Chapter 6: Provocation

Hell's Kitchen, a district on the west side of Manhattan in New York City, was once infamous as a slum teeming with gang activity. Over time, Wilson Fisk, known as the Kingpin, consolidated all criminal operations in the area through ruthless tactics. Under his iron rule, the district fell entirely under his control, with Daredevil being the only one who dared to oppose him.

"Here we are. If you need anything, just give me a call." Happy Hogan, Tony Stark's loyal bodyguard, pulled up outside a villa. "I don't know why you chose this place, but here's a tip: don't mess with the gangs here."

"Thanks, Happy. Don't worry about me," Garus replied nonchalantly. To him, gang members were mere mortals, and even Kingpin himself was only on par with someone like Captain America.

Happy didn't press further. With a low hum, the sports car sped off, leaving Garus outside the two-story villa.

Despite its location, the villa was surprisingly luxurious, complete with a swimming pool and a garden. It occupied a considerable area and made for a comfortable residence.

After preparing a hot bath to wash away the dust and fatigue, Garus collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep. He hadn't had such a restful bed in days.

Sunlight pierced through the curtains, falling on Garus's face. He woke reluctantly, savoring the comfort. It was past 3 p.m. by the time he lazily got out of bed. Wandering the streets in search of food, he entered a restaurant he found along the way. Though he didn't need sustenance for energy, he still enjoyed indulging his taste buds.

The establishment was quiet, likely due to the mid-afternoon lull, with only a few patrons inside. A group of drunken men was causing a ruckus at one of the tables. As Garus entered, a server approached him.

"Good afternoon, sir. What would you like to order?"

Garus ordered a variety of dishes and sat down to eat while pondering how to locate Kingpin. He was unfamiliar with the area and couldn't simply stop a passerby to ask for Kingpin's address.

Suddenly, a loud bang interrupted his thoughts. One of the drunken men, a large Black man, stumbled over to his table and slammed a beer bottle down, muttering expletives.

Perhaps it was Garus's Asian appearance—a rarity in Hell's Kitchen—that emboldened the man to seek a confidence boost at his expense. Slurring his words, he sneered, "Hey, kid, hand over all your money. My buddies and I are running short."

Garus looked at him calmly. "Are you part of the local gang?"

"What?" The man blinked in confusion before snapping, "Quit talking and hand over the cash!"

When Garus didn't react, the man swung his fist toward his head. Garus caught the punch effortlessly, his grip like a steel vice. The man yelped in pain, his hand on the verge of breaking, and cried out, "Let go! Let go!"

The other patrons barely glanced over, continuing their meals as if such scenes were routine.

"You've got a death wish!" The man's friends, sobering up quickly, stood up and charged at Garus, brandishing beer bottles. But Garus deftly dodged their attacks, a faint frost emitting from his hands. The frost crept into their bodies, leaving them stiff and sluggish.

In awe, the other patrons watched as Garus's slender fist sent the burly men flying, crashing into tables and chairs like they'd been hit by a speeding truck.

Despite the commotion, the restaurant's patrons remained unfazed, some even resuming their meals while watching the spectacle unfold.

"You're gonna pay for this!" one of the men groaned from the floor, struggling to stand.

Garus crouched down in front of them. "Who's your boss? Is it Kingpin?"

"Kingpin? I don't know what you're talking about," one of them stammered, feigning ignorance. They knew all too well the consequences of betraying Kingpin.

With his back to the other patrons, Garus conjured a sharp blade of ice in his hand. "Still not talking?"

The sight of the icy blade slicing through flesh was enough to break their resolve. "Alright, alright! Our boss is Kingpin!"

Garus walked over to the counter. "Do you have paper and a pen?"

"Y-yes," the server stammered, hastily handing them over.

Garus scribbled his address and handed it to one of the gang members. "Give this to Kingpin. Tell him to come find me."

The men staggered to their feet and fled, supporting each other as they left.

In an underground lair in Hell's Kitchen, Kingpin was in a fury. Recent operations had been disrupted by Daredevil, costing him heavily. Worse, his reputation had taken a hit, and other crime lords in the country were laughing at his misfortune.

"How many times has that blind devil ruined our business now?" Kingpin roared, descending from his seat. His massive fist struck a subordinate's chest, the force caving it in. The man crumpled to the floor, blood seeping from his mouth and nose.

"Anyone else got something to say?" Kingpin demanded, glaring at the remaining men as the lifeless body was dragged away.

"B-boss," one of them stammered, summoning his courage. "Someone caused trouble today, beat us up, and left an address for you." He handed over the note with trembling hands.

Hell's Kitchen was Kingpin's domain, and everyone knew it. To challenge him here was unthinkable.

"How many of them were there?" Kingpin asked, his tone icy.

"J-just one," the man replied.

"One?" Kingpin's eyes narrowed. "Was he like Daredevil? A fighter?"

"H-he was an Asian guy. He knew martial arts," the man stammered.

Kingpin pondered. He had no dealings with anyone from Asia. Could his men have angered the wrong person?

"Bullseye," Kingpin called, turning to his top assassin. "Bring him to me tomorrow. Alive. I want to know who he is and make him suffer."

"Consider it done, boss," Bullseye replied confidently.

As for Daredevil, Kingpin's gaze turned cold. "This time, I'll deal with him myself."

[TL/N: Adjusting the timeline: Spider-Man will appear according to the Marvel movies, while Daredevil will make an earlier appearance. The author said he has not watched Daredevil thus his understanding of Kingpin might be lacking. Also, he said that this book might differs from the comics in some ways. So don't expect a perfect portrayal of some characters or plots in this book.]

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