Chapter 69: Fall of a King (1)

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"God's not at home. He's on vacation in Vegas."

-Eda, (Black Lagoon)

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<{Fisk Tower pent-office, Manhattan}> 

<(Omniscient POV)> 

"What the hell are you talking about? What do you mean none of our shipments are getting through? All those shipments were due last week. Failure to uphold so many contracts would result in our own allies declaring war against us." Wilson Fisk shouted in frustration before throwing a snow globe sitting on his desk at the new intern standing in front of him, something the man was barely able to dodge. 

"S-Sorry sir. I double-checked everything and even talked to the people in charge of our logistics department. It seems that someone is deliberately targeting us. Every time we try to move any of our... merchandise across our channels, we either get mysteriously ambushed by the various state police departments all over the country or suddenly the central law enforcement agencies like the FBI and DEA decide to raid us for some reason. 

Almost all the drugs that the Hand exported to us this month has already been seized from the New York shipyard while the metahuman organs that were supposed to be delivered by our international partners never reached us. Recently, we had been able to strike a deal with the Ten Rings on smuggling antiques but the warehouses where we kept those items were again mysteriously robbed by an unknown group. All these "coincidences" could only indicate one thing, sir, and that is we are being targeted by someone very powerful and well-connected." The subordinate concluded while intelligently fixing his glasses. 

"I already knew all that you idiot. I am asking you for a fucking solution, not to tell me the obvious. Goddamn it, I should have hired the Stanford guy instead of going with a Yale idiot like Vanessa had advised." Fisk said while rubbing his forehead in anger. "Fine, it's not too late. We can still correct this... Contact Bullseye and Typhoid Mary. Tell them to find out who is stealing the antiques and bring those fuckers to me. Also, send word to Madam Gao, tell her that we are under attack, and we need her... ninjas back in the States, otherwise our entire American operation will be in jeopardy. We can worry about the Hellfire Club resuming their attack on the Hand later. First, we will have to deal with our new invisible enemy." Wilson quickly calmed himself down as he made multiple plans to counter whoever was attacking him from the dark. 

"What about the man in the mask that has been..."

"Those masked jokers are of no threat to us. I can crush them like the tiny bugs they are whenever I want. Handling known enemies is much easier than fighting an invisible enemy. Those "vigilantes" can just take down one or two of our operations but this new organization whoever they are, is much more influential than them. They can root out my entire empire if given the opportunity. Taking care of them is much more important than worrying about some pesky rodents." Kingpin decided with a determined face. 

He was the Kingpin of New York City, someone who kept the entire city's underworld in check. Nobody had ever dared to reject him, much less even attack his empire. So, there was no way that he would suddenly get spooked by a new unknown player who thought they could redefine the rules of the game. Whoever it was that was attacking him, Kingpin was determined not just to destroy him, but completely annihilate their entire existence. 

But of course, at that time, Wilson Fisk had no idea that he wasn't actually being attacked, but someone was merely toying with him to make his impending death even more... terrifying. 

***

<{Scene Contempo Gallery, New York}>

"Ah, Vanessa. I am sorry that I am late. Something came up and I was caught up in the office for much longer than I thought. Has the exhibition already started?" Kingpin asked with an apologetic smile as he approached his love to kiss her after entering the art gallery. 

"Ah, good afternoon, Wilson. I almost thought you weren't coming. I am happy to know that you won't be missing one of the biggest art exhibitions I have ever hosted in my entire life." Vanessa said while expertly avoiding his kiss for some reason. "Not when I am working, my dear. We will have plenty of time to be intimate later. At that time, I won't let you go, even if you beg me to." Vanessa whispered before giving a hearty laugh. 

"I see. Then I'll be looking forward to our date tonight. I think I might even purchase a few art pieces to celebrate our first anniversary." 

"You want to buy an art piece, huh? I think I might have an art piece that suits you the best. It is a little expensive but it's worth it due to how similar the painting is to our lives." Vanessa spoke after thinking for a few seconds. She directed him to a special section of the gallery where only the VIP customers were allowed. "In fact, this painting is the main attraction today." She revealed before bringing him in front of an exquisite-looking painting. "It is a piece of art by Leonardo Da Vinci himself, called 'Leda and the Swan' painted in the year 1515," Vanessa revealed. 

"It is beautiful. I love it, I'll buy it as a gift for you. It doesn't matter how expensive it is." Wilson said as he reached for his checkbook inside his suit's pocket.

"Slow down there, Wilson. It isn't that easy to buy this painting. You can buy any other painting directly in the gallery, but this one can only be sold in an auction, one that is scheduled to be held tomorrow... But I'll try to pull some strings for you. I know the current owner of the painting. He might agree to sell it to you right here and now if I request him to, maybe even give you a discount while he is at it." She responded with a smile. "I promise you, by the end of tonight, this painting will be hanging on your wall inside your office." 

"You... I am seriously lucky to have someone like you, Vanessa."

"Now now, don't be so emotional. It won't look so good if a man of your... size and status suddenly starts crying in public." She joked. "Anyway, look around to see if anything else catches your eye. Maybe have a drink or two while I talk with some of my other important clients. I'll see what I can do about the swan painting as well." She spoke before nodding at her fiancé and walking away towards a small crowd. 

'She is perfect. I am indeed a very fortunate man.' Wilson Fisk mused with a fond smile. Yet, a fleeting doubt crossed his mind. 'Didn't she look... too happy and cheerful today?' He wondered. But he swiftly dispelled that notion, attributing her heightened spirits to her newly acquired responsibility—managing one of this year's most esteemed art exhibitions. 

***

<{Random warehouse, Hell's Kitchen, New York}> 

"I don't understand, why is Boss so sure the thieves will be coming back here again to steal his antiques? I thought any thief worthy of their name never steals from the same place?" Bullseye wondered aloud with a bored voice as he looked at the dozens of red dress-clad ninjas silently standing to his right and a red-haired woman dressed in black combat clothes, checking her Facebook feed to his left. "None of you guys talk very much, do you?" He asked.

Absolute silence was the only response he got from the ninjas as they ignored him, without even bothering to look at him while only the woman was kind enough to give him an annoyed glance. 

"You talk way too much for a professional hitman." She complained. We are here because it is our job to be here. It doesn't matter if someone tries to steal from this place or not. Kingpin is confident that whoever looted his antiques will come here again and that's why we are ordered to be here, to stop that from happening once again. If no one attacks, we won't have to do anything. But if someone does dare to try their luck, we will be ready." The woman answered in an uninterested tone.

But the very next second, her face morphed with a crazy smile and a sudden murderous intent in her eyes. Even a small change in her voice was noticeable. "Oh, I really hope that we get some action tonight. I haven't had the chance to come out and play for so long. The others always get to have fun, I am the only one who has to stay inside for such long intervals of time. Hahahahaha." Her crazy laugh not only instigated fear in Bullseye but also unnerved the ninjas as well, making them somewhat uneasy despite their rigorous mental training. 

All of the people present there had the same thought in their minds that the woman was bat-shit crazy. But none of them had the guts to say it out loud because as she laughed, about a dozen sharp knives were floating beside her in a threatening fashion, ready to skewer anything in their path at a moment's notice. 

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