Hunting

Manhattan, Baxter Building.

Sean led Mindy, who was carrying a small backpack, into the elevator. They rode all the way up until the number stopped at the forty-eighth floor. Under the guidance of the property manager, who had been waiting for them, the tall and small figures entered their new home.

"Wow... this is amazing, Sean!" Mindy cried excitedly, her mouth falling open.

The first thing that caught the little girl's eye was the enormous floor-to-ceiling window. Sunlight streamed in from outside, spilling across the still somewhat empty living room. Beyond the glass stood densely packed skyscrapers, rising from the earth like trees in a forest. Once night fell, she would be able to gaze out from here at nearby Park Avenue and Central Park, along with the dazzling lights below, giving her the illusion of looking down upon all of New York.

The clean European-style decor and brand-new furnishings left Mindy extremely satisfied with their new home. She could not wait to rush into the rooms and claim a bedroom she liked before anyone else.

"Kids can be a little rambunctious." Sean chuckled, his gaze gentle.

Mindy had lost her mother at a very young age and later lived with her father. It had to be said that the police officer had been an utter failure as a father. He had raised his daughter entirely as a killing machine, leaving Mindy without a normal sense of values or everyday life. She had developed the bad habit of resorting to violence whenever words failed, and she could even take a life without blinking.

Fortunately, under Sean's deliberate guidance, the blonde little girl had gradually begun to forget her former life. Those bloody, painful memories had faded with time into old photographs, sealed deep within her heart.

Their relationship now was somewhat like that of family. Two equally lonely people lived together, giving and receiving the rare warmth they both longed for.

"It seems you are quite satisfied with Baxter Building. This building has fifty floors in total, and all its residents are members of New York's elite. Oh, Mr. Reed Richards lives directly above you. You are both renowned geniuses in New York, so I am sure you will have plenty to discuss. Baxter Building is honored to have you as residents."

The suited property manager flattered them. Anyone who had read the newspapers regularly lately would surely recognize Sean's face. Whether it was entertainment papers or academic magazines, they had all competed to report on the young man, who bore the twin halos of rising tycoon and scientific genius.

"Reed Richards?" Sean's eyes flickered. The genius ranked among the top three in the world lived upstairs from him. What an interesting coincidence. "I'll pay him a visit when I have time. I've always looked forward to meeting Dr. Richards."

After seeing off the attentive property manager, Sean stepped onto the balcony. Mindy was busy arranging her room, and the excitement of moving into a new home was unlikely to fade anytime soon. Sean let her fuss to her heart's content. Then his pocket vibrated, and he took out his phone to answer Wesley's call.

"How did the negotiations go?" Sean asked.

"Everything went exactly as you predicted, Boss." A respectful voice came through the phone. "The moment I revealed Danny Rand's background and the origins of The Hand, Alexandra's attitude changed immediately. She agreed to your demands without hesitation."

"Alexandra does not have much time left. Death is looming over her, and no one could stay calm under those circumstances."

Sean stood on the balcony, overlooking the city below. Streams of cars stretched along the roads like dragons. In the distance, he could faintly make out the winding Hudson River.

As he admired Manhattan's scenery from above, Sean instructed Wesley, "Keep an eye on Danny Rand. I'll go see him myself tonight."

"Are you really going to help The Hand carry out their plan, Boss?" Wesley hesitated before asking.

Sean had told him everything about The Hand's plan. If Alexandra unearthed the enormous Dragon Bone buried underground, it was said that it would affect the foundations of all New York. The city would sink and collapse, and no one knew how many people would die in the disaster.

Wesley was no saint, but he still felt hesitant and unwilling to stand by and watch millions die.

"Why would I let a group of immortality-obsessed lunatics destroy New York? I'll hand Danny Rand over to Alexandra, but the Dragon Bone and The Hand are not theirs to touch."

Sean smiled softly into the breeze. The Dragon Bone, which could bring the dead back to life, and The Hand, whose influence spanned the globe—both were his targets. As for Alexandra and the other leaders of The Hand, someone would naturally deal with them for him.

"The street heroes of Hell's Kitchen should have gathered by now, right?"

"Punisher and Daredevil have found a few people, though they do not seem to get along very well." Wesley used the resources at his disposal to track those targets. "The Hand found Danny Rand earlier, but Iron Fist escaped. Those ninjas were no match for him. Jessica Jones and Luke Cage also followed a few clues to investigate The Hand's company... In short, everyone has gathered in one place."

"Mm, good. A huge batch of points is about to fall into my hands." Sean nodded in satisfaction. Thinking of the dazzling exchange list in his mind, he could not help feeling excited.

"What did you say, Boss?" Wesley felt that his occasionally scatterbrained boss seemed to be treating all this like a game.

"Uh, I said you did well. You'll be getting promoted and making more money soon, reaching the pinnacle of life... Keep it up, Wesley."

Sean's perfunctory answer left Wesley speechless. He had never been able to figure out his boss's personality. Sometimes Sean seemed easygoing; at other times, he was cold, decisive, and utterly merciless. Most of the time, he wore a sunshine-bright smile like a gentle, cheerful boy next door. Yet whenever he faced an opponent—or set his sights on a target—he immediately gave off a deep, dark aura.

It was precisely because of that unpredictable sense of mystery that Wesley became even more cautious. He did not dare harbor the slightest thought of betrayal. In his eyes, his young boss was even more terrifying than Kingpin, the former Black Emperor.

After hanging up, Sean rolled his neck. A hint of excitement rose in his calm eyes as he felt the power surging through his body. Warm sunlight seeped into him bit by bit like flowing water, seemingly turning into electricity that stimulated every cell and tiny molecule within him.

"I have a feeling I'm going to get a five-kill achievement tonight." Sean clenched his fist and grinned.

"Sean, how are we celebrating tonight? Let's go to Chinatown. Roast duck is way better than pizza! I've already picked out new clothes!" Mindy hurried out excitedly, dressed in a little princess-style outfit that made the blonde girl look even more adorable.

"Uh, if I told you I have something else to do tonight, you wouldn't blame me, would you?" Sean asked cautiously as he looked at the joy radiating from Mindy.

The vast living room fell silent for one second. Then, accompanied by an angry cry of "Liar," the enraged blonde girl began chasing Sean down with all her might. The tall and small figures raced around their new home, and half an hour later, it ended with Mindy collapsing onto the sofa.

"I'll make it up to you next time, okay?" Sean sat beside her on the couch and stroked her little head.

"Mm, just this once... and don't touch my head!" Mindy curled up on the soft sofa like a kitten. "Remember, come back safely."

P.S. Uh, the update was a little late. Sorry.