Become Kingpin and build a hero mercenary company.

Page 25

“You’re too kind. This is what you and Peter deserve.” Eleanor Shaw gently patted Aunt May’s hand with a warm smile.

After Ms. Xiao and Dr. Li left, the apartment returned to silence. Aunt Mei stared at the "care package" and shopping card on the table, remaining silent for a long time.

After a while, she walked up to Peter, who had been keeping his head down and whose heart was in turmoil, and gently hugged him.

“Peter,” Aunt May’s voice was gentle yet firm, “I may have been too hasty before. Your ‘internship’... seems to be a very professional and humane company. If they can treat their employees’ families like this, I believe they will treat you well as well.”

She released Peter, looked into his eyes, and said, "I still hope you can prioritize your studies and manage your time well. But since this job is so important to you, and the company is so good... Aunt May supports you in continuing. However, promise me you'll take good care of yourself and won't overwork yourself like you did this time, okay?"

Feeling the complete understanding and support in Aunt May's words, and seeing the smile that had returned to her face, no longer shrouded in worry, Peter felt a surge of warmth and a deeper sense of guilt simultaneously overwhelm him. He nodded vigorously, his voice choked with emotion, "I promise you, Aunt May! I'll manage! I promise!"

At that moment, points, missions, and association rules all seemed less important. Kingpin's casual remark not only resolved his crisis but also directly touched the softest and most cherished part of his heart.

That night, Peter was in his room, looking at the Spider-Man account on the association's app, and next to it, Kingpin's (Wilson Fisk) imposing yet blurry profile picture, and his feelings were incredibly complicated.

Fear? Yes. The other person's level of knowledge about one's life is chilling.

Gratitude? It was genuine. This precise and warm "care" truly resolved his biggest predicament.

There is also an indescribable, gradually deepening sense of belonging and... loyalty.

He knew that this "care" was not unconditional. It was an incredibly soft yet exceptionally strong thread that bound him and Aunt May even more tightly to the vast web of the Hero Association.

He took a deep breath, opened the task list, and his gaze hardened. He needed power, he needed points, he needed to become stronger within this system, not just for himself, but also... to live up to this "care" and to maintain the reassuring smile on Aunt Mei's face.

On the top floor of Fisker Tower, Kingpin received a report from Eleanor Shaw that the "Family Care Package" had been successfully implemented. He glanced at the subtle rise in Spider-Man's loyalty metric in the system, his face remaining expressionless.

For him, this was simply a precise allocation of resources and a necessary investment in maintaining emotional connections. Ensuring the stability and productivity of high-potential assets (Peter Parker) is a manager's most basic responsibility.

As for what lies behind that "concern," whether it is a cold calculation or something deeper, something he himself has not fully realized... a fanatical pursuit of "order" and "stability," perhaps only he himself knows.

Chapter 56: Exporting "Corporate Culture"

The afternoon sun in New York shone lazily through sparse clouds onto a quiet residential street in Queens. Compared to the data-driven chaos of Times Square, time seemed to flow much slower here. However, a small but persistent anxiety was weighing on the mind of Mrs. Eleanor, who lived alone—her beloved tortoiseshell cat, "Little Ginger," had once again slipped away under the door while she was receiving a package.

Just as Mrs. Eleanor was anxiously calling out in the yard, holding a bag of cat food and almost bursting into tears, a deep engine roar, out of place with the surrounding tranquility, came from afar.

Three all-black SUVs with sharp lines and a simple yet eye-catching "HA" (Hero Association) logo were parked steadily on the street in front of Mrs. Eleanor's house.

The car door opened, and the first to jump out were several action team members dressed in the association's standard dark gray uniforms. They moved swiftly and were well-trained, quickly and politely setting up a simple cordon, not to block any threat, but to prevent unnecessary onlookers from interfering.

Next to get off the bus were two "protagonists" with completely different styles.

One was the tall, imposing "Iron Wall," dressed in a specially designed combat suit with a calm expression. The other was the petite and gentle-looking "Cat Whisperer," Allison, who was carrying a canvas bag.

This unusual combination immediately attracted the attention of the neighbors. People peeked out from behind windows and porches, looking on curiously. Some even recognized Ironwall—not for his heroic figure fighting the weirdo in the news, but for his kind and simple appearance at the last charity softball game in the community, where he used his ability to build a mud wall to help the children retrieve the balls.

"Rest assured, madam, leave it to us." Ironwall nodded to the bewildered Lady Eleanor, his voice deep yet reassuring. He didn't act as if he were facing a monster, but rather like a reliable neighbor who had been asked to help.

Alison had already crouched down, poured the cat food she had brought into a small dish, closed her eyes, and lightly touched the ground with her palm to sense it. After a moment, she opened her eyes and pointed to the old oak tree with its lush branches at the end of the street: "Little Ginger is up in the tree, probably at the third branch of the trunk. It was 'scolded' by a squirrel and is too scared to come down. It's a little aggrieved."

Ironwall looked up at the tall oak tree and nodded. He didn't use any exaggerated abilities; he simply walked to the tree and, like a skilled gardener, estimated the landing point. He stretched out his hand, palm facing a certain spot above the trunk, and a nearly transparent circular energy platform, about one meter in diameter, quietly appeared, clinging to the bark and forming a stable temporary step.

“Hey, little guy, don’t be afraid, come down.” He looked up and spoke in a tone that was as gentle as he could possibly be, completely out of character for his size.

Meanwhile, Alison, from below the tree, used her unique abilities to continuously send reassuring messages of "safety," "home," and "snacks" up into the tree.

A faint rustling sound and a timid meow came from the tree canopy. A few minutes later, a small tortoiseshell head timidly peeked out from among the branches and leaves, looked down at the friendly energy platform, and then at the girl under the tree who made it feel at home.

With Alison's continued encouragement and the sturdy "steps" of Iron Wall, Little Ginger finally mustered up the courage to carefully step onto the energy platform. Then, he was steadily caught by Iron Wall using his other hand to construct an even smaller platform, and was "transmitted" down layer by layer.

When Little Ginger finally landed safely and jumped into Mrs. Eleanor's arms, the old lady wept with joy, stroking her beloved cat whom she had lost and found again, and thanking Ironwall and Allison repeatedly.

“It’s what we should do, madam.” Ironwall smiled kindly and removed the energy platform.

“Little Ginger was just startled, it’s fine,” Alison added with a smile.

The entire process was devoid of explosions, flashes, or intense fighting; it was characterized by a meticulous yet humane professionalism and efficiency.

This heartwarming scene was captured in high definition by a blogger living across the street, whose online name is "New York Eye." He originally just wanted to film some curious footage of the association's vehicles, but he didn't expect to capture such an adorable and unexpected scene.

Without hesitation, he quickly edited the video, added a title and music, and posted it on various social media platforms.

The title is: "Tough Guy with a Tender Heart? Hero Association C-Class Hero 'Iron Wall' Leads a Team to Help an Elderly Woman Find Her Cat!"

The video begins with Iron Wall's imposing physique and the cold, hard association vehicle, creating a sense of foreshadowing something big. Then, the scene shifts to his "clumsy" yet tender way of carefully using the energy platform to catch the cat, a profile of Alison intently communicating with the cat, a touching moment of Mrs. Eleanor holding the cat and shedding tears, and the spontaneous, kind applause and smiles from the surrounding neighbors.

The background music consisted of a light and warm piano piece.

This video was like a warm bomb dropped on the internet, which had not yet fully recovered from the "traffic is king" incident.

Within just one hour of its release, the video garnered over a million views, and the number of shares and likes skyrocketed.

"My God! The Iron Wall has this side to it! How heartwarming!"

"That girl is the 'Cat Whisperer'! She's the one who found Tommy before!"

"This is what a hero should be like! Not only can he fight monsters, but he can also help Grandma find her cat!"

"Look at that! That's professionalism! Even when they're looking for cats, they're so organized and disciplined!"

"Is the association trying to become more approachable? I love it!"

"Compare this to a certain tycoon wearing a metal suit flying around in the sky and almost getting killed by pop-up ads—the difference is obvious! (Just kidding!)"

"Waaaaah, I cried. It reminded me of my grandma's cat..."

Public opinion almost unanimously shifted towards praise and approval. The Hero Association, which had previously maintained a somewhat distant image due to its efficiency and mystery, was now imbued with immense approachability. "Powerful yet approachable" and "professional yet warm" became frequently used phrases in the comments section.

Even some media outlets and commentators who previously held reservations about the association have published articles praising it as a "return and sublimation of the heroic ideal," believing that the association has taken a practical and powerful step in building a healthy interactive relationship between extraordinary forces and ordinary communities.

S.H.I.E.L.D., Trident Headquarters.

Maria Hill placed the tablet on Nick Fury's desk; the video of the missing cat was playing. "Sir, it seems they know how to manage their image."

Fury's single eye swept across the faces of the people on the screen, faces beaming with emotion and smiles. At the end of the video, as Iron Wall and Allison boarded the vehicle, a small slogan inadvertently appeared on the inside of the car door: "With great power comes great responsibility, and with great care comes great concern." (This was one of the association's internal slogans, added at Kingpin's behest.)

He scoffed and tapped his finger on the table: "Managing an image? Hill, you're only seeing the surface. Look at this process, this coordination, this camera angle! This is clearly a meticulously planned public relations campaign!"

He pulled up the data analysis: "The timing of the video release was right after the 'traffic is king' incident highlighted the association's professionalism; the content selection was an extreme point of emotional resonance; the executors were a C-level hero known for his defense and reliability, and a newcomer with special charisma; even the videographer, 'New York Eye,' had a clean background, but whether the release was entirely spontaneous is debatable."

“King isn’t just flexing his muscles; he’s systematically and comprehensively exporting his corporate culture.” Fury’s voice was cold. “He’s telling everyone that the Hero Association is not just a weapon to deal with crises, but also the salt that permeates the community. What he’s fighting for is the most crucial battleground: people’s hearts.”

Inside Stark Tower, Tony Stark also saw the viral video. He scoffed and said to Jarvis, "Hmph, a show. Instead of wasting time on this, you should be figuring out how to deal with the next, even more troublesome weirdo."

Even so, he couldn't help but watch the video again, especially the scene where Ironwall carefully constructed the energy platform to catch the cat. He had to admit that this down-to-earth warmth was something his cool Iron Man suit could hardly provide.

Meanwhile, atop the Fisker Tower, Kingpin calmly reviewed a public opinion analysis report on the video. On the screen, the curve representing public favorability was rising sharply.

[Evaluation of the effectiveness of the "Community Care" initiative: Far exceeded expectations.]

[The association's public affinity index increased by 15.7%.]

[The growth rate of applications submitted by potential qualified candidates: +23%.]

He closed the report and looked out the window. He didn't care about the praise online or the doubts of some people. What he cared about was the result, the tangible expansion of influence and the consolidation of the foundation brought about by this "corporate culture" output.

Helping an old woman find her cat and defeating a demon-level monster are equally strategically important in maintaining the "order" and "stability" he seeks. The former, in particular, is more subtly capable of dismantling potential resistance and weaving a more robust web of shared identity.

This seemingly insignificant task of finding the cat is like a precise cultural seed sown. And the harvest season doesn't seem to be too far away.

The video's popularity continues to grow, and in a hidden corner of the online world, a new line of record has quietly appeared in an encrypted document called "Observer Log":

"Target: Cat Whisperer (Alison Green). Social interaction test (non-proactive). Passed. Affinity and public opinion guidance value confirmed. Potential assessment fine-tuned: B+ (social level). Recommendation: Continue to observe and look for the next suitable 'sowing' opportunity."

The log was signed by a blurry cat paw print that resembled a stream of data.

Chapter 57: Tony's Secret Analysis

The laboratory atop Stark Tower now resembled a war fortress submerged in digital technology and light. The once chaotic piles of sports car parts, unfinished armor, and empty pizza boxes had been replaced by an almost obsessive neatness. In their place stood dozens of suspended holographic screens, like silent sentinels, surrounding Tony Stark, whose brow was furrowed in the center.

The screen no longer displays dazzling armor design blueprints or virtual global threat models, but is instead divided into countless windows that repeatedly play and analyze public or... less public video materials from the Hero Association.

“Jarvis, mark the time point 00:01:34, the moment the Iron Wall constructed its energy barrier. Analyze the energy overflow characteristics and compare them with all known energy shield technologies in the database, including the part we reverse-engineered from Loki’s scepter.”

"Marked, sir. Analysis in progress... Energy characteristics match less than 2.3% of any known technology on Earth. Its energy condensation method exhibits extremely high efficiency and... violates the stability of conventional physical models. No matching entries found in the database."

Tony snapped his fingers, and the screen in front of him zoomed in, displaying a complex waterfall of data. "Violating the physical model? I like that. Continue, zoom in on the background energy readings when the 'Meditation Master' constructs the field of silence. I want to see the most subtle fluctuations."

Another screen lit up, displaying a spectrum image imperceptible to ordinary people. "The target, 'Meditation Master' Lin, exhibits a mental energy emission pattern that differs significantly from the known energy fluctuation patterns of mutants, Inhumans, or those associated with magic. It is closer to a kind of... highly purified and directed biofield application, but its efficiency and controllability far exceed the scope of current biological understanding."

Tony didn't speak, but simply swiped his finger in the air to bring up the next video—Times Square, showing how the unassuming cleaning vehicles from the association's logistics department handled the scene with astonishing efficiency during the "traffic is king" incident, even sorting and recycling some of the twisted metal and electronic debris.

"Look at this, Jarvis. Material recognition and rapid sorting technology. The efficiency is unmatched, even by our most advanced automated factories. Analyze their robotic arm movement trajectories and sensing patterns."

"Analysis complete, sir. Its motion trajectory algorithm contains a large number of non-optimal solutions, but the result achieves extreme efficiency, suggesting the existence of some kind of 'intuitive' computational core that we cannot understand. The sensing mode... cannot be fully analyzed, but it seems to be able to directly perceive the intrinsic structural properties of matter."

The only sounds in the lab were Tony's pacing footsteps and the soft hum of the holographic interface. His nonchalant demeanor had long been replaced by an almost frantic focus. Kingpin and his association were like an opponent who had suddenly appeared at the chessboard, not only playing unpredictably but also making no sense to the materials or physical rules governing their pieces.

This feeling was more offensive than when he was imprisoned in a cave by the Ten Commandments and looked at his weapon blueprints; it was a mix of excitement and a barely perceptible chill.

“Get all the information about their equipment department, especially the stuff designed by that guy named Leo Fitz.” Tony stopped and focused his gaze on several pieces of Association standard equipment displayed on the screen—the “Binder” that could fire a sticky energy net, and the “EMP grenade” that had shone brightly in the “Mammoth” armor incident.

"The equipment design style exhibits a strong... pragmatism and low-cost orientation, sir," Jarvis commented. "But its energy core and triggering mechanism are equally untraceable. Take the 'EMP grenade' as an example: the intensity and range of the electromagnetic pulse it releases instantly are completely disproportionate to its rudimentary shape and tiny size. According to the law of conservation of energy, this is almost impossible."

"Impossible?" Tony's lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Jarvis, in our line of work, 'impossible' simply means we haven't found the right formula yet. Continue, cross-reference all the data, look for commonalities, look for the underlying logic! Don't overlook even the slightest anomaly!"

Time slipped away silently amidst the intensive data processing. Tony forgot about coffee, forgot about sleep; his eyes were fixed only on the signals and images that were constantly being disassembled, analyzed, and reassembled. He was trying to find the unifying thread beneath these seemingly chaotic technical displays, to find the "source code" of the Hero Association's technology.

Finally, after cross-referencing hundreds of millions of data points and performing model calculations, Jarvis's voice rang out again, carrying an unprecedented, almost human-like solemnity:

"Sir, through deep pattern recognition and cross-dimensional data analysis, a preliminary conclusion has been reached."

On the main screen, all the scattered analysis windows were cleared, replaced by a huge, intricate energy spectrum comparison chart. On one side were vast but relatively concentrated blocks of color labeled "Known Earth Technology/Supernatural Systems," and on the other side were a series of points of light representing the Hero Association's technology. These points of light were extremely discrete, as elusive as cosmic microwave background radiation, yet they seemed to be connected by some invisible, unified "field" or "imprint."

"Based on the existing data model, we conducted a source tracing analysis on the technologies observed by the Hero Association." Jarvis's voice was clear and calm. "The analysis results show that the overall similarity between the target technology system and Earth's existing technology tree (including known alien technologies and magic systems) is less than 7%."

"Duplicate, similarity less than 7%".

A deathly silence fell over the laboratory.

This number, like a cold scalpel, instantly dissected all appearances. It wasn't some unknown mutation, nor was it the work of a hidden genius inventor, nor even a relic of any known extraterrestrial civilization. It was a completely heterogeneous system.

Tony stood motionless. The light from the holographic screen cast interplay of light and shadow on his face. He slowly raised his hand, pointing to the scattered points of light on the screen, his voice hoarse from intense focus:

"Below...7%?" he repeated, as if to make sure he wasn't hallucinating.

"Yes, sir. The margin of error is plus or minus 0.5%. Its energy utilization, materials science, and even the presentation of some fundamental physical rules are fundamentally different from our understanding. This is not simply technological superiority, but... another possible technological path."

Another possible technological path.

These words struck Tony like a thunderbolt. He suddenly remembered Kingpin's almost inhuman composure, the Association's unbelievably efficient operating model, and those seemingly eccentric heroes and abilities that always precisely countered monsters…

It seems that everything now has an answer.

An organization with a technological system completely different from Earth's is rapidly rising in New York, right under the noses of the world, in the form of a "hero association." And its leader is a former underworld tycoon.

This is no longer a simple competition or ideological conflict.

Tony felt a chill creep up his spine. All his previous mockery and skepticism seemed so pale and... ridiculous now. He wasn't facing a nouveau riche trying to tarnish the name of hero with money, but a dangerous being wielding unknown power, with unclear intentions, and systematically reconstructing the order of supernatural forces.

Kingpin is not just building an association; he may be bringing with him a whole new set of unfamiliar rules.

“Jarvis,” Tony’s voice deepened, becoming more serious than ever before, “encrypt all analytical data and raise the security level to 'Gamma' (second only to the Tesseract). Activate the 'Watchtower' protocol. I need you to monitor all energy signals, technological applications, and personnel movements related to the Hero Association 24/7.”

“Furthermore…” he paused, his gaze sharp as a knife, “reassess Wilson Fisk… no, reassess the overall threat level of the ‘Hero Association.’ Place it on… the same priority as known alien invasion threats.”

"It's already underway, sir."

Tony walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window and looked down at the brightly lit New York City. The new headquarters building of the association, which was rising from the ground, was particularly eye-catching in the night, like a wedge from an unknown world embedded in the urban fabric.

He originally thought this was just a battle over the definition of "hero," but now he realizes that it could very well be a silent war concerning the future direction of technology and even the path of civilization's development.

“Kingpin…” Tony muttered to himself, his eyes no longer showing any contempt, but only intense inquiry and vigilance, “Where did you and your damn system come from?”

Chapter 58: Increase in Global Anomalies

The command center atop the Fisk Tower now resembled a beacon against an invisible storm. Replacing the previously relatively tranquil flow of data, the massive, curved main screen was flashing with points of light from all over the world at an unprecedented frequency and density: white (Wolf-level), blue (Tiger-level), purple (Demon-level), red (Dragon-level). ...As if afflicted by some kind of data plague, more and more "lesions" were sprouting on the world's surface.

[Alert: Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, Japan. High-intensity sound pollution detected, sourced from a cluster of "karaoke grudges" (tentatively classified as Tiger level). This has caused widespread glass shattering and temporary hearing loss among some residents.]

[Alert: London, UK, along the River Thames. A "fog slime" (tentatively classified as Wolf+) has appeared, caused by a combination of industrial pollution and specific meteorological conditions. It is corrosive and hallucinogenic.]

[Alert: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A "Carnival Mask" parasitic phenomenon (tentatively Tiger-level) has appeared in a favela, trapping those infected in a perpetual carnival dance until exhaustion.]

[Alert: Detroit, Michigan, USA. The "Rusty Monster" (wolf-like) is becoming increasingly active in an abandoned factory area, having already devoured three abandoned cars and grown 15% larger.]

A cold, synthesized electronic voice broadcast a series of shocking messages with an almost cruel calm. On the side of the screen, a chart representing the frequency of bizarre incidents worldwide had surged almost vertically upwards over the past 72 hours. The average energy level was also steadily increasing, with the percentage of Tiger-level incidents jumping from single digits to nearly 20%.

“Frequency increased by 430 percent, and average energy level increased by 0.7 standard units.” An analyst’s voice was slightly dry as he reported to Kingpin, who was standing silently in front of the screen. “Pattern analysis shows that there is no clear geographical connection between the location of the event and the causes are diverse, but the ‘activation mode’ of the energy surge has a slight similarity, suggesting the existence of some kind of… global background energy disturbance.”

Kingpin stood motionless like a mountain, his sharp eyes scanning every flickering dot on the screen like a general surveying a battlefield. He didn't ask why, nor did he show any surprise; he simply calmly ordered: "Upgrade the global surveillance network to Level 2. All branches enter Level 2 combat readiness. Logistics Department, activate the emergency material allocation plan."