Stark Industries' two billion U.S. dollars was like the most potent shot of adrenaline, injected into William's ambitious heart.
The second day after the funds arrived.
Dozens of heavy transport helicopters, emblazoned with the Stark Industries logo, like a swarm of giant steel bees, circled overhead, casting shadows across the island, dropping huge, cold metallic-gleaming prefabricated components and engineering machinery.
Lei Ling, the genius designer once considered a madwoman by the industry, now stood on the ruins, leading her team of engineers and tech fanatics, whom she had recruited from all over the world within twenty-four hours with an untold number of zeros in funding.
The fatigue in her eyes had long been replaced by a fervent fire.
William did not go to the site to join the commotion.
He simply sat leisurely in his Manhattan apartment and made a phone call.
"Emil, keep an eye on things on the island for me."
On the other end of the line, Emil Blonsky's Beast-like, muffled voice came through, with a background of deafening rock-crushing and high-frequency energy-cutting screeches.
"Those crazy guys in suits say they want to dig through the entire island, all the way to the Earth's core. Boss, are you sure they're not out of their minds?"
"Of course."
William was concise.
"You are the supervisor. Your job is to ensure no one is slacking off and no one is causing trouble. Any problems that can't be solved, clear them physically."
"...Understood."
After hanging up, William completely became a hands-off boss.
Professional matters to professionals.
Violent matters to violent people.
And he, a top "venture capitalist," naturally had to explore new markets and find more "potential stocks" worth investing in... In the afternoon, Queens, an unassuming fast-food restaurant.
Peter Parker sat uneasily across from William, the ice in his cola almost completely melted.
He glanced at his phone from time to time, seemingly worried that Aunt May might call him any minute to urge him home for dinner.
"So, Peter."
William pushed a steaming cheeseburger in front of him, and the rich aroma of meat made the teenager unconsciously swallow.
"Regarding my previous offer for the part-time job as a 'City Risk Assessment Consultant,' what have you thought about it?"
"I... I'm still a student, sir."
Peter hesitated, his eyes darting away.
"And, I don't really understand insurance, or risk assessment..."
"You don't need to understand those complicated things."
William tore open a packet of ketchup and squeezed it onto his fries.
"Your job is very simple, one might even say it's tailor-made for you."
"Using your 'hobby,' when you're patrolling the city, you can conveniently record the frequency of high-risk incidents, the extent of damage, and... the activity of certain special individuals."
He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice, which carried a peculiar magic.
"Simply put, you continue to be your 'friendly neighborhood Spider-Man,' but now, someone is paying for everything you do. Where there's a fight, where a building collapses, where another strange person in odd clothes appears... You just need to compile this information into a report and send it to me."
"Five hundred U.S. dollars weekly. Paid in cash, off the books."
William watched Peter's eyes widen instantly and added the final straw.
"If there's intelligence of special value in the report, there will be an additional bonus."
Five hundred U.S. dollars weekly!
This figure was like a bolt of lightning, splitting open Peter's meager life.
This figure made Peter's eyes light up.
This money would be enough to pay all the household bills, allow Aunt May to replace her old sewing machine, and even... he could buy himself a few of the latest science magazines.
Most importantly, the content of this job was almost exactly what he did every night!
It just changed from unpaid "responsibility" to a paid "job."
"I..." Peter's heart pounded violently, as reason and temptation waged war in his mind.
"I agree!"
"A wise choice."
William handed over a pre-prepared employment contract with satisfaction.
"Just sign here. Oh, by the way, Peter."
He seemed to suddenly remember something.
"As a company benefit, and a welcome gift to the team. I'm personally sponsoring you a brand new 'work uniform,' made from Stark Industries' latest research material, bulletproof, fireproof, insulated, and more breathable. It will be delivered to your home in three days."
This investment was a sure profit.
He needed Spider-Man's continuous intelligence, and even more, a top-tier combatant who was always contactable, relatively righteous, and had unlimited potential... Night fell.
William put on his foolproof plan, dressed in black tactical gear, with a special mask on his face, moving across the rooftops of Queens.
He was not acting as a hero, nor was he looking for clients.
He was merely familiarizing himself with his powers.
The "Gamma Kidney Tonic" allowed him to spar freely with Jessica without feeling tired.
And the nascent Spider-Sense, like an invisible Radar, allowed him to preemptively avoid unnecessary troubles, such as patrol cars on the street below, or a couple also on a night stroll on another rooftop.
Just as he effortlessly leaped from one rooftop to another, a sense of crisis surged from his spine to the back of his head.
It wasn't the vague warning of Spider-Sense.
It was the instinct of being targeted by a predator.
William abruptly stopped, his muscles instantly tensed, as he vigilantly scanned his surroundings.
The area was deserted, only the wailing sound of the night wind blowing through the rooftop water tank, like the whispers of ghosts.
"Who?"
William uttered a low growl.
A deep, calm voice, seemingly devoid of any emotion, came from the shadows behind him.
"Good evening, Mr. Rodriguez."
William's scalp instantly prickled!
He hadn't detected anyone behind him at all!
He stiffly turned around.
In the shadows, a man in a dark red, tight-fitting battle suit, wearing a devil-horned mask, stood silently, as if he had been one with the darkness from the very beginning.
The living legend of Hell's Kitchen.
Daredevil, Matt Murdock.
William's heart instantly leaped into his throat.
No, buddy!
I didn't provoke you, did I?
The man exuded a nearly tangible killing intent.
Like countless fine needles pricking his skin.
"How did you know my..."
William's question stopped halfway.
That was a foolish question.
"The item your company indemnified appeared directly next to me."
Daredevil's tone remained flat, but his characteristic head-tilt, listening gesture, made William feel as if he was being seen through, inside and out.
"That location was chosen randomly. No one knew it except me. So, I want to ask, how did you do it?"
William's mind raced.
The System!
It was the System!
But if he said that, he might be treated as a lunatic or an alien spy the next second.
He sensed that Daredevil wasn't joking.
If his answer didn't satisfy him, he might genuinely be going home in a stretcher tonight.
"It's a data model."
William forced himself to calm down and spoke in the most professional tone.
"My company possesses a unique risk assessment algorithm. We collect all crime reports, witness testimonies, gang war locations, and even sewer maintenance records from Hell's Kitchen since records began..."
He began to talk nonsense with a straight face.
"Through cross-analysis of massive data and behavioral modeling, we constructed a 'Dynamic Probability Map of High-Risk Individuals in Hell's Kitchen.' Your movement patterns, times of appearance, usual routes, and even your chosen escape direction after each battle are all incorporated into the calculations."
"Our company's system ultimately calculated several coordinates where you were most likely to appear that night. And we simply delivered the item to the point with the highest probability."
William met Daredevil's unseen gaze beneath his mask and slowly stated his conclusion.
"This is purely science, Matt. Not magic."
He deliberately called out his name.
Daredevil fell silent.
His head, hidden beneath the mask, was slightly tilted, like a statue listening to all the sins of the world.
He was "listening."
Listening to William's heartbeat, his breathing, the sound of his blood flowing.
William felt his heart was about to burst out of his chest.
The man had a super Radar Sense.
After a long few seconds, the suffocating killing intent slowly receded.
"...An interesting algorithm."
Daredevil spoke, his tone less sharp.
William's heartbeat had been lying the entire time.
But what was interesting was that the lie itself was more shocking to him than the truth.
A person who could lie without their heart rate accelerating?
Or was it that the organization behind him truly possessed such terrifying data analysis capabilities that even he himself believed it implicitly?
"Relax, Mr. Rodriguez, I mean no harm."
Daredevil took two steps forward.
"In fact, I was looking for an opportunity to thank you. Those items helped me greatly. It's just the way you appeared that made me need to confirm some things."
There was no need to hide his identity anymore.
The insurance Matt Murdock bought as a blind boxer, but the indemnified items appeared near Daredevil.
The power behind this William Rodriguez was not small... William secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
His back was already drenched in cold sweat.
"It was no trouble at all. Customer satisfaction is our motto."
"I've encountered some new trouble recently."
Daredevil took two steps forward.
"I need more comprehensive insurance. Perhaps we can go to my law firm and discuss it in detail?"
Business came knocking on his door!
William's spirits lifted. He didn't care what Daredevil was thinking.
"Of course! Always at your service."
Half an hour later.
"Nelson and Murdock" Law Office.
William successfully sold a "Hell's Kitchen Special Vigilante Annual Comprehensive Insurance" to Matt Murdock.
[Ding! Successfully sold "Hell's Kitchen Special Vigilante Annual Comprehensive Insurance" to "Daredevil" Matt Murdock.]
[Extracting customer ability...]
[Congratulations, Host, you have acquired the ability — "Radar Sense (Basic)"!]
[Radar Sense (Basic): You can construct a three-dimensional environmental outline in your mind by perceiving vibrations, airflow changes, and sound wave echoes in your surroundings. Current effect: Can perceive the basic shape and dynamics of objects within a 10-meter radius. More effective in quiet environments. Can be enhanced through continuous concentration, expanding the range and strengthening detail perception. Warning: This ability will greatly enhance your hearing. Before gaining full control, sudden loud noises may cause temporary dizziness, nausea, or even fainting.]
After signing the contract and watching Matt place an envelope full of cash on the table, William rubbed his hands, thick-skinned, and showed a businessman's most sincere smile.
"Matt, since we're partners now... You see, my company is just starting out, and the business volume isn't quite enough yet."
"Could you... help me introduce a few clients like yourself who need special insurance?"
-------------------------------
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