C 55

Kingpin lay on the ground, exhausted and defeated, his expression twisted with a mix of anger and disbelief. 

Despite his situation, he sneered defiantly, "Batman, do you think this is over?" 

He seemed unfazed by Anton's mercy in sparing his life. Laughing bitterly, he added, "I swear, I'll be your nightmare for the rest of your life. No prison can hold me!"

Anton smiled coldly, cutting off Kingpin's rant. "An ordinary prison may not, but I've arranged something special for you," he said in a low, menacing tone. 

"You won't be in any ordinary jail. Instead, you're headed to an isolated island in the Pacific. I call it Purgatory. It's uninhabited, devoid of any trace of civilization. From now on, that's where you'll live."

Kingpin's defiant expression faltered. "Impossible!" he roared. "No one has the right to judge me, especially not you!"

Anton raised an eyebrow. "Maybe not me, but the right people do." He gestured toward a figure who had just entered the scene—Agent Phil Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. 

Coulson, looking every bit the seasoned agent, had been waiting with his team on the sidelines, ready to move in once the battle was over.

"Phil Coulson," he introduced himself to Kingpin with a polite smile that didn't reach his eyes. "And by the authority granted to me, you're under arrest. We've uncovered a considerable amount of illegal weaponry tied to you, including Stark Industries' Jericho missile system, a blatant violation of national security laws."

Kingpin's eyes widened as he looked over at the evidence, stunned. 

The Jericho missile—a powerful weapon developed by Tony Stark, capable of annihilating entire cities—had become his undoing. 

The Jericho missile, a new type of weapon developed by Tony Stark, is combined with an advanced guidance system and has the power to destroy an entire city in an instant. 

Priced at a staggering $500 million per unit, this missile system is the pinnacle of Stark Industries' military technology.

Interestingly, purchasing a set of Jericho missiles includes a high-end wine box valued at millions of dollars, featuring rare tequilas, whiskeys, red wines, and other luxurious liquors. 

It's also worth noting that during a promotional trip to Afghanistan to demonstrate the missile's capabilities, Tony was ambushed and subsequently disappeared.

Anton, now back in his basic suit, poured himself a glass of whiskey from the wine cabinet included with the missile system, a feature designed for wealthy clientele. 

With a triumphant smirk, he raised his glass to Kingpin, savoring the victory.

"Enjoy your new home, Kingpin," Anton said, voice dripping with satisfaction. "Purgatory won't be too lonely for long. Others will join you soon enough."

Ignoring Kingpin's hoarse cries of protest, Anton turned to his allies, Eddie, Matt, and the young Spider-Man, who were still catching their breath. 

They were joined by Daredevil, who had played a key role in tipping off Coulson and gathering critical evidence against Kingpin, ensuring his crimes would lead to a lifetime of isolation.

Coulson, meanwhile, approached Anton, admiration clear in his eyes. "Thanks for the tip-off," he said, shaking Anton's hand firmly. "We've also started looking into Obadiah Stane, the CEO of Stark Industries. We have a strong case, but he has his ways of skirting the law. There's something I need to ask you."

Anton nodded knowingly. "You're wondering about Tony Stark's situation, aren't you?"

The agent glanced at Anton, clearly hoping for insights that could help confirm their suspicions. Spider-Man and Daredevil exchanged surprised glances—they hadn't realized Anton had connections with Stark. 

For a moment, they all considered Batman's unique background. Originally, he was a fictional character created by Anton Jameson but later manifested in the real world. 

Anton, who happens to be friends with Tony Stark, even claimed that some aspects of Batman's design were inspired by Tony himself.

Could it be true?

Of course, neither Batman nor Coulson had time to concern themselves with such musings in the middle of the mission.

But Anton's answer left no room for doubt.

"Tony's disappearance wasn't an accident," Anton replied gravely. "It was a calculated move. If you want my take, Obadiah Stane is behind it. Tony's life is in real danger. Your agency needs to act swiftly."

This isn't a secret worth hiding. In the original story, S.H.I.E.L.D. had already taken action against Obadiah Stane, indicating they never fully trusted him. 

Either Obadiah has hidden his tracks exceptionally well, or S.H.I.E.L.D. hasn't been able to find definitive evidence against him. 

They've spent months searching for clues in the deserts of Afghanistan, only to come up empty-handed on American soil.

If not for Tony's father, Howard Stark—one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s founders—Tony's innovations and inventions might have been overlooked or even abandoned by the agency. 

Strictly speaking, Tony Stark is S.H.I.E.L.D.'s "rightful son."

Furthermore, before Iron Man came to be, no one expected Tony Stark to evolve into a superhero. At this point, Tony's value isn't as significant as people might assume; he's just now drawing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attention, partly due to the "protagonist effect" surrounding him.

Coulson's face grew serious. "Understood," he said, firming his grip on Anton's hand. "Thank you for confirming our suspicions. We'll take it from here." 

With that, Coulson directed his agents to secure the Jericho missile and load Kingpin—still ranting but too weak to resist—onto a heavily armed transport vehicle.

The rooftop quieted as the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents departed. Anton, Eddie, Matt, and the young Spider-Man were left standing together, processing the night's events.

Anton turned to the others, a smile of camaraderie crossing his face. "Alright, we've earned a moment to celebrate. Who's up for sharing a drink from this fancy wine cabinet Stark Industries threw in with the missile?"

Eddie's eyes lit up. "Wait! Let's take a picture first," he said, suddenly producing a camera. Venom materialized with a sly grin, holding up the camera with a liquid-black arm. 

"This is big news. I might even get a triple bonus at the end of the month for capturing this."

Spider-Man and Daredevil chuckled as Anton crossed his arms, amused by Eddie's enthusiasm. 

"You know, Eddie, you might just be my best employee yet," Anton said with a laugh. "Even in the middle of this mess, you're thinking about getting a bonus."

…

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