One Against Two

"Sean, be careful. Those two might not be dead."

On the top floor of the building opposite, a cute little girl in a purple wig and skintight suit spoke into her communicator. The immense recoil from the rocket launcher had nearly knocked her over just now, and her shoulder was still throbbing.

"I knew I shouldn't have brought you along."

Sean's voice came through the communicator, sounding exasperated. He had originally planned to storm Kingpin's luxury apartment alone and take out the Black Emperor who secretly ruled New York's underworld.

But Mindy had somehow discovered his plan. The little girl, who had always been fascinated by violence, had clamored to join the operation. After giving it careful thought, Sean had ultimately agreed. Aside from being unable to withstand her adorable pleading and endless chatter, Mindy's formidable fighting ability was also a major reason.

After all, this little girl was far from as fragile as she looked. Beneath that cute and innocent disguise was Hit-Girl, ruthlessly trained into a deadly weapon!

"Plan A has failed. Execute the second plan." Sean issued the order through the communicator. He had already infiltrated the floor where Kingpin's luxury apartment was located. "Mindy, when will Kingpin's men arrive?"

"I cut the power to the elevators. You have about ten minutes." The little girl was still dependable when it mattered.

"That's enough. Jam the building's surveillance systems. Let me deliver an unexpected surprise to Mr. Kingpin." Sean spoke calmly. He had meticulously planned tonight's assassination for a long time.

The lavishly decorated apartment had already become a complete mess. Shards of glass littered the floor, thick smoke filled the air, and flames licked at the bookshelves and carpets. The bedraggled Black Emperor crawled out from beneath his desk. The astonishing shockwave from the rocket explosion seemed not to have harmed him much.

"It's been a long time since I've had an experience like this..." Kingpin licked his lips, and a trace of cruel bloodlust appeared on his seemingly honest face.

The burly Black Emperor stripped off his tattered white suit. Dust covered his gleaming bald head. Since becoming the ruler of Hell's Kitchen, no one had dared attempt an assassination like this against him. It was not merely because they feared Kingpin's savage retaliation and terrifying reputation; countless capable men had been lost by his rival factions before they realized that getting rid of this Black Emperor was nearly impossible.

Aside from Bullseye, the bodyguard constantly at Kingpin's side, the Black Emperor himself was immensely powerful. Before rising to become the ruler of New York's underworld, there had been horrifying rumors that he had once beaten an enemy gang leader into a pulp with his bare hands.

"Bullseye, are you dead?" Kingpin gripped his cane tightly. He did not believe his trusted subordinate would be taken down so easily.

A faint rustling came from the apartment's fireplace. A tough-looking man in a black trench coat and tight leather pants crawled out, his face smeared with black soot. He looked even more disheveled than his boss.

"Boss, someone sent us quite a gift." Bullseye gritted his teeth. The brutal killer, stained with blood, was now filled with the urge to slaughter.

"One rocket probably isn't enough. There should be a group of gunmen too—perhaps a squad of mercenaries from the Central Asian battlefield." Kingpin spoke lightly. As the ruler of New York's underworld, he had weathered countless storms. A minor attack like this could not frighten him.

In fact, the Black Emperor felt a faint anticipation. Once he dumped those corpses into the Hudson River tomorrow morning, all of New York would once again feel the bloodshed and terror contained in the name "Kingpin." And the enemies who had planned this attack would end their lives amid agonized screams.

Just a game to pass the time.

Knock, knock, knock—

The door, which had somehow survived the massive explosion intact, was knocked upon. A rather young voice came from outside. "Mr. Wilson Fisk, you have a delivery. Please sign for it."

Kingpin and Bullseye exchanged a glance, their muscles instantly tensing. Sure enough, the next second, the heavy door was kicked open with a boom, and a black figure carrying an icy chill rushed into the room.

There was no need for further words. Bullseye immediately hurled two sharp darts. Their cold gleam flashed as they sliced through the air at tremendous speed, aimed at the intruder's throat and eyes. At the same time, Kingpin gripped his heavy cane, his enormous, muscular body charging toward the black figure who had arrived in such an unfriendly manner like rolling thunder.

The black figure was not halted by the sharp darts streaking toward him. With a light step, he slipped past Bullseye's attack like a faint afterimage. A raging, thunderous blow crashed down—it was Kingpin's ever-present heavy cane. There was no doubt that if it struck, the attacker who had rashly broken into the Black Emperor's home would have his head burst like a watermelon, painting an exceptionally bloody and horrifying scene.

Less than ten seconds after entering the room, Sean had already faced an unceasing barrage of fierce attacks. First, he had to admit that Kingpin truly possessed extraordinary strength. No wonder even Superheroes like Daredevil, Punisher, and Spider-Man had never gained any advantage against him. Judging solely by the power displayed by the Black Emperor, he was no weaker than those formidable street-level heroes.

Sean's pupils contracted. The power that had long accumulated within his body surged forth like a river. Invisible particles flowed through every cell, like scorching currents of fire stimulating every nerve in his body.

An overwhelming sense of power filled his hands. Sean's gaze abruptly turned cold as he pushed off the ground, moving his body along an unbelievable trajectory. The heavy cane, as though forged from steel, smashed through the bookshelf behind him. For a moment, scraps of paper flew through the room like ruins.

A throwing knife moving at incredible speed locked onto Sean's path and shot toward his chest. At the same time, Kingpin coordinated flawlessly, swinging his cane in a horizontal sweep. A blazing white current erupted from the expensive-looking ebony cane. This was the Black Emperor's secret weapon, prepared for himself. Like a piece of high-tech equipment from a science-fiction movie, it possessed all kinds of offensive capabilities. It could fire lasers, release poison and smoke, and deliver electric shocks in close combat like a stun baton, making it impossible for opponents to guard against.

Bullseye and Kingpin smiled at each other. They had long possessed astonishing coordination. The two of them had never suffered defeat when fighting together. Whether it was mercenaries from the South African Rainforest or ninja assassins trained by Japan's The Hand, all had become cold corpses beneath Bullseye's throwing knives and Kingpin's iron fists. That was also why the Black Emperor had not chosen to flee the instant he came under attack.

They were Hell's Kitchen's most terrifying thugs and villains. How could they fear such pathetically weak assassins?!

"Die!"

Kingpin roared, the tremendous sound waves shaking the walls. His massive, muscular body pressed forward like a mountain, while Bullseye's icy, snake-like gaze remained fixed on Sean. Yet the young man caught in their two-pronged assault showed not the slightest hint of panic, as though the throwing knife about to pierce his chest, the cane crashing toward him, and the blazing white current shooting at him did not exist at all.