Marvel: Death Knight

Garus walked into the room and saw a bespectacled middle-aged man seated across from Wilson Fisk, better known as Kingpin. The two were deep in conversation but immediately turned their attention to the newcomer upon hearing the door open.

Recognizing Garus, Kingpin quickly stood up and addressed him respectfully.

"Master!"

Ignoring the pleasantries, Garus chose a seat and sat down. "Who's this?" he asked, gesturing to the man.

Kingpin introduced the stranger without hesitation. "This is Wim, a former scientist—no, a defector—from Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM). He's well-versed in physics, though he's far from the level of Tony Stark or Dr. Reed Richards."

Wim winced at the blunt assessment but didn't protest—it was true, after all. Desperate and on the run, he had no choice but to endure the humiliation.

Visibly agitated, Wim waved his hands as he started rambling, "Mr. Fisk, let me clarify: I am not a traitor! That damn MODOK is the real betrayer! He slaughtered AIM's leadership and seized control of the organization! I had no choice but to escape. And yes, I admit my knowledge pales compared to Stark and Richards."

Garus smirked, the image of MODOK—AIM's grotesque leader with a head larger than his body—coming to mind. However, he knew AIM was not a force to be taken lightly.

Observing Kingpin's deferential attitude toward the young, sharp-eyed man, Wim quickly realized that Garus was the one in charge. He stood and addressed him earnestly, "Sir, I hold a PhD in physics from Harvard. My research is among the best in the world."

Garus, recalling fragments of long-buried memories, leaned forward. "AIM… You've worked with S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra before, haven't you?"

Wim froze. How did this man know? Was he affiliated with Hydra too? Panic gripped him, but he managed to stammer, "Sir, that was during World War II. I've long since cut ties with AIM. My father, who was one of AIM's leaders, was killed by MODOK. That's how I know about their secrets—and why MODOK won't stop hunting me."

Garus finally understood. Wim wasn't here for ambition; he was simply looking for safety.

"Do you really think you'll be safe here?" Garus asked skeptically.

Wim's shoulders slumped. AIM's reach was vast and terrifying. He'd come to Fisk's organization out of sheer desperation, hoping the infamous crime lord might offer him protection. After seeing a recruitment ad for scientists at Fisk Industries, Wim had leaped at the opportunity.

But now, faced with Garus's question, he realized the futility of his hopes. A criminal syndicate couldn't possibly stand against a genius like MODOK or AIM's relentless pursuit.

Seeing Wim's hesitation, Garus leaned back and declared, "Don't worry. You're about to witness the rise of the most powerful tech company. AIM? They're insignificant. But can you prove your loyalty to me?"

"I swear it—to God himself!" Wim exclaimed.

Garus rolled his eyes. "Swearing to God means nothing to me." He raised a hand, summoning a malevolent swirl of Death energy that shot toward Wim.

Wim frantically patted himself down, confused and terrified. "What… What was that?"

"I'm a Death Knight," Garus said coldly. "Betray me, and the curse I placed on you will make you wish for death."

In truth, the "curse" was a weakened Plague debuff, designed to cause nothing more than a mild cold. Garus had no intention of wasting his full power on such theatrics—this was merely to scare Wim into compliance.

Satisfied with Wim's frightened reaction, Garus extended his hand. "Welcome to Azeroth Technologies."

Wim hesitated, then shook Garus's hand, still uneasy about the supposed curse. "A Death Knight? What… what even is that? And what was that mist?"

Turning to Kingpin, Garus continued, "Make him head of the military R&D department. I have two items I want him to study and refine immediately."

From seemingly nowhere, Garus produced two strange devices. One looked like a radio, the other a flashlight.

"This is a Noise Generator," Garus explained, holding up the first device, "and this is a Lightning Generator."

Looking around the cramped room, Garus frowned. "Kingpin, is there a larger space where I can demonstrate?"

"Yes, Master. We can use the rooftop balcony. It's spacious and private," Kingpin replied.

The three took the elevator to the rooftop of Fisk Tower, which stood over 200 meters tall—a modest height by New York standards, but the view was still impressive.

Wasting no time, Garus set up the Noise Generator, pointing its twin speakers at a nearby concrete pillar. He pressed a button, unleashing a piercing screech that distorted the air around them.

"Boom!"

The pillar began to vibrate violently, cracks spreading across its surface until, after a minute, it crumbled into rubble.

Garus sighed. "Mediocre. It takes too long to be effective in combat."

He turned to Wim, who was watching with wide-eyed fascination. Next, Garus picked up the Lightning Generator and pressed its red button.

A blinding arc of electricity surged forth—but instead of hitting the intended target, the lightning coiled back around Garus, enveloping him in a crackling storm.

For a moment, Garus stood frozen, his thoughts racing. Seriously? First goblin tech, now gnome tech is this unreliable too?

Kingpin and Wim struggled to suppress their laughter as Garus's hair stood on end, his clothes singed. Annoyed, he handed the devices to Wim.

"Fix these. Improve them. And make them suitable for mass production," Garus ordered.

"Yes, sir," Wim replied, though he sneezed moments later, rubbing his nose.

"Keep the research and prototypes secure," Garus warned. "If any of this leaks, my wrath will make you regret it." He added with a smirk, "By the way, you might want to see a doctor tomorrow. That curse will bother you for a few days."

Without waiting for a reply, Garus drew his Runeblade, slicing through the air to open a Death Gate. Stepping through the portal, he vanished, leaving behind an air of mystery.

Wim stared at the spot where Garus had disappeared, awestruck. Despite his fear of the so-called curse, a surge of hope filled his heart. With Garus as his ally, revenge against MODOK no longer seemed impossible.

[TL/N: It was previously as Silver Hand Tech Group, but I don't know why the author suddenly changed it to Azeroth Technologies. If you still see the latter in future chapters, then that only means that the author decided to use that from now on.]

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