his tone carrying a hint of panic.
"Our informant just sent back word. Daredevil and the Punisher surfaced in New York today alongside Luca, and... they're holding equipment from Stark Industries."
Hearing this news, Kingpin paused, the liquor swirling in his glass.
In an instant, a strong surge of unease spread through his heart.
He knew all too well the power of the Stark Brothers.
Those two guys weren't human at all—they were more like monsters in human skin.
If Daredevil and the Punisher really joined the Justice League, it would definitely be a fatal threat to him.
However, having clawed his way through the underground world for so many years after all,
his arrogance still allowed him to cling to a shred of wishful thinking.
"What's the panic?"
On the surface, Kingpin snorted cold and downed the drink in his glass in one gulp.
"Even if Stark is powerful, this is Hells Kitchen—this is my turf!"
"I've operated here for over a decade with hundreds, thousands of men under me. Even the New York policedon't dare barge in casually!"
Saying this, Kingpin turned around and slammed his glass heavily onto the desk, his gaze turning sinister.
"We all know that the Stark Brothers are capitalists doing big business."
"As long as we don't actively provoke them or touch their core interests,"
"they would never come all the way to Hells Kitchen to raise a massive ruckus over a few street thugs and shady deals."
"After all, that doesn't fit their stature."
Kingpin comforted himself like this while also reassuring his subordinate.
Yet he still didn't dare lower his guard and immediately issued an order.
"Pass the word down! Put everyone on high alert! Lock and load all weapons! Whoever dares to make trouble in Hells Kitchen today, send them to meet God!"
"Yes, Boss!" The bald henchman received his orders and withdrew.
Watching the sky gradually darken outside the window, Kingpin prayed silently in his heart.
Everything will be fine. As long as they weather these few days and wait for the storm to pass, Hells Kitchen will still belong to Wilson Fisk.
Chapter 195: The Powerless Kingpin
Night finally fell.
Dim yellow streetlights flickered to life on the streets of Hells Kitchen.
Unsurprisingly, the air here was thick with a mixture of alcohol, garbage, and urine.
And in this place, a slaughter was quietly unfolding under the cover of night.
In the East District of Hells Kitchen, inside an abandoned auto repair shop.
This was a large smuggling outpost for the Russian Mob.
Dozens of burly mobsters were counting crates of arms and contraband.
Suddenly, with a deafening boom, the shutter door flew outward!
Amidst the swirling dust and smoke,
Frank, wearing a black trench coat, walked in expressionlessly.
"Who's there?! Kill him!"
The leader roared, and dozens of mobsters immediately raised their guns, spraying bullets wildly toward the entrance.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!!!
The dense hail of bullets formed a wall of fire.
But Frank didn't even try to dodge.
Instead, he pressed a controller at his waist.
"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"
The backpack on his back instantly opened.
Accompanied by a series of sharp, piercing sounds, thirty-two micro-missiles trailed long plumes of fire, locking onto everyone who had fired.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
A chain of explosions detonated inside the repair shop!
Flames soared into the sky!
Screams echoed one after another!
In just a single encounter, dozens of mobsters were blown into minced meat and charred remains scattered all over the floor.
Even the surrounding cover was blown to pieces.
The mob boss, hiding behind a barrier, narrowly escaped death.
But seeing the corpses covering the floor, he had already wet his pants in terror and scrambled, crawling and rolling, trying to escape through the back door.
Frank laughed wantonly.
Then, he raised the armor-piercing rifle in his hand.
With the intention of testing it, he didn't even aim, simply pulling the trigger toward the cover.
"Pfft!"
A blue electromagnetic stream instantly penetrated the cover, precisely piercing the mob boss's heart.
A single shot, instant death.
Frank laughed heartily in satisfaction.
Needless to say, Stark's weapons were truly incredible to use!!
Soon, he lowered his gun, coldly swept his gaze across the burning repair shop, and pressed his communicator.
"East District outpost cleared. Time taken: forty seconds."
...
Meanwhile, in the West District of Hells Kitchen.
A bloodless yet equally shocking battle was also unfolding.
Inside a large underground casino.
Over a hundred of Kingpin's men were standing by in full battle array.
Suddenly, the doors were pushed open.
Matt walked in slowly, leaning on his blind cane.
"It's Daredevil! Fire!"
Over a hundred guns were raised simultaneously.
But Matt was faster than them.
He raised his blind cane and tapped it heavily on the ground.
"Thud!"
Along with a muffled sound,
a visible wave of electricity instantly rippled outward!
"Bzzzz!!!"
The electrical wave swept through the entire casino.
"Argh!"
"Thud! Thud!"
The moment they made contact with the electricity, they felt their brains go dizzy and their muscles spasm violently.
Then, they collapsed to the ground in unison, foaming at the mouth, completely incapacitated.
Throughout the entire process, not a single drop of blood was spilled, and not a single gun was fired.
Matt stood in the center of the crowd sprawled across the floor.
Seeing this incredible result, his heart was deeply shaken.
Over the past few years, he had fought life-and-death battles in this neighborhood, ending up covered in wounds, only to subdue a few street punks.
But now, relying solely on a blind cane provided by Stark Industries,
he could harmlessly subdue over a hundred fully armed mobsters in just a few seconds!!
"Is this... the power of technology?" Matt muttered to himself.
He began to wonder if his past perseverance and bloodshed were actually just a form of laughable foolishness.
...
Meanwhile, at the very center of Hells Kitchen.
Inside the office of Fisk Tower.
Cold sweat poured down Kingpin's forehead like a waterfall.
All because on the surveillance screens in front of him, one outpost after another was losing contact, turning into static.
"Boss! It's over! It's all over!"
His bald henchman rushed into the office, scrambling and rolling, shouting desperate words one after another.
"The East District was wiped out by the Punisher alone! And in the West District casino, Daredevil took down over a hundred of our brothers in a single second!"
"Damn it! They're using high-tech weapons we've never even seen before! Our firepower is like toys in front of them!"
Kingpin suddenly stood up, his face dark with rage.
"How is that possible?! Did the Stark Brothers actually give them weapons of that caliber?!"
Kingpin was dazed for a moment.
He knew that what he dreaded most had already happened.
Just as he was about to order his remaining trusted men to cover his retreat,
"Boom!!!"
A deafening roar came from overhead.
The dome of Fisk Tower suddenly shattered into pieces!
Debris rained down like hail from the sky.
Immediately after, a tall and straight figure descended from the sky, accompanied by wild winds and the night.
This was none other than Lucas Stark.
Behind him followed Frank and Matt, who had just rushed over after completing their cleanup missions.
"Good evening, Mr. Fisk."
Luca looked at Kingpin with a smile.
"I heard this is the center of New York's underworld. As your new neighbor, I dropped by to pay a visit."
"Protect the boss!"
The dozen or so bodyguards in the office roared, pulling their triggers at Luca simultaneously.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
Muzzle flashes flared as bullets poured out.
However, Luca only let out a cold snort.
Buzz!!
A pale blue forcefield instantly erupted, sweeping outward like a tsunami!
The bullets flying mid-air froze in place one after another.
Right after, the forcefield swept through the bodyguards without losing any momentum.
"Splat! Splat! Splat!"
In the blink of an eye, the bodyguards had their bones crushed to splinters by the terrifying gravity.
They turned into heaps of unrecognizable bloody mush, deeply embedded into the carpet.
Blood splattered everywhere, staining the office red.
Then, there was silence.
A deathly silence.
Kingpin's eyes widened, his mind going completely blank.
Damn it! His men had been casually insta-killed!
Was this the gap between gods and mortals?!
But regardless, as the underworld emperor, Kingpin still launched a desperate counterattack.
"Die, monster!"
Kingpin roared, raising the cane in his hand.
The tip of the cane instantly opened, firing a high-intensity laser beam aimed straight at Luca's heart!
This was a tech weapon he had bought from the black market at an astronomical price!!
"Sizz!"
The laser struck Luca's chest with absolute precision.
However,
the expected scene did not occur.
The laser left absolutely nothing on Luca!
The battle suit hidden beneath his shirt instantly absorbed the energy completely.
"Is that it?"
Luca raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with mockery.
"You call this a weapon? It's not even worthy of lighting my cigarette."
In the next second,
Luca's figure instantly vanished.
When he reappeared, he was already right in front of Kingpin, instantly grabbing him by his thick neck.
"Ugh..."
Kingpin's body, weighing several hundred pounds, was effortlessly lifted into the air!
Kingpin's face instantly turned a deep purple-red, his legs kicking wildly.
His strength was completely useless against Luca's hand.
"Fisk, you are a smart man."
Luca ignored Kingpin's struggling, looking down at him with icy eyes.
"So you should know that in this world, only power has the right to set the rules."
"I have no interest in managing the gang games you play in Hells Kitchen."
"But I will not allow any force to exist in New York that is outside of Stark Industries' control."
With that, Luca released his grip.
"Thud!"
Kingpin crashed heavily onto the floor, gasping desperately for breath.
His fighting skills and strength were completely useless!
The underground empire he had painstakingly built was nothing but a joke in front of Luca.