Surprises and Unexpected Events

Midtown Circle Financial, conference room.

The five leaders of The Hand had rarely gathered together. Alexandra sat at the head of the table, her eternally impassive face showing a hint of uncontrollable excitement and joy. Her life was hanging by a thread; she could feel her organs failing each day, the shadow of death creeping closer, a chilling aura clinging to her body like the cold breath of the Grim Reaper, jolting her awake from midnight dreams.

Death was, and always would be, humanity's greatest fear, especially for someone like Alexandra, who had lived for centuries. The longer one lived, the more one feared death's arrival.

"I've captured Danny Rand, the sole successor of K'un-Lun, and he's now in our hands," Alexandra lost her usual composure. The ecstasy of regaining life filled the Hand leader with fervent emotion. "Centuries ago, to cultivate the legendary art of eternal life, we fled K'un-Lun, taking the Dragon Bone from the Dragon's Lair with us. Using the vast life energy contained within, we gained long life and survived for centuries."

"But as time passed, the Dragon Bone gradually depleted, and we faced the shadow of death once more. However, heaven has not abandoned us. After centuries of searching, we found another burial site for a dragon's remains. K'un-Lun's power sealed it underground, and only the power of Iron Fist can open that door!"

Alexandra's voice echoed in the conference room. The other four leaders listened quietly. They had all been monks in K'un-Kun. Coveting the legendary art of eternal life, they stole the Dragon Bone remains, fled the strictly regulated, mysterious land of K'un-Lun, and used the life-reviving Dragon Bone to form The Hand, transforming into five fingers. For centuries, The Hand had thrived, growing into the international criminal organization it was today, with influence spanning the globe.

"Now that Danny Rand is in our hands, will Daredevil and his bunch just let it go?" Murakami of Japan worried, knowing the trouble caused by the street heroes of Hell's Kitchen, who had always been a headache for The Hand.

Daredevil, Punisher, and other odd characters had cost the Hell's Kitchen gangs countless business deals. The Hand was also a victim.

Alexandra dismissed his concern with a cold remark, "Black Sky will deal with them."

Hearing this, Murakami said no more. Black Sky was their inheritance from K'un-Lun, a form of ancient, obscure sacrificial witchcraft that worshipped the primal, mysterious demon "The Beast." It granted immense power at the cost of one's emotions and sanity. If not for the extremely harsh conditions for becoming a host of Black Sky, The Hand could have forged a terrifying army.

"Elektra is the most suitable host I've ever seen. With Black Sky within her, its power can be fully unleashed. Daredevil and his group won't be her match."

Alexandra was full of confidence. Elektra, who should have been dead, was revived by her using the Dragon Bone and had her memories erased, making her the perfect vessel for Black Sky.

"Find a way to make Danny Rand open the underground seal and excavate the Dragon Bone as soon as possible. We can't stay in New York for too long; a mysterious organization is already onto us," said Sowande, the African warlord.

Madame Gao, the local boss of New York, nodded. This elderly woman possessed a meticulous and powerful intelligence network. She knew of a mysterious organization hidden in the shadows of the country, specializing in dealing with supernatural events and unconventional crimes.

However, that mysterious organization was too deeply hidden, like an iceberg floating on the sea, only revealing a tip of its presence. Even with The Hand's intelligence capabilities, they couldn't uncover more information.

"One week from now, we excavate the Dragon Bone," Alexandra set the final deadline.

"I'll plan the transport route. Once the Dragon Bone is excavated, it will disturb New York's foundations and trigger a series of chain reactions. We'll leave amidst the chaos then," said Bokuto, who had remained silent until now.

The five leaders of The Hand rarely convened. In their real lives, they all had different identities. For instance, Alexandra was a successful entrepreneur in New York, Sowande was a secessionist warlord on the African continent, and Murakami managed a Japanese financial group. Each had their own influence. Of course, these identities were merely superficial covers. Beneath the glamorous or prominent status lay a chilling, profound darkness.

"What about Wesley's boss?" Madame Gao asked, as if remembering something.

"Elektra will kill him. Hell's Kitchen doesn't need too many ambitious individuals," Alexandra said, resting her hands on the conference table. That man's origins were unfathomable, and he seemed to know a great deal about The Hand's past and K'un-Lun, which made her extremely wary.

"Dangerous individuals should be nipped in the bud," The Hand leader declared.

The Hand had only five fingers for so many years. How could Alexandra tolerate another person joining them to share the elixir of immortality from the Dragon Bone?

"Everything proceeds according to plan," Alexandra surveyed her four companions. For centuries, they had relied on and helped each other, building the vast Hand and escaping the strictly regulated K'un-Lun. "One day, we will return to that place and gain eternal life!"

Madame Gao, Murakami, Sowande, and Bokuto, the four leading figures of The Hand, also stood up. They had fled K'un-Lun centuries ago and always harbored the greatest caution and vigilance towards that mysterious land existing in another dimension. Yet, deep down, they constantly longed to return, craving the dragon bone remains buried there and the secret to immortality.

"We can obtain the secret of Iron Fist from Danny Rand. He is not only the key to opening that underground door but also the only guide to K'un-Kun," Sowande's dark face broke into a cold smile.

The others nodded in agreement. The dragon bone remains would eventually be depleted. If they could return to K'un-Lun, delve into the Dragon's Lair, and excavate all the buried dragon bones, they would be only one step away from eternal life.

Just as the five leaders of The Hand were envisioning a bright future, the distinct sound of footsteps faintly echoed from outside the door. Elektra entered, pushing the door open with a gleaming katana in hand. A faint scent of blood emanated from her, like a warrior fresh from a satisfying slaughter, her pupils filled with bestial ferocity and a sense of exhilarating contentment.

"Did you kill that guy?"

Alexandra looked at Elektra with satisfaction. After being possessed by Black Sky, one's original emotions and memories gradually faded, leaving only the primal instinct for killing.

Elektra gazed at her master. A faint smile suddenly bloomed on her expressionless, cold face, startling Alexandra.

As the vessel of Black Sky, Elektra stood still in the conference room, her black hair and red attire, holding a long sword, exuding a peculiar beauty like a blooming blood-red rose.

"His name is Sean," a slightly hoarse voice sounded. Elektra moved aside, and a young man in a black mask walked in unhurriedly from outside the door.

Looking at the Hand leaders with their varied expressions, Sean couldn't help but say softly, "We meet again, everyone. Surprised? Shocked?"

ps: Thank you to all the readers who have been voting, collecting, and tipping for this book. Here is the first update~