Chapter 27 - New York Dark Side

"Welcome to the American Midday News. Today, Twitter experienced a temporary outage. The company has traced the issue to a post by the comic critic Edward, whose speculation has caused a massive stir, leading to server congestion."

"The New York Times reports: 'Juvenile Jump' has once again captured public attention, citing Edward's conjecture that two new comics allude to the Mutant Registration Bill currently being debated in Congress. The chairman's comment from the comics company has also sparked intrigue."

"Registration advocate Mr. Guy Lee criticized the company, urging them to refrain from using provocative news for publicity, stating that comic artist should just draw cartoons.'"

"Meanwhile, Congressman Guy Lee's Twitter has been overrun by a flood of enraged fans."

"A World War II veteran has renewed his call for authorities to ban 'Juvenile Jump,' arguing that the magazine's comics are too violent and do not align with American values."

"Also making headlines, Tony Stark, chairman of Stark Industries, has remained silent for two weeks, with police ruling out kidnapping or extortion as possible reasons for his absence."

"In other news, following the recent explosion at a military laboratory, the military has been highly active, possibly due to the appearance of recent monster sightings. General Ross, the person in charge, declined to comment."

Each news piece was reported live, reflecting the dynamic events of the day. As Xu Mo watched the reports on the massive screens of Times Square, he mused to himself, "The military? That must be the Hulk. Things are about to get really interesting."

He speculated that Tony Stark's return to New York would mark a significant turning point, possibly setting the stage for a showdown among various powerful figures. As Xu Mo observed the bustling crowds enjoying their day, he wondered if there might be a wave of evacuations when things inevitably took a darker turn.

Deciding to take a break from the constant work of creating and copying comics, Xu Mo called Jia Li to join him for a day out. As dusk fell, the city that never sleeps lit up with brilliant neon lights, signaling the start of New York's vibrant nightlife.

Manhattan, a city of contrasts, was divided into two distinct areas. On one hand, the affluent Upper East Side, where the wealthy indulged in luxury and entertainment. On the other, Hell's Kitchen on the West Bank, a notorious area once known for its slums and still rife with crime.

Xu Mo lived in Hell's Kitchen, a place notorious for its underworld activities, including smuggling, drug trafficking, and even more sinister dealings. As he and Jia Li, who was happily munching on barbecue, walked through the area, they passed by all sorts of people—scantily clad women, shady-looking men, and tattooed gangsters.

As they strolled, Xu Mo couldn't help but think about the white baseball cap he wore, which reminded him of the "platelets" from "Cells at Work!" He chuckled, remembering how ordinary caps could sell for nine yuan on Taobao but would skyrocket to ninety-nine yuan if branded with "platelet."

Their day took an unexpected turn when gunshots suddenly rang out from the street ahead. The locals, accustomed to such incidents, quickly retreated without much panic, a testament to the rough nature of Hell's Kitchen.

Unfazed, Xu Mo continued walking towards the sound, much to the astonishment of the fleeing crowd. He had grown accustomed to the nightly sounds of gunfire, and his home was just ahead. He no longer felt the fear he might have once felt.

As they approached the scene, Xu Mo and Jia Li witnessed a man in a red costume, Daredevil, engaging in a desperate fight against several armed gangsters. Despite being outnumbered, Daredevil retaliated with impressive agility, avoiding and deflecting incoming attacks.

Suddenly, Daredevil heard Xu Mo and Jia Li's footsteps. Despite his blindness, a result of a radioactive accident that had heightened his other senses, Daredevil could easily distinguish the new arrivals' presence.

Two sharp darts whizzed through the air, aimed directly at Daredevil's throat and eyes. However, with a swift movement, he deflected the deadly projectiles with his batons.

"What's this? Daredevil? Oh, and two little mice," sneered a muscular man wearing a black trench coat. A target symbol was painted on his forehead, marking him as Bullseye, a notorious assassin and Jin Ning's chief hitman known for his uncanny accuracy with throwing weapons.

"Grab them," Bullseye commanded the gangsters, who grinned maliciously and approached Xu Mo and Jia Li.

"Leave them out of this," Daredevil shouted, enraged. He attempted to rush towards Xu Mo and Jia Li, but Bullseye intercepted him, launching another attack and forcing Daredevil to engage him directly.

Unfazed, Xu Mo muttered, "Another gang fight? I've been dealing with gangsters so often lately."

He recalled his previous encounter with Frank Castle, also known as the Punisher, and wondered who he'd run into this time. As Bullseye and Daredevil clashed in a heated battle, the gangsters advanced on Xu Mo and Jia Li, not realizing they were about to face more than just an ordinary civilian.