"The Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. Well, the name is definitely a little long. A lot of people complain about that. We're considering whether to change it to something simpler." Coulson seemed quite good-natured. He smiled and repeated the name. "Now, Mr. Murdock, can we get back to some of my questions?"
Matt's expression was serious, but he gradually calmed down inside.
By the time he became Daredevil, he had already braced himself for the possibility that someone might come looking for him one day. It could be a government agency, or it could be gang members. After all, even if he took precautions to conceal his identity, there was no such thing as a perfect wall of secrecy—especially with technology so advanced these days. Sooner or later, someone would be able to uncover who he was.
So Matt wasn't too surprised when this department, which he'd never heard of before and whose name was absurdly long, came to his door.
"I thought you were here to arrest me. So, what do you want to know?" Matt asked with a smile.
"You've got it wrong, Mr. Murdock. Although you don't have law enforcement authority, speaking for myself, I actually have a great deal of admiration for you."
"Thank you."
"Mr. Murdock, you used to operate alone every time you went out as Daredevil. But lately, all the signs suggest you've found yourself a partner. So, can you tell me who your partner is?" Coulson asked with a smile. As he questioned Matt, he made a point of staring into his eyes. A person's eyes could usually reveal everything. Whether someone was lying or feeling guilty, the slightest trace of it could be seen there.
This time, though, as Coulson looked into Matt's unseeing eyes, he felt a little foolish. Matt was blind; his eyes couldn't reveal anything at all.
"A partner? Sorry, I've always worked alone. I don't have any partners," Matt said flatly. He understood now why people from this department with the ridiculously long name had come to see him. They were here because of Saitama.
"Mr. Murdock, the truth is, we've been tracking your movements ever since your first outing as Daredevil. We have detailed records of your feud with Kingpin and everything you've done to target him. We're very familiar with your methods and principles."
"Recently, though, your methods have changed, and Kingpin's men have been suffering in ways that differ greatly from before. We examined their injuries and found that the person who took them down was Translucent."
"Translucent? Yes, I've heard of him. He's supposed to be a very mysterious guy. Are you saying he's my partner?"
"Isn't he, Mr. Murdock? We have a great deal of information about you, so please don't deny it," Coulson said calmly.
"I really wish what you're saying were true. If I had a partner like that, my work would go a lot more smoothly. But unfortunately, I don't know Translucent." Matt shook his head, still denying it.
Thinking it over, Matt realized that the man in front of him, Coulson, was no ordinary person. He had found Matt with ease and knew so much about him. The department behind Coulson, with its ridiculously long name, was even more impressive. But they hadn't gone looking for Saitama; instead, they'd come straight to Matt to ask about Translucent. Clearly, they hadn't discovered Translucent's true identity.
Since they hadn't uncovered Saitama's true identity, Matt naturally gave them evasive answers about him.
"Mr. Murdock, please don't try to fool me. As I said, we have a thick file on you." Coulson furrowed his brow slightly, but kept smiling. That smile had become a habit.
"If you have so much information, then you should know that I've always worked alone, from the very beginning," Matt replied firmly.
Coulson found Matt's attitude frustrating. "Mr. Murdock, first, I want to make clear that the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division is a fully legitimate agency. We don't even belong to the U.S. government; we answer to the World Security Council. And we mean you no harm."
"I know you don't mean me any harm. Otherwise, I'd already have been arrested. But I've always been alone, and I still am. You want to ask me about Translucent, but I'm afraid I can't help you." Matt shook his head.
"...All right, then. If you hear anything about Translucent, I hope you'll get in touch with us." Coulson had no choice but to give up, for the time being, on getting information about Translucent directly from Matt.
"Sure." Matt nodded readily, then hesitated a moment. "Mr. Coulson, there's something I'd like to ask you."
"Go ahead." Coulson clasped one hand over the back of the other in front of him, wearing a friendly smile.
"About Kingpin—I assume the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division has information on him."
"Well, we have some." The corner of Coulson's eye twitched.
"Then you must know what kind of person Kingpin is, what kind of threat he poses."
"Mm-hmm."
"Countless people have lost their families because of Kingpin. Countless people have been left homeless because of him. Countless people have died because of him. So why haven't you sent anyone to deal with him? If anyone could take down Kingpin easily, surely it would be you. Why—why haven't you done anything about him?" Matt's expression grew increasingly stern.
Coulson's smile vanished. Clearly, this wasn't an easy question for him, even though he could have come up with any number of excuses.
"Why? How can you stand by and watch Kingpin do evil? Is it because he has so much influence and has paid you off?" Matt's expression grew even more severe.
"No, Mr. Murdock. Don't underestimate the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. Kingpin is nothing. He could never buy us off." Coulson frowned. "Kingpin may seem like a major threat to you, but he's nothing to us. The problems we have to deal with are far more dangerous and serious."
"So the world could be destroyed at any moment, or aliens could descend on Earth at any moment? Sorry, I'm joking. I have absolutely no information about Translucent. I've never met him."
Coulson frowned at Matt and pressed his lips together, then resumed his earlier smile. "Is that so? That's a real shame."
Before you continue