"Vanished?"
Nick Fury asked, his voice betraying his usual serious tone as he listened to the report of his agents.
"Don't fuck with me! I sent three squads to the Empire State Building! Had the whole place on Lockdown under the guise of a terrorist threat and you're telling me that you got nothing in the last four hours?!"
When he heard the report of his most trusted agents, Nick Fury could not help but lash out. The amount of begging he had to do, the number strings he pulled to get things done, he took a huge risk. One that needed results, tangible ones at that!
But what did his agents bring him?
Nothing!
Nick Fury was not the type of guy who would lash out, a seasoned veteran, one who had faced intergalactic threats long before Thanos arrived, Nick Fury was the type to take things into full consideration. He was not the type to lose his cool, giving his opponents an opportunity.
He had already made that mistake once, he won't be making it a second time.
But this matter was one that really brought him to the brink-
'The man built three skyscrapers in the span of two months! THREE SKYSCRAPERS! TWO MONTHS! WHO THE FUCK THINKS THAT AS NORMAL?!'
Cursing internally, Nick Fury desperately wanted to smash his table but with the way things are going, smashing things won't do him any good. Maybe the runaway Bruce Banner would find purpose in it but Fury wasn't the type that would find purpose in such acts.
Standing up, Fury walked towards the windows of his office, his one eye focused on the building opposite their New York Headquarters.
'It's foundation looks like it's gonna collapse, normally such a design would need to go through extensive checks and safety inspections yet-'
He paused, turned towards his table, on top of it was the image of one man-
James Barthomeloi, scattered all over were reports on this young Billionaire, his deals and all the things he had done in the past two months after he appeared out of thin air.
'He popped into existence carrying a wealth that could rival a small nation, he gained power and influence, constructed marvels that SHOULD have gotten headlines and yet-'
Fury paused his thoughts, recalling the reports of many of his agents, the people he had sent to investigate James Barthomeloi.
It didn't matter if they had direct contact with the man or not, these agents of his all came back with the same report.
'Normal, no matter how crazy his actions were, no matter how illogical everything around him is, the documentation, the reactions of the people… it's like they're being controlled…'
Clenching his fist, Fury clicked his tongue, he fished out a pager from his pocket and he stared at it for a good second before shaking his head.
'No… if we can't handle such a threat… unless what we face is absolute power- this is not such a threat… what we're facing is an individual… not an organization which acts on the same wavelength as us…'
The methods employed by James Barthomeloi, Nick Fury thought about it and he can't help but curse to himself as he thought-
'We got too complacent chasing after the enemies who fight under the sun, we- no… I did not expect someone from the darkness to work against us- no… this should have been expected… we were after all… Damn it!'
Fury could only curse continuously, his thoughts conflicted as he faced an opponent he was not used to. One that had employed methods that were, in essence, on a similar wavelength as his. Only, unlike his methods, the opponent he faced was always one step ahead, his abilities, methods and agents most likely being leagues ahead of his own.
It was only now that Fury came to a painful realization-
'The Avengers… could not be delayed but-'
His thoughts, the plan he had long prepared, now needed to be edited.
'We are the darkness, the force that would do anything to achieve a better future… the Avengers, they are the light, the force for change, the idols…'
A plan that was long in the making was now being changed, Fury did not think it was illogical. No, he believed it was the right path to take.
Facing an opponent that was similar in nature to himself, Fury realized that his image, the power he held did not show true "Heroism".
Recalling the bright young lady who was like a the sun, Fury could only sigh in regret as he started to edit his long thought up plan.
Academy of Modern Magecraft, Headmasters Office.
James sat leisurely at his desk, the piles of paperwork? Nonexistent, instead, on his desk was a single screen.
On the screen, the image reflected was that of an office where a one eyed, dark skinned man whose head had a certain shine to it sat. James' focus was not on the possibility of getting a glare from the head lacking hair, instead, his eyes were focused on the screen before the one eyed man.
"Avengers Initiative…"
James watched as the man started to edit the document, various points were changed and with every edit, the smile on James' face grew wider.
As the words on the document shifted, James could faintly feel it, the shifts in the Root, the alteration of destiny…
"Fury~ oh Fury!Such a sinner you are~ to have affected the lives of so many important actors… I don't know if you're lucky or just crazy, but you should be careful~ Remember the lesson given by our dear Icarus, fly too close to the sun and you'll find yourself falling to your death~"
He mused as the image of a certain blonde haired woman was reflected in his mind.
Interestingly this woman did not have the same appearance as he had expected, it was quite… different to say the least-
"So it's her…"
James observed the image of the woman wearing a Pure Black leotard, exposing her exquisite long legs. The only other thing notable about her was the eye cover that barely hid her face, the red strap around her waist and the large yellow lightning bolt that was drawn on her front.
Interestingly enough, despite the image of her showing her strength, her limbs were not that bulker, her body was more on the slimmer side of athletic, like a slightly buff model. It was in no way the image of a "muscle woman".
Moreover, unlike the image he was familiar with, that being of a woman filled with endless, useless pride. The image reflected in his mind was that of a woman who carried a burden. A woman who bore the fate of an entire race, a woman who holds great power but knows the responsibility it carries.
Unlike the woman in his memories who was nothing more than a walking image of a "perfect powerhouse", the image he saw was one of Strength, weakness, empathy and understanding.
"Though she does have an excessive amount of sex appeal- not that I'm complaining~"
James muttered as he imprinted the image inside a gem.
"Red"
He called out and just as he completed his words, a red shadow emerged behind him.
"Take this to the Observatory, upon detection of the individual detailed in the information, immediately issue a "Blitz Order". Also, have the Workshops increase the production of "Shells", I'll be needing them in the coming months"
James' instructions shocked the shadow as the red cloud behind James stirred but only for a moment before returning to its calm. With its usual calm tone, it replied as it took the gem.
"I have received the Order"
The shadow then stirred as it vanished from the office, James let out a short sigh as he waved his hand changing the image reflected on the screen, it was an image of an office. Inside the office was again, another bald man but now, instead of pure black, he was dressed in pure white-
Fisk Industries Tower, New York City
Inside his office, Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin in the underworld, sat behind his desk, a gloomy air oozing out from him as his gaze darkened.
"Quickly arrange the transfer, I don't care who takes his place, ensure they are loyal understand?"
Hearing the relentless affirmations from the phone, Wilson Fisk ended the call as he placed his phone on top of his desk. He frowned as he turned his attention towards a black telephone.
It was an antique analog phone, one with a circular dial, what was interesting about this phone was the fact that it did not have a line connected to it.
Normally, one would consider this as a prop, after all, a telephone could not make a call without being connected to a landline.
But, while others may consider this telephone as a prop, Kingpin and a few of his most trusted men knew that this odd antique was anything but a prop.
Recalling the night he received the antique, Kingpin felt a shiver run down his spine, his hairs standing as a sudden chill enveloped his office.
At this very moment, Kingpin was thinking, he was contemplating whether to make a call to "that person" or not.
'Sudden heart attacks…'
Since the day he got the antique, Kingpin had made sure to train all his people. He had them constantly monitor each other and had them quickly report to him if any of them experienced anything "unnatural".
To explain "unnatural", it could be anything from a feeling of being watched to mysterious disappearances or death with no prior sign of it occurring.
He made sure to drill into the minds of his people that should any of their men die suddenly due to a disease or something else without any prior symptoms, that they should IMMEDIATELY inform him.
Now, he faced the very scenario he never wished to experience.
Fortunately, he was not the "First Case", which meant that this was not an action to "Take him out" but more of an action to "make a request".
'The death of multiple mob bosses due to a sudden heart attack or stroke…'
Some may consider it coincidences, others would blame the unhealthy lifestyle of said leaders but Kingpin knew the truth as he witnessed it himself. The true face of "mystery".
The night he received the antique, he was also given a "lesson" on the powers that exist in the world. He was shown how powerless he truly was and how worthless his existence was.
Kingpin, Wilson Fisk, was not the type of man to believe in absolutes. He was the type of individual who would find methods to "take over" whatever force it was that tried to control him.
Since his youth, Wilson Fisk had constantly fought battles, struggles to get to the top, to him, was a daily occurrence.
Only when he witnessed the world being twisted, how he was transported to various places around the world, how he was made to experience heaven and hell…
That night was one that he would never forget and it was one that he never wants to experience again.
That was the night he was made to understand, in this world, there does exists ABSOLUTES. Wilson Fisk witnessed it first hand, now he experienced it with his own body and mind, the ABSOLUTE that exists around him.
For a moment, Wilson Fisk stared silently at the telephone, it was unknown whether he was waiting for it to ring or if he was contemplating on whether to pick it up or not.
Silence enveloped the office, Kingpin closed his eyes, he took a deep breath and with a helpless expression he picked up the phone. With his large fingers, he slowly and carefully dialled a number-
After dialing the number, Fisk placed the phone to his ear, the ringing sounded and he closed his eyes, waiting for the other side to pick up-
"Mr. Fisk! I expected you to call a bit later, though being early isn't anything bad, in fact, we appreciate you're punctuality"
The voice that echoed from the phone was not the one he feared, it was a more mature voice, though it carried a certain darkness to it. It was like a murderous aura, although he did not speak with a raspy or ghastly tone, in fact, the voice he heard could even be described as pleasant.
But Kingpin, a person who was experienced in various dealings, a man who had spoken with and intimate many knew the kind of tone that was being used on him. Understanding the situation, Kingpin did not try to beat around the bush as he immediately lowered his head, although he was talking over the phone, he still actively bowed his head.
His head facing his desk was sweating as he maintained such a posture as he spoke in a subdued, almost submissive tone-
"Yes, Sir Red, I wish to know what Lord Barthomeloi wishes of me"
Kingpin, the overlord of the criminal underworld. The man who had subdued the evil of New York City, the hidden ruler of Hell's Kitchen. The monster who many lawmakers, officials and police officers fear, respect and despise. The very image of cruelty within New York, nay, the US.
This monster who could be called a modern day Godfather, this man who would make others kneel and beg for mercy-
This man had bowed his head, over a phone call, towards not a leader but a subordinate.
If others saw him right now, they would quickly be disillusioned, many would even believe that the Kingpin had fallen.
But they were fortunate, fortunate to be unaware, to be blissfully unaware of the dangers that this crime lord had to carefully wade through.
Oh how Fisk wished that death was an escape, if only they knew, even in death, he would not be able to escape the control of the monster that had set its sights on him.
If Fisk knew long ago that obtaining all of his power and influence would have him face such a monstrous existence, he would have kept his head low.
Even the desire to find an opportunity to undermine those that pushed him down were not lost. The man who had all the world's cunning, the man who would do anything and everything to achieve his goals had now become a coward in the face of James Barthomeloi.
Kingpin maintained his posture for a few minutes, not daring to move until he heard a reply.
"An enforcer would be sent your way, the orders would be sent through them"
That was all that Kingpin heard before the call cut off, yet, despite hearing the call being cut, he still maintained his posture for another five minutes before slowly raising his body and carefully placing the phone back.
Kingpin took a couple more minutes to calm his breath, he sat on his chair, sweat drenching his thick white suit but he did not really mind.
Now, this underworld ruler's mind was focused on thinking of the perfect way to deal with the trouble coming his way.
Of course, he did not wish to harm the Enforcer, all he was thinking of were ways he could employ to ensure that he won't "offend" the Enforcer.
James watched Kingpin's actions with a smile as he asked-
"You were faster than I expected… since when did you plant such a suggestion?"
A black shadow manifested in front of his desk, the ever reliable butler, Black had appeared once more. His smile was as annoying as ever as he answered.
"It was done as soon as My Lord decided to meet with the underlord king"
Hearing the answer, James chuckled as he thought-
'It was a good decision to make him the way he is'
Turning his gaze towards the new stack of papers on his desk, James did not bother to say anything to Black. The man deserved some peace, and James was satisfied with the results of the Butler's actions so he forgave him.
"So, what are these for?"
He asked as he took the stack of papers, seeing that there were no gems, James knew that this was not a report. Which only means that the papers were all things that were related to either finances, requests and other matters.
"Financial Statements sir, there are multiple documents that require your signature and I believe that it would be better for you to "personally" sign these documents in case of some devious entity slipping in a "magical contract". The last thing we want to see is you falling for a trap"
"Who sent them?"
"V"
"... I see"
James paused, he did not even bother to read the documents in his hand as he quickly burned them.
He watched as the documents burned and released a black flame.
"A curse… can't she deal with this herself?"
James muttered, annoyed as he saw the simple curse being burned by the flames.
"It was sent by Izabella"
Black's answer made James pause, he gave his butler a baffled look, one of the few times he did not know what the hell was going on-
"V had requested for support, you approved of it, as such, a significant portion of the recently matured Homunculi were allowed to skip the capsule, instead, they were directly sent to Sin City"
"Blanks? What use does she have for them?"
Black shook his head signalling that even he did not know.
James felt a headache coming as he massaged his temples before saying.
"Have V send in a report, make sure to tell her that I want "HER" to come for the report personally."
After hearing the words of James, a smile formed on Black's face before he quickly disappeared into the shadows.
Seeing this, James shook his head, a thoughtful look appearing on his face as his eyes shone with an azure brilliance for a moment before.
When the light died down, James expression twisted, obviously annoyed as he cursed-
"What a pain in the ass"
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