Chapter 95: Raven’s Emergence
Raven jogged through the dark streets of Hell's Kitchen before morphing into the appearance of a man. With her new guise, she calmly resumed walking as though nothing had happened.
However, her steps faltered as she noticed several gang members ahead, interrogating pedestrians. Her face darkened, and she quickly turned to head in another direction.
Inside her body, beyond the mental control device, there was also a tracking implant.
Although it only gave a rough location, Umbrella Corporation had equipment that would trigger an alarm if she came too close. The thought of an encounter filled her with dread.
After shifting into several disguises and changing directions multiple times, she discovered that the gang members were stationed at every possible exit. Her expression twisted in frustration.
"Damn it…"
Just then, a blind man with a cane passed by her.
"Young lady, it's dangerous to be out here alone so late. You'd best find shelter. This place isn't safe."
The man was tall, about six feet, with a muscular build. Though he wore a hat and sunglasses that obscured his features, he seemed ruggedly handsome.
Raven hesitated but then quickly approached him.
"I… I've been kicked out. I have nowhere to stay… Please help me," she pleaded, faking tears.
The blind man's face turned serious as he shifted his head slightly toward the gang members in the distance. Though his sight was gone, his acute hearing more than compensated for it.
He could sense that the woman's plea might bring trouble, yet his instinct for kindness urged him to help.
"If you don't mind, you can stay at my place for the night," he offered.
"Thank you. I'm Raven. What's your name?"
"Matt Murdock. Just call me Matt."
Not long after, the two arrived at a modest but tidy apartment. Matt unlocked the door and let her in.
Raven was surprised by how clean and well-organized his home was, considering he was blind. It was clear he meticulously maintained it.
"You're a lawyer?" she asked, noticing framed certificates on the wall.
"Kind of, though no firm wants to hire me. But if you ever need legal advice, let me know," Matt replied, removing his hat and sunglasses before setting his cane aside. He walked to the couch with practiced ease.
"There's only one bedroom. You can have it, and I'll take the couch. If you want to shower, the bathroom is beside the bedroom. Just remember to flip the breaker for the water heater."
The October air was growing colder, and Matt's thoughtfulness made her pause.
For years, Raven had been accustomed to suspicion and manipulation due to her mutant identity. It was rare for anyone to show her genuine kindness.
Looking at Matt, who seemed to harbor no ulterior motives, a sense of gratitude welled up inside her.
"Thank you…" she said softly. "Could I use your computer?"
"Go ahead. I don't really use it anyway—it's more for show."
........
Meanwhile, in a lavish mansion, Wilson Fisk, better known as the Kingpin, sat on his couch smoking a cigar. His face was clouded with worry.
The phone rang, snapping him out of his thoughts. He quickly answered.
"What's the situation? Did you find her?"
"No, boss," came the reply. "But we found a warehouse trashed by Daredevil."
Hearing this, Fisk's eyes flashed with anger and regret. That warehouse had contained goods worth a fortune, and many clients in New York were counting on those shipments.
But there was no time to mourn the loss.
"Forget the warehouse for now. Find the woman. Whoever captures her will get a million dollars!"
"Yes, boss!"
After ending the call, Fisk barely had time to breathe before the mansion's doors opened. Erica, dressed in her signature red ninja attire, strode inside.
"What's the update? Any leads?"
Fisk looked at her with a mix of irritation and deference. Though she used to be one of his subordinates, she now held a higher position, thanks to her connections.
"We've locked down the streets with guards. The detection equipment your team provided will alert us if she comes near."
Erica nodded, her expression calm.
"If this mission succeeds, my employer will reward you. You'll have the opportunity to dominate New York."
Hearing this, Fisk's demeanor shifted to excitement. Though he was a powerful gang leader, he was far from the undisputed ruler of New York's underworld. Erica's promise filled him with ambition.
"I'll make sure we succeed."
"I'll be waiting for good news," Elektra said before leaving.
..........
Late at night, in a S.H.I.E.L.D. dormitory, Erik Lehnsherr, also known as Magneto, suddenly woke up. His phone began to ring—a number he didn't recognize.
"Hello? Who's calling at this hour? Don't you know it's rude to wake an old man?"
There was a brief silence on the other end.
"Magneto, it's me."
Erik froze.
"Raven? Is that really you? Where have you been? Are you okay?"
"I don't have much time," she said urgently. "Beware of Umbrella Corporation… and Project Sentinel…"
Before she could explain further, the line was filled with the sound of an explosion, followed by static.
Erik, alarmed, quickly got dressed and knocked on a nearby door.
"Coming…"
Lorna, his daughter, opened the door, rubbing her eyes. Behind her stood Marcos Diaz, also known as Eclipse, her boyfriend.
"Dad, what's going on?"
"Raven called. She's in danger. We need to act."
"What? Aunt Raven's alive? That's amazing! Let's find Nick Fury right now!"
Marcos quickly handed Lorna a coat before the trio headed to Fury's office. They explained the situation, prompting Fury to seize Erik's phone for analysis.
"Trace the call's origin," Fury ordered his team, his expression grim.
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