Chapter 2203 - Ch: 21-30

Chapter 21: Aunt May Joins the Job

The next morning, klein was in the new house confirming the details of a display cabinet with the renovation foreman, Old Joe, when his phone rang.

It was Peter calling.

"Kline! Aunt May agreed!" Peter's voice was full of excitement. "But she wants to meet you first to talk about the specifics and see the shop."

"Sure, no problem," klein readily agreed. "Tell Aunt May to come in a week. The renovation will be finished by then. I'll invite her over to take a look and go over some precautions. The address is XX Street, Brooklyn."

"Great! I'll tell her!"

Hanging up, klein was in a good mood.

The receptionist position was settled, and with a trusted acquaintance no less—it saved him a lot of worry.

Old Joe's workers were indeed hardworking, putting in overtime. As soon as the one-week deadline arrived, the project was completely finished.

That morning, klein came to the shop again.

The scene on the first floor was completely transformed.

The dark gray matte floor tiles were as clean as a mirror, and the light beige walls glowed with a soft, warm luster under the carefully designed spotlights and wall lamps.

The solid wood screen at the entrance was made of dark wood with natural grain. The hollowed-out parts cleverly formed a simple cloud pattern, ensuring privacy without feeling too dull or oppressive.

The built-in display cabinet on that wall was finished. The dark walnut body and glass doors were polished to a shine. For now, it was empty, waiting for klein to categorize and arrange his items inside.

The solid wood long table was placed in its designated spot. In the reserved lounge area nearby, two comfortable-looking single sofas and a small coffee table were already in place.

The overall atmosphere was exactly what klein had requested—low-key, mysterious, with an ancient and elegant texture.

The second floor was also renovated as requested. The walls were snow-white, and the wooden floor was polished and varnished until it shone.

The kitchen and bathroom equipment had all been replaced with new ones.

klein checked everything thoroughly from top to bottom, not missing a single corner. He was quite satisfied with the efficiency and quality of Old Joe's team.

"Boss Joe, beautiful work!" klein patted Old Joe on the shoulder and happily took out the cash he had prepared to settle the final payment.

Old Joe counted the money, beaming. "As long as you're satisfied, klein! If you have any more work or friends who need help, feel free to contact me anytime!"

After seeing off Old Joe and the workers, klein was about to start arranging the display items on the first floor when the doorbell suddenly chimed.

He turned around and saw a lady standing at the door.

She looked to be in her thirties or forties. Time had left some marks on her face, but it only added a gentle and charming grace.

Her long brown hair was gathered into an elegant bun at the back of her head, revealing a smooth forehead and a slender neck.

Her eyes curiously scanned the furnishings in the shop, then landed on klein, offering a polite smile.

"Excuse me," her voice was soft and pleasant, "is kleinhere?"

"That's me. How can I help you?"

"Hello. I'm Peter Parker's aunt—May Parker!"

"What?! (Extremely loud)" klein screamed internally.

This woman before him—graceful, with a hot figure, curvy, elegant brows, eyes like clear autumn water, and an indescribable allure in the corners of her eyes—was Peter's aunt?

After all, neither of them had been well-off before, so visiting each other's homes would have been a burden.

klein had never met Aunt May.

He had always imagined Peter's aunt, Ben Parker's widow, to be a little old lady in her fifties or sixties, with gray hair—kind, but inevitably a bit haggard.

Who would have thought... who would have thought he was hiding such a top-tier beauty at home?!

This is an aunt? This is clearly...

klein's "inner bird" stirred in respect. *Slurp!!*...

He suddenly thought of Peter's late uncle, Ben Parker.

"With a wife like this... no wonder Uncle Ben left early... Damn, even if he didn't die from an accident, he would've been drained dry sooner or later? Better to die early and find peace!"

Immediately, a mix of jealousy and anger surged in his heart.

"Peter, oh Peter, you really deserve to die! You...

You have such a top-tier aunt and you didn't fucking introduce me?! How could you have the heart to let your aunt suffer the loneliness of being single for years!

You deserve to be single! You're fit to be a virgin for the rest of your life!

Hmph~ *Ptooey!* Shameless!"

Just then, a system prompt sounded in klein's mind.

[Ding!]

[Detected Marvel Story Character: May Parker]

...

[Would you like to draw a prize?]

"Yes."

...

[Reward—Charm +1]

Listening to the prompt in his head, klein's mind was full of question marks.

Aunt May counts as a story character? And the draw only gives Charm?

However, klein immediately suppressed the thoughts in his head, put on a brilliant "harmless" smile, and stepped forward to greet her.

"You're Aunt May? Peter mentions you often, saying how kind and gentle you are and how well you take care of him! I finally get to meet you in person today!"

klein reached out to shake Aunt May's hand. "Oh my, I really didn't expect you to be so young! That kid Peternever mentioned how beautiful and elegant you are!"

Aunt May was a bit embarrassed by klein's praise, her cheeks flushing slightly. Just a moment ago, she had thought of klein as a child, just like Peter.

Why did it suddenly feel like the klein in front of her had changed, exuding the pheromones of a mature man, as if he were no longer a child, but a...

Like rain after a long drought...

She awkwardly said to klein, "You must be Kline, right? Peter often mentions you at home, saying you're his best friend and have helped him a lot. Thank you for thinking of me and giving me this job."

"Not at all, I should be the one thanking you for coming to help." klein waved his hand quickly and stepped aside. "Aunt May, please come in. The shop was just renovated and is still a bit messy, so please don't mind."

"It's fine! It's fine!"

Aunt May followed klein inside. Behind his back, she pinched herself hard. What was wrong with her? Kline was still a child!

Why couldn't she control herself upon seeing a fit young man? Was it because she had been empty for too long? She'd have to play with her little toys more when she got back.

klein led Aunt May into the shop, introducing it as they walked. "This is the reception area, over there are the display cabinets... The work is simple. Usually, it's just cleaning up and greeting customers when they arrive.

I'll have the items in the display cases clearly priced, and you just sell them at the marked price. Other than that, there's not much else.

Also, for lunch, if you can cook, I can provide the ingredients."

Aunt May curiously looked at the furnishings inside the shop, especially the details full of mysterious Eastern elements, her eyes showing a look of exploration.

"The renovation here is very special and tasteful. Kline, what kind of... shop is this?"

"Uh, it's... an agency that provides special consultations and solutions." klein chose his words carefully, trying to make it easy for Aunt May to understand.

"I mainly handle... unusual troubles. For example, if a house feels uneasy, if someone has nightmares, or if they feel something is just not right. We provide investigations and some... traditional soothing methods."

He pointed to the Talismans, compasses, and Peach Wood Swords that hadn't been put into the display cabinets yet. "We use some traditional tools and methods from the East."

Aunt May nodded as if she half-understood. "It sounds very mysterious. I'm sure you'll be able to help those in need."

"I hope so. Let's talk about the salary." klein thought for a moment. "Work seven days a week, Monday to Friday, about eight hours a day. Saturday and Sunday are just for the morning.

Weekly salary... let's set it at one thousand dollars for now. If business gets better later, we'll adjust it. Does that work for you?"

A thousand dollars a week for such a relaxed and free job was already quite generous in New York.

Aunt May was clearly surprised and said quickly, "Kline, this... this is a bit too much, isn't it?"

"Not at all, Aunt May, you're worth this price. You'll be the only one looking after the shop.

Besides, you're Peter's family. I certainly can't treat you poorly."

Aunt May finally nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Then... thank you, Kline. I'll do my best."

"Great!" klein clapped his hands. "In a few days, once I've tidied up and finished the paperwork, you can start. I'll teach you some basic reception procedures and item management then."

"No need, I'll help you clean up now. You men are never careful with chores."

Chapter 22: Daredevil

Over the next few days, klein left the shop to Aunt Mei to clean up.

He himself went to find a lawyer to handle the procedures needed for opening the shop.

Can you believe it? In America, you need a lawyer for every little thing. Because if you don't, you can't get even the smallest task done.

It was simply outrageous beyond belief—absolutely ridiculous!

klein learned from Tony about a place called "Murdock & Associates."

It was said that the service here was good, the lawyers were diligent, and the prices were fair.

klein drove there and went upstairs.

A receptionist saw klein: "Hello, sir. How can I help you?"

"I need to consult on some procedures and contract issues related to running a shop."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No, Tony referred me."

"Alright, sir. Please wait a moment while I confirm." The receptionist nodded politely, picked up the intercom, and spoke a few words in a low voice.

A moment later, she hung up, her professional smile returning. "klein, Mr. Murdock is available right now. Please follow me; his office is at the end of the hallway."

She turned around, her high heels clicking sharply on the polished marble floor as she led klein through the simply decorated reception area to a dark wooden door at the end of the hallway.

On the door was a brass nameplate engraved with "Matt Murdock."

The receptionist tapped lightly on the door.

"Come in," a gentle, clear male voice called out from inside.

"Mr. Murdock, this is klein, a client referred by Tony."

After speaking, the receptionist politely withdrew and softly closed the door.

Inside the office sat a man wearing a well-pressed suit and a dark tie.

He looked young, around thirty, with handsome features, but most notably, he wore a pair of uniquely styled sunglasses.

Although the sunglasses obscured his eyes, klein could feel that the man seemed to be looking exactly where he was standing.

[Ding!]

[Detected key Marvel plot character: Matt Murdock]

[Identity: Lawyer, Daredevil, The Devil of Hell's Kitchen]

[Prompt: Host has encountered a new plot character. Reward: Gacha attempt +1! Would you like to start the draw now?]

"Not for now," klein thought to himself.

"klein, please have a seat." Murdock had a professional smile on his face.

His voice was steady and clear, with a magnetic quality that instinctively made people feel trust.

"Thank you." klein sat in the chair across from the desk.

"I'm Matt Murdock. How can I help you?" Murdock got straight to the point.

"Hello, Mr. Murdock. My name is klein." klein also stated his purpose directly.

"I've just taken over a storefront in Brooklyn and plan to open a... well, a special consultancy firm.

I need to handle the relevant business licenses and tax registrations. I'm not very familiar with these procedures, so I'd like to commission your firm to handle them."

Murdock listened and nodded, his finger tapping lightly on the desk, seemingly in deep thought.

"Special consultancy... what specific business does it entail? It might involve applying for special types of permits and could face certain regulatory requirements."

klein had already prepared his explanation: "It's mainly providing non-traditional physical and mental relaxation and environmental adjustment advice, involving some ancient Eastern traditional methods.

In essence, it's similar to psychological or life counseling, but the methods are... unique."

klein paused and added: "It won't involve medical practices, nor will it involve any form of religious ritual.

It's more about providing advice and selling some related auxiliary cultural products."

Murdock listened quietly, his face behind the sunglasses showing no change in expression, but klein could feel that the other man was focusing intensely, listening to and analyzing every word he said.

Even the subtle changes in his heartbeat and breathing.

"I see." After a moment, Murdock spoke, "If that's the case, the main legal procedures are standard business registration and tax filing.

However, since you mentioned 'traditional methods' and 'cultural products,' extra care may be needed in advertising and product descriptions to avoid wording that could be misunderstood by consumer protection agencies or the Food and Drug Administration.

We can help you draft the relevant disclaimers and user agreements to ensure your business operates compliantly within the legal framework."

"Additionally, as a new small business, I suggest you also consider intellectual property protection, such as your shop name and logo. If you have unique service processes or product formulas, you might also consider filing for those."

"That's exactly why I need professional help." klein was very satisfied.

"Mr. Murdock, I'd like to commission your firm to handle all these matters, including potential day-to-day legal consulting..."

"We can provide a package service." Murdock quoted a price that was quite fair.

"This fee covers the entire process from registration to obtaining all necessary permits, as well as basic legal consulting for the first year.

If additional legal disputes or more complex contracts need to be handled, there will be extra charges based on the situation."

"Very reasonable." klein nodded readily. "But... is it possible not to pay?"

"Of course not."

"It is possible!"

"It really isn't. Sir, if you're joking with me, we can stop here. If you're here to provoke me, I will call the police."

klein leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed, and spoke with an air of indifference.

"Mr. Murdock, if you want everyone in New York, from the police to the underworld, to know that you are the Daredevil who haunts Hell's Kitchen, then by all means, go ahead!"

Murdock reached for the white cane beside his desk. His face remained expressionless, but his gentle professional smile had completely vanished, his lips pressed into a cold, hard line.

"klein, I don't know what you're talking about. If you don't have any actual legal matters to consult on, I think our meeting is over."

"Don't be in such a hurry to kick me out, Lawyer." klein crossed his legs, his finger tapping lightly on his knee.

"My lips are sealed. Even if you don't do this for me, I won't reveal your identity. However, I have a proposal—"

He leaned forward, looking at Murdock.

"You help me get the shop's paperwork done and handle all the shop's future legal matters permanently. In return... I can help you with a small favor."

"klein, I don't know any Daredevil, and I don't need your help with anything. Please leave; I need to get to work."

"Right, right, right! When things like Bullseye or Kingpincome up, I hope you can handle them yourself."

After speaking, klein prepared to get up and leave.

"Wait..."

Chapter 23: Plan and Cooperation

Just as klein's hand touched the doorknob, at the moment he was about to push the door open and leave, a voice came.

"Wait a moment, klein."

klein smiled slightly. Even at the very end, he still had to shine my shoes.

"What is it, Mr. Murdoch? Didn't you want me to leave? Have you changed your mind?"

Murdoch sat behind the large desk, his body leaning slightly forward, hands folded on the desktop.

Although the lenses obscured his eyes, klein could clearly feel that he was observing him.

"I admit, klein, your'speech' just now was very... persuasive."

"But, why should I trust you?"

"Trust me?" klein chuckled, paced back to the front of the desk, but didn't sit down, just tapped the clean desktop with his fingertips.

"You should be well aware of the rumors about that'Scavenger' in Hell's Kitchen recently, right?"

The corners of Murdoch's mouth tightened imperceptibly: "You mean that 'Ghost' who, in just over a month, wiped out several gang dens and didn't even spare the agents under Kingpin? The one who comes and goes without a trace?"

"Bingo!" klein snapped his fingers, his smile radiant. "Who do you think it is?"

Murdoch was silent for a few seconds, then slowly shook his head: "There are many rumors, but no evidence... Is it you? klein, empty words are not proof..."

Before Murdoch could finish speaking, his hand gripping the blind cane tightened abruptly. His body leaned backward at a reaction speed that surpassed that of an ordinary person, and the cane in his hand suddenly rose as if it had a life of its own, blocking in front of him!

"Swish—!"

An extremely faint sound of breaking air rang out almost the same instant the cane was raised.

But his movement was still too slow.

No, not too slow.

It was that the attack came too fast, too strange, completely exceeding his past experience.

Immediately after, Murdoch froze in place.

On the special sunglasses on his face, two parallel, brand-new cut marks appeared silently.

Then they broke into three pieces.

A drop of cold sweat slowly seeped from Murdoch's temple, sliding down his well-defined jawline.

Murdoch perceived that the attack had grazed his eyelids in that instant.

If the other party had wanted to, it wouldn't have just been the sunglasses that were cut.

"Now," klein brushed off the non-existent dust from his cuffs, "do you need more proof, Mr. Lawyer?"

The office was silent, with only the faint hum of the central air conditioning.

The fragments of the sunglasses scattered on Murdoch's knees. He slowly lowered the cane he had held in front of him and let out a long breath.

"I understand. So, how do you want to cooperate?"

"Cooperate?" klein sneered, sat back down opposite Murdoch, propped his feet on the edge of the desk, his face wearing undisguised mockery.

"To be honest, Mr. Lawyer, if I had wanted your life, you would have been gone just now. You couldn't have blocked it at all."

"So, whether it's taking out Bullseye or destroying Kingpin's den, I don't need you. I can handle it alone."

klein paused, looked at Murdoch's face, which remained calm behind the broken sunglasses, and continued:

"The reason I want to cooperate with you is simply because I value that you are a lawyer."

"When I open a shop, I need someone to help me handle all those messy legal documents, licenses, taxes, and maybe other troubles in the future."

"I simply hate trouble. Otherwise, why do you think I came to you?"

Murdoch's expression was a bit unpleasant, but he didn't refute, nor could he refute.

That strike just now was so fast that even his proud super senses could barely catch its trajectory, and its precision and control were shocking.

The other party was right; if the target had been his throat or heart...

"So," klein leaned back in his chair and spread his hands, "my conditions are very simple. From the day my shop opens, all legal-related matters will be handled by you."

"Including but not limited to registration, tax filing, dealing with inspections, and handling potential complaints or disputes. And I will help you take out Kingpin and his forces."

"How about it? Is this deal fair?"

Murdoch's fingers unconsciously rubbed against the smooth surface of his cane, as if weighing the pros and cons.

Finally, he spoke, his voice somewhat dry: "I agree to your terms. You mentioned Kingpin and Bullseye just now. When do we start?"

klein was stunned by his question, then almost laughed out loud: "Damn, why are you in such a rush? Did Kingpinsteal your wife or kill your parents? Why do you want him dead so badly?!"

"The hatred of killing a father is irreconcilable!"

"Moreover, Kingpin is the underground emperor of all of New York and even America. He controls most of the dark industries in the U.S."

"For every day he lives longer, someone lives in misery for another day. Every day delayed, another family might be broken, another person might fall or even die."

klein looked at Murdoch with confusion: "Are you a saint? You are!"

"Besides, the people of the U.S. living in misery—that's the fault of those lords in the White House and on Capitol Hill. It's a systemic issue, a blessing of capitalism!"

"What the hell does it have to do with Kingpin? Without Kingpin, there will be Silverpin or Copperpin popping up. This is a soil problem! It's not something that can be solved by killing one person! Naive!"

Murdoch was left speechless by klein's twisted logic, but he still persisted, his voice carrying a certain stubbornness: "But Kingpin's existence makes this'soil' even more sinful and painful... If a second person appears, I will still fight them to the end."

"Stop, stop!" klein quickly made a pause gesture, looking disgusted. "I'm not like you. I have no interest in listening to your bullshit!"

"People like you shouldn't be born in the U.S.; you should go to Latin America. They need people like you there! Go there and start a revolution."

"Then why do you want to kill Kingpin?"

"Of course, it's for his money! Those green, golden, shiny little darlings in his private treasury are so cute. Putting them with Kingpin is a waste! I can give them a better future."

Murdoch: "..."

Silence is the Cambridge of tonight!

After a long while, Murdoch seemed to regain his composure, carrying an indescribable sense of absurdity: "Just... because of this?"

"What else?" klein retorted matter-of-factly, "Could it be for love and justice? Lawyer, wake up, this is America."

"This place doesn't need justice; it only needs justice from the sky!"

klein stood up and smoothed out the hem of his clothes, which didn't actually need smoothing.

"Handle the paperwork as soon as possible. As for Kingpin, after you finish the paperwork and come to my place, we'll discuss it."

With that, he no longer paid attention to Murdoch's complex and indescribable expression, hummed a tune off-key, pulled open the office door, and walked out in a dashing manner.

Chapter 24: Paperwork Complete

It had been five days since he returned from Murdoch's place.

The shop had long been cleaned up.

The built-in display cabinet occupying the entire wall gleamed with a mysterious luster under the warm-toned spotlights.

Inside, klein had arranged various items full of Eastern mystery in a staggered and classified manner.

The independent display shelves on the left held several statues.

There was the majesty of Guan Gong holding a blade;

The compassion of Guanyin holding a vase;

And the joy of the God of Wealth.

These statues were not the cheap resin or crude ceramics common in the market.

They were hand-carved by klein, made of wood, jade, and bronze.

Each one had been personally engraved with intricate runes by klein.

Just standing there, they seemed to carry an aura of peace and tranquility; a single glance was enough to quiet the restlessness in one's heart.

The central area was filled with a dazzling array of "Peace Charms."

There were exquisite Chinese knots woven with red thread containing hidden rune papers;

There were pendants carved from small pieces of peach wood or jade into auspicious shapes like Bagua, Pixiu, or gourds;

And there were sachets sewn from special fabric with lined runes.

These peace charms were placed in small trays lined with dark velvet or hung on delicate display racks, each one meticulously crafted.

Their core was woven with silk threads guided by the Five Elements Power, steadily emitting a faint force field that "cleared the heart and calmed the spirit."

Long-term wear could help ordinary people regulate their emotions and improve sleep, providing excellent relief for so-called "anxiety," "nightmares," or "constant bad luck" caused by subtle disturbances in environmental magnetic fields or excessive mental stress.

This was the volume-driving product klein intended to push, with moderate pricing, aimed at the vast number of ordinary customers troubled by life's trifles and invisible pressures.

On the far right of the display cabinet, professional props were displayed—various talismans drawn with genuine functions and items sealing the Five Elements Power.

This was prepared for those customers who might encounter truly strange occurrences or demons. Of course, it also meant adding a few more zeros to the price.

On the solid wood long table in the innermost part, there were compasses, wooden swords, stacks of neatly cut yellow paper talismans, boxes of pure cinnabar, and wolf-hair brushes of varying sizes, neatly placed next to brush racks and inkstones.

This was for the big clients who needed on-site production.

It had to be a big client; klein wouldn't lift a finger for anyone smaller.

That afternoon, klein was sitting on the sofa drinking tea.

At this moment, Mei was bent over, focused on pouring the freshly brewed black tea into the plain white porcelain cup in front of klein.

Today, Mei was wearing a lotus-root pink silk shirt. The material was thin and soft, and with her movements, it faintly outlined the contours of her underwear.

Below, she wore an off-white hip-hugging skirt that perfectly clung to her plump yet firm waist and hip curves; bending over like that exposed her weak points.

This posture caused the neckline of her shirt to open wide, revealing her delicate collarbones and the milky-white curves beneath.

She was very close, so close that klein could clearly smell the fresh scent of shampoo in her hair, mixed with that mature body fragrance, drilling into his nasal cavity in wisps.

Her wrists were slender, her fingers long, painted with light pink nail polish. The way she held the bone china teapot handle had an indescribable sexiness.

As Mei poured the tea into the cup, the posture between the two became increasingly ambiguous.

klein leaned on the armrest of the single sofa, one arm draped over the back, his posture seemingly casual, even a bit lazy.

But his gaze couldn't help but follow Mei's bent waist, sweeping over the hip line tightly wrapped in fabric with its astonishing undulations, sliding over her slender waist, and finally landing on her lowered profile.

He could see her eyelashes trembling slightly, her cheeks seeming more flushed than usual, not knowing if it was from the steam of the tea or some other reason.

The air seemed to become viscous, with only the faint sound of water pouring into the cup.

Mei seemed to sense that tangible gaze. A strand of brown hair slipped from her elegant bun, hanging by her slightly flushed ear.

She didn't stand up immediately; instead, she maintained that leaning posture, turned her head slightly, and gave klein a glance with flowing eyes.

That look was meaningful... perhaps even she didn't know what it meant? Flirtation? Desire? Or testing?

"Tea... is ready, Klein." Her voice carried a slight, imperceptible tremor.

The distance between the two was so close they could almost feel each other's breathing.

klein could even see the pulse on her fair neck accelerating slightly due to nervousness.

As long as the arm he had draped over the sofa back reached out, or if she accidentally lost her balance—

This thought raced through klein's mind like a wildfire, making his throat feel dry.

He could almost imagine how smooth the skin under that thin silk shirt would be, and how astonishing the elasticity and plumpness of the waist and hips wrapped in that tight skirt would be when held in his hands.

A friend's aunt... it seemed... not impossible?

klein's fingers curled unconsciously on the smooth leather surface of the sofa, the veins on the back of his hand slightly visible.

His gaze deepened, lingering for a moment on Mei's charming face, now flushed with color, then slowly moved down, sweeping past her slender neck, delicate collarbones, and finally settling on the fullness wrapped in the shirt, rising and falling slightly with her breathing.

Mei seemed to be scalded by this more explicit, aggressive gaze, her cheeks turning so red they looked like they might bleed.

Suddenly, the bell at the door rang, signaling someone had entered.

"Is klein here? It's Murdoch."

Mei stood up in a panic, smoothed her hem, her cheeks slightly red, and walked away quickly.

The atmosphere, which had been so ambiguous it was almost explosive, was suddenly shattered.

klein clicked his tongue. "Annoying! Ruining the mood at a critical moment."

"I'm here, come in."

Murdoch walked in carrying a black briefcase. He had changed into a new pair of sunglasses today, his dark grey suit was neatly pressed, and his white cane tapped on the polished dark floor tiles, making a rhythmic sound.

He arrived accurately in front of klein.

"Good afternoon, klein. I hope I didn't disturb you."

"You already have." klein complained inwardly.

Mei brought a cup of coffee. Murdoch tilted his head keenly, nodding slightly in her direction.

"Thank you, ma'am."

klein crossed his legs and tapped his fingers on the sofa armrest.

"Sit! Is the paperwork done?"

Murdoch took a folder out of his briefcase and pushed it onto the coffee table.

"All registration documents, tax registration codes, and business licenses are here. In addition, I have drafted a standard service agreement and a customer disclosure form to avoid potential risk clauses involving the FDA and consumer protection regulations. I need you to review and sign them."

He paused, his sunglasses turning toward the display cabinet.

"Also, regarding these... handicrafts you have on display. I suggest adding labels under each exhibit, stating 'Traditional cultural decoration, does not possess medical efficacy.' Although you said they have a'soothing effect,' legally, it needs to be clearly defined."

klein scanned the documents.

"Sure, Attorney Murdoch, very efficient. It seems you are really in a hurry."

Mei looked at the two of them in confusion.

Murdoch remained expressionless.

"I am simply fulfilling the agreement between us. I will prioritize the legal matters you entrusted to me. As for the others..."

klein picked up a pen, signed his name on the documents with a flourish, and pushed the folder back.

"Done. I've seen your sincerity, so it's time to let you see mine."

Chapter 25: Making a Plan

"Let me know when you're free, and we'll go take out Kingpin directly." klein spoke as if he were just going to the market to buy groceries.

Murdoch didn't say anything, only turning his head toward Aunt Mei.

klein said, "It's fine, Aunt Mei can be trusted. You don't have to hide anything from her."

"klein, Kingpin is no street thug. His residence, office, and the places he frequents are all professionally designed for security, heavily guarded, and he himself is extremely alert."

"More importantly, he has deep-rooted connections across New York's political, business, and judicial circles."

"If anything happens to him, the resulting shockwaves and investigations will be on the scale of a tsunami. We need a plan to ensure that after the operation succeeds, there won't be any lingering consequences that could implicate you or me."

klein clicked his tongue and leaned back into the sofa, arms crossed over his chest, his face full of dismissal.

"Murdoch, you're just overthinking it. A plan? Even the most meticulous plan can't keep up with changes."

"For something like this, we should just find Kingpin and take him out—bam, bam. Grab the stuff and leave."

"Working with people like you is really... like scholars trying to start a rebellion; it'll never get done!"

"klein, Kingpin is the underground emperor of New York. Without a detailed plan, how can we act? This isn't a street brawl; it's a war."

klein leaned forward, staring at Murdoch, his tone Brooklynesque and unyieldingly firm: "Murdoch, I'll tell you one more time! Taking out Kingpin is my business. If you want to join me, you have to listen to me."

Murdoch fell silent for a few seconds, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

He could sense the almost reckless confidence in klein's tone, as well as a hint of impatience.

This was completely different from the cautious and well-planned style he was used to.

Finally, as if reaching a decision, Murdoch took a soft breath and slowly exhaled.

"Fine." Murdoch's voice held a sense of burning his bridges. "klein, I'll trust you one more time. Not in your plan, but in your... ability."

He paused and gave a specific address and time: "I received intelligence that tonight at two in the morning..."

"...Kingpin has a very important shipment being traded at the Brooklyn docks. The quantity and value are extraordinary. I just don't know if he'll show up in person."

"It doesn't matter if he shows up or not." klein waved his hand dismissively. "We'll go wreck the deal first! Make it sting, then follow the clues to his doorstep and send him on his way! Kill two birds with one stone!"

klein stood up and cracked his knuckles, his eyes gleaming with eagerness.

"Alright, it's settled then. See you at the docks tonight." klein slapped his thigh, stood up, and walked to the window, watching the sky darken outside.

Murdoch also rose, straightened his suit jacket, tapped his blind cane on the floor, and turned toward the door.

"I'll be there on time. klein, I hope... you really are foolproof."

"Relax, buddy! But let me be clear upfront."

"Once we're there, follow my lead. I don't want to see any extra moves messing up the plan. Our objective is clear—got it?"

Murdoch nodded silently. "Understood. I will... do my best to cooperate."

"Not your best—you must. If you can't, you can back out now. I can go by myself; it'll just take a bit more effort."

"No, I'm going." Murdoch's voice was firm. "There are things I must witness with my own eyes."

"Suit yourself." klein said no more.

Murdoch didn't argue. He picked up his briefcase and walked out of the shop.

Seeing Murdoch leave, Aunt Mei hurried to klein's side and said worriedly:

"That Kingpin is the biggest mob boss in all of New York. You're going to kill him? It's too dangerous!"

klein reached out and pulled Aunt Mei onto his lap.

"Babe, are you worried about me?"

Being held like this, Aunt Mei felt half her body go weak. A mature woman's longing mixed with a long-lost shyness made her ears burn.

She made a token effort to struggle, her fingers pressing against klein's chest, but she didn't use any strength.

"Don't be like this. What if Peter finds out?"

"What's there to fear? When the time comes, he can just call me Uncle! It'll be perfect!"

"You... stop talking nonsense..." Her voice dropped, but her eyes were like honey, sticking to klein's face.

"I'm talking business with you, don't change the subject."

klein kissed Aunt Mei's cheek, his arm tightening around her waist to bring her closer, while his other hand gently brushed a stray hair from her ear.

"It's fine. A little Kingpin is easily handled! Otherwise, why do you think I'd dare to open a shop like this?"

Aunt Mei leaned into klein's embrace, feeling his firm chest and warmth through his shirt. The blush-inducing masculine scent enveloped her, making her greedily reluctant to leave.

"But..." She wanted to say more, but klein's finger gently pressed against her lips.

"No buts. Listen to me." His tone shifted as he leaned close to Aunt Mei's ear, his voice seductive. "Tonight... stay here, okay? Get all cleaned up and wait for me to come back."

The implication was clear. Aunt Mei's face grew even redder, her heart pounding like a drum.

The hot breath from klein's mouth puffed against her ear, making her body tremble slightly.

She naturally understood the subtext, but she suppressed the long-stifled flame in her heart once again.

"I can't. I still have to go back and cook for Peter. If I'm late, he'll worry."

"How old is he? You still have to go home and cook for him every day? You're spoiling him!" klein gave her waist a playful squeeze, eliciting a short gasp.

"If you ask me, you should let him go hungry for a couple of meals. Or better yet, tell him to find a girlfriend and have her cook for him."

Aunt Mei let out a giggle at his words. She playfully slapped his restless hand and finally stood up from his lap, smoothing out her wrinkled shirt and skirt.

"Stop it..." Aunt Mei walked into the small kitchen in the back, tied on an apron, and began to work efficiently.

Soon, a tantalizing aroma wafted from the kitchen.

Before long, a sumptuous dinner was laid out on the solid wood table.

Pan-seared steak, served with golden roasted potatoes and bright green broccoli, a fragrant bowl of creamy mushroom soup, and a fresh fruit salad.

"Eat while it's hot." Aunt Mei untied her apron and looked at klein, her eyes full of tenderness.

klein didn't stand on ceremony and sat down to feast.

"Delicious! Aunt Mei, your cooking is amazing!" He praised her unreservedly as he ate.

Aunt Mei sat opposite him, holding a water cup in both hands, watching him eat with a smile.

After dinner, Aunt Mei insisted on clearing the dishes, washing them, drying them, and putting them back, leaving the kitchen spotless.

Only after finishing all that did she pick up her handbag.

"I... I really have to go. If I'm any later, I'll miss the subway."

Aunt Mei leaned gently into klein's embrace, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face in his firm chest, taking a deep breath of his scent—a mix of faint tobacco.

Aunt Mei nuzzled against him, then suddenly looked up, stood on her tiptoes, and gave him a quick peck on the lips.

It was a fleeting touch.

"I'm leaving!"

Before klein could react, she turned and pulled open the door, rushing out into the deepening twilight almost as if she were fleeing.

The hurried and erratic clicking of high heels on the pavement soon faded around the street corner.

klein stood there, touching his lips where a soft warmth and a faint trace of lipstick seemed to remain. He watched the direction she had disappeared: "That little minx, she sure runs fast..."

Chapter 26: The Plan Begins

1:45 AM, at an abandoned cargo terminal in Brooklyn.

The salty, humid sea breeze carried the scent of rust and engine oil, weaving through the empty storage yard and rusted shipping containers, emitting a wailing sound like the sobbing of countless vengeful spirits.

A few remaining streetlights with dim, yellowish light barely illuminated a small area, while further out lay an abyssal darkness, with only the dull sound of waves crashing against the concrete embankment constantly echoing.

A figure, like a ghost merging into the night, appeared silently beneath the shadow of a massive, abandoned gantry crane.

klein was wearing an inconspicuous dark gray tracksuit and soft-soled sneakers, his hands tucked into his pockets, looking as leisurely as if he had just wandered here by accident.

Through the "Parasitic Thread" on Murdoch, klein had locked onto his location with almost no effort.

Several tough threads shot out from his cuffs, precisely wrapping around the steel beam above.

klein was pulled upward as if weightless, and with a few nimble movements to gain leverage, he vaulted silently onto the gantry frame, which stood over ten meters above the ground.

Murdoch was curled up like a statue in a corner with the best vantage point; he had changed out of his stiff suit into a dark, form-fitting outfit designed for mobility.

He wore a matching hood, and his blind cane had been replaced by a pair of attachable short sticks.

He seemed to merge with the surrounding darkness, with only his extremely faint breathing revealing his presence.

When klein landed beside him as lightly as a cat, Murdoch's body tensed imperceptibly for a split second before relaxing again.

He didn't turn his head, but his low voice sounded, kept very quiet: "You're here. Early, compared to the agreed time."

"Idle time is idle time, so I came over to enjoy the view." klein crouched down beside him and looked out through the dilapidated window; the field of vision was wide, offering a clear view of the situation at the terminal below.

"Have you had dinner? Want a bar?" He even had the leisure to pull an energy bar from his pocket, tear open the packaging, and take a crunchy bite.

Murdoch turned his head, "looking" in klein's direction, his brow beneath the mask seemingly knitting slightly.

"Are you... not nervous at all?"

"What's there to be nervous about?" klein said, chewing the energy bar, his voice muffled.

"You've just done too little killing. Once you've done it enough, you'll be familiar with it; it's no different from eating or drinking."

Just then, several beams of car headlights pierced the darkness deep within the terminal, approaching from afar.

"Target acquired," Murdoch said suddenly in a low voice.

Soon, three black SUVs and two enclosed box trucks, maintaining a vigilant distance, slowly drove into a relatively open area in the center of the terminal, barely illuminated by the few remaining streetlights.

The vehicles stopped, and the engines were cut.

The doors opened, and over a dozen tough men in black tactical gear, armed with automatic weapons, quickly exited the vehicles, dispersing with well-trained efficiency to occupy surrounding cover, vigilantly observing their surroundings.

A bald, burly man with a hideous scar running from his brow bone to the corner of his mouth jumped down from the passenger seat of the lead SUV.

He wore a tactical vest with two pistols tucked into his waistband, his eyes fierce and malevolent.

"It's'Scarface'," Murdoch said, lowering his voice and speeding up his speech. "One of Kingpin's most trusted hounds—ruthless. Since he's escorting it himself, this shipment isn't light. But I don't know if Kingpin himself... is here."

"Kingpin isn't here," klein said, licking the energy bar crumbs from the corner of his mouth. He narrowed his eyes slightly, looking toward the shadows of the vehicles, at a visual blind spot on top of a shipping container.

"However, Bullseye is here."

"What?" Murdoch turned his head sharply to "look" at klein. "How do you know?"

"Why do you care how I know? I just know."

He looked at Murdoch, his eyes sharp as blades in the dim light.

"Listen, leave Scarface and his small-fry underlings to you. I'll take out the little bug hiding in the dark first, then come help you. Got it?"

"Understood," Murdoch replied in a deep voice, his body lowering slightly as he entered combat mode.

He didn't ask again how klein knew Bullseye was present. He tilted his head slightly, his super senses fully engaged, catching every movement on the terminal below.

klein took one last look at Scarface below, who had begun directing his men to unload the trucks, then glanced at the location where, in his perception, something was lurking like a venomous snake in the dark.

"Move out. Make it quick."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure, like a phantom, silently melted into the shadows below, creeping toward the position where Bullseye was hiding.

The slaughter began!

Murdoch also quickly approached Scarface below.

Scarface heard a sound and looked up: "Ambush! There's someone above!"

Bang! Bang-bang-bang! Bang-bang-bang!

The people below began firing indiscriminately at Murdoch.

Murdoch leaped through the gaps between containers and steel frames like a bird in flight, relying on his extraordinary senses and agile skills to trace unpredictable zigzag paths through the complex terrain, dodging the attacks from below.

Bullets chased his afterimage, carving a series of sparks into the rusted sheet metal and kicking up puffs of dust on the concrete, but they were always a half-beat too slow.

"Left! Top of the container at three o'clock! Focus fire!" Scarface's roar was piercing amidst the gunfire.

Several gunmen immediately turned their muzzles.

But Murdoch was faster!

He kicked off the edge of a container, his body twisting strangely in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the sweeping barrage, while simultaneously whipping out his short stick to strike precisely on a gunman's wrist.

"Crack!" The sound of bone breaking accompanied a scream.

The pistol flew from the man's hand, and Murdoch landed like a falcon diving for prey, slamming his other short stick into the opponent's temple; the gunman collapsed without a sound.

Using the momentum of his descent, Murdoch rolled on the ground and hid behind a pile of old tires, which were immediately shredded by bullets.

"Surround him! Don't let him jump again!" Scarface was experienced and saw that Murdoch relied on mobility, so he immediately ordered his men to tighten the encirclement, weaving a web of fire to compress the space for evasion.

Murdoch leaned against the tires, breathing slightly, his super hearing fully capturing the enemies' positions, breathing, and even heartbeats.

Seven men, in a fan-shaped formation, were slowly closing in. Scarface was directing from the side and rear, not yet stepping forward himself.

Murdoch was calculating distances, angles, and the route for his next assault.

Meanwhile, at a higher location.

Bullseye, like a patient spider hunting, was curled up on a maintenance platform behind a large cooling tower.

The view here was excellent, allowing him to overlook the entire terminal trading zone, while the complex pipes behind him facilitated concealment and movement.

He toyed with three custom-made shuttle-shaped throwing knives, his fingertips sensing the cold metal touch and precise weight, watching the chaotic gunfire and fighting below with a cruel, joyful curve on his lips.

"Daredevil... still likes playing the acrobat so much." He whispered to himself, his gaze scanning below like a falcon, looking for an opportunity to land a fatal blow on Murdoch.

Suddenly, every hair on his body stood on end! A cold premonition of being targeted by a deadly viper gripped his heart!

No sound, no aura, but his killer instinct told him—danger! Coming from the side and rear.

Without a second thought, his body lunged to the side as if spring-loaded!

"Whoosh—!"

A sharp screech, loud enough to tear the eardrums, grazed right past his ear!

The metal pipe he had been leaning against was struck and instantly pierced with a bowl-sized hole, the edges shimmering with the viscous texture of metal instantly melted by extreme heat.

The thread, imbued with the scorching properties of the "Fire" Talisman.

"Not bad reflexes, little bug." A mocking voice sounded like a phantom from behind Bullseye.

Bullseye's pupils constricted; he had no time to look up, so he flicked his wrist like lightning!

Chapter 27: The Plan Proceeds

Swish!

A cold glint, accompanied by a shrill whistle, shot towards the source of the sound!

Its speed was comparable to a bullet, if not faster!

"Puff, puff, puff!"

The pale golden light membrane barrier formed by the "Vajra Talisman" in front of klein instantly filled with cracks and then completely shattered!

It turned out that Bullseye's throwing knives were not just one, but three, launched in the manner of a rapid-fire arrow, one knife following closely after another.

Last time Bullseye failed to break klein's shield, he went back and studied for a long time before coming up with this method.

"Let's see how you block this now!" A fierce light erupted in Bullseye's eyes. The moment the throwing knives were released, his body had already sprung up like a cheetah, pouncing towards a shadow filled with discarded cable coils to his front side.

"Die!" Bullseye was in mid-air, his hands waving like phantoms!

All kinds of throwing knives, flying needles, and prism darts of different shapes and for different effects, like an enraged swarm of bees, brought a deathly shriek that tore through the air, forming a metallic storm with no blind spots, completely enveloping klein and the space several meters around him!

To ensure a one-hit kill, Bullseye had even prepared to use his trump card special weapon—a miniature thermobaric bomb!

He wanted to tear this eerie enemy and that entire area to pieces!

However, just as his muscles were tensed, his mind highly focused, and he was ready to release the thermobaric bomb—

His movements froze.

It was not that he wanted to stop, but his body refused to obey.

It was as if countless invisible, incredibly tough threads had appeared out of thin air, instantly entangling his limb joints, neck, and even his eyelids!

These threads were so fine, yet so tough, that at the most critical moment when he was exerting the most force—when his old force was spent and his new force had yet to arise—they firmly "fixed" him in mid-air!

But for a killer of his level, one second was the difference between life and death.

"Pfft!"

A soft sound.

Bullseye saw the World spinning.

He saw the lights of the pier below, saw the stars filling the sky, saw his own body, and that young man in grey clothes had appeared behind his body at some unknown time, casually flicking his fingers.

Then, he saw his own body, gushing with scalding blood, slowly falling from the sky.

"Idiot." klein's voice came calmly, as if he had just swatted a fly.

"The 'Vajra Talisman' was deliberately let you break. Otherwise, how would you have gotten excited enough to reveal a flaw?"

"Parasitic Thread."

Back during their first confrontation, when that "bullet thread" that pierced his lung hit him, klein had already planted several "Parasitic Threads," so fine they were impossible to detect, onto Bullseye's body.

Even Kingpin had "Parasitic Threads" on him that were passed over by Bullseye.

Otherwise, how would he have known that Kingpin wasn't around tonight?

From the very first moment klein saw Bullseye, he had already thought of Kingpin, that novice village boss of the Marvel Universe.

These "Parasitic Threads" were only activated and tightened by klein just now, at the moment when Bullseye's spirit was most focused, his killing intent most boiling, and he thought he had victory in his grasp.

Until his death, Bullseye's eyes were still frozen with unbelievable horror and a trace of bewildered confusion.

He could never have imagined that he would die in such a... frustrating way.

klein picked up the thermobaric bomb from Bullseye's hand and put it away.

Below, Murdoch's battle had also reached a white-hot stage.

He had to hurry and help out.

At this moment on the pier, the screeching of metal and the bursting of firelight were interwoven into a sonata of death.

Murdoch's figure was like a black ghost in the hail of bullets, every dodge precise to the millimeter. The blind cane in his hand turned into a deadly long whip, each swing accompanied by the dull sound of shattering bones and suppressed screams.

But human strength has its limits.

The men Scar brought were too numerous, and they were well-trained and coordinated.

They divided into several squads, firing alternately, using crossfire to weave an increasingly dense web of death.

They kept throwing grenades at the dead corner of the container where he was hiding, forcing him to risk moving laterally again, exposing himself to more gun barrels.

"Rocket launcher! Bring it to me, I'll blast him out!" Scar hid behind an armored car, his hideous face with twitching jowls, roaring at his men.

A burly man heard this and immediately rushed to an off-road vehicle with an open trunk, carrying a heavy M72 LAW Rocket launcher from inside.

After taking it, Scar skillfully loaded and aimed, the pitch-black launch tube locking onto the pile of wooden crate cover that Murdoch had just flashed into.

Murdoch's super senses had already captured that deadly crisis—

But he was currently tightly pinned down by at least three automatic rifles, having just avoided shrapnel from two grenades exploding in mid-air. His old force was spent, new force had not yet arisen, and his body was at an extremely awkward balance point.

Can't dodge! Simply can't dodge! Tonight I'm going to end up here!

This thought pierced his mind like an ice pick.

Just at the moment Scar's finger pressed towards the trigger—

"Chila!"

An extremely slight sound, as if tearing thick canvas, rang out.

The grimace on Scar's face suddenly froze.

He felt his right shoulder lighten, and a strange, empty sense of weightlessness came over him.

He instinctively looked down, only to see his entire right arm, which was carrying the Rocket launcher, severed at the root from the shoulder, slowly separating from his body along a cut as smooth as a mirror.

At the severed arm, blood gushed out like a fountain, tracing a desolate and beautiful arc under the dim lights of the pier.

"Uh... Ah—!!!"

The delayed, intense pain and unbelievable fear instantly swallowed him. The shrill scream, not sounding human, had just rushed out of his throat when it turned into a "huff, huff" sound, as if his neck were being throttled.

Because a ghostly figure had already landed behind him.

klein did not even glance at him, just casually made a slash.

The thread extending from his fingertip, infused with the sharp power of the "Sharp Metal Talisman," was like the sharpest laser scalpel, easily slicing open Scar's thick neck.

The scream stopped abruptly.

His head rolled off, the headless corpse swayed for a moment, and together with the severed arm still holding the firing trigger and the Rocket launcher, it crashed to the ground.

Scar's lackeys did not even see how the other party attacked!

Fear, like a cold viper, instantly coiled around their hearts.

"Fire! Kill him!!!"

The remaining people frantically turned their gun barrels, pouring all their firepower towards klein!

"Da da da da—!!!"

"Bang bang bang—!!"

Bullets, like a violent metal torrent, instantly submerged the position where klein had been.

The cement ground was battered, with debris flying everywhere, and countless dazzling sparks bloomed on the iron sheet of the nearby container.

However, klein's figure was no longer in its original place.

Just before the bullets reached him, he moved.

His figure seemed to turn into a dozen blurry afterimages, shuttling, refracting, and leaping through the hail of bullets in a way that completely defied the laws of physics!

Sometimes flashing past like a swing between two towering floodlights, sometimes suddenly appearing from the shadows on the ground like a ghost.

Every flash was accompanied by death.

"Shoo—pfft!" A thread, like a viper flicking its tongue, drilled into a gunman's forehead, exited from the back of his head, bringing up a spray of red and white matter.

"Crack!" Another gunman, who was frantically firing at his afterimage, had his neck violently twisted at an eerie angle and collapsed softly to the ground.

"Boom!" A grenade that had just had its safety pin pulled and had not been thrown yet exploded in the thrower's hand, blowing him and his two companions beside him into pieces.

klein launched a bloody slaughter among this group of heavily armed gangsters.

The efficiency was breathtaking.

Murdoch's pressure suddenly lessened. He leaned against a rusted iron tank, panting slightly, his super senses taking in everything happening on the battlefield.

Those gangsters roared and fired in vain, but could not even touch the corner of the enemy's clothes, and in confusion and fear, they turned into warm corpses one by one.

In less than a minute, there were very few gangsters left standing on the pier.

The thick smell of blood mixed with gunpowder smoke permeated the damp air.

Chapter 28: Wrapping Up the Plan

Murdoch used his white cane to nudge aside a corpse blocking his path and strode toward the several container trucks parked at the edge of the pier, their cargo compartments sealed tight.

He pried open the cargo door, revealing neatly stacked blocks wrapped in waterproof tarp.

He sliced open a corner; the snow-white powder glimmered with a cold sheen under the moonlight.

"At least two tons of high-purity cocaine, with a market value of... over a hundred million!" Murdoch frowned, his voice laced with disgust. "Enough to turn half the children in New York into walking corpses."

Without further hesitation, he used the tip of his cane to slash open the bags one by one, dumping them into the pitch-black seawater.

On the other side, klein was cursing as he rummaged through the corpses and vehicles.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

He kicked open a briefcase, spilling out a few bundles of cash that amounted to no more than two or three hundred thousand.

A storage locker in another vehicle yielded some gold bars and jewelry, but converted, it was only worth seven or eight hundred thousand.

Added to the bearer bonds he'd scavenged from Scarface, the total barely crossed the one-million threshold.

To an ordinary person, this was an astronomical sum, but for klein, who had just taken down a major Kingpintrade hub and was hoping for a windfall, it felt like having a fly stuffed down his throat.

"Damn it, all that trouble for one night, and this is the only payoff?" klein hauled the canvas bag stuffed with cash and junk, his expression uglier than the rust on the pier.

"Is that old bastard Kingpin going broke? Is this pittance really worth him sending Bullseye to watch over?"

"klein," Murdoch said, having finished with the cargo, walking back to his side. His heightened senses picked up on klein's dissatisfaction.

"This shipment was destined for overseas. The buyer would have transferred the payment directly into Kingpin's offshore account via encrypted channels. These..."

Murdoch pointed his cane at the corpses and vehicles on the ground. "Most likely, this was operating capital for the execution team."

"Operating capital?" klein spat. "Damn it, those bastards won't be needing it now."

Before he could finish his sentence— "Ring... Ring..."

A shrill phone ring suddenly erupted from Scarface's corpse.

klein bent down and fished the stubbornly ringing encrypted satellite phone from the remains of Scarface's suit jacket inner pocket.

The caller ID on the screen showed only a single word: Kingpin.

klein licked his dry lips, grinned, revealing a playful smile, and pressed the answer button.

"How did things go?" A voice came from the other end of the line. It was extraordinarily deep and resonant, carrying the unquestionable authority of someone used to giving orders for years.

"Guess?"

The other end of the line plunged into dead silence. This silence lasted for a full three or four seconds, as if the person on the other end was digesting this completely unexpected and extremely disrespectful response.

"Who are you?" When he spoke again, Kingpin's voice had turned completely cold, like a biting wind across the Siberian tundra.

"Guess?" klein tilted his head, looking at Scarface's severed head on the ground, and nudged it lightly with the toe of his shoe, his tone as lighthearted as if he were playing a boring guessing game.

"I don't care who you are." Kingpin's voice was like a volcano about to erupt. "I will find you. Using every method you can imagine, and every method you can't, I will find you."

"Then, I will crush your bones inch by inch, listening to your wails, until you beg me to kill you—and that will be your most extravagant wish."

"Oh, oh, oh! You scared me, I'm so terrified!" klein patted his chest exaggeratedly, his voice filled with mockery, then shifted his tone to something as casual as idle chatter.

"Right, almost forgot to tell you. That lackey of yours with the scar on his face? I sent him to meet Satan."

"And that short guy who likes playing with darts, what was his name again? Bullseye? Right, that's him. The two of them are probably in hell right now, waiting in line to get their numbers."

"Don't worry, no rush. They're a bit lonely on the journey, so I'll send you down to reunite with them soon."

"Family is all about staying together, wouldn't you agree?"

"Haha... Hahaha..." On the other end, Kingpin laughed in sheer rage.

The laughter held not a shred of warmth, only overwhelming killing intent.

"Very well. Very well indeed." The laughter ceased abruptly.

"Manhattan, the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, Money Apartment. I'll be waiting for you."

With that, not even giving klein a chance to speak again, the call was decisively cut off, leaving only a series of busy signals. "Beep, beep, beep—"

klein tossed the phone aside next to Scarface's headless corpse, brushed the non-existent dust from his hands, and turned to look at Murdoch, his lips curling into a smug arc.

"See, Lawyer." He spread his hands. "Who needs a meticulous plan? Provoke him a little, and the address is ours. Simple."

"klein, Kingpin... based on what I know of him, this is more likely a trap. A trap carefully laid, waiting for you to walk right into it."

klein grinned nonchalantly, revealing a mouthful of white teeth that looked somewhat sinister in the flickering light of the pier.

"A trap? Of course I know that. Scarface and Bullseye both bit the dust here; if he still brazenly gave out his real address, then he'd be a total idiot."

"But since he opened his mouth and gave a location, even if it's a den of dragons and tigers, we have to go take a look, right? Otherwise, it wouldn't be giving Kingpin enough face, would it?"

Murdoch gripped his cane tighter.

"There could be heavy ambushes, the most advanced detection and lethal weapons, perhaps even..."

"Isn't that perfect? Wipe them all out in one go, saves trouble later. Murdoch, do you know what I hate most?"

He turned around, looking at the bright yet indifferent lights of New York City in the distance.

"I hate trouble more than anything. If something can be solved once, I never do it twice. Since he's laid out the path, we'll go meet him."

Murdoch didn't try to persuade him further. He heard the determination in klein's words, and he had just witnessed his unfathomable abilities.

The two drove off in Scarface's sedan, heading toward Manhattan's Upper East Side.

"What do you think is waiting for us there?" Murdoch asked suddenly, his voice sounding muffled in the enclosed cabin.

"Who cares what's there." klein leaned back, closing his eyes to rest, his fingers tapping unconsciously on his knees.

"Soldiers come, we block; water comes, we earth-cover. If there's an ambush, we dismantle it; if there's an expert, we slaughter them. We're going there to kill, not to be guests, so why overthink it?"

The car passed through the brightly lit tunnel and entered Manhattan Island.

The streets gradually became cleaner and wider, the buildings on both sides more magnificent and exquisite, with few pedestrians, exuding a luxury entirely different from Queens and Brooklyn.

Finally, the car turned silently into a quiet side street one block away from the target address and parked in the shadows.

"It's up ahead," Murdoch said in a low voice.

"The main building is a renovated, classical-style apartment block. Eight floors above ground, likely two more underground."

"There are armed guards at the main entrance, dressed in the uniforms of a legitimate security company. There are hidden observation posts on the roof and at the high points of the adjacent buildings on both sides."

"The surrounding streets seem normal, but there are at least four teams of mobile sentries disguised as cleaners, night joggers, or couples."

Murdoch's pace was calm, yet he clearly outlined a three-dimensional map of the defenses.

"klein, this is indeed a trap, and a highly targeted, heavily guarded one at that. Kingpin has likely mobilized a considerable force."

"Now that's more like it." klein pushed open the car door and stretched his neck, which gave a slight cracking sound.

"Always bullying the weak gets boring. Let's go, Lawyer. Let's go meet the underground emperor of New York and see what he's really made of."

Chapter 29: Kingpin (Part 1)

klein closed the car door and said to Murdoch, "Don't follow me. I will attack from the front and draw all the attention away for you. Advance as far as you can, and be sure to protect yourself. As for Kingpin, I will take him out for you."

Murdoch turned his head, his sunglasses facing klein's direction, and remained silent for about two seconds.

"Thank you for helping me draw away most of the security, klein. However, I intend to settle my own score myself."

His voice was not loud, but it carried a steel-like stubbornness. It wasn't a negotiation; it was a declaration.

klein stared at him for a moment, then shrugged indifferently.

"Fine, suit yourself. Lawyer, good luck. Just don't die too quickly; I'm still waiting for you to do the year-end tax planning for my shop."

After speaking, he stopped paying attention to Murdoch, shoved his hands into his pockets, whistled, and walked swaggeringly toward the brightly lit main entrance of the Kingpin apartment building without hiding himself.

As soon as his figure appeared at the street corner, it was immediately locked onto by at least three sets of eyes.

"Stop! Private property, no trespassing!" A burly man in a black suit wearing a headset at the main entrance stepped forward, his hand already resting on his waist.

Two other guards also quickly closed in, forming a triangular pincer formation.

On the street, hidden sentries disguised as cleaners and night joggers slowed their movements, their hands quietly reaching toward where they hid their weapons.

klein acted as if he hadn't heard, never stopping his stride, and even quickening his pace.

"Do it!" the guard leader barked, and the three of them drew their guns almost simultaneously.

However, just as their fingers touched the triggers—

"Psst! Psst! Psst!"

Three almost overlapping, barely audible soft sounds.

The bodies of the three guards went stiff simultaneously, a tiny red dot appearing on each of their throats, and then they slumped to the ground, unable to even let out a scream.

In the shadows of the wall behind them, three nearly transparent "Sharp Gold Threads" with a hint of golden light at their tips slowly retracted into the darkness.

"Enemy attack! Main entrance! Open fire!"

Urgent commands came through the headsets.

In an instant, gunfire erupted!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

"Rat-tat-tat!"

Muzzle flashes from pistols and submachine guns spewed from all directions, and the bullets wove a dense web of fire, engulfing the position where klein stood.

The sniper on the roof also pulled the trigger, the large-caliber sniper bullet tearing through the air with a piercing shriek.

But klein's figure had already vanished from where he stood.

His body twisted like a phantom. At the same time, his ten fingers, like the most dexterous pianist, silently played a symphony of death in the air.

Threads infused with different Five Elements Power shot out in all directions with him as the center!

Wherever they passed, guards and hidden sentries fell in swathes like harvested wheat.

In less than a minute, all the visible and hidden sentries around the apartment building, along with the disguised plants on the street and the snipers on the roof, were all wiped out.

The ground was a mess, and the smell of blood mixed with gunpowder smoke permeated the entrance of the apartment.

klein stood before the wide-open main entrance, brushed some non-existent dust off his shoulder, and looked up at the upper floors.

"Warm-up over." klein cracked his neck and stepped into the brightly lit, yet deserted, first-floor lobby.

"Fatty Kingpin, I'm here. Your welcome ceremony better not disappoint me too much."

...

Almost simultaneously, in the shadows on the other side of the building, a black figure like a true bat silently clung to the wall and slid into the building's interior through a ventilation shaft that had just been left unguarded due to the chaos klein had created.

Murdoch landed without a sound, his super senses fully expanded, capturing every sound and vibration inside the building.

He could "hear" the terrifying din klein was creating at the front, and he could "feel" that most of the defensive forces were being frantically attracted and deployed over there.

"Thank you, klein," he silently thought, tapped his blind cane on the ground, and his figure merged into the deeper darkness as he snuck toward the core area of the building.

His score, he would settle it with his own hands.

...

klein walked into the hall; although he didn't know the building's layout, the lucky draw ability he had obtained from Murdoch last time was perfectly suited for this environment.

"Radar Sense" — constructing a 360-degree three-dimensional spatial model that can perceive the shape and density of objects, with no interference even if objects overlap. It could be considered an enhanced version of Murdoch's own ability.

klein kept his radar on, clearing out minions all the way as he headed upstairs.

When klein reached the top floor, at the end of the corridor, that heavy, expensive solid wood door stood wide open, as if issuing a silent invitation.

Inside the room, it was brightly lit, with warm light spilling out, forming a sharp contrast with the slightly bleak lighting of the corridor.

klein took a step, walking unhurriedly toward that open door.

His footsteps echoed in the empty corridor.

He walked to the doorway and stopped.

Inside, in the center of the living room, with his back to the huge floor-to-ceiling windows and the splendid night view outside, stood a giant.

He was over two meters tall, wearing a well-tailored, expensive dark purple suit, but it still couldn't completely contain that exaggerated, Greek-sculpture-like muscular frame.

He wore gold-rimmed glasses on his face, making him look like a decent businessman or a scholar.

If not for that physique that seemed capable of crushing steel with bare hands, and those eyes behind the lenses that were so calm they made one's heart run cold.

At this moment, the system's notification sound rang in his mind.

[Ding!]

[Detected Marvel key plot character: Wilson Fisk (Kingpin)]

[Identity: Emperor of the New York underworld, Marvelnewbie village boss]

[Notification: Host has encountered a new plot character. Reward: Draw count + 1! Would you like to start the draw now?]

"No!"

"You've come," Kingpin said, his voice deep and thick, carrying a strange magnetism as it echoed in the spacious living room.

"I've come," klein nodded and walked into the living room naturally, as if he were truly here as a guest.

His gaze swept casually over the furnishings in the room, and at Murdoch, who was lying silently at Kingpin's feet like a dead dog.

Finally, his gaze landed back on Kingpin, and a playful smile curled the corners of his mouth.

"You've got a nice place here, great view. It's just that the decoration taste... is a bit tacky. Too much of a nouveau riche vibe, lacking a bit of substance."

Kingpin's face showed no fluctuations at all, his eyes behind the lenses calmly scrutinizing klein.

"Bullseye was killed by you."

"I killed him."

"Scar was also killed by you."

"Yes, I killed him."

"My shipment worth over a hundred million dollars was also destroyed by you."

"That's right, I did it."

One question, one answer, concise and clear.

klein even walked forward a few steps, sat down on a single sofa that looked very expensive, crossed his legs, and relaxed as if he were back in his own home.

"So," Kingpin slowly raised one hand, took off his gold-rimmed glasses, folded them unhurriedly, and put them into his suit's inner pocket.

"How do you want to die?"

"Die?" klein laughed, as if he had heard some joke, scoffed, and shook his head.

"Fatty Kingpin, did you get something wrong? I came here to kill you. And by the way, to take some of your money to improve my life."

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and looked at Kingpin, his eyes flashing with cruel excitement.

"I heard you're the emperor of the New York underworld, with eyes and hands reaching the sky, and wealth that rivals a nation. Me, I don't have any grand ideals; I just like money, pretty women, and living a comfortable life."

"I think it would be more appropriate for me to help you spend your money from now on. What do you think?"

Kingpin listened quietly, his face still devoid of any expression.

"Very well." Kingpin nodded and said these two words.

The next instant—

"Boom—!!!"

The expensive marble floor tiles beneath his feet exploded instantly!

Spiderweb-like cracks spread out for several meters, centered on his feet!

Kingpin's massive body, weighing over two hundred kilograms, tore through the air at a terrifying speed that completely defied common physical sense, carrying a dull sonic boom, and shot toward klein, who was sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed!

Chapter 30: Kingpin

No fancy moves, no superfluous actions.

It was just the simplest, most direct, and most violent straight punch!

Where the fist passed, the air was compressed and displaced, forming a visible White airwave!

Before the fist arrived, the wind from the punch had already struck.

This punch was enough to dent the frontal armor of a main battle tank!

In a flash, klein remained seated on the sofa, not even putting down his crossed legs.

He merely raised his right hand and threw a punch at Kingpin as well.

"Boom—!!!"

Kingpin's punch, capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks, slammed solidly into klein's fist.

A deafening, muffled roar erupted, like two fully loaded heavy trucks colliding at a hundred kilometers per hour!

A violent Impact exploded outward in a ring, and all the fragile items in the living room—

the crystal chandelier, the glass coffee table, the decorative paintings on the wall, and the fine wines in the liquor cabinet all shattered simultaneously!

The expensive leather sofa was sent flying, the heavy Persian rug was torn to shreds, and the paint and plaster on the walls flaked off in rustles!

The armchair klein was sitting on, along with the floor beneath him, sank half a foot deep and was covered in cracks.

But he himself remained sitting there perfectly fine, not even his clothes were ruffled.

Kingpin maintained his punching posture, his fist pressed against the barrier, the muscles on his thick arms bulging and writhing like strange pythons.

He slowly raised his head, looking at klein's face, which still wore a hint of a playful expression, and for the first time, a clear trace of surprise appeared in his eyes.

It seemed he hadn't expected that his punch, capable of pulverizing most humans into meat paste, would be blocked just like that.

"Not bad strength," klein commented, as if he were evaluating the taste of a dish.

"However, if you don't even have the strength to hit someone, how can you call yourself a gangster?"

As soon as he finished speaking, klein's left leg, which had been crossed the whole time, struck out like a viper emerging from its hole.

At a speed invisible to the naked eye, it silently swept upwards, his toe aiming straight for Kingpin's jaw!

This kick looked light, but in front of his toe, a tiny, extremely subtle golden glint flashed and vanished!

"Parasitic Thread" was attached to his toe, concentrating the piercing power of the kick to the extreme!

Kingpin's pupils shrank!

His rich combat instincts made him realize the danger of this kick, and in the nick of time, he jerked his head to the side!

"Sss—!"

A teeth-grinding sound, like a sharp blade slicing through thick leather, rang out.

klein's toe grazed Kingpin's neck, drawing a spray of blood.

A gruesome wound, deep enough to see bone and over ten centimeters long, was sliced into the side of Kingpin's neck, and blood instantly stained his expensive suit collar red!

If he hadn't dodged in time, this kick would have been enough to snap half his neck!

"Ugh!" Kingpin grunted, his massive body using the force to retreat rapidly, instantly opening up a distance of several meters.

He covered his bleeding neck with one hand, the surprise in his eyes replaced by burning rage and a hint of solemnity.

He stared intently at klein, who had already stood up from the sofa and was loosening his wrists and ankles.

"Who... the hell are you?" Kingpin's voice was hoarse from his neck injury, but the killing intent within it was even more boiling.

"Me?" klein grinned, revealing two rows of White teeth.

"I'm a good Samaritan who's come to take your dog life and, by the way, inherit your estate."

Before the words even finished, klein suddenly spread the five fingers of his right hand and swung it forward!

In an instant, five threads, as thin as hair but condensed into something substantial, shot out from his fingertips!

Tearing through the air with a sharp hiss, they aimed straight for Kingpin's thick neck!

Kingpin's hair stood on end!

An unprecedented sense of fatal crisis poured over him like ice water!

At this moment, his massive body displayed agility and explosive power beyond its limits.

Pushing off with his feet, the hard marble floor exploded into a shallow pit, and he was thrown back like he was launched by a catapult, leaning back to the limit to the side and rear!

"Sshhh—!"

The five threads grazed his scalp, plowing two bloody furrows deep enough to see bone, and blood instantly gushed out, covering half his face.

"Fast reaction!" klein raised an eyebrow, his fighting spirit burning even brighter in his eyes.

He pushed off with his feet, his figure shooting out like a cannonball, pursuing relentlessly!

"Bang bang bang bang—!!!"

The two instantly clashed into a melee!

No technique, just raw brute force!

Fists, feet, elbows, knees... every part of their bodies had turned into the most terrifying murder weapons!

klein's fist, carrying the force of wind and thunder, slammed heavily into Kingpin's crossed arms, making a muffled sound like striking heavy leather.

Kingpin grunted, his suit sleeves on his forearms bursting, revealing the muscles beneath that were knotted like steel, which were actually slightly dented by the blow!

Kingpin's counterattack was equally violent.

A powerful swing punch slammed toward klein's temple.

klein didn't dodge or evade, instead throwing a punch of his own to meet it head-on!

"Boom!!!"

A visible Impact exploded from where their fists met, and the expensive floor tiles beneath their feet cracked inch by inch, debris flying everywhere!

"Exhilarating!" klein laughed heartily, becoming more excited the more he fought.

After the superimposed strengthening of six lottery abilities, his body had long surpassed the human category.

Whether it was strength, speed, endurance, or recovery, all had reached an incredible level.

Kingpin's monstrous strength was certainly terrifying, with every punch capable of splitting monuments and shattering rocks, but hitting klein at this moment was like hitting a thousand-times-refined alloy, the recoil making his own arms numb.

Yet klein's fists grew heavier with each strike, carrying a strange vibration from the circulation of the Five Elements Power, constantly eroding and destroying Kingpin's defense.

"This guy... what kind of monster is he?!" Kingpin became more and more alarmed as they fought.

The absolute strength he relied on to run rampant in New York and crush countless opponents couldn't gain the slightest advantage in front of this Asian youth; instead, he was faintly being suppressed!

He couldn't let this go on!

A fierce light flashed in Kingpin's eyes.

He took a heavy punch from klein head-on, using that immense force to slide backward, attempting to open up some distance.

"Want to run?" A cold light flashed in klein's eyes as the "Parasitic Thread" he had previously planted, which had been lurking inside Kingpin's body, was instantly activated and tightened!

"Urghhh—!"

Kingpin's massive body suddenly stiffened as a violent pain of restriction and cutting came simultaneously from his limb joints, waist, abdomen, and neck!

Countless near-invisible yet incredibly tough threads suddenly drilled out from his pores, both inside and outside his body, binding and tightening around him.

"It's over!" klein clenched his five fingers, intending to completely strangle Kingpin.

However—

"Roar—!!!"

Kingpin let out a violent roar that didn't sound human.

His muscles swelled crazily as if being inflated, his suit completely bursting into fragments, revealing the terrifying muscles beneath that could be called a work of art.

Dark blue veins bulged and writhed under his skin like earthworms, and a violent, terrifying aura that seemed to originate from an ancient beast erupted!

"Crack! Crack! Sshhh—!"

Teeth-grinding sounds of snapping and flesh tearing rang out!

Those "Parasitic Thread"s that were capable of strangling steel were actually snapped by Kingpin using pure, extreme physical strength!

The broken threads were forcibly squeezed out of his body, bringing out large chunks of flesh and blood, instantly dyeing him into a blood man.

He looked miserable, but also ferociously peerless!

"Holy shit?!" klein's pupils shrank slightly.

This was the first time since he obtained the String-String Fruit ability that someone had been able to forcibly break free from the shackles of the "Parasitic Thread"!

Although it was in such a near-self-mutilating way.

"Ant... you have thoroughly enraged me!" Kingpin's voice was as hoarse as a broken bellows, filled with infinite brutality and killing intent.

He suddenly raised his hand, pulling a magnificent cane from behind his back, the head of the cane suddenly aiming at klein, who was close at hand.

"Hum—!"

The gem embedded in the head of the cane suddenly lit up with a blinding red light, and a destructive energy fluctuation instantly condensed!

"Shoo—!!!"

A crimson laser, only as thick as a thumb but condensed to the extreme and emitting a terrifying high temperature, shot out from the head of the cane, easily piercing through klein's body.

Watching klein, whose chest and heart had been pierced by his laser.

Kingpin was ecstatic!

"Hahaha—!!"

Kingpin's laughter echoed in the shattered living room, and combined with his appearance, covered in flowing blood from head to toe, he looked exceptionally ferocious and terrifying.

"Now, your heart has probably turned into a puddle of mush, right? What do you have left to fight me with? In the end, wasn't I the one who played a better hand!"