Chapter 13: Daredevil

The thugs closing in on Alan were all wearing sneering expressions. Their motives were not just about money.

They enjoyed giving wealthy people a severe beating before robbing them of all their valuables. If the clothes they wore were high-end, they wouldn't hesitate to strip them and throw them in the trash.

In their eyes, this seemingly innocent young man before them was dressed in high-end clothes.

Given his handsome appearance, they even considered he might fetch a good price in a red-light district known for special services.

"Kid, hand over everything valuable on you," the leader of the thugs said, brandishing a baseball bat threateningly.

"Let's see if you have the ability to take it," Alan sneered.

The thugs had picked their spot well; there were no security cameras in this area. That meant they could act with impunity.

As Alan prepared to summon the Emperor's Armor, he suddenly had a sense of something and looked up.

His eyes narrowed. On the edge of the building, he saw a shadow standing there, seemingly observing everything below.

One of the thugs noticed Alan's unusual reaction and looked up as well. His face turned pale with fear as he shouted, "Boss, boss! There's someone up there!"

The thugs all looked up, but the rooftop was empty.

The thug leader thought he was being played by his subordinate and angrily swung his bat at him.

"Damn it! Next time, open your eyes properly. If you can't, I'll dig them out for you!"

"I-I'm sorry, boss!" the subordinate stammered.

Ignoring him, the thug leader turned back to Alan, lifting his bat and threatening, "You can either hand over the money yourself, or we'll take it from you."

Alan remained calm, standing still. He had given up on summoning the Emperor's Armor, as someone else would take care of these thugs for him.

The thug leader, enraged by Alan's calm demeanor and apparent disregard for him, felt his anger rise. He hated the condescending look Alan was giving him.

But the next second, he saw Alan raise a finger and point behind him. Instinctively, the thug leader looked back.

In the dim light of the street lamps, a figure in a red tight suit and mask stood there, holding twin sticks and staring directly at them.

The thug leader immediately shrank back, trembling as he muttered, "D-Daredevil…"

Hearing the name, the other thugs lost their will to continue robbing Alan. They all turned their attention to Daredevil, their faces filled with tension, bracing themselves as if Daredevil were an entire army surrounding them.

Seeing the thugs' reactions, Alan couldn't help but smile. It was a perfect demonstration of how bullies are afraid of the strong.

During his time researching news about New York City, Alan had come across reports about Daredevil.

He was a recent addition to the city, active at night fighting crime and upholding justice. His true identity was Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer working at a New York law firm.

By day, he served as a lawyer helping clients seek justice, while by night he transformed into Daredevil to combat evil.

So, when Daredevil appeared, Alan knew he had avoided a lot of trouble.

Yes! It seems this city truly needs superheroes.

Standing under the streetlight, Daredevil tilted his head and said, "Looks like it's going to be a busy night."

"All of you, attack! We have the numbers! Don't be afraid of him!" the thug leader shouted to his subordinates.

Encouraged by their leader, the thugs, brimming with enthusiasm, raised their weapons and charged at Daredevil.

Armed with twin sticks, Daredevil leaped into the crowd. Though blind, his other senses were highly developed, making the night just as clear to him as the day.

Every time Daredevil evaded an attack, his twin sticks struck with precision like two agile snakes, targeting the enemies' vital points.

While the strikes weren't fatal, the pain they inflicted was enough to incapacitate them for a while.

In less than two minutes, all the thugs lay on the ground in agony, groaning in pain. Only the thug leader, who had remained at the back, stared blankly at the scene.

When he saw Daredevil step towards him, his baseball bat fell from his hand, and his legs gave way, causing him to collapse.

Alan couldn't help but take a few steps back, frowning and covering his nose. The air was filled with the smell of urine. This guy had been so scared by Daredevil that he wet himself!

With such a lack of courage, he dared to be a leader? And his subordinates actually followed him?

"Don't come any closer. I'm not afraid of you. Don't come closer," the thug leader pleaded. "You know? My boss is Wilson Fisk!"

Daredevil's heightened senses were overwhelmed by the strong stench of urine, causing him to step back a few paces.

The thug leader's comment was misinterpreted by the thugs as Daredevil being afraid of Wilson Fisk.

Feeling emboldened by his supposed backup, the thug leader picked up the bat from the ground and stood up proudly, saying, "How about that? Scared now?"

Alan: "......."

Daredevil: "......."

They both had never seen anyone play the sycophant so convincingly. Daredevil, unable to tolerate it any longer, picked up a stick from the ground and knocked the thug leader out.

"Wilson Fisk? I'm currently investigating Wilson Fisk!" Daredevil muttered, then turned his curious gaze towards Alan. "Were you really not scared at all?"

"Just a bit, but then you showed up," Alan shrugged.

Daredevil, being a clever man and a prominent lawyer in New York City, didn't believe Alan's words were entirely sincere, but he chose not to probe further.

"Try to stay indoors as much as possible at night. New York's nights aren't as safe as the mornings," Daredevil advised before disappearing into the darkness.

Back at home, Alan looked at the house, which still had a large vacant area.

"I need to buy some gym equipment tomorrow," he said to himself, then began his mental training.

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