Emily's eyes were wide with terror, staring at the four giant turtle warriors who had descended from above. Her mouth hung open, unable to utter a sound. She quickly ran from behind the car to Hawk's side, clutching his arm tightly.
Hawk's face showed no terror, only a trace of amusement and scrutiny. Since learning of the existence of the Foot Clan and a man named Shredder in New York, he knew that somewhere in the city's labyrinthine sewers lived four small turtles.
He looked at the lead giant turtle, the fiery one with the red mask. "Raphael?"
The red-masked turtle, Raphael, retracted his sais, gave a heavy grunt, and replied with a deep, booming voice, "You've got some sense, kid! Knowing my name!" He glanced at the unconscious drug dealers and the Foot Clan insignia—visible beneath one dealer's collar—and spat in disgust. "More Foot Clan trash! They've been getting way too brazen lately!"
At that moment, the calmest, blue-masked turtle, Leonardo, walked over. He sheathed his katana, nodded at Hawk, his attitude relatively gentle and courteous. "We are the city's… protectors. You can call us… uh…" He seemed to be searching for the right words.
"The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!" The orange-masked turtle with the nunchaku, Michelangelo, shouted excitedly, making a classic Bruce Lee-style pose.
The purple-masked turtle with the bo staff, Donatello, pushed up non-existent glasses and added, "Technically speaking, we are mutated…"
"Hey! Donny! Get to the point!" Raphael interrupted impatiently.
Leonardo shook his head with an air of resignation. He spoke to Hawk: "Don't mind my brothers. We noticed you're skilled, and also… you are unique." His blue eyes lingered on Hawk for a moment, seemingly pondering how he had dodged the bullets. He continued while observing Hawk: "We genuinely need a reliable human to assist with something."
Hawk raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You can tell I'm reliable just by looking at me?"
To describe the situation, the smartest of the four, or rather, the four turtles—the purple-masked Donatello—stepped forward to explain.
"Hawk Lane, you are the superhero active in Brooklyn, the King!"
Emily, who was still clinging to Hawk's arm, widened her eyes again and stared at Hawk in disbelief, her face filled with shock.
"When the King first appeared, we started a covert investigation into his true identity. Three years of investigation couldn't have been fruitless. Especially since the assassination attempt you survived two months ago, after which the King went silent. I had a rough estimate." Donatello stroked a non-existent beard, stating confidently, "Coupled with your ability to dodge those bullets just now, the conclusion is obvious."
Hawk looked surprised. He scanned the four turtles, neither confirming nor denying, and countered, "So, what do you need?"
Leonardo pointed to the dark sewer entrance. "We took in a woman at our base these past couple of days. She's unconscious, apparently attacked while tracking leads on the Foot Clan and the Hand. We feel she needs a safe human from the surface world to look after her and help. We're… not exactly built for long-term public appearances." His tone carried a hint of worry.
Hawk's interest was piqued. "Who is this woman?"
"She said her name is April O'Neil." Donatello interjected. "She's a reporter. Her camera has some… troubling photos."
April O'Neil? The female reporter tracking gangs? Hawk instantly understood why the turtles would seek him out. His identity as a Columbia University elite, the Lane Group heir, and even the "King" made him the ideal candidate to handle such a sensitive figure.
The coincidence was almost intentional, as if destiny had thrown the entire Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles plotline right into his lap.
Hawk glanced at the still-shaken Emily, who was secretly eyeing the four giant turtles, and then at the deep sewer entrance. He nodded to Leonardo:
"Lead the way. I'll go see this reporter."
Led by Leonardo, Hawk, accompanied by the bewildered but intensely curious Emily, bent down and entered the sewer opening, which smelled of dampness and a faint hint of cheese.
The tunnels were wider than expected, but the environment was far from comfortable. Emily clung tightly to his arm, her carefully chosen high heels for the date stumbling on the slick concrete floor. Her eyes were wide with suspicion and wonder. "Hawk, are you really 'King'?"
Hawk turned, pursed his lips, and after two seconds of silence, nodded.
"Wooow!" Emily jumped excitedly, causing her two assets to visibly shake, drawing Hawk's attention. "Hawk, tell me, am I the first person at our school to know this?"
Hawk quickly averted his gaze. Seeing the intensity in Emily's eyes, he said resignedly, "Just you, my dear cheerleader."
"Yay yay yay!" Emily cheered, radiating excitement.
After navigating several forks, a relatively open space, converted into a living area, appeared before them. Weights and old sofas were piled up, and the walls were adorned with strange decorations and unintelligible symbols.
Most prominently, there was a makeshift bed constructed from discarded wooden planks and soft padding. A woman lay quietly on the bed. Even in such an odd environment, she radiated an undeniable presence. Her long, deep chestnut hair was spread on the pillow. She had healthy, tanned skin and deep, beautiful features, possessing an aggressive, wild beauty. She bore a striking resemblance to the actress Megan Fox from Hawk's past life memory. She was April O'Neil.
Her breathing was steady; she seemed to be in a deep coma or sleep, her brow slightly furrowed, as if under some duress even while unconscious.
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