Misty felt that she might have made a wrong judgment about the people and public order in Hell's Kitchen.
The way her colleagues, Michael and Scott, treated Alvin, including the attitude of George Stacy, the highest-ranking police officer in Big Apple City, all indicated that Alvin was not a bad person, at least not an enemy of the police.
Misty nodded stiffly and said coldly, "You'll see!" Then she turned and walked out.
"Hey, officer, you still haven't told me where you got that hand made?" Alvin called out from behind the bar. "I really need to know."
Misty, who had been trying to maintain a tough facade, couldn't hold it any longer. She awkwardly blurted out, "Stark Industries' lab," and hurried away.
Michael looked at Alvin apologetically and said, "Sorry, Alvin, I didn't expect her to be so impulsive."
Alvin waved his hand and said, "It's nothing. Jessica still owes you a favor! I just hope your next few days aren't too difficult!"
Michael glanced at Jessica, who was pretending to wipe the tables, and chuckled wryly as he rubbed his ribs, which ached whenever it rained. He said, "It wasn't her fault; I forgave her a long time ago. I need to go back and prevent our new commissioner from causing more trouble. The others here aren't as easy to talk to as you."
Alvin looked at Michael and said seriously, "To be honest, Michael, you're a good person. But I think you guys should change your approach. I have a feeling your new commissioner is a tough nut to crack."
Michael smiled bitterly and said, "I hope so! Being on duty here is a tough job!" He then left with Scott, following Misty.
Unexpectedly, Commissioner George did not leave but continued to sit at the bar, deep in thought.
Alvin ignored him and called out to Foggy and Matt, saying, "Guys, you're in luck. I made sweet and sour pork ribs and beef stew with tomatoes today. If you don't mind, I can warm them up for you."
"Of course, Alvin, my good friend, I knew you wouldn't let me go hungry!" Foggy exclaimed happily.
Alvin warmed up the leftover lunch, made it into rice bowls, and handed them to Foggy and Matt. Seeing them eat with relish, he smiled and said, "Guys, you're lawyers! It's rare to see lawyers as down on their luck as you! Why don't you go to other districts and find some clients? You can't support yourselves by taking cases here!"
Foggy chewed his rice carelessly and said, "You don't know, Alvin, what we're doing now is what the gangs used to do. We're fighting for wages for construction workers, handling sexual harassment cases for female employees, and suing insurance companies for people who can't get their pensions."
Wiping his mouth, Foggy complained, "You know what? These companies and employers aren't afraid of us at all; they're afraid of gangs. To deal with us, they just hire a bunch of lawyers, and that gives us a headache. But when faced with gangs, they politely pay up, and sometimes the victims even get more compensation. Last week, Old Harry's wages were recovered when I, along with Swag, your school driver, dressed up as gangsters. That was much easier than going to court."
Alvin was incredibly impressed by Foggy's ability to ramble and laughed, "I meant you could take on some profitable cases."
Foggy waved his hand and said, "We really don't have time. Our cases are already booked for two months out, even though none of them are profitable."
After saying that, Foggy gave Matt a resentful look, "The most profitable one, the compensation from S.H.I.E.L.D. the day before yesterday, but you refused to sue them."
Matt turned his face to "look" at Foggy and said, "What we're doing now is making the residents of Hell's Kitchen start to believe in the law, instead of relying on gangs and guns to solve problems, so they can find law-abiding jobs elsewhere."
"Yes, the great saint, Mr. Matt Murdock, we're already a month behind on rent. And you just gave free consultation to a hot chick.
Dude, if it weren't for Alvin, we would have gone bankrupt last month. As a lawyer, that would be a huge disgrace to my career," Foggy grumbled to Matt.
Alvin felt a little sympathetic towards Foggy. Having a colleague like Matt indeed made it difficult to earn money. Alvin also knew Matt's character; this guy was a truly good person. But that's how the world is: good people often struggle, while bad people live extravagant lives.
Thinking of this, that scoundrel Kingpin seemed particularly hateful. Why should the dignified Daredevil live like a welfare recipient, while Kingpin, a gang boss, lives a life of debauchery and revelry every night?
The key was that Alvin was the one paying for Matt's welfare, which was too much. He had to find that scoundrel Kingpin and make him bleed a little more. The kindergarten was opening soon, and they still needed a few school buses.
While Alvin was distracted, Frank returned, covered in dust from his travels, his gray work clothes splattered with white paint.
He quickly walked to the bar and said to Jessica, "Hey, Jess, be a dear and get me a beer."
As he spoke, Frank cast a cold glance at George, who was sitting silently at the bar. He really disliked the man's demeanor.
Frank's aura was powerful. As he sat down at the bar, everyone moved aside, keeping their distance from him.
Jessica poured a beer with a look of disgust and extended her arm to hand it to Frank from a distance, as if he had the plague.
Foggy and Matt silently moved to a distant table to continue their meal. The chatty Foggy wanted to complain a bit, but after comparing their physiques and demeanors, he wisely shut his mouth.
Alvin tapped the bar and said with a look of distaste, "Dude, did you fall into a cesspit? If you stay here for a while, there won't be any living people left in my restaurant."
Frank took a big gulp of beer and said proudly, "I fixed up the house next door, painted it myself, and I even fixed that damn drainpipe.
For such a dilapidated house, that fat landlord still wanted $5,000 a year from me."
Alvin looked at Frank as if he were an idiot and said, "Did you pay? If not, I'll have Old Kent go talk to him; he can definitely get it for much cheaper."
Frank said proudly, "I paid $20,000, ha, it was a bargain."
Frank was downgraded from an idiot to a mentally challenged person in Alvin's eyes. This was someone who needed care, so he said softly, "I can introduce you to a lawyer. He should be able to get some of your money back. And the lawyer's fee will have a good discount."
Frank looked at Alvin with disdain and said, "I'm not an idiot; buying the house next door for $20,000 was a bargain."
Alvin looked at Frank in disbelief. He didn't seem like someone who would haggle over prices. No matter how bad the house was, it wouldn't be less than $80,000. No matter how bad the public order was here, it was still Big Apple City, wasn't it?
Alvin asked cautiously, "Is the landlord still alive?"
Frank glanced at George, the only one still at the bar, and said, "I chased away the gang that was causing trouble in his supermarket, and his supermarket sold for a good price. So he gave me a huge discount on the house. Haha!"
Alvin was even more worried now. This guy wouldn't go easy on gangs. He asked, "So, what about the gang? Don't tell me they left after you hugged them."
Frank proudly finished the rest of his beer and said, "I told them to get lost and if they had a problem, to come find Alvin at the Peace Hotel."
After saying that, he ignored Alvin's disgusted expression, hummed a tune, and left for his own house. He had also realized by now that he didn't smell too good.