The air grew heavy with silence the kind that made hearts pound and nerves tighten.
Right now, Ulysses Klaue looked terrible. No, it wasn't just his mood his entire face had gone pale, his expression stiff and dark. The man standing before him didn't need to explain much; his purpose was already painfully clear.
He was here for trouble.
Klaue narrowed his eyes, his lips twisting into a cruel sneer. "I don't care who you are," he said coldly. "But let me make something clear this is New York. And in New York's underworld, there's order."
"Order?" Nolan repeated, his voice calm yet sharp with mockery.
When he first arrived in this world, that so-called order had been one of his biggest obstacles. Back then, he had no status, no influence only blood and chaos paved his way forward. He remembered those days vividly, the endless killing, the smell of gunpowder and fear.
"Damn underground order," he muttered under his breath, eyes glinting with distaste.
Then, looking straight at Klaue, Nolan spoke quietly but firmly. "I hate this so-called order you talk about. And as far as I'm concerned, the underworld order of New York has already been purged by me. If I were you, I'd hand over the vibranium. You've made more than enough already. And don't forget, that vibranium you're hoarding… it was stolen."
Klaue stared at him like he'd just heard the most ridiculous thing in the world. "The underworld of New York," he sneered, "belongs to the Kingpin. You?"
He gave a sharp, contemptuous laugh. The only reason he dared to stay in New York was precisely because of Kingpin's existence.
Hell's Kitchen was infamous across America for being a place of chaos but it was a chaos that had rules. And as long as Kingpin ruled, no one could challenge that balance.
What Klaue didn't notice, however, was the sudden narrowing of Nolan's eyes at the mention of that name.
"You said... Kingpin?"
If his memory served him right, Kingpin should have been dead.
So much time had passed he never expected to hear that name again. The realization sent a ripple of excitement through him, a cold smile curling his lips.
Kingpin the emperor of the underworld.
When Nolan had first entered this world, he had viewed Kingpin as an untouchable monster. Even the Irish mob had been enough to give him hell back then. But later, when he truly faced Kingpin, the fear was gone because by that time, Nolan had already become someone powerful enough to stand his ground.
Still, there was no denying it: Kingpin was dangerous.
Unlike gods or superheroes, he was mortal. A knife, a bullet either could end him. Nolan had killed "Kingpin" before. Or so he thought. He'd spent months confirming it, investigating from every possible angle, until he was sure the man was gone for good.
But now?
Now it seemed that the one he'd killed was only a decoy.
So the real Kingpin was alive.
Would he come seeking revenge? Nolan wasn't sure. Kingpin was ruthless but also pragmatic a man of business, not blind vengeance. It was entirely possible that, after all this time, he had decided to let things go.
But even so, Nolan couldn't ignore it. The name itself brought back too many memories.
"Kingpin," he murmured, almost amused. "Looks like you've given me another reason to be interested."
He smiled then a calm, radiant smile that made Klaue's stomach drop.
"You can kill me," Klaue said, forcing his voice to stay steady, "but you'll never get the vibranium. I've already made preparations for this. If I die, you get nothing."
"Is that so?" Nolan chuckled softly.
That sound it wasn't loud, but it was enough to make Klaue's blood run cold.
"You know," Nolan said, "this world has countless ways to make a man wish for death. But I'm a kind man, so I usually prefer not to use them."
Klaue frowned, unsure what he meant until Nolan's smile deepened.
"Fortunately," he continued, "I have two robots that can handle this sort of problem for me. Trust me, before long, you'll be begging me to end it for you."
He took a few steps back.
The two T-1000s at his side moved forward, their liquid metal bodies gleaming faintly under the dim light.
"These two," Nolan explained casually, "are my masterpieces machines far beyond your understanding. They can help you experience sensations you never thought possible."
One of the T-1000s raised its arm, and the silvery limb morphed into a sharp blade. Without hesitation, it plunged the blade into Klaue's thigh.
Klaue gritted his teeth but didn't cry out. Pain, he could handle.
But then the second T-1000 applied a strange serum to the wound.
Instantly, a cool sensation spread through his leg. His pain faded, replaced by a strange numb relief and he realized with horror that the wound was healing right before his eyes.
Nolan's voice came again, smooth and unhurried.
"Don't misunderstand. This isn't torture. I just wanted to show you how advanced the medical technology of Locke Industries is. I promise that for at least the next ten years, you'll be enjoying our full range of services."
Klaue's pupils shrank. "You... you devil!"
He'd seen ruthless men before. But never anyone like this someone who could blend science, cruelty, and mockery so effortlessly.
When the demonstration was over, Nolan ordered the Terminators to take Klaue away. Extracting information about the vibranium wouldn't be quick, but that was fine. The Red Queen had all the time in the world.
As for him, he had other matters to handle unfinished business from the past.
He made his way to Hell's Kitchen.
The streets were as chaotic as ever. He followed a familiar route to a small, rundown building. A simple sign hung by the door: Jessica Jones Investigations.
He stepped inside. The place was tidy, though old and worn.
Jessica looked up in surprise. "Nolan? What brings you here?"
He coughed lightly. "To see you, of course."
She raised an eyebrow, giving him a skeptical smirk. "Yeah, right."
Nolan didn't bother arguing. He walked up to her and slipped an arm around her waist.
Jessica's figure had filled out since he last saw her her slender waist fitting perfectly into his grasp.
"Tell me," he said softly, "have you ever heard of a man named Kingpin?"
"Kingpin?" Jessica's expression hardened. "Yeah, I've heard of him. Dangerous guy. I only learned about him by accident, but... he's bad news."
Nolan's gaze sharpened. That was all the confirmation he needed.
"So it's true," he murmured. "Kingpin's still alive."
He looked her in the eye. "Jessica, I need you to investigate him. Find out where he's hiding, what assets he controls. But be careful he's not someone to take lightly. If anything feels off, contact the Red Queen. You know the drill."
Jessica frowned but nodded. "Alright. But this won't be easy. And just so you know, my services aren't cheap."
"Is that so?" Nolan smiled.
Before she could react, he swept her off her feet, eliciting a startled gasp.
"Lucky for you," he whispered with a grin, "I'm very good at paying my debts."
—————————————————————————————————————————————————
Caught in the currents of this adventure? Tell us what hooked you—your thoughts and reviews keep the story blazing! Every 300 Power Stones unlocks a bonus chapter, propelling the journey even further!
Nolan's path is just getting started, and the story of justice is only unfolding. Keep riding the waves with Unbound Evolution and sail beyond the horizon!
[email protected]/_tey
Change @ to a.