"Are you crazy?"
William could almost see the storm brewing on Matt's handsome face through the phone line.
He could even imagine the other party's World.
That World made of sound, heartbeats, and airflow.
A glaring scarlet alarm instantly lit up because of the name "Wilson Fisk."
"Calm down, Matt, don't get so agitated you crush your phone."
William rubbed his temples.
"I know who Wilson Fisk is, the King of New York's underworld, the Kingpin, right?"
"I'm well aware."
He knew far more than Matt imagined.
He knew that the man appeared gentle and refined, like a devout philanthropist.
He also knew that behind the scenes, he could personally use a reinforced car door to crush a person's head into a puddle of mud, like a ripe tomato.
He knew even more that every brick and stone of the business empire under that man's feet was soaked in bones and blood and tears.
On the other end of the phone, there was a deathly silence.
More oppressive than before.
William could even clearly hear Matt's heavy, heart-stopping breathing.
And that heart, beating for justice, was now pounding like a drum, issuing the highest level of warning.
That was Daredevil's heartbeat rhythm when he entered Level One combat readiness.
"Who sent you?"
Here it comes, the deadly question.
William's CPU instantly overclocked.
Tell the truth?
Tell him that woman was Madame Hydra?
A global Shadow, a level higher than Kingpin, with a "nobler" lineage than Kingpin, and an organization more terrifying than all the Hell's Kitchen gangs combined?
No! Absolutely not!
Once spoken, this would no longer be an insurance business, but a direct collision with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s gunsight.
It would be an S-Rank incident that would make Nick Fury, that old schemer, take a quinjet overnight to invite him for tea.
His small frame couldn't withstand that level of interrogation.
He had to give a version of the answer that was both reasonable and could control the risk to a "New York local" level.
"A...very difficult client."
William's tone instantly filled with the unique helplessness and bitterness of an employee, his acting utterly natural, without a trace of artificiality.
"She's the current leader of the 'Vipers,' a woman so strong-willed she could wear a viper as a belt."
"I just sold her insurance for her pet, and she immediately turned this task into a mandatory 'after-sales value-added service.'"
"I couldn't refuse."
"Otherwise, it would be a bad review warning."
The Vipers.
This name was equally infamous in the New York underworld, known for their ruthlessness and mastery of poisons.
But compared to "HYDRA," a behemoth that almost only existed in myths and legends, the Vipers were at least within the realm that "mortals" could understand and fight against.
It wouldn't immediately attract the attention of orbital weapons.
Matt's breathing on the other end of the phone calmed slightly.
This name clearly had a corresponding entry in his intelligence database.
But his tone was still as cold as winter train tracks.
"The Vipers and Kingpin... they're entangled, and New York's sky is about to change."
"You're caught in the eye of the storm, William."
"I understand."
William immediately seized the opportunity, his tone so sincere it could apply for intangible cultural heritage status.
"That's why I called you first, my ace client, my 'Supernatural Crisis Response Insurance.'"
"I need intelligence, Matt."
"Any intelligence about this dinner party. What exactly does Kingpin want? Which immortals and monsters will be present? And..."
"What should I do to come back alive and also submit my 'Risk Assessment Report'?"
He needed Daredevil's off-field assistance.
Two fists are no match for four hands, and his opponent might be an entire division.
Matt was silent for another moment.
William could imagine him rapidly weighing in his mind how much effort it would take to pull his friend, who had voluntarily jumped into a meat grinder, out.
"Tell me all the details you know."
Ultimately, the sense of justice triumphed over reason.
"I'll investigate these next few days."
"On the night of the dinner... I'll find a way to get in, or keep an eye on things nearby."
"You're not alone."
William's hanging heart finally fell back into his chest.
"Thanks, Matt. My 'Supernatural Crisis Response Insurance' really is a top investment."
Matt's voice was unusually serious.
"This is about saving a madman who voluntarily jumped into a meat grinder. Stay in touch, don't mess around."
The call ended.
William let out a long sigh, collapsing onto the sofa, feeling utterly drained.
This call with Daredevil was more exhausting than confronting Madame Hydra in person.
He closed his eyes and began to tally today's "battle damage" and gains.
Greater risk, greater reward.
The ancients truly did not deceive me.
Matt's Radar Sense (Elementary), a divine skill, very useful.
Iron Fist contributed the infinitely potential "Chi (Elementary)," highlighting a promising future, though he didn't know when that future would arrive.
Then there was White Tiger's "Tiger God Affinity" that gave him a headache.
This ability, besides turning him into a walking admissions officer for a cat academy, mainly focused on forced enrollment, and he hadn't found any other use for it.
A social artifact?
No, a social bomb.
Finally, there was HYDRA... no, the leader of the Vipers, Ophelia Sarkissian.
The "Toxin Resistance (Elementary)" ability was practically a ticket to Kingpin's dinner, a life-saving divine skill.
He could drink endlessly and even be immune to weak poisons, directly maximizing his survival rate.
Within a day, four new abilities were acquired.
Although none of them were World-destroying cheats, each was extremely insidious... ah no, practical, greatly enhancing his survival ability.
Of course, the price was being forced to take on this hell-level dungeon.
Just as he was lost in thought, the apartment door opened with a key.
Jessica Jones was back.
She looked more down than usual, and carried the scent of whiskey.
She walked into the apartment without a word, tossed her jacket aside, and headed straight for the bathroom.
Soon, the sound of rushing Water began.
William looked at the black leather jacket draped over the chair, and a crazy, bold idea flashed through his mind.
To Kingpin's dinner... he needed a female companion.
A female companion who could hold her own and, at a crucial moment, punch someone into the Hudson River.
An ultimate bodyguard who could wear "physical deterrence" on her face.
The sound of Water stopped.
Jessica emerged wrapped in a bath towel, wiping her wet hair.
She glanced at William on the sofa, walked straight to the refrigerator, and took out a bottle of beer.
"Jessica."
William sat upright, a professional, sincere salesman's smile on his face.
Jessica took a big gulp of beer, scanning him with the corner of her eye, every pore on her beautiful face screaming, "Spit it out, don't waste my time drowning my sorrows."
William cleared his throat and spoke slowly, with the solemn tone of someone negotiating a multi-billion dollar merger.
"Jessica."
"There's a high-end dinner party in a week."
"Would you like to... take on a private job?"
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"