"I think this must be some kind of misunderstanding. And Mr. Frank, I really am not the owner of this club..."
Wesley raised both hands, doing his best to look harmless and obedient as he leaned against the leather sofa in the private booth. A 9mm Browning Automatic Pistol was pressed to his forehead. If the hand holding it pulled the trigger even slightly, the private assistant who had only recently risen to power would have his head burst like a watermelon.
Half an hour earlier, the burly, powerfully built man had stormed straight into the Hellfire Club. Those gang thugs and bodyguards had been utterly incapable of resisting the terrifying killer known as the Punisher.
By the time Wesley came out to see what was happening, the floor was already covered with people. Every one of them was groaning in agony. They had either had their arms and legs broken or suffered a dozen fractured ribs. Fortunately, the other man had shown some restraint and had not gone on a killing spree. Otherwise, the club would likely have been littered with severed human limbs.
Judging by the Punisher's past methods, most gangs that dared resist him had their heads blown apart with a single shot or their throats slit with a tactical knife. When it came to killing, he had always been clean and efficient.
"So you can't provide me with any useful information about The Hand?"
The Punisher, dressed in his signature outfit, spoke coldly. What criminals in Hell's Kitchen feared most was seeing a black T-shirt emblazoned with a skull at night, because it meant they already had one foot in hell.
"The Hand had several quiet, limited collaborations with Kingpin before. Most involved acquiring real estate or old buildings, but I don't know what their purpose was. Oh, and they've always wanted to create some kind of weapon called Black Sky, so they keep selecting children from all over the place to serve as vessels... That's all I know."
Being a smart man, Wesley cooperatively revealed everything he knew. The Punisher's fearsome reputation in Hell's Kitchen was even more terrifying than the legend of the red devil. At least the latter would only beat you half to death before sending you to the police station, while the former would send you straight to meet God.
"Who is your boss?"
The Punisher lowered his pistol. He had investigated the man named James Wesley. Wesley had once been Kingpin's personal assistant, but after Kingpin was assassinated, Wesley inherited everything left behind by the Black Emperor. That had made Frank smell something unusual. It all seemed like a plan that had been arranged long ago.
Frank was very interested in Wesley's mysterious boss. Perhaps that person was the one who had truly killed Kingpin.
"To be honest, I really don't know who he is or what his name is... I know nothing at all about my boss. He only left me a phone number."
Wesley carefully took out his phone and, at the Punisher's gesture, called his boss.
Sean was personally teaching the chimpanzee named Caesar in the laboratory. After being injected with ALZ-112, Caesar had clearly displayed learning ability and intelligence far beyond those of his kind. Whether it was words or pictures, he could grasp them quickly. Under continuous training and instruction, he had even gradually learned to use simple gestures to communicate with people. This had already gone beyond the realm of animals.
In Dr. Connors's words, Caesar was becoming more and more like a human. Even if he spoke one day, no one would find it surprising.
"I have a feeling you're doing something very dangerous." After Sean came out of the room, Connors looked at him with a trace of worry. He had the sharp instincts of an outstanding scientist.
"What is it, Doctor? Are you afraid of Caesar?" A faint smile appeared on Sean's lips. Through a series of measures, he had already firmly tied Dr. Connors to his chariot.
"Yes." Connors nodded. Through the thick glass window, he watched the chimpanzee whose behavior and movements were no different from a human's, then said worriedly, "You're creating a new species, Sean."
"Caesar's learning ability is astonishing. He's constantly evolving, Sean! The time he needs to learn things is continuously shrinking. What does that mean? It means Caesar's development has not yet reached its limit. He still has room to grow. What if one day he becomes just like a human?"
As a scientist, Connors could sense the terrifying potential Caesar had displayed. ALZ-112 had originally been a new drug meant to treat brain degeneration, but if its effects went beyond that, then using it on primates would be equivalent to creating an entirely new species!
Sean could not help laughing after hearing that. What Dr. Connors feared was precisely what happened in Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Since ALZ-112 was ineffective on humans, the scientists developed the even more potent ALZ-113—a drug that not only awakened the intelligence of apes, but was also a virus completely lethal to humans.
Because of that, humanity in that world was nearly wiped out, while the apes gained the opportunity to develop and formed an entirely new civilization.
"Doctor, none of what you imagine will happen. Developing a new species isn't that simple. How long did it take humanity to evolve from the Stone Age of primitive farming into modern industrial civilization? There will only ever be one Caesar!"
Sean dispelled Connors's worries. The reason he trained and taught Caesar was merely to raise him as an interesting pet.
In the future, Sean would conduct even more dangerous experiments, such as genetic research on Mutants, creating Super Soldiers, or even a Hulk replication project. Rough concepts for all of these had already taken shape in his mind. No matter how much Caesar evolved, could he really be more terrifying than those otherworldly beings and aliens?
"Don't let excessive caution limit your imagination, Dr. Connors." Sean patted Connors on the shoulder and smiled kindly.
Bzzzt—
Feeling the vibration in his pocket, Sean took out his phone. When he saw the caller ID, he could not help frowning. Wesley would not contact him lightly. Had something major happened in Hell's Kitchen?
Thinking of the point-farming plan he had yet to put into action, Sean felt puzzled and answered the call. Wesley's voice came through from the other end. "Boss, there's something that may require you to come deal with it personally."
"Is someone holding a gun to your head, Wesley? You sound very nervous."
Sean frowned. He vaguely sensed that something was wrong. Wesley had always been steady and dependable; he would never speak so vaguely unless he was under some sort of threat.
"If you want this guy to stay alive, get to the Hellfire Club within half an hour." A hoarse, low voice came from the other end. After saying that, the caller decisively cut off the call.
Sean rubbed his chin. When had he provoked an opponent like this? He had always kept a low profile, yet someone had actually come looking for him. How interesting.
He ran through the people in Hell's Kitchen capable of threatening Wesley. Daredevil had supposedly disappeared for some time, with no news of him. Jessica Jones was still working as a private investigator. Luke Cage was hanging around Harlem. As for Iron Fist, he had not officially appeared yet. The Japanese ninjas of The Hand should not make a move against Wesley, since they had maintained a good cooperative relationship.
After counting them all, only one person remained: the Punisher, who punished criminals with brutal methods. And judging by the way the caller had ended the call just now, it really did resemble him.
"Points delivered right to my door. I'd be a fool not to take them."
A faint thrill rose in Sean's heart, like the fighting instinct hidden within his body was slowly awakening.
Before you continue