Chapter 053

In an abandoned building, an old man climbed up the stairs, grumbling inwardly as he stepped on to the fourth floor.

The floor where they all had decided to meet.

His name was Leland Owlsley, a financier for rich people and someone who had worked his life hiding rich people's money overseas.

"Why can't they just have a meeting at a nice resort or something? All of them have enough to afford one." He muttered, annoyed at climbing the stairs at his age.

He was seriously going to talk about having a nice meeting place in the next meeting as today, they have some important things to talk about.

The old man slowly looked at the people already gathered there as he turned around a corner.

Two Asian people were standing there. One Chinese old woman and a Japanese guy. Although it was always hard for him to tell them apart.

'Asians, so hard to tell apart.'

He thought as he walked closer to them.

Normally, there would be two crazy Russians who would gather here too but they were already dead and he had been hearing quite a lot about it these days.

"Hey, how are you two?" He greeted them as he stood beside them. After getting no response from them, he shook his head. "You two are not planning to talk today either. I will never understand you Asian folk." 

The Asian man grumbled something at that but it was in Japanese. While the Chinese woman just smiled which wasn't a sight pleasing to his eyes.

The old woman looked creepy no matter if she's smiling or laughing. At least to Leland.

Anyway, his taste in women was relatively young. Way young.

Their names were Madam Gao and Nobu. Both of them belonged to The Hand, a secret organisation which has worked in the shadows for centuries.

They all waited for a while before they heard footsteps. They turned their heads as two men walked in.

One of them was wearing a white jacket and the other one was wearing a suit, looking as proper as he could.

Wilson Fisk and his right hand man, James Wesley; Leland didn't like them a lot but he worked for him and needed to maintain a good relationship.

"Fisk, you are late." 

Nobu said as Kingpin came close. He wasn't happy with his attitude and annoyance was clearly shown on his face.

"I'm sorry. I was kept up by a few things." Kingpin said.

"At least you didn't send your assistant like the last time."

Leland said, glancing at Wesley but he just smiled in response. Kingpin replied in his stead.

"He's my friend Leland, and I was busy that day."

"Yeah, you always are busy."

As Leland grumbled, Madam Gao spoke something in Chinese. Everyone looked at Wesley as he acted as the translator.

"She wants to start the meeting."

"Yes, let's start it."

Kingpin nodded and Nobu immediately raised his head and asked.

"Who is gonna deal with those vigilantes, Fisk? They are becoming too big for us to handle with regular forces."

"I'm walking with my taser gun thanks to those guys." Leland said annoyingly.

"I am trying to handle them. As you know with the Russians gone, it's taking a while to take over their properties." 

"Russians were your fault, Fisk." Nobu said.

"I know and that's why, I'm taking responsibility."

"Take some more and handle those masked dudes too. They are being a clear hindrance to your businesses and your finances are falling."

Leland said as a matter of fact and Madam Gao muttered something in Chinese. Nobu looked at Kingpin before opening his mouth.

"I want it to be taken care of. Or I would move myself. You do know I don't try to keep stuff under wraps like you, Fisk."

"I know that well."

Commonly, Kingpin would have been secretly annoyed at his proposal. It was Nobu's way of saying he was incompetent but today was not a common day.

That's why, Kingpin simply said.

"Why don't you deal with them, Nobu? I'm busy dealing with other messes currently anyway."

"You're going to let him deal with it?"

Leland cocked his head at Kingpin's words while Madam Gao smiled mysteriously.

"Then, I will deal with it, Fisk. I'm annoyed by these people jumping around, hiding their identities. If I just knew who they are, I would have beheaded them already."

Nobu said while frowning as Madam Gao muttered something to him. He looked at her and both of them talked among themselves for a while, making Leland impatient.

He glanced at Wesley as he asked.

"They are discussing something. A weapon." He answered.

"What weapon?"

Leland asked and Nobu frowned at him before looking up at Kingpin.

"I knew these vigilantes were gonna become more than what we can handle with normal forces, so I ordered something. Something special to deal with them."

"What kind of weapon is it? Word on the street is that they are bulletproof." Leland said.

"It's not a gun."

"Then, what is it?"

Kingpin asked and Nobu glanced at Madam Gao before replying.

"It's something our organisation calls the 'Bringer of shadows' – The Black Sky. It will be more than enough to deal with those vigilantes, no matter what sort of mystical powers they are harnessing."

"Quite a fancy name there." Leland remarked but was mostly ignored.

"Will it be enough to deal with them?" Kingpin asked.

"Yes, I just need help bringing it here. Your contacts will be enough and then, I will end those fools and we can continue with our plans."

"If you are going to do it, remember to destroy their symbol. For the city to see that it's saviours are dead and defeated."

Kingpin muttered and Leland shook his head.

"What do you mean by that now?"

Madam Gao answered it for him but he wasn't able to understand her gibberish. Instead, Wesley translated her words.

"A person alone will die and no one will ask about him after a while. But if a man becomes a symbol, he lives on even after his death. These vigilantes, they have become that symbol. The devil of Hell's kitchen and Lycan. Both of them are symbols..."

Those words were finished by Kingpin who smiled while speaking.

"And there's only one way to destroy the symbol. Humiliate it and break it beyond any point, so that no one finds hope in them."

***

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Editors: Cyeven and leo