The black sedan silently glided into the underground parking lot of Fisk Tower, like a ghost returning to its lair. After the engine died, the car fell into a deep silence, a stark contrast to the noisy chaos on the street corner in Queens just a short while ago.
Kingpin sat alone in the spacious back seat, not getting out immediately. He spread open his right hand, the one that had just effortlessly crushed "Pearl" and sent the wack flying. Between his fingers, there were still some sticky, dried, and blackened stains, emitting a faint, sweet smell. This scent mingled with the lingering high-end cologne and cigar smoke on him, forming an extremely bizarre combination, as if it were a true reflection of his current predicament—the absurd intertwining of a crime lord and a… "hero" in training.
In his mind, the system's notification sound was still clear:
[Newbie Guide Mission: Initial Display of Talent — Completed. Rewards have been distributed.]
[System core functions have been fully activated. The host can summon the system interface at any time through thought to perform operations such as integral exchange and function browsing.]
[Hint: For the first successful handling of an abnormal event, an additional hidden reward has been obtained — System Usage Authority increased to Lv.1.]
"Authority increase?" Kingpin silently asked in his mind.
[Lv.1 Authority Unlocked: Basic mall item purchase eligibility, preview of some low-level technology blueprints, preliminary hero potential scanning function (range: 100-meter radius). More authority will be unlocked as the Association's development level and the host's event handling level increase.]
With the notification of the authority increase, Kingpin could feel that the system interface in his mind seemed to become more "vivid." Some previously gray areas began to glow faintly, awaiting his exploration. The faint warm current that had integrated into his body after completing the mission was still slowly circulating. Although the increase in strength was almost negligible, it did bring a… feeling of vigor, sweeping away even the slight mental fatigue accumulated from dealing with gang messes.
This "System Initial Activation Energy" seemed to be more than just a gimmick.
His gaze once again turned to the system interface. The first thing he clicked on was [Mall]. This time, unlike before when he could only look but not interact, some items priced below 200 integral had their grayed-out status removed, turning into selectable bright colors.
[Basic Combat Mastery (Passive Skill Scroll): Slightly improves close-quarters combat techniques and instincts.integral: 150.] (Note: Limited bonus effect on the host's current physique.)
[Miniature Tracker (Pack of Ten): Effective tracking range of 5 kilometers.integral: 80.]
[Universal Language Pack (Common Earth Languages): Instantly master a specified language.integral: 50 / language.]
[Highly Effective Cleaner (Formula): Can quickly decompose most organic and inorganic stains.integral: 30.]
...A dazzling array of items, from combat skills to everyday technology, varied and diverse, but mostly basic goods. Kingpin's gaze swept over them, finally settling on an inconspicuous item.
[Information Filter and Preliminary Deduction (One-time): Input vague information or needs, and the system will perform preliminary filtering and logical deduction based on the existing database, providing several feasible solutions (solution quality is positively correlated with information completeness).integral: 180.]
180 integral! It almost instantly drained the 200 integral he had just acquired.
Kingpin barely hesitated.
"Exchange for [Information Filter and Preliminary Deduction]."
[Consumed 180 integral. Remaining integral: 20.]
[Please input the information or needs to be filtered and deduced.]
Kingpin took a deep breath, clearly formulating his needs in his mind: "Based on my current identity (Wilson Fisk), resources, and the existence of the 'Hero Association System,' how can I most efficiently and reasonably materialize the concept of the 'Hero Association' and initially establish a sustainable operating framework? Goal: Legal, possess public credibility, and be able to begin recruiting eligible 'heroes.'"
The question he posed was very specific, directly hitting the core. He didn't need vague slogans of "maintaining peace"; he needed a practical business plan—even if the "business" was about superheroes.
Instantly, the system interface was flooded with data streams, countless pieces of information being extracted, analyzed, combined, and deduced. This process lasted for about ten seconds, and then, three clear solution options appeared before Kingpin.
[Option A: Secret Society Mode]
· Core Idea: Utilize the host's existing underground network to secretly recruit and train superpowered individuals, forming a force hidden in the shadows. Indirectly intervene in events through proxies to accumulate strength.
· Advantages: Covert start, less likely to alert official and existing hero organizations; can utilize existing resources, lower initial costs.
· Disadvantages: Difficult to establish public credibility, limited recruitment scope (biased towards gray areas); long-term development easily constrained by the host's original identity, difficult to transition; unable to effectively utilize some public-facing system functions (such as large-scale mission releases).
· Risk Assessment: Medium-High. May conflict with the host's original business, with a risk of internal corruption.
[Option B: Affiliation and Cooperation Mode]
· Core Idea: Seek cooperation with existing official or semi-official organizations (such as S.H.I.E.L.D.) and establish a "Hero Department" within their framework by investing technology or capital.
· Advantages: Rapidly gain a legal facade and initial resources; lean on a large organization for support, reducing initial operational pressure.
· Disadvantages: Severely limited autonomy, need to share power and results; risk of system exposure; development direction easily constrained by the cooperating party, difficult to achieve the system's ultimate goal.
· Risk Assessment: High. Playing with fire, the host might become a high-level employee or research subject.
[Option C: Open and Legitimate, Commercial Operation Mode]
· Core Idea: Establish a brand-new, independent non-profit organization or public welfare enterprise "Hero Association." Use commercial means for operational management, clarify the responsibilities, rights, and remuneration of heroes, and establish a standardized event handling process and evaluation system. Maintain operations through public recruitment, mission bounties, social donations (and host investment).
· Advantages: Neutral stance, easy to establish public credibility; wide recruitment scope, can attract various extraordinary individuals; high operational autonomy, fully serving system goals; can utilize the host's public identity (renowned entrepreneur, philanthropist) for endorsement.
· Disadvantages: High difficulty in starting, needs to face scrutiny and questioning from the public, media, and officials; huge initial capital and resource investment; directly exposed to existing hero organizations (such as the Avengers), competition and friction are inevitable.
· Risk Assessment: Medium. Challenges and opportunities coexist, requiring extremely high demands on the host's macroscopic planning and execution abilities.
Three options, three completely different paths.
Kingpin's gaze slowly moved across the three options.
Secret society? How was that any different from what he was doing now? It was just replacing thugs with superpowered thugs, essentially still the playstyle of an underground force, too small in scope, and contrary to his deep-seated desire to "change professions" and "go legitimate."
Affiliation and cooperation? Especially with S.H.I.E.L.D.? Thinking of the cunning glint in Nick Fury's single eye, Kingpin immediately rejected this option. Cooperating with such an organization would be like dancing with wolves; all his secrets and advantages could be devoured until nothing was left.
Finally, his gaze firmly fixed on [Option C: Open and Legitimate, Commercial Operation Mode].
Neutral, public credibility, autonomy, attracting talent... these words deeply resonated with him.
More importantly, this plan, how similar it was to the corporate operating model he was familiar with in his previous life! Except the product changed from specific goods or services to "crisis resolution solutions" and "hero human resources." KPI, performance appraisal, compensation system, project management… these concepts he was so familiar with could be completely applied!
Managing a group of flying and Earth-shattering superheroes in the same way one manages a Fortune 500 company?
Once this thought arose, it spread like wildfire in his heart. An unprecedented sense of excitement, mixed with a desire for challenge and a touch of dark amusement, replaced the initial absurdity and compulsion.
This was no longer a task forced upon him by the system, but rather… an extremely tempting, unprecedented business blueprint! An excellent opportunity that could truly allow him to go legitimate and even stand in a higher position than ever before!
"Legal shell… public credibility… commercial operation…" Kingpin repeated these keywords in a low voice, his brain working at an unprecedented speed. Non-profit organization? Public welfare enterprise? The specific legal structure would require a professional legal team to design. Initial funding was not a problem for him. Headquarters location… Fisk Industries owned quite a few suitable properties. The most crucial thing was how to present this concept to the public, how to take the first step… His thoughts became clearer and clearer, and a vague but grand framework was gradually taking shape in his mind.
He pushed open the car door, his massive body standing in the empty parking lot, the lights casting a cold, hard halo on his shiny bald head. He raised his hand again, looking at the dried milk tea stain. This time, his eyes no longer held disdain, but rather a hint of playfulness.
This stain, as if an imprint of his old life, and the blue-glowing system interface in his mind, pointed towards a future full of unknowns and challenges, but also potentially more glorious.
He gently clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking crisply.
"This Association," Kingpin's lips curved into a cold, determined arc, his deep voice echoing in the empty parking lot,
"Has to get started!"