Late at night, Kingpin and Madam Gao sat in a Bentley worth tens of millions.
Trailing behind them were more than a dozen armed vehicles.
As the underground emperor of New York's underworld and the uncrowned king of Hell's Kitchen, every move Kingpin made naturally drew the eyes of countless people — not just civilians, but rival gangs as well.
> "Kingpin actually showed up in person?"
"Yeah, with Bullseye and a whole squad. No clue where they're headed."
"Could be a major deal. It's happened before."
"Anyone spotted members of The Hand? Could Kingpin be working with them? Hell's Kitchen is about to shift... big time."
Powerful criminal syndicates within Hell's Kitchen had their own networks of informants — and this time, Kingpin wasn't trying to hide his movements. He wanted to be seen. It was practically a declaration.
The gangs could smell it — something was coming.
The Hand alone was terrifying. Their ninja assassins were brutal and efficient, known for killing gang leaders in complete silence.
And then there was Madam Gao — the mysterious figure behind the scenes. No one truly knew how deep her influence ran.
Kingpin joining forces with The Hand? That was more than enough to set off alarms.
> "Keep eyes on them. I want to know exactly what they're planning…"
That night, the shadows stirred. Dozens of factions began to mobilize, tracking Kingpin's convoy from afar.
Whether Kingpin was aware or not, it didn't seem to matter. He simply didn't care.
To him, so what if they knew?
He wasn't hiding.
---
The convoy soon arrived at an abandoned building. Armored vehicles surrounded the place, with dozens of armed men — some wielding heavy weapons — aiming at the silent structure ahead.
Screech—
The Bentley came to a halt, tires scraping the pavement. As the door opened, Kingpin's massive frame stepped out.
At nearly two meters tall, it was fortunate the car had been custom-built to accommodate him.
On the opposite side, Madam Gao stepped down quietly.
The building before them was dead silent — yet the air was heavy with the stench of blood.
Something inside was alive… and monstrous.
The pressure was suffocating, as if a beast lurked within, ready to devour all life.
Kingpin's face twisted in displeasure.
His heart skipped a beat.
He'd come here to show strength — flanked by a team of superhumans. He wanted to demonstrate power and negotiate from a place of dominance.
But now… something felt wrong.
Even with his body honed beyond human limits, even with senses sharper than most, Kingpin couldn't ignore it.
A primal instinct screamed at him: Run.
Whatever was inside that building… it wasn't normal.
Even Madam Gao, ancient and powerful, felt it. She gave Kingpin a sidelong glance, her face unusually tense.
Run?
Could they?
Kingpin's subordinates — superpowered, cocky, rebellious — were only held in check by his authority.
If he fled now, it would shatter his image. And that might spark betrayal.
Step. Step.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed — sharp and deliberate.
Thunderous in the silence.
Click!
Everyone turned, aiming their guns at the dark entrance. Fingers hovered on triggers, eyes locked on the ink-black doorway, expecting a demon to walk through at any second.
Beads of sweat rolled down foreheads. Breathing grew ragged.
Tension so thick, someone audibly gulped — "gulp."
Even Kingpin felt it.
Then — finally — a figure emerged from the darkness.
---
A slender young man in a blood-red coat, wearing simple flats. Handsome. Pale. Like a knight returning from Hell.
In one hand, he casually dangled a short, frail Asian man — limp and lifeless, eyes wide with despair.
This boy… no fear.
He stared straight ahead, sweeping his gaze across the gathered forces — over Kingpin, over the powered squad — until his eyes stopped.
Madam Gao.
Or more precisely, the ninja assassins flanking her.
Click!
With a gentle squeeze, the boy crushed the man's neck.
Snap.
The body slumped. Dead.
The sound made both Kingpin and Madam Gao flinch. Their expressions hardened.
This was no idealistic hero bound by morals.
This one kills.
And worse — as the boy locked eyes with Madam Gao, her body tensed instinctively.
Every alarm in her ancient senses screamed at her: Flee. Now.
> "Madam Gao?"
> "Who are you?"
Even after more than 400 years of life, Madam Gao — unshaken gang lord and mystic — felt fear. She masked it as best she could and stared back.
The boy tilted his head.
---
Boom!
The concrete beneath him cracked.
He vanished.
Kingpin's pupils shrank.
With all his hyper-tuned senses, he immediately spun to the side —
Something was coming.