c13: Underground Emperor? Truly Disappointing.
Kingpin had a meticulous mind and wisdom far surpassing the average person, the kind that allowed Wilson Fisk to rise from the slums of Hell's Kitchen to dominate New York's underworld.
What Karl said just now about being very rich, and saying he could help get it back would have left an average person baffled. "You being rich has nothing to do with me."
But Kingpin immediately understood that the other party was trying to blackmail him, reading between the lines with the same sharp instinct he used in both business and crime. Moreover, the amount of this blackmail was simply too huge! Ten billion dollars? You must be dreaming. Do you really think money isn't money?
Kingpin was the biggest underground boss in New York City, and even across much of the United States, his influence comparable to figures like Lex Luthor in DC when it came to combining business and shadow operations. His sphere of influence spanned the globe. He was also involved in various fields such as real estate, technology, biology, and industry, often using legitimate fronts to mask illegal dealings.
According to his own estimation, Kingpin's assets amounted to over thirty billion, a fortune built through decades of calculated risk and ruthless expansion. That was already a lot.
In a certain sense, Kingpin could be called an inspirational model of the Marvel Universe. After all, his father was just a small-time underground boss, a drunk who abused him. Kingpin had started almost from scratch, clawing his way up through violence, intelligence, and sheer willpower. It could be said that among millions of ordinary people, there might not even be one who could reach his level. After all, this was over thirty billion U.S. dollars!
But even though he had accumulated a lot of wealth, enough to be ranked among powerful figures in the Marvel Universe, what Karl demanded was simply too ruthless. Ten billion! Kingpin himself didn't have ten billion in liquid funds. After all, there is a big difference between assets and funds.
Assets can include many things, such as Kingpin's companies, real estate holdings across Manhattan, offshore accounts, and even illicit goods like narcotics or weapons… as long as it's valuable.
But funds can only be money, immediately usable capital.
What Karl wanted was liquid funds that could be transferred into a bank account instantly, something even someone like Fisk would struggle to produce on short notice.
It wasn't that Kingpin didn't want to pay; it was just that he didn't have that amount of cash on hand, especially not without destabilizing his entire financial network.
Beside them, after a brief moment of confusion, Daredevil also understood what the conversation between Karl and Kingpin meant, piecing it together through tone, heartbeat, and subtle cues.
Blackmail?
This surprised him greatly.
What was going on?
Who was this Asian man who had suddenly appeared?
The other party possessed such powerful strength, far beyond anything Daredevil had encountered, and he had even saved him and stopped Kingpin with ease.
He looked just like a partner of justice, someone who could stand alongside heroes like Spider-Man or even members of the Avengers.
That was it; this person must be a superhero.
However, just as he was thinking this, he discovered that Karl was blackmailing Kingpin?
This scene made Daredevil, who knew Kingpin's background well, feel incredibly strange, almost surreal.
He hadn't expected Kingpin to have such a moment, being cornered not by law enforcement or heroes, but by someone even more dangerous.
...
Karl saw Kingpin's hesitant expression and was suddenly a bit surprised, his expectations not matching reality.
Ten billion was not a small amount, but compared to one's life, anyone would know how to choose, especially someone as pragmatic as Wilson Fisk.
It seemed this Kingpin didn't want to live, or perhaps he was gambling on something else.
He had already given the other party a chance, a clear and simple one at that.
But Kingpin didn't cherish it.
He didn't know what this guy was thinking, whether it was pride, calculation, or sheer stubbornness.
The smile on Karl's face remained unchanged, calm and almost indifferent.
But red light shone in his eyes, growing brighter with each passing second, radiating a dangerous heat similar to Kryptonian heat vision seen in DC beings like Superman.
He looked at Kingpin and smiled, "It seems you can't help me find the money."
"What a pity."
As he said this, Karl prepared to finish off Kingpin, his gaze locking onto him like a judgment already passed.
Seeing the red light in Karl's eyes, Kingpin's expression changed immediately, the fear he had suppressed finally surfacing.
He hurriedly begged for mercy, "Mr. Karl, please don't do this!"
Karl, however, ignored him, showing no reaction to the plea.
Kingpin was shocked.
Was it over?
This Karl's superpower was simply too bizarre, far beyond anything he had encountered, even in a world filled with enhanced individuals.
Bullseye had been melted directly, erased without resistance.
He was likely no match for him either, no matter how strong or cunning he was.
Should he fight back?
The thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly suppressed it, knowing it would be suicide.
It was a pity.
The price the other party wanted was simply too high, beyond what he could realistically provide at this moment.
All the funds he had on hand, put together, were probably only a few billion dollars, far short of the demanded amount.
Kingpin thought rapidly, his brain working at full speed, searching for any possible way out of this desperate situation.
As it turned out, just at this moment, Karl suddenly stopped, the crimson glow in his eyes fading slightly as if he had lost interest in finishing things immediately. He looked at Kingpin with a strange expression, one that carried both amusement and disappointment.
"You... are poorer than I imagined."
"Huh?"
Kingpin was stunned, not knowing why Karl would say that, his expression freezing for a brief moment despite his usual composure. Was he poor? Kingpin didn't think he was poor. Having started from scratch in Hell's Kitchen and now possessing over thirty billion in assets, he had never thought he would be associated with the word "poor." However, he couldn't really refute Karl's words, especially after realizing he couldn't produce ten billion in liquid cash.
Beside them, Daredevil was also full of surprise, his brows furrowing beneath the mask. He and Kingpin were old rivals, having clashed countless times across New York. He knew this underground emperor had many businesses, both legal and illegal, stretching from construction to smuggling. Especially the narcotics trade—often referred to as "flour" in coded language—which Daredevil had disrupted countless times in his efforts to protect Hell's Kitchen. Of course, he knew what Kingpin did. Bad was bad, but if you said he had no money, Daredevil would be the first to disagree, as Fisk's empire rivaled even major corporate figures.
At this time, Karl continued to say to Kingpin, his tone calm but carrying an invisible pressure that neither Daredevil nor Kingpin could ignore, "Since you are not as rich as I imagined."
"Then we'll have to change methods."
"Of course, the price cannot be changed."
He thought for a moment, as if recalculating something internally, and continued, "You still have to help me find the ten billion dollars."
"It's just that for now, finding two billion dollars will suffice."
"As for the rest of the money, pay me… help me find it when you have the money."
"But it must be calculated according to bank interest," Karl added, his tone casual, as if discussing an ordinary business deal rather than extortion backed by overwhelming القوة.
After finishing, Karl asked Kingpin, "What do you think?"
"Huh?"
Kingpin was stunned, not expecting such a turn of events, especially after believing he was moments away from death. He had no idea what was going on, the sudden shift catching even his sharp mind off guard. But after thinking for a moment, weighing survival against dignity, he immediately agreed.
"Okay."
Although two billion in funds was still a lot for him, it wasn't impossible to come up with, especially if he mobilized liquid reserves and called in favors across his network. After all, life was the most important thing. If he died, having money was useless, no matter how vast his empire was.
"Hmm, this is my bank card number, write it down."
Saying this, Karl casually gave his bank card number to Kingpin, treating him like a subordinate rather than an equal. After seeing the other party note it down carefully, Karl chuckled and said, "Right, I hope to see my two billion dollars within three days."
"Find the remaining eight billion and interest within three years."
"I believe you don't want any accidents to happen, do you?"
Upon hearing this, Kingpin nodded hurriedly, "Yes, yes, yes," his usual dominance completely suppressed under the threat of Karl's overwhelming power.
However, why did he feel that what Karl said sounded somewhat familiar? Thinking carefully, wasn't this exactly what he had said when he wrote the letter to Karl before, when he tried to pressure him into selling the Bar?
Thinking of this, Kingpin gave a bitter smile. This person really held a grudge, returning his own methods back to him without mercy. However, why would he suddenly change his plan? Changing to this kind of extortion method instead of killing him outright? But he couldn't say much more, so he had to agree, "I will transfer the money to you as soon as possible, by tomorrow at the latest."
"Hmm," Karl nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer.
In reality, just a moment ago, when he was wondering what Kingpin was thinking and why he wouldn't give the money, he suddenly discovered that his Silver Superman template had unlocked an ability similar to telepathy, a power often seen in powerful beings across both Marvel and DC, such as Professor X or Martian Manhunter. So he used it subconsciously.
Therefore, from that moment until now, Karl knew everything Kingpin was thinking, including his hesitation, his financial limits, and even his fleeting thoughts of resistance. That was why he changed his approach so quickly and precisely.
First, let the other party pay two billion dollars. After all, if it were more, Kingpin might not necessarily have it available in liquid form.
To be honest, Kingpin's available funds were less than Karl had imagined, falling short of the image of an all-powerful underground emperor. A few billion dollars, just about the same as Karl himself could access. And this was the so-called underground emperor of New York City; it was truly lacking in Karl's eyes. He even had to pay for his life in installments. Pathetic.
As for why Karl didn't kill Kingpin, there was no particularly complicated reason behind it. Seeing that the other party knew his place and didn't attack was one aspect. The ransom money was another practical consideration.
Mostly, it was just a whim.
Ultimately, Kingpin had no deep vendetta against him personally. It was just that the other party was unlucky and happened to run into him at the wrong time.
As for other things, like heroes and villains, Karl didn't want to get involved in those endless conflicts between justice and crime that defined both Marvel and DC worlds.
Occasionally meeting someone annoying and casually getting rid of them was enough.
He wasn't going to go around the world hunting villains like Batman or the Punisher.
That would be too boring.
...