C 48

After concluding his conversation with Aisha and Winston, Anton left the Continental Hotel and returned to the Daily Bugle.

"Anton, are you okay?" Betty asked as soon as she saw him approaching, her face filled with worry. She had been waiting anxiously by the entrance, ready to call the police if he didn't show up soon.

Anton smiled, waving off her concern. "Of course, I'm fine, Betty. Don't worry about me; you should save that energy for others."

Betty let out a sigh of relief but couldn't shake the memory of the mysterious black car she'd seen following her earlier. Just recalling it made her feel uneasy. But for now, she shrugged it off and pointed to an office behind her. 

"Eddie's waiting in his office."

Anton nodded and went inside, where Eddie sat behind a desk, scanning through a stack of documents. 

"Anton, you're back!" Eddie greeted, flashing a wide grin. "Today's paper sold exceptionally well. I think you'll be doubling my bonus."

Anton smirked, dropping into a seat across from him. "If your story was about Batman, that's more on me than your photography skills." Shifting his tone, he continued, "You know I caught a guy by the name of Bullseye, right?"

Eddie nodded, intrigued. "I heard. So what's the story with him?"

"Turns out, Bullseye works for Kingpin."

Eddie's eyes widened. "Kingpin? You mean the King of Hell's Kitchen?"

"Exactly," Anton replied, crossing his arms. "Real name: Wilson Fisk. He's not just any criminal; he's one of the wealthiest figures in the real estate industry."

Eddie was genuinely shocked. "You're saying that Fisk, that high-profile real estate mogul, is actually the underground kingpin? That's... unexpected."

"That's right," Anton confirmed. "Batman took down Bullseye, which means we've made ourselves a serious enemy. So, our next move is to focus on Fisk's empire. I need you to dig up everything you can on Fisk's company—find any dirt that could send him to prison."

Eddie nodded eagerly. "Got it. I'll start pulling threads immediately. I'll notify you as soon as I uncover anything."

"Perfect," Anton said, satisfied with Eddie's response.

Later, after work, Anton and Eddie found a small, dimly lit bar to unwind and strategize. They discussed their plans until nightfall. Eddie, ever the investigative reporter, promised to reach out to his old contacts in New York to help in the criminal investigation of Kingpin.

With a nod of agreement, Anton left, walking toward his next destination: Hell's Kitchen.

Hell's Kitchen—only a few small streets, but notorious for its crime rate and its cast of morally gray characters. The area practically radiated danger. 

Even the air seemed thick with the scent of alcohol and smoke, along with something darker that lingered on every corner.

Anton wasn't here to take down the entire neighborhood tonight. His mission was to find one particular figure: the blind lawyer who was famous around Hell's Kitchen for being both a fierce defender of justice and, secretly, the masked vigilante known as Daredevil.

Anton positioned himself near an intersection, watching as people passed by. Finally, he spotted him—a man with dark glasses and a white cane, tapping his way down the street. 

Anton began to follow, keeping a respectful distance.

The man, Matt Murdock, seemed aware of his presence. Once they turned down an empty alley, Murdock's posture shifted, and in a swift, practiced movement, he swung his cane, aiming for Anton's head. 

Anton sidestepped, his reflexes honed from countless battles. He took a step forward, forcing Matt back, and then struck him lightly on the chest to make him stop.

The impact made Matt take a few steps back, his hand pressed to his chest. Although blind, he focused intensely on Anton, his enhanced senses picking up every detail.

"Who are you?" Matt demanded, his voice steady but guarded. "This is not your territory."

Anton raised his hands, offering a friendly smile. "Daredevil, nice to meet you. The name's Batman. Or, if you've read the Braille edition, you might recognize Bruce Wayne."

Matt's eyebrows rose in surprise, though he didn't relax entirely. "Batman? Really? I've heard the stories about what you did to the Continental Hotel. But how do I know you're telling the truth?"

Anton smirked and snapped his fingers. Instantly, his high-tech Batsuit materialized over his clothes, its sleek armor glinting in the low light of the alley. 

"Think anyone else can pull off this kind of transformation?"

Matt, still holding his cane, tilted his head slightly. His enhanced senses didn't just confirm what he saw—they confirmed the essence of what Anton was. 

"Okay, Batman. It's really you," he admitted, still processing the bizarre reality of meeting the legendary vigilante.

For a moment, Matt was quiet, his expression reflecting years of hardship and dedication to defending Hell's Kitchen. "How did you find me?"

Anton shrugged. "Only one blind lawyer in Hell's Kitchen goes out at night to fight crime. You're not exactly hard to track down, Matt."

Matt sighed, resigned. "Fair point." He turned, gesturing for Anton to follow. "We should talk somewhere private. My place isn't far."

The two made their way to Matt's small, unassuming apartment. Inside, the sparse but functional decor reflected Matt's life as both a lawyer and a fighter. 

A worn punching bag hung in one corner, flanked by various pieces of workout equipment. The scent of old leather and gym equipment lingered in the air. Anton also noticed a concealed space in the wall, likely where Matt stored his Daredevil gear.

"Batman, I don't understand why you're here," Matt said after pouring Anton a glass of water and taking a seat across from him.

"Simple," Anton replied. "You know I've gone up against Fisk's men recently. Bullseye is already in police custody, but Kingpin won't take that sitting down. In fact, he's already retaliating. So, before things get out of control, I plan to take him down for good."

Matt's face tightened. "So, you want my help?"

"Exactly," Anton said with a nod. "Kingpin's grip on Hell's Kitchen needs to end. I intend to see him rot in a prison cell. You're the man who knows Hell's Kitchen best, Matt. What do you say?"

Matt's jaw clenched. He took a moment before answering, processing the implications. "I've spent years fighting Fisk in the shadows. Getting him off the streets would mean everything to Hell's Kitchen."

"Then let's join forces," Anton urged. "Together, we can take him down. I'll use my resources to go after his empire, but I need your expertise and knowledge of the area. Kingpin's men won't see us coming."

…

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