Become Kingpin and build a hero mercenary company.

Page 15

Wesley stared at the data displayed on the control panel from outside, a genuine look of surprise flashing in his eyes. This blind lawyer's sensory abilities were simply superhuman!

[Phase Three: Combat Skills and Tactical Thinking Simulation.]

The environment instantly switches to a complex, obstacle-filled urban street fighting simulation scenario, with several energy-based "enemies" rushing in from different directions.

Matt moved. He had no sight, yet his movements were astonishingly fluid. The white cane seemed to come alive in his hands; he used it to block, thrust, and trip, combining it with his cheetah-like agility to defeat each simulated enemy. He could always "predict" the enemy's attack route, using every corner and protrusion in the environment for cover and counterattacks. His fighting style was efficient and precise, with a unique rhythm that relied on perception rather than sight.

[Fighting Skills Assessment: Master Level (Adaptable to Dark Environments)]

[Tactical thinking assessment: Excellent. Exceptional ability to utilize the environment and possesses excellent on-the-spot judgment.]

[Overall combat strength assessment: B-level (current), potential A-level.]

The simulation ended, and the room was restored to its original state.

Matt was slightly out of breath, adjusting his breathing. He tried his best to keep it within the range of "excellent but reasonable".

The door to the assessment room slid open, and Wesley walked in. His expression had returned to calm, but the scrutiny in his eyes was even stronger.

“Amazing ability, Mr. Murdoch,” Wesley said with a hint of admiration. “Completely overturns our understanding of ‘disability.’ The Association welcomes all kinds of talent, and your abilities are irreplaceable in intelligence gathering, infiltration and reconnaissance, and operations in specific environments.”

He produced a contract: "Based on the evaluation results, we have initially rated you as a B-level hero, codename... What are your thoughts?"

Matt paused for a moment, thinking of Foggy, the firm's predicament, and the people in Hell's Kitchen who needed help.

“Daredevil.” He slowly uttered the name that struck fear into the hearts of criminals in the darkness; now, it would become his professional code name in the light.

“Daredevil… very good.” Wesley nodded and pushed the contract in front of him. “This is your salary, benefits, rights and obligations. I’ll read it to you. If there are no problems, welcome to the Hero Association.”

Matt accepted the contract, which was no different from a piece of waste paper to him, but he could "hear" Wesley's steady heartbeat and "smell" the faint, compliant ink scent on the contract paper. He knew that by taking this step, he would have a more direct connection with that dangerous Wilson Fisk.

But, in order to survive, and in order to continue to protect in another way, he seemed to have no better choice.

“I’m in,” Matt Murdoch, Daredevil, said in a deep voice, signing his name on the contract.

A new identity, a new journey full of unknowns and dangers, begins.

Chapter 32: Can't blind people be heroes?

The news of Daredevil Matt Murdoch joining the Hero Association did not cause a large-scale public sensation like Sandman's debut or the appearance of the Master, but it stirred up quite a ripple within the association and in a few specific circles that closely follow the association's movements.

New hero information has been updated on the internal bulletin board:

Hero Codename: Daredevil

Name: Matt Murdoch (Security Class B)

Ability Level: B (Current), Potential Level: A

Core abilities: Super senses (hearing, smell, touch, taste, radar senses), master-level fighting skills (adaptable to dark environments)

Assessment Notes: Sensory abilities have reached S-level potential, combat skills are excellent, and tactical value is extremely high.

This announcement caused some whispers within the association.

Daredevil? The new guy?

"Level B? That's a pretty high starting point."

"Wait... Matt Murdoch? That name sounds familiar... isn't he a lawyer?"

"A lawyer? A lawyer is here to be the hero?"

As more detailed information (the non-classified parts) circulated, more questions arose.

"Blind people? Are you kidding me? Has the association started accepting blind people now?"

"Super Senses? That sounds incredible. Is it true? Did they get in through connections?"

"Letting a blind person handle extraordinary events? That's incredibly irresponsible, both for himself and for the public!"

These discussions inevitably reached Matt's ears through various channels. His extraordinary hearing allowed him to pick up on the skeptical conversation between several low-ranking heroes in the training room at the end of the corridor, even without consciously listening. He didn't get angry, nor did his face show any change in expression; only the knuckles of his hand gripping his cane tightened slightly. He was already used to this kind of superficial contempt and skepticism.

However, the association's official attitude is completely different from these private discussions.

Under Wesley's leadership, the HR department held a formal career planning meeting with Matt. His vision problem was completely ignored during the meeting; all the discussion revolved around his performance data.

“Mr. Murdoch, according to the assessment report, your sensory abilities are irreplaceable in specific areas.” The white-haired elder in charge of hero files spoke with a serious and professional tone. “Our initial development plan focuses on: high-difficulty intelligence gathering, infiltration and reconnaissance in complex environments, and targeted operations against specific types of targets (such as monsters who excel at disguise, invisibility, or rely on sound waves or scent attacks). The Association will equip you with customized auxiliary equipment, such as more sensitive environmental sensors, encrypted communicators, and portable terminals that can link data with your ‘radar senses’.”

Dr. Leo from the Equipment Department also enthusiastically joined in, although his proposal still carried a strong personal touch: "Mr. Daredevil! I'm very interested in your sensory abilities! I have a brilliant idea—'Multi-functional Sensory Amplification Shoulder Armor'! It can emit active sound waves in specific frequency bands to enhance your radar perception range and accuracy! It can also integrate miniature odor analyzers and vibration detectors! Although the appearance may be slightly... bulky for the sake of functionality, it will be absolutely practical!"

Matt calmly declined Dr. Leo's seemingly "heavy" shoulder armor, but accepted other custom-made, lightweight sensors and communication equipment. Throughout the process, the association treated him entirely as a professional with unique strengths, rather than a disabled person requiring special care.

This kind of recognition and respect based purely on ability and value is something Matt has rarely experienced in his previous life.

Soon, his first task arrived.

[Hell's Kitchen - Abandoned Textile Factory Area - Wolf Level]: Suspected homeless person missing. A weak abnormal energy reaction was detected at the scene. Investigation and confirmation are required. Reward points: 20.

The mission level wasn't high, but the location was sensitive—Hell's Kitchen, his territory.

That night, Matt changed into his dark red combat suit, covered by an inconspicuous dark trench coat for camouflage, and arrived at the mission location. Accompanying him was a Class C logistics personnel (non-combat rank) responsible for recording and basic support.

The abandoned textile factory was filled with a mixture of rust, dust, and mold. Moonlight, cut into pale patches by broken windows, dappled the debris-strewn ground. The accompanying logistics personnel switched on powerful flashlights and cautiously advanced, nervously watching the obstacles beneath their feet.

Matt, on the other hand, doesn't need any of that.

He walked ahead, his steps steady, his cane occasionally tapping the ground, but more often hovering in the air. In his world of perception, this world was "bright" in a different way. The echoes outlined the vast, empty structure of the factory, and subtle changes in airflow told him where the ventilation shafts were and where the dead ends were. The sound of dust being disturbed, the rustling of rats running through the pipes, even the sound of dripping water in the distance, all unfolded in his mind like the clearest map.

“The third room on the left shows signs of recent human activity, at least two people, and the odor has lingered for more than 24 hours but less than 48 hours,” Matt suddenly stopped and said in a low voice.

The logistics staff were taken aback. They shone their flashlights in that direction and, sure enough, saw some scattered food packaging and footprints, which made them gasp in surprise.

They continued deeper. At the entrance to what appeared to be a staircase leading to an underground warehouse, Matt raised his hand to stop his companion.

“There’s something down there.” He listened intently. “Breathing…slow, viscous. Not human. And…a corrosive smell.”

He signaled to the support staff to stay upstairs to provide backup, while he quietly slipped down.

The underground warehouse was even darker and damper. In Matt's perception, a huge, irregularly shaped life form was curled up in a corner, emitting a nauseating, sour smell. Its body seemed to be covered in slime, and it was breathing with gurgling sounds.

It was a giant mutated rat swarm aggregate (wolf-level) that had undergone a slight mutation due to long-term consumption of industrial waste and food discarded by homeless people. Sensing Matt's approach, it hissed threateningly and pounced with unexpected speed!

But in Matt's "vision," its movements were crystal clear. He could even "hear" the wind whistling as its muscles contracted and exerted force, and "smell" the stench emanating from its mouth as it pounced.

Matt didn't take the attack head-on; instead, his body slid to the side and rear like a ghost, precisely avoiding the pounce. His cane, like a viper's tongue, flashed out with lightning speed, striking the relatively vulnerable joint of the mutated rat aggregate!

"Squeak—!" The aggregate let out a sharp cry of pain and froze.

Matt gave it no chance to breathe, seizing the moment when its opponent lost balance, he lunged forward, unleashing his full fighting skills. Every attack he made landed precisely on the opponent's vital points or sensory organs; fists, feet, elbows, knees, even that seemingly ordinary white cane became a deadly weapon. His fighting style had no dazzling lights or shadows, only extreme efficiency and precision, like a deadly assassin dancing in the dark.

In just a few dozen seconds, the massive mutated rat aggregate collapsed to the ground with a mournful cry, losing its ability to move.

Matt stood beside it, calming his breathing slightly. The trench coat wasn't even dusty.

The logistics personnel above only cautiously descended after the commotion subsided, and were stunned by what they saw. He quickly stepped forward and began collecting samples using the special containers provided by the association, recording the on-site data.

[Mission "Investigate the Abandoned Textile Factory" Completed! The Wolf-level threat "Mutant Rat Swarm Aggregator" has been confirmed and eliminated. Reward points of 20 have been credited to the hero "Daredevil's" account.]

[Hero "Daredevil" First Mission Performance Assessment: Excellent. Accurate intelligence, efficient operation, perfect tactical execution, zero collateral damage.]

After the mission report was uploaded, the doubts within the association vanished instantly.

"So fast? And it's one of the more troublesome stealth types among the wolf-level monsters?"

"Zero collateral damage? In an underground environment? How did he do that?"

"It seems... he really is capable."

"Grade B, well-deserved."

Looking at the report, Wesley said to Kingpin, "Boss, Daredevil's abilities are indeed unique, especially in reconnaissance and precision strikes in complex urban environments, where he is extremely valuable. His addition fills a gap in our capabilities."

Kingpin nodded slightly, saying nothing more. To him, ability was value; nothing else mattered.

Matt Murdoch, Daredevil, proved to everyone with his clean and efficient first mission that in the Hero Association, the only standard of judgment is ability and contribution.

The world he can "see" is far clearer and more profound than that of many people with normal vision. The platform provided by the association has allowed his unique ability to find a place to truly realize its value.

Back at the still financially strapped law firm, Foggy greeted him with concern: "Matt, how was it? Did the first day go well?"

Matt put down his cane, a barely perceptible look of relaxation on his face.

“Not bad, Foggie,” he said softly. “At least… they value the ability itself.”

For the first time, he felt that joining the association might not be entirely a compromise. Here, his value as Daredevil seemed to receive a different, more direct form of recognition.

Chapter 33: The Eccentrics of "Friday" Shopping Festival

A peculiar mix of anxiety and excitement hung in the air of New York, as if the entire city's adrenaline had been prematurely injected. Huge electronic billboards, mobile notifications, television programs—every channel relentlessly roared the same theme: Black Friday shopping extravaganza! Discounts! Limited time offers! Flash sales!

Outside a large department store in Manhattan, at six in the morning, before dawn and in the chill of the air, the air was already thick with people. The throng of people resembled boiling porridge, each with eyes gleaming with a desire for low prices and an almost instinctive competitive spirit. Security guards, as if facing a formidable enemy, formed a human wall, holding hands, barely maintaining the last vestiges of order at the entrance.

Karen, an ordinary office clerk, was also part of this crowd. She had been eyeing the latest smart TV, a limited-edition model almost half-price, for a whole month. To achieve this, she set three alarms, arrived at four in the morning to queue, and endured more than two hours of shivering in the cold wind, finally seeing the mall doors about to open, victory in sight.

The door opening prompt sounded like a starting gun!

The crowd surged forward like a burst dam! Karen was jolted by a tremendous force from behind, staggering and nearly falling. She struggled to regain her balance, pushing her way towards the desired counter, repeatedly shouting, "Excuse me! Excuse me!"

However, the power of the crowd was terrifying. She was swept along, involuntarily veered off course, and watched helplessly as several strong men, like tanks, rushed to the television counter and instantly devoured the few remaining discounted units. When the last box was carried away, the sales clerk reluctantly hung up the "Sold Out" sign.

Karen froze, surrounded by the jubilation of those who had snagged their desired items and the curses of those who hadn't. All the sounds seemed to fade into the distance. She stared at the empty counter, her mind blank except for a few words: "Gone…my TV…"

She had scrimped and saved, stayed up all night researching TV guides, and waited patiently in the cold wind... All her efforts and expectations vanished in an instant. Extreme disappointment, exhaustion, and an unnamed rage fueled by the frenzied atmosphere gathered and surged in her chest like magma.

"My...that's my TV!!" she screamed inhumanly, her eyes instantly becoming bloodshot and beginning to glow with an abnormal, eerie light, like the static on an electronic screen!

The empty cardboard boxes, discarded flyers, and even the crushed water bottles scattered around her seemed to be drawn by some invisible force, beginning to vibrate, twist, and deform violently! They softened as if thrown into a furnace, then frantically converged, stuck together, and covered Karen!

Within seconds, a three-meter-tall, bloated, and twisted "monster" made of countless discarded packaging boxes, plastic, and paper scraps appeared on the spot! It had no clear facial features, only constantly flashing and changing "expressions" pieced together from tattered advertising paper, sometimes angry, sometimes crying. Its "arms" were enormous tentacles made of countless intertwined cardboard boxes, creating a whooshing sound as they waved!

A "shopping festival" oddball has been born!

"Give me back my TV!!"

"Hand over all the discounts!!"

"I want to empty my shopping cart!!!"

It emitted a chaotic and shrill roar, a sound that mingled with the beeping of cash registers, the looping of advertising slogans, and the clamor of the crowd, creating a highly penetrating and provocative noise! ​​It brandished its enormous cardboard box tentacles and began to indiscriminately attack the surrounding shelves and people, sweeping goods off the ground and trying to engulf everything in its body made of waste!

[Manhattan XX Department Store - High-intensity material restructuring and emotional pollution energy reaction detected! Threat level assessment: Tiger!]

[Event Type: Emotion/Material Mutant (Shopping Festival Monster), with the ability to manipulate and assimilate surrounding waste (mainly packaging materials) to form temporary physical structures for attacks, and to emit inflammatory noise.]

[Mission Issued: Immediately proceed to subdue the "Shopping Festival" monster, control its destructive range, and evacuate trapped civilians. Mission Level: Tiger. Reward Points: 180.]

The alarm sounds, and the mission is issued.

In the association's command center, Wesley watched the surveillance footage as the colossal mass of trash wreaked havoc in the mall. While the damage wasn't top-tier, the panic and chaos it caused were extremely severe, especially given the sensitive location.

"The Sandmen are dealing with a small energy leak in the east of the city. The Mind Master's abilities have limited effectiveness against this type of physical construct." Wesley quickly assessed. "Issue a cooperative mission to find heroes with the ability to quickly subdue or control large-scale structures."

Almost simultaneously, the mission was accepted.

[Hero "Iron Fist" (C+ rank) has accepted the mission. Expected arrival in 5 minutes.]

[Hero "Jessica Jones" (Rank B, Temporary Co-op) has responded to the mission. Expected arrival in 4 minutes.]

The mall was a complete mess. Goods were scattered everywhere, and terrified customers screamed and fled. The "Shopping Festival" monster was like a moving garbage dump, constantly devouring the surrounding waste to grow itself, while polluting everyone's emotions with its noise.

Jessica Jones was the first to arrive. Wearing a leather jacket, she had her usual impatient expression and jumped directly from the broken glass dome of the mall, crashing heavily in front of the strange man, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

"So noisy!" She frowned, rubbed her ears, and then punched one of the monster's cardboard box tentacles as it swung at her!

"Boom!" The tentacle shattered, sending paper scraps flying. But soon, more debris gathered from the surrounding area, attempting to repair the damage.

"Damn it, this thing can self-repair?" Jessica clicked her tongue, her movements never stopping. With her superhuman strength and fairly agile skills, she fought the monster, constantly shattering its limbs and slowing its destruction, but she couldn't completely subdue it for a while.

Immediately afterward, a swift figure rushed in from the mall entrance—it was "Iron Fist." He wore a traditional martial arts uniform, and his hands shimmered with a faint golden light. Unlike Jessica, he didn't confront her head-on; instead, he darted like a fish among the flying debris and shelves, attempting to approach the monster's core—the heavily shrouded Karen.

"Its core is inside! We must attack the core directly!" Iron Fist shouted, unleashing a chop imbued with "qi" that sliced ​​through a cardboard wall that was trying to block him, but more debris immediately filled the gap.

The monster seemed to realize the threat posed by Iron Fist, and shifted its attack focus to him. Several tentacles coiled around him like giant pythons, while the inciting noise became even more piercing, attempting to distract him.

Just as the battle reached a stalemate and the area of ​​destruction continued to expand, a deep and steady engine sound came from outside the mall, which seemed out of place with the chaos at the scene.

A large, boxy, heavy-looking cleaning vehicle, painted entirely black and bearing the Hero Association emblem, came to a steady stop at the mall's main entrance with an agility that belied its size. The door opened, and three support staff members dressed in blue overalls, wearing protective goggles and earplugs, jumped out.

They glanced at the chaotic battle scene inside, their expressions unchanged, as if what lay before them was not a terrifying monster, but merely a "massive garbage dump" that needed to be dealt with.

The captain in the lead made a hand gesture.

A person quickly pulled several thick, flexible hoses, resembling vacuum cleaner pipes, from the car, their connectors gleaming with a ghostly blue light.