---------------
š Enjoying the Story? Get Ahead Now!
Can't wait for the next twist or epic moment?
Join my Patreon and unlock 40+ advanced chaptersāread ahead of everyone else! š„
š https://www.patreon.com/UK21
Your support means the world to meāthank you so much! š
----------------
Just as the two were speaking on the phone, the Hell's Kitchen police showed up once again in their beat-up, old patrol car. The police always arrived right on cue.
The officer who stepped forward to question Alex Ray was an old acquaintanceāGwen's father, George Stacy.
George approached and asked Alex, who was still on the phone, "What now? Alex, can't you just lay low for once? Why did another group collapse in front of your hotel today?"
Seeing this, Alex had no choice but to cover the receiver and respond, "This time, I didn't provoke anyone. It was a bunch of people claiming to be from S.H.I.E.L.D. They insisted on taking Pietro and his sister away. I'm negotiating with their director right now. If it's not urgent, please give me a moment."
Hearing that, George Stacy stepped back and decided to wait for Alex to finish the call.
Nick Fury, still on the line, noticed the silence and finally broke it. "Mr. Ray, S.H.I.E.L.D. has a vast collection of artifacts. Some are mystical, some extraterrestrial. We could loan you one. And I can authorize up to five million dollars in compensation. How does that sound?"
Fury was playing a calculated game. S.H.I.E.L.D. had an extensive inventory, much of it unexplored or unclassified. Lending one out wouldn't hurt. Plus, he hadn't specified when the loan would happen.
With the five million payout, they could file a report to the World Security Council claiming hundreds of millions in damage. That would more than replenish S.H.I.E.L.D.'s funding.
"Twenty million. Two artifacts. And I choose them myself. I'll pay a visit on my own time. Also, I have two conditions. If you don't agree, I'll let the cops take them away," Alex said flatly.
Fury could hear the resolve in Alex's tone and knew it was non-negotiable.
The demand wasn't unreasonable, but the mention of "conditions" made Fury uneasy. It felt like stepping onto a pirate ship.
Still, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and reply, "Tell me the conditions, and I'll see if they're doable."
Alex looked over at George Stacy, then glanced at the run-down police car.
"First," Alex began, "the police equipment and vehicles in Hell's Kitchen are outdated. Even with donations, you can see those patrol cars are ancient wrecks. S.H.I.E.L.D. must have decommissioned gear. Donate it. Nothing fancy. Just your discarded equipment, weapons, and vehicles."
George Stacy, who had just been briefed by Marcus and others, was stunned. He hadn't expected Alex's request to benefit them. It left the public-spirited police chief both touched and a little emotional.
He knew better than anyone how neglected the Hell's Kitchen precinct was. It felt like the city had abandoned them. The annual budget barely covered salaries, let alone promotions, bonuses, or equipment upgrades.
They earned the lowest pay, carried the oldest gear, and faced the worst criminals. That was the reality. If not for the justice in their hearts, who would willingly be a cop in Hell's Kitchen?
So they resented Hell's Kitchen and its residents. And yet, the man who stood up for them was the one they'd all despised. How could that not move them?
George looked around. The other officers who overheard Alex's words were now watching him with newfound respect.
On the phone, Fury was momentarily confused. He'd expected a more self-serving demand. This wasn't that.
"No problem," Fury said after a beat. "I can authorize that. We decommission loads of gear every year. I didn't expect Mr. Ray to be thisā¦ altruistic. We may need to re-evaluate our files on you."
Alex's unexpectedly civic-minded move made Fury reconsider his judgment. Maybe Alex wasn't just another self-interested opportunist. Maybe he could be added to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s contingency list for future superhero recruitment.
Seeing that Fury had agreed, Alex motioned for Marcus to release the gravity hold on the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. The agents groaned and staggered upright.
At that moment, Natasha Romanoff and Phil Coulson arrived with their tactical unit.
Alex's voice turned grave. "The last condition is the most important."
"Go on," Fury said, more serious now after learning the agents had been released.
Alex glanced around at the assembled agents. "I want you all to stay away from my turf. Don't ever come back here again. Understood?"
Fury was caught off guard. He had just begun to see Alex in a better lightāonly to be thrown back to square one.
"I can't promise that," Fury said darkly. "All I can say is what happened today won't happen again. As long as you don't commit any crimes, we won't interfere."
"That's enough. Send the money. I'll come by to pick my items." Alex then turned to Natasha.
"I hope we never meet again. Every time I see you, it means trouble. Agent Romanoff, goodbye. I won't be seeing you out."
With that, Alex turned and walked into the restaurant without looking back.
The moment the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents left, the residents of Hell's Kitchen erupted in cheers and applause.
They were localsāaccustomed to being neglected, scorned, and mistreated by officials. They had long since lost any faith in government authority.
But now, Alex had stood his ground and made the authorities back off. The residents were overjoyed, as if they'd scored a victory of their own.
George Stacy watched the scene unfold and couldn't help but sigh. "It's been a long time since I've seen anything like this in Hell's Kitchen."
His words were overheard by a figure about to leaveāDeadpool. He replied with surprising seriousness, "That's because they finally saw hope for the first time."
Then, just as quickly, Deadpool snapped back into his usual mischief. He jumped up and shouted to the crowd, "Party time! Drinks on Alex Ray! Let's go!"
George glanced back toward the restaurant with a complicated expression. Hell's Kitchen may have finally found its savior.
For the first time in a long while, people in Hell's Kitchen felt they might be able to live like normal citizens. It was a strange but thrilling feeling.
The cheers echoed through the streets.
Not far away, a red-suited blind vigilante who roamed these alleys every night stood still, listening to the uproar.
"That's coming from Alex Ray's place," Daredevil murmured. "It's been too long since I heard a sound like that in this godforsaken place. What the hell did that guy do? I'm starting to get curious."
Though Daredevil had never met Alex in person, he'd heard plenty. After all, Alex Ray was the godson of Wilson Fiskāthe very man Daredevil loathed most.
And yetā¦ Daredevil couldn't help but respect him. The Continental Hotel Alex had built, the community school, the protected zonesāall things Daredevil himself had dreamed of but failed to accomplish.
He had always believed he was the only one who could save Hell's Kitchen. But now, Alex Ray had shown him another path.
Back at Fisk Tower, Kingpin had just finished listening to a report from one of his subordinates.
The massive man leaned back in his chair and nodded with satisfaction. "The kid handled it well. Now isn't the time to pick fights with government agencies, but we also can't let them think we're weak."
He turned to his secretary. "Schedule a meeting with that congressman from the New York. I hear he's still short on funding for his mayoral campaign. Let him know the Fisk Group is ready to sponsor him."
Then Kingpin turned toward the massive French windows of his office, gazing down at the murky, chaotic streets of Hell's Kitchen.
A rare smile crept across his face as he murmured, "Hell's Kitchen is starting to stir again. Let's see how far you can go, Alex."
---------
ADD TO COLLECTION
LEAVE A REVIEW
DROP POWER STONES
--------------------
Let's rise up the rankings together!
----------------
Bonus Chapter - 150 Power Stones
2nd Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
---------------
š Enjoying the Story? Get Ahead Now!
Can't wait for the next twist or epic moment?
Join my Patreon and unlock 40+ advanced chaptersāread ahead of everyone else! š„
š https://www.patreon.com/UK21
Your support means the world to meāthank you so much! š
----------------