Chapter 26: Madam Gao

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The card game didn't last long as it was hastily arranged. Nonetheless, Link left with a check for a million dollars.

At the entrance, he retrieved his gun, carefully inspected it to ensure everything was in order, and then drove off. However, he didn't go far. After a short drive, he found a roadside diner, parked, and went inside.

Ordering an apple pie and a glass of milk, Link sat quietly, listening.

"Fisk, this isn't the time for distractions!" Madam Gao was clearly displeased with Fisk's behavior. "Our operation is at a critical juncture."

"I don't believe my personal matters will affect our business," Fisk retorted. "Besides, it's my private life, not part of our partnership."

Langley, sitting nearby, added, "That's all well and good, but you crushed Anatoly's skull with a door for her. Is that what you call 'no impact'?"

Link listened intently, knowing who Anatoly was. One of the Russian mob's leaders, along with his brother, Vladimir. They had been losing badly in their war with the Irish until Fisk's forces intervened. Now, the Irish were barely hanging on.

"Vladimir thinks the masked man is responsible," Fisk said. "They've been failing, and it's only a matter of time before they're pushed out of our operation. I'll replace them and complete the final step."

Madam Gao was still not satisfied. "Very well, but I expect results. Now, who is this Link? Why does he know both Vanessa and Langley?"

"He's not an agent or part of any other faction," Langley interjected. "I just helped him purchase $60 million worth of Stark Industries stock. No spy organization would sink that much money into a single operative."

Link smiled slightly as he scooped a large bite of apple pie into his mouth.

"He played poker with Tony Stark the other day and won $30 million in a few hours," Langley continued. "People like that don't work for any agency."

Madam Gao nodded in agreement. "No intelligence agency would invest that much in a mole."

Fisk added, "I met him during a deal with Madam Alexandra in Las Vegas. He's clean. No need to worry."

"Besides, I'll handle everything," Fisk assured them.

With that, the three parted ways. Link finished his apple pie, downed the last of his milk, and got into his car, quietly tailing Madam Gao.

As one of the five fingers of The Hand, Madam Gao was Link's true target. His goal was to locate her drug factory in Hell's Kitchen, gather evidence, and uncover The Hand's secrets. That would complete his mission.

He didn't follow too closely, using long-range tracking instead, ensuring he stayed undetected.

Eventually, he found Madam Gao's factory. It was well-guarded, and she visited it even late at night, as though she lived nearby.

The old woman, leaning on her cane, moved with a slight limp. But Link wasn't fooled. She was an ancient, dangerous creature who had lived for centuries.

Parking at a distance, Link moved in on foot, using his X-ray vision to scan the area. The building was a warehouse with high ceilings. With a light leap, he scaled the roof, hanging upside down from the ledge to get a clear view. He used a miniature camera to snap pictures of the interior, all while listening to Madam Gao's movements.

She wasn't contacting Alexandra tonight, only checking on a shipment scheduled for tomorrow.

Once satisfied with his surveillance, Link silently dropped to the ground and left, making sure to listen in on her conversations remotely one more time before driving off.

Back at home, Jessica was already asleep. Link quietly slipped into the closet, changed, washed up, and finally climbed into bed.

---

The next morning, Jessica woke to find Link beside her, easing her mind. She got up and went to the kitchen.

She had bought some new kitchen appliances and set to work, putting slices of bread into the toaster and pulling vegetables, ham, and peanut butter from the fridge.

When Link awoke, breakfast was ready: sandwiches and hot milk. Jessica smiled sweetly as Link devoured his meal.

"This tastes great!" he complimented, giving her a thumbs-up.

After finishing, Link pulled out a check. "This is what I won yesterday, but the card game had a strange vibe. It wasn't me—it was Fisk and his partners. The atmosphere got awkward toward the end, so it wrapped up a bit uncomfortably. This check is from Fisk personally. Let's cash it in at the bank and then buy a car."

"Are you sure there's no issue?" Jessica asked.

"No issues," Link reassured her. "Fisk was mainly concerned about Vanessa, but I don't know much about that. I was just there for the game. Their problems have nothing to do with us."

"Alright, I'll go get ready," Jessica said, heading to the bathroom. Link cleaned up the breakfast dishes and got dressed.

At the bank, they cashed the check and Link opened an account for Jessica, depositing the money there and getting her a checkbook.

Afterward, they went to a car dealership, where Link picked out the seventh-generation Rolls-Royce Phantom. The reason? Jessica couldn't drive, and as the future manager of a charitable foundation, she needed to present a certain image. The Phantom was perfect for someone who needed to ride in style.

Jessica agreed, and Link placed the order, paying in full. Now all that was left was to wait for the car's delivery. In the meantime, they'd need to find a driver.

Hiring a trustworthy driver was no easy task. It wasn't that there weren't applicants, but finding someone who met all of Link's requirements was the challenge.

Trust, of course, was the most important factor.

Link placed an ad in the newspaper, without mentioning salary, but listing very strict requirements: no smoking or drinking, driving and vehicle maintenance skills, some combat ability to ensure the employer's safety, and more.

The job wasn't for everyone, and Link didn't mention compensation. However, those with real skills would recognize that the pay would be high. Short-sighted applicants would likely overlook the opportunity altogether.

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