Chapter 18: Whisper of Fear and an Unexpected Amulet
Walter Donovan's request for a meeting was both a risk and an opportunity for Kael. The potential for cooperation from a man within Fisk's network, even if it meant fear for his own life, could be a valuable asset in this asymmetrical war against the Kingpin. But Kael was acting not out of emotion but out of cold logic. He would not take any action without gauging Donovan's sincerity and the value of the information he could offer.
According to the information Aslan had gathered, Donovan was a major player in the city's financial circles and had played a key role in the management of many of Fisk's seemingly legitimate front companies. His name being on the ledger made him a potential weak point for Fisk. Kael agreed to the meeting, but he set the venue and the terms: the following night, in an old warehouse in the city's industrial district that had been abandoned but had been secured by Kael's men in advance.
When the meeting time arrived, the warehouse was dimly lit, every corner invisibly watched by Kael's loyal men. Kael waited calmly in the shadows in the center of the warehouse. The Chitauri power core was hidden under his jacket, close to his chest; its energy sharpened Kael's senses, helping him detect even the slightest anomaly around him.
When Walter Donovan entered the warehouse with only one guard (as Kael had required), fear and tension were evident on his face. His expensive suit was awkward on him, and beads of sweat were streaming down his forehead. When he stood before Kael, his trembling legs seemed to be barely holding him up.
"Mr. Kael," Donovan whispered, his voice hoarse. "Thank you… for coming."
"My time is short, Mr. Donovan," Kael said, his voice as emotionless as ever. "Why are you here?"
Donovan swallowed. "Fisk... Fisk is going to have me killed. He's been purging everyone around him since the notebook was stolen. I know I'm on that list." There was pure terror in his eyes. Kael could feel the intense energy of fear and desperation that the man was radiating. The Chitauri core was sensitive to these emotional swings, and it whispered to Kael that Donovan was at least sincere about this.
"And what do you want from me?" Kael asked. "To protect you?"
"Yes! Please! I'll do anything," Donovan said pleadingly. "I can give you information. About Fisk's operations, about his secret partners, about many things you don't know... I can even give you money. Just get me out of this city, help me get to a safe place."
Kael was silent for a moment. Donovan's offer was tempting, but Kael had to figure out how trustworthy this man was and whether the information he was offering was truly valuable. "What kind of information are we talking about, Mr. Donovan?"
Donovan approached Kael, eyes shining with hope. "Fisk... Fisk has a big shipment coming soon. Something very valuable from out of town. I don't know exactly what it is, but he's been preparing for it for months. If you can stop this shipment, you'll deal Fisk a major blow. I can give you the shipment's route, timing, and security details."
This was an unexpected trump card. If Donovan was telling the truth, this information could provide an opportunity to make a direct and devastating move against Fisk. Kael focused the Chitauri core's energy on Donovan, trying to probe the depths of the man's intentions. Was there cunning, deception, beyond fear? As the core analyzed the complex signals emanating from Donovan's mind, it showed Kael that the man's desperation and desire to survive were genuine, but also that he was selfish. He was giving the information because he had no other choice.
"Very well, Mr. Donovan," Kael finally said. "I'll give you a chance. I'll check your information. If it's true and works, I'll help you get out of this city safely. But if you make a mistake or betray me, you can expect much worse than what Fisk will do to you."
Donovan nearly fell to his knees with a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Mr. Kael! I swear you won't regret it!"
By the end of the meeting, Kael had a potentially powerful weapon in his hands that he could use against Fisk. But it also meant increasing the pressure on the Echo. As Fisk's hunt for the city continued, Kael's men had to be on constant alert, ready for an attack or infiltration attempt at any moment. Roric played a key role in organizing the defense of the shipyard and checking the loyalty of the new recruits.
Meanwhile, Kael continued his work with the Chitauri core. Not only was he now drawing energy from it, but he had also begun to decipher some basic Chitauri symbols and simple technological principles from the complex data streams it was emitting. It was a slow and arduous process, but Kael knew that if he could unlock the secrets of this ancient technology, the limits of his power would expand beyond anything he had ever imagined.
In another corner of the city, Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, had been sensing the recent, strange and precise attacks on Fisk's operations, the leaked information, and the ripples created by this new, mysterious player in the underworld. The methods of this new force were not like those of the criminals he was used to; they were more calculated, more technological, and just as ruthless. Although he had not yet crossed paths with Kael, Daredevil was beginning to wonder what this new shadow would bring to Hell's Kitchen and the entire city.
The information he had received from Walter Donovan had opened a new door for Kael. But what lay beyond that door was unclear. What was Fisk's big shipment? And how would Kael use this information to take down the Kingpin?