Natasha Romanoff

Around 2008—or rather, before 2019—society throughout the country had been steeped in reverence for great capitalists and those who came before, believing them to be extraordinarily capable and profoundly wise, which was why they had achieved such tremendous success.

That worship could extend to nations as well, such as our admiration for America.

It could extend to people too, such as the belief that the moon was rounder abroad.

But as time passed, online information became more accessible, and self-media rose to prominence, more and more disturbing incidents came to light. More and more great figures saw their carefully crafted personas collapse under the spotlight. The vast community of netizens suddenly realized that the people they had once worshipped, envied, and even considered genetically superior were actually nothing special!

There was even a specific term for this phenomenon: the Black Swan event.

Many phenomena and events we believed could be explained and predicted had actually occurred because of accidents.

Or rather, because of good luck.

But many people refused to believe it was simply luck, so they desperately tried to find reasons to explain it.

A famous saying with the same meaning came from renowned singer Lei Jun: even pigs could fly if they stood in the right gust of wind.

A pig standing in the wind did not mean it was particularly capable. It simply meant it was lucky enough to be standing in the right place.

Examples?

There were far too many!

For instance, your idiot boss.

For instance, a certain computer company with American conscience.

For instance, America's rise had been pure luck. Don't ramble on about politics, economics, culture, racial superiority, or superior constitutions.

China's rise had been inevitable.

Only by deeply understanding this term could one stop blindly worshipping authority, remain neither servile nor overbearing before anyone, and stay true to oneself.

Because one would always carry the belief: I could take his place.

Of course, one could not take it too far and assume everything was a Black Swan event. Some people's success truly was not accidental. It was more like they had cheats enabled.

For example—

~~~~~~~~

Leaving distant examples aside, Kingpin's rise truly had been a Black Swan event.

That was what Bai Jing thought, which was why he had never feared Kingpin. He believed that if Kingpin could do it, then so could he.

Kingpin thought the same way. Even after becoming the emperor of the underworld, he had never stopped training. Not only had he continued to train, but he had never relaxed his studies or investment in technology either.

Because he knew his position was far from secure. Countless people could drag him down from it!

He simply had not expected a challenger to arrive so soon!

"Bai Letian. What a terrifying young man!" Even Kingpin found Bai Jing's moves astonishing as he watched them unfold.

Especially that move of drawing the police into the game.

Without the police, Kingpin had ten thousand ways to destroy the Order Society. But now, eighty or ninety percent of his methods had been rendered useless!

As for whether those methods were despicable, any method that worked was a good method.

Despicable? You wanted to discuss despicable tactics with the underworld?

"Kingpin, the Viper Gang's entire stockpile has been burned. There are too many reporters and police officers on the scene. We can't swap it out." A gentle male voice spoke from behind Kingpin.

"Have Madam Gao increase production," Kingpin said flatly. "Also, have the Black Tiger Gang contact Mexico and rebuild the channels."

The Black Tiger Gang was in Queens, completely outside Hell's Kitchen.

"You think he can take over all of Hell's Kitchen?" The gentle male voice sounded somewhat surprised.

"No. I simply think Hell's Kitchen will become a battlefield," Kingpin said.

Before him lay an unfolded map of Hell's Kitchen.

It was square and orderly, like a chessboard.

The Order Society's territory was a patch of crimson, positioned right at its waist.

They could attack along the river from above or below, and cut Hell's Kitchen in half from either side. If a weak gang occupied that place, it would pose no threat at all.

But if an ambitious gang occupied it, it would be as difficult to deal with as a sharp knife driven into one's heart.

The male voice disappeared.

Kingpin asked quietly, "What's the situation with Roxxon Corporation?"

"According to last year's financial report, they invested seven hundred million dollars in research and development, yet produced very few products. Their net loss for the year was four hundred million dollars. A large number of investors are now dumping their shares," the male voice answered again. "They may be facing bankruptcy. They probably have no time to concern themselves with Hell's Kitchen."

Making laundry powder was not Roxxon Corporation's main business. Biotechnology was.

But as everyone knew, biotechnology was notoriously expensive.

Kingpin frowned. He wanted to help, but he did not dare jump into such a massive pit.

"Have Madam Gao make a move!" Kingpin tapped the table, suddenly realizing that he seemed to have pitifully few capable subordinates!

He had plenty who could fight, but not a single one at Bullseye's level—and Bullseye had been beaten to death.

Don't tell me I have to make a move personally!

But they haven't come knocking on my door. I can't exactly go after them myself, can I?

"Also, put up a bounty on the black market," Kingpin sighed. "Gather intelligence on the underground world and see if there's anyone useful."

"Yes."

The voice faded again.

Kingpin was worrying over Bai Jing, but Bai Jing did not take him seriously at all.

He looked at the admission letter in his hand, still somewhat excited.

Columbia University, Department of Biological and Medical Engineering!

Gravity could scan his own body, interfere with cellular processes, absorb all kinds of substances, and had tremendous potential for development.

But Bai Jing's understanding of the human body was far too shallow. He simply did not dare experiment on himself.

Using someone else's body would not mean much either. He did not even understand the fundamentals yet. If he went straight into human experimentation, he could only grope his way forward through time and endless experience. He might as well find a teacher and study properly.

Columbia University was a prestigious institution, and its admission scores were high, but as long as one had money, nothing was a problem.

In any case, he was spending the Gray Squirrel Gang's and Viper Gang's money. Bai Jing did not feel the slightest bit of heartache.

"Boss, should we bring a few guards..." Seeing Ryan pick up the admission letter and prepare to leave, Ryan hurriedly asked.

"Do I need guards?" Bai Jing chuckled. "Who knows who'd be guarding whom!"

He hurried downstairs and was just about to leave when Bai Jing suddenly sensed that something was off.

He leaned back. A red-haired, extremely curvaceous woman suddenly rushed through the door, missed him completely, and fell flat on the ground.

She was certain I would come downstairs at this time?

I knew there was a mole in the organization, but did the intelligence really need to be this detailed?

"Uh..." Bai Jing took two steps back, walked around the woman, and prepared to leave.

"Hey, can't you give me a hand?" the woman asked angrily.

Blue eyes, a high nose bridge, fiery red lips, pale peaks above her chest, and an abyss beyond sight—everything about her showed that she was a woman overflowing with charm.

But Bai Jing shook his head. "Men and women should not touch casually. Besides, you haven't broken any bones, nor are you scraped up. You can stand on your own, so why should someone else help you? Are you three years old?"

The woman stared wide-eyed at the boy before her, utterly incredulous.

Are you even a man? Is this about whether I'm injured or not?

"It's basic courtesy! Are all you Order Society people this rude? Then I suppose there's no need for me to bother with this interview!" The woman rose indignantly and glared at Bai Jing.

Since the meeting that morning, the Order Society had rented an office and begun recruiting legitimate employees. The interviewer was Matt Murdock.

Bai Jing stepped aside from the doorway. "Please."

"Huh?" The woman's eyes widened. "You're throwing me out?"

"Last year, the national unemployment rate was 4.6 percent. This year's economic situation is grim, so I'd guess it will keep rising," Bai Jing said. "So long as we want to recruit people, there'll be plenty willing to join us. And you? A woman who needs someone else to help her up after a fall—if you joined the company, would others have to fetch water and carry documents for you too? Wouldn't that be like hiring an uncle?"

The woman was speechless. Something was wrong here!

Was this the time to talk about rules?

"Oh, right, I have something to do. I'm leaving first!" Bai Jing smiled at her, walked out, and left.

The woman blinked, then stormed out as well and got into a red Mini.

The expression on her face instantly turned calm. "Contact with the target failed. However, the target was carrying an admission letter for Columbia University's medical department. He may attend Columbia University. Recommend changing the infiltration location."

"Received!"

Knock, knock!

The woman hurriedly gathered her hair and turned her head, only to see a thoroughly irritating face.

"What?" She rolled down the window and asked angrily.

"Take me to Columbia University!" Bai Jing opened the car door without ceremony and dropped into the passenger seat.

"Who am I to you? Why should I drive you?" the woman asked furiously.

"Weren't you here for an interview? I've decided—you're hired!" Bai Jing smiled. "You look fairly pleasing to the eye, so you'll do. That saves me from finding someone else later who isn't."

The woman fell silent.

No wonder he had made Kingpin suffer, won Daredevil's loyalty, and opened up a foothold in Hell's Kitchen!

She had only said a few words to him, yet he had already seen through her?

"What should I call you?"

"Natasha Romanoff."

"Bai Letian. Come to think of it, there's a Russian girl in my organization too. Maybe you two can chat. Fellow countrymen meeting fellow countrymen."

Natasha fell silent. How had she exposed even her nationality?

"How did you see through me?" Natasha asked.

"Your acting was too exaggerated. You didn't act like a normal person," Bai Jing said blandly. "Also, most White women wouldn't throw themselves at a man from Asia just because of their first impression."

"I'm not racist!" Natasha hurriedly said. "And besides, you really are quite charming!"

"Really?" Bai Jing asked.

"Yes..." Natasha replied.

"I don't believe you."