c28: Masked Man of Laughter
"No, Lester. That guy still has some ability." Kingpin shook his head, and he spoke to Bullseye, the man in black tactical gear, in his usual low voice without any haste: "But that's all…"
"Even the most insignificant guy so long as he dares to show his minions to us—he should be destroyed!"
"They must clearly know what they can do and what they cannot do."
"This world needs order and Fisk is order!"
This was very arrogant, and it was obvious that even if he guessed that Bo Feng Shuimen the dimensional movement technique utilized by Ryan Wong had some unique combat applications, Kingpin didn't take him seriously.
This mentality is normal. After all, Wilson Fisk is already the pinnacle of combat efficiency among non-superpowered humans a man who once went toe-to-toe with Captain America during a secret raid in Madripoor and under his command are several operatives with unique and deadly enhancements.
For example, these people standing in the office at this moment: Bullseye, Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, and Scorpion each a dark mirror to some of Marvel's most iconic heroes.
Bullseye (Lester) is a professional assassin and executioner. Born with a preternatural ability to turn any object into a deadly projectile, he once killed a man with a toothpick and has battled Daredevil to a stalemate more than once even murdered Elektra in one timeline.
In addition to his supernatural aim, Bullseye is also a highly trained hand-to-hand combatant and a master marksman with both firearms and bladed weapons.
He has elite-level agility, enhanced reflexes, peak physical conditioning, and extraordinary durability his bones reinforced with adamantium, the same metal that laces Wolverine's skeleton.
It can be said that Bullseye is a living weapon system a human guided missile.
As for Green Goblin (Norman Osborn) and Doctor Octopus (Otto Octavius), they are infamous across the Marvel Universe recurring nemeses of Spider-Man, each with their own long rap sheets and body counts.
Norman, donning his tech-laden glider and pumpkin bombs, was once director of H.A.M.M.E.R. during the Dark Reign era, temporarily replacing Nick Fury at the head of global defense.
Otto, wielding his four cybernetic tentacles, once transferred his mind into Peter Parker's body and operated as the Superior Spider-Man, outmaneuvering heroes and villains alike with ruthless efficiency.
The Scorpion (Mac Gargan), formerly a private investigator, now a mercenary super-enhanced by a bio-mechanical exosuit developed using remnants of Alchemax technology his tail can smash reinforced vibranium plates and even once pierced the armor of Iron Patriot.
However, prolonged exposure to the neural interface causes violent mood shifts and predatory instincts the user becomes unstable, aggressive, and almost insect-like in behavior.
And yet, even this volatile gallery of dangerous egos and twisted minds had to fall silent in the presence of Wilson Fisk, watching as he conversed with Bullseye with undisputed authority.
Are they law-abiding citizens?
Absolutely not they are criminals, assassins, sociopaths, and outcasts.
It's just that they've all submitted to Kingpin's oppressive charisma and overwhelming control the same way many supervillains once bowed to Ra's al Ghul out of fear rather than loyalty.
It can be seen that the Golden Union, Fisk's hybrid criminal empire stretching from Hell's Kitchen to Gotham's Narrows, is not only powerful it is structured like a militarized syndicate with near-religious hierarchy.
As for why Bullseye (Lester) can speak to Kingpin so casually and without repercussions he was the first to align himself fully with Fisk when the new generation of enforcers rose.
He is considered a confidant, almost like Black Mask's right-hand man in DC or Crossbones to Red Skull and thus, enjoys certain privileges and trust within the organization.
After speaking, Wilson Fisk (Kingpin) picked up his ebony cane tipped with vibranium alloy, raised one foot and stepped to the edge of the massive floor-to-ceiling French window behind him, then bowed his head and silently looked down at a New York City that was just about to sink into twilight.
He was savoring this moment, the same way Ra's al Ghul might stand atop a Lazarus Pit compound feeling as though the entire city breathed at his command.
To Fisk, this sprawling metropolis below was a chessboard, and every light that flickered on was another pawn ready to be moved or sacrificed.
Of course, that illusion of control only held true in the absence of those meddling street-level vigilantes.
Men like Matt Murdock, the devil who bled for Hell's Kitchen.
Like Frank Castle, the Punisher who once stormed into the Russian Mob's base in broad daylight with nothing but rage and firepower.
Spider-Man hadn't yet made his full emergence on Fisk's radar, having only tangled with arms dealers in Queens and the Vulture's gang but the potential threat was growing.
Still, for now, the underworld's primary enemies were a group of lesser-known but tenacious protectors. The Avengers saved planets. These men saved alleyways and that made them more irritating.
And now, perhaps, it was time to include a new name among the thorns in his side:
"Golden Glitter"—Fisk's mocking nickname for Ryan Wong, the strange young man with teleportation abilities not dissimilar to Nightcrawler, but laced with gold energy signatures resembling Quantum Realm tech.
"Bullseye, find that guy. Then recruit him. If he joins, everything that's happened will be forgiven."
"What if he refuses?" Bullseye asked, his voice emotionless but ready.
Fisk turned around, and a shadow crossed his eyes. He tapped his cane twice on the marble floor before saying in a slow, commanding tone that rang with cruelty:
"Does this still need me to teach you, Lester?"
"Only death can cleanse the insult of ignorance against the King!"
"Yes." Bullseye nodded instantly. He was just about to act when laughter piercing and completely out of place sliced through the room.
"Hahahahahaha…"
Everyone froze.
Bullseye, Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, and Scorpion exchanged tense glances. No one had spoken. And Fisk himself certainly wasn't laughing.
The laughter was young, unhinged but also weirdly joyful. And bold. Disrespectfully bold.
Because that sound… didn't belong to anyone they knew.
Then they turned toward the far corner of the room and saw him.
A man with unruly black hair, wearing a long black robe stitched with quantum-threaded veins, and a one-eyed mask striped in black and yellow, was leaning casually against the wall like he'd been there the whole time.
The masked man clutched his stomach, his laughter now cascading into a full-throated cackle as if someone had just told him the funniest joke in the multiverse.
Though the mask hid his face, every movement screamed of unfiltered amusement, as if Fisk's declaration of power had reduced him to a cosmic punchline.
"Where's the clown from? You looking to die today?" Bullseye snapped, reaching for his enhanced carbon-fiber throwing blades.
But before he could act, Fisk raised a hand.
"Lester… wait."
Kingpin stepped forward with the presence of a general marching to the frontlines.
"Who are you? Why are you here? And what's so amusing, masked one?" His voice dropped an octave, like thunder threatening rain.
"You dare laugh uninvited in my presence? Speak. Or I will show you what it means to earn the wrath of the King."
The masked man didn't respond.
But Fisk had seen what the others hadn't.
This intruder hadn't used a door or a window. No alarms had triggered. Instead, there had been a distortion a swirling quantum vortex, much like Boom Tubes used by Apokolips in the DC Universe, or the Sling Rings of Doctor Strange.
He had watched the masked man emerge from that swirl of golden light like a ghost stepping through the veil, then casually slink to the corner like he owned the room.
Fisk was arrogant but he wasn't a fool.
That kind of arrival meant danger.
He didn't think this stranger could outmatch him and his assembled rogues. But you don't become the Kingpin by picking fights without calculating the cost.
Still, the masked man ignored the threats. He kept laughing wildly.
As if he'd just witnessed the most hilarious tragedy ever staged.
As if Ryan Wong's refusal to bow to the underworld had just rewritten the laws of comedy in his universe.
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