Choice

Leon actually felt a special kind of sympathy for Daredevil, Matt Murdock.

Among the first few heroes from Marvel to make it onto the big screen in his previous life was Daredevil.

Back then, Leon was still a middle school student, and Ben's portrayal of Daredevil had left a deep impression on him.

The dark red combat suit, the special ability to locate things by sound like a bat despite being blind, the premise of walking through the night while protecting the weak and punishing the wicked.

Everything about it had captivated Leon, who was in the throes of his chuunibyou years.

Then, out of curiosity, he looked up information on the man.

Miserable!

So miserable!

Come to think of it, among superheroes—especially over on the DC side—you were almost embarrassed to show your face if you didn't have a tragic life story.

But this guy Daredevil was different!

Aside from his family background—his father had raised him, then been killed for refusing to throw a fight—Matt himself was blind, but none of that was even the worst part of his life.

In Leon's memory, Matt had five girlfriends. His first, Kailin, had been killed protecting him. His second, who had also become his wife, Donovan, later went insane and was locked in a psychiatric hospital. His third, his college lover Elektra, was killed by Bullseye. His fourth, Karen, the assistant at his current law firm, later became an adult film actress and was forced to reveal his identity.

Then Bullseye killed her right in front of him.

The fifth...

Matt suddenly felt that something was off. Why did the very air seem to carry the scent of pity?

"Sorry."

Matt was not only handsome, but also kind, educated, and impeccably refined.

Even though the other man was obviously a lunatic, spouting utter nonsense. I don't even know whether my kidneys are still there, and you're asking me for surgery fees?

Though it was clearly a joke.

Matt naturally replied with courtesy. "Obviously, I'm not in any condition to pull cash out of somewhere right now."

He coughed twice. The blood loss was still affecting him badly.

"How about I owe you for now?"

No matter what, the man had genuinely saved his life. And Matt had walked into a trap prepared for someone else; strictly speaking, he could not blame anyone else for it.

Matt understood that perfectly well.

So Matt felt that although this man seemed a little slow in the head, he probably was not a bad person. His hostility toward Kingpin and his help toward Matt both proved that well enough.

What was more, leaving his combat ability aside for the moment, his superb medical skills alone made him worth befriending.

Implicitly, Matt was also acknowledging that he owed the other man a favor, which would make future contact easier.

Matt thought the other man probably meant the same. Otherwise, was he really going to demand fifty cents in medical fees?

What a joke.

Leon did not answer. Instead, he began talking to himself.

"I once had a friend who owed me a thousand bucks,"

"I asked him for it several times, but he never paid me back."

Leon talked, and Matt could only listen.

"One time, he told me he wasn't going to pay me back and asked whether I would be angry."

"I told him no, because we were good friends."

Matt felt like he was starting to understand.

"His face turned red right then."

Matt's face reddened a little too.

"I hit him."

Matt: ...

What the fuck????!

You went in such a huge circle just to say that?!

Fifty cents?

Then why didn't you just watch me die!!! Why save me?!

For a moment, even someone with emotional intelligence as high as Matt's had no idea how he was supposed to react. Should he cry? Or should he laugh to play along?

The atmosphere fell into an awkward silence.

Just when Matt felt the air around him grow as heavy as water, and nearly wanted to leap up, slap the lunatic across from him, smash through the window, and leave so he would never have to see this idiot again.

Leon spoke.

"I am the literary and martial champion of seven provinces in Guangdong, known as the Rubbing King of Kings, Gut-Piercer!"

"And you are?"

Matt: ...

Matt swore that as a lawyer with a high win rate, he was confident in his speaking skills. Yet all the embarrassing and speechless moments of his life combined did not add up to as many as he had experienced in these ten hours!

Although Leon's English had blurred the original joke, Matt had obviously still understood it.

"Uh... Mr. Rubbing..."

"Vulgar words!"

Matt: ...Fuck! A type of plant!

With his hands behind his back, Leon walked over to the outer wall and said in a low voice, "They're all empty titles. I've seen through them long ago. No need to mention them again."

After serious consideration, based on his understanding of his weakened condition and his assessment of their respective combat abilities, Matt took a deep breath and gave up on his wonderful dream of springing up and slapping this bastard into the wall.

"Then how should I address you, sir!"

Forcing the words out through clenched teeth, Matt managed to preserve his poise and manners.

Turning to face Matt, Leon slightly raised his chin. "My name is Wasaguaka Guahu Kualakasa. Ahem. Labulaka."

Matt: ...

Let's fight!

Fight!!

Maybe one punch to his mouth would knock him mute!

"Phew!!!!"

"Mr. Labulaka, you may call me..."

Matt was a little lost, unsure of how he should introduce himself.

The key was that he had never encountered a situation like this before!

Either he was a lawyer, in which case he used his real name. Or he put on the combat suit, and the moment they met, they fought!

Uh...

After thinking it over, Matt decided to give his real name. Matt was a very common name, after all. There were no telling how many Matts in Hell's Kitchen.

Calling himself Night Devil always felt a little embarrassing.

"Matt."

"My name is Matt. Labrador... Doctor."

"Oh!"

Leon exclaimed as if he had discovered something earth-shattering.

"You're that blind lawyer! Matt Murdock!"

Silence.

Silence was the Cambridge of tonight.

Even the summer insects fell silent for me.

Matt felt certain that this bastard had been messing with him from beginning to end!

His outstretched legs bent slightly, one hand braced against the mattress, and every muscle in his body tightened. Matt's voice inevitably sank.

"Mr. Labrador, I'm afraid you have the wrong person."

Even if he could not win, he had to fight.

It was no wonder Matt looked ready to risk his life. If someone with ulterior motives learned his true identity, more than just he himself could be harmed.

Leon still looked carefree, as though he had not noticed Matt preparing to fight.

"Wrong person? Impossible. I only know one blind man named Matt! That famous blind lawyer, Matt Murdock."

Silence.

Silence was the Cambridge of tonight.

That was why?!

That was enough for him to guess...

No!

Matt keenly realized that this man calling himself Labrador was lying again to toy with him.

"Isn't it a little late to start putting on that deep, raspy voice now?"

"Don't be nervous~"

Just as Matt was about to lose patience and attack, Leon spoke again. "What your name is, what it isn't, what your real identity is—I'm not interested, and I won't do anything."

"Otherwise, I would have done it already, wouldn't I?"

After pausing for two seconds, Matt kept his muscles tense and answered with silence.

Leon continued, "As far as I'm concerned, as long as you don't commit crimes, I can't be bothered with you."

"If you really don't want your identity exposed one day and your friends affected, then either leave them, or become stronger. Failing that, move faster—finish what you need to do sooner, and kill the people you need to kill!"

"Anyway, you won't give up that suit, will you?"

It was rare for Leon to speak so seriously, but Matt did not know what he should say for a moment.