Chapter 17: Echoes of the Ledger and the Beginning of the Hunt
The daring raid on Wilson Fisk's counting center and the subsequent theft of the ledger had created a seismic effect in the New York underworld. This blow to the Kingpin's armor of immunity was not only a financial loss, but also an open challenge to his unwavering authority. Fisk's anger, as witnessed by James Wesley and his closest men, was of a rarely seen but frightening level. But the Kingpin was not a man to be held captive by his emotions. He quickly turned his anger into a ruthless counterattack, planned with a sharp mind.
A city-wide hunt was launched for Kael and Echo. Fisk's countless informants, corrupt officials, and gangs large and small, loyal to him, were mobilized to find and destroy this new and dangerous enemy. Kael had been given a large sum of money that would attract every hitman and bounty hunter from the darkest corners of the underworld. The Kingpin wanted that notebook back at all costs, and he would make Kael regret what he had done.
But Kael had been waiting for Fisk's moves. At their headquarters in the shipyard, he and Aslan and Roric were examining the notebook they had seized. The notebook was like the anatomy of a criminal empire: front companies, secret bank accounts, names of bribed politicians and law enforcement officers, blackmail materials, and details of Fisk's darkest operations. It was a treasure trove of information, but it was also a minefield.
"This notebook," Kael said, his fingers running over the lines. "It is Fisk's Achilles heel. But we must use it wisely. Releasing all the information at once would only increase the chaos and leave us buried under the rubble."
Kael's strategy was not to hit Fisk directly with a show of force, but with his own weapon: information and manipulation. First, he secretly leaked some small but important information from the notebook to a few well-known but honest journalists in the city, as well as some low-level law enforcement officers who were secretly uncomfortable with Fisk. These leaks did not directly point to Fisk, but they did start small fires that would disrupt his operations, raise suspicions, and keep him busy within his own network. For example, an "anonymous tip" that an import company that Fisk used as a front was smuggling illegal goods, or an unexpected investigation of an officer involved in a bribery scheme.
At the same time, he used the information in the notebook to reach some of Fisk's business partners and allies. He presented them with evidence showing how Fisk was actually manipulating them, or made veiled offers that working with Yanki would be "safer" and "profitable" for them. This was a slow but effective strategy aimed at creating cracks in Fisk's network of alliances.
The echoes of these developments were beginning to be felt in the city. There was unrest in the underworld; some of Fisk's operations were faltering, and distrust was growing among his men. The media began to whisper about "unspecified corruption" involving the city's top executives and businessmen.
However, this also increased the pressure on the Echo. The shipyard had become a fortress, but Fisk's men were constantly circulating around it, attempting to infiltrate it. Kael was trying to improve the shipyard's defenses using the Chitauri core. From what he understood of the core, it could create simple Chitauri energy barriers or motion sensors. In the process, he discovered that the core was not only an energy source and a sensory enhancer, but also capable of processing complex data and providing Kael with new "insights." It was as if the core was forming a deeper symbiotic relationship with Kael's mind.
The loyalty of the Echo members had become more important than ever under this pressure. Kael used his abilities to sense the intentions and fears of each of his men. He had identified a few weak links and eliminated them silently and without anyone noticing.
One night, as Kael watched the city from the watchtower at the top of the shipyard, Aslan approached him. "There's been a development," he said. "One of the people mentioned in the notebook... Walter Donovan, one of the city's important businessmen... wants to meet with you in secret. He seems very frightened. I think he's worried that Fisk will waste him."
It was a sign that Kael's strategy was working. Fisk's network was beginning to unravel. But meeting with a man like Donovan carried its own risks. Was this a trap, or was it really an opportunity to gain an unlikely ally against Fisk?
Kael clenched the Chitauri core in his fist. The core glowed slightly brighter in response to this new uncertainty. "Where and when?" Kael asked. The game was on, and each move could determine the fate of his empire. Perhaps, amidst this chaos, the city's other "justice seekers" had also begun to notice these unusual events; Kael believed he sometimes sensed the shadow of the red-suited man known as Daredevil near his own hunting grounds at night, but he could not be sure.