The night painted heavily over North Brother Island.
Apart from the sporadic welding arcs flickering from a distant construction site, the entire coastline of the island was immersed in a deliberate darkness.
Waves gently lapped against the newly built private pier, making a monotonous and hypnotic sound.
The cold sea breeze carried a faint salty scent, caressing the figure waiting at the end of the pier.
William stood with his hands in his pockets, silently gazing at the pitch-black sea, his expression calm, but his mind racing.
He knew very well that the "cargo" arriving tonight was a high-risk asset.
A black speedboat, like a ghost, silently cut through the water and slowly docked at the designated berth.
The engine's roar was suppressed to a minimum, clearly indicating special modifications.
As the speedboat came to a stop, a tall woman in a leather jacket with an impatient expression was the first to jump onto the pier—it was Jessica Jones.
She looked around at the half-finished state of the island and curled her lips.
Immediately after, a man in a red devil bodysuit came down, carrying an unconscious woman.
Matt Murdock.
William's gaze immediately fell on the unconscious woman.
Elektra Natchios.
This business was exciting.
"Nice place, very much in the style of a villain's Base."
Jessica Jones walked up to William, arms crossed, "What, Xiao Wei, tired of being an insurance salesman, ready to become a mad scientist?"
"To support you, a private investigator who spends money like Water, I have to expand my business, don't I?"
William responded naturally, but his gaze turned to Matt.
After Matt handed the Elektra in his arms to Jessica, he took a USB drive from his pocket and offered it to William.
"Everything about The Hand in New York—outposts, personnel, financial flows... everything I know is in here."
"William, I don't know who you really are, but I need your guarantee. No matter what, she cannot fall back into The Hands of those madmen."
"Relax, Matt, my company's credibility is far more reliable than S.H.I.E.L.D.'s official promises."
William took the small USB drive, feeling the heavy weight it carried.
He didn't put it away immediately, but instead changed the subject, seemingly casually nodding towards a direction deeper inside the island.
Just then, a dark figure passed under the distant searchlight's halo.
Emil Blonsky.
Abomination.
William's meaning was clear.
Daredevil's extraordinary senses captured that pure and terrifying malice.
"My security system has always been very thorough."
William smiled, putting the USB drive into his pocket.
Matt was silent.
He knew this was both a guarantee and a warning.
He turned to Jessica, his attention entirely on the Elektra in her arms.
It was like a final farewell.
William gestured "please" to Jessica, indicating for her to take the person to the already prepared isolation medical room.
Watching Matt turn away dejectedly, preparing to return to the speedboat alone, William's mood was unperturbed.
A deal was a deal; he provided sanctuary, collected payment, and that was all.
The process went smoothly.
The two took Elektra to the medical room, placed her in the medical pod, and then left.
She was a catalyst.
William sent Jessica back to her room first, then came to the command center alone to observe.
Although he wasn't a pervert.
The importance of black sky made him have to take it seriously.
On the huge surveillance screen, the view switched to the isolation medical room.
Elektra, who had been unconscious moments before, had awakened at some point.
Her beautiful eyes, however, lacked any spirit; they were hollow, dead, like a delicate doll from which the soul had been extracted.
She lay still, unmoving.
Below the screen, a series of alarming biological data was rapidly refreshing.
Heart rate, blood pressure, cell activity... all indicators were far beyond the normal human range, more like a prehistoric beast in a dormant state.
William felt no panic; instead, an uncontrollable gleam of excitement burst forth in his eyes.
He pressed a button in the control room, "Dr. Connors, your first 'clinical research sample' has arrived."
...Meanwhile, in New York, inside an ancient-looking Japanese dojo.
Dim candlelight flickered, illuminating rows of silent ninjas sitting on tatami mats.
In the deepest part of the dojo, a man in a black suit knelt before a basin of clear Water.
He was Murakami, one of The Hand's Five Fingers.
The Water's surface, which should have been calm, now acted like a screen, vaguely reflecting a steel island surrounded by the ocean.
"The vessel of black sky has been hidden by a mortal merchant," Murakami's voice was cold, "This is a blasphemy against the 'Beast', a provocation to the gods."
A ninja beside him suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with shock and fervent anger.
Murakami slowly rose, drawing an ancient-looking katana from the sword rack behind him.
The blade was black, yet it reflected an eerie dark red light under the candlelight.
He casually swung it at a nearby pillar.
"Swish—!"
There was no violent sound, only a slight noise like cutting tofu.
The pillar, strong enough to withstand bullets, was smoothly cut in half, its upper section slowly sliding down and crashing to the ground.
All the ninjas present gasped, their shock turning into an overwhelming reverence and fanaticism.
"Summon the Shadow Ninjas," Murakami slowly sheathed his sword, a cruel Fire burning in his eyes, "I will personally go and bring our 'God' back."
...North Brother Island, Command Center.
William sat leisurely in his boss chair, while Jessica Jones, having finished washing up, was idly scrolling through her phone nearby.
He had already connected the USB drive Matt gave him to the computer, integrating the data through the contract.
The Hand's global secret outposts, intricate financial flows, detailed lists of core members... this top-secret intelligence, which could stir up a storm in the outside world, was now transforming into lines of cold code in his database.
"It's just a ninja organization, look how happy you are."
Jessica glanced at him, her tone carrying her characteristic languor.
"You don't understand, Jessica."
William turned his chair to face her, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness.
"This isn't just intelligence; this is control."
He brought up the island's defense system interface and connected to Bronski's exclusive channel.
"Emil."
"Hm."
"Initiate the 'Mousetrap' protocol."
"The outer defense system can have a few 'loopholes' left deliberately. Make a big commotion, let those rats hiding in the dark clearly know the cheese is here, and... it's within easy reach."
"Understood."
Having done all this, William leaned back comfortably in his chair.
The feeling of having everything under control made him incredibly satisfied.
He had set up a dragnet, just waiting for The Hand's arrogant ninjas to walk right into his carefully prepared "high-risk asset" containment center.
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