"Introduce clients?"
Matt Murdock had already removed his mask.
But the sunglasses he wore when they first met as "the fighter" still rested on his nose, never taken off, even in the late-night office.
The light pollution from the neon signs outside barely outlined his cold, marble-sculpture-like face, which now bore a few fresh bruises.
The office lights were off.
He tilted his head slightly, "gazing" at William with his sightless eyes.
The only thing in the entire space was the old smell of wood and paper mixed, emanating from the old file cabinet.
William could clearly feel himself being repeatedly scanned and analyzed by his eerie senses once again.
His heartbeat, breathing, and the speed of blood flow in his veins were all exposed.
This feeling was terrible, like an experimental subject stripped naked and pushed onto an operating table, waiting to be dissected.
"Exactly."
William forced down his discomfort, putting on his most sincere smile.
"My company genuinely provides logistical support for vigilantes like you."
"But even good wine needs a deep alley, Hell's Kitchen is so big, there must be more than just you who needs help, right?"
He paused briefly, his tone becoming incredibly earnest, as if he were expounding on a great public welfare cause.
"My ultimate goal is to establish a hero mutual aid network covering all of New York."
"The more clients we have, the more resources we can mobilize, and the more comprehensive and powerful the services we provide will naturally become."
"Ultimately, every member like you benefits. Matt, in business, this is called economies of scale."
He very cleverly packaged his blatant commercial expansion as a noble "hero mutual aid plan."
His rhetoric was half-true, half-false.
For someone as meticulous and insightful as Daredevil, any hint of insincerity could lead to the collapse of the deal.
Finally, Matt spoke.
"I do know some people."
He said.
"They, like you and me, walk in the darkness, dealing with troubles that the Police cannot handle. They… do indeed have many worries."
It's working!
William was ecstatic, but his face maintained that compassionate composure.
"They trust you, Matt."
William immediately followed up.
"So, they will also trust your recommendation. I only need a chance to meet them; the rest, I will explain with my professional eloquence… no, my professional service."
Matt stood up and walked to the window, turning his back to William.
"They are not like me, accustomed to walking alone in the dark."
His voice, reflected through the window, carried a subtle, almost imperceptible, complex emotion.
"They have companions, and larger operations. Their troubles are also more complex."
"The more complex, the more professional risk management is needed," William immediately seized the opportunity. "Trust me, there's no insurance policy I can't handle."
Matt seemed to let out an almost inaudible chuckle, so quick that William thought it was a delusion.
He took an old flip phone from his pocket and, relying on muscle memory, blindly pressed a few keys.
"Danny, it's me."
His voice returned to the calm and concise tone of a lawyer.
"I met an interesting person. A businessman, he says he can solve some of our 'logistical problems'… Yes, exactly the kind you're thinking of."
"His name is Rodriguez. I'm sending him to you. It wouldn't hurt to meet him."
After hanging up, Matt turned around and handed William a slightly crumpled sticky note.
"Rand Corporation Headquarters, top floor, 'Kunlun' dojo."
"Tell the front desk you're looking for Danny Rand, introduced by Matt Murdock."
William accepted the note as if it were a treasure.
Danny Rand?
The Rand Corporation, which controls a vast business empire?
The billionaire who, according to legend, punched through the heart of a dragon with his bare hands and inherited the name "Iron Fist"?
The "net worth" of this client was simply off the charts!
"Thank you very much, Mr. Murdock!"
William carefully put the note in his pocket, as if it were a billion-dollar check.
"To show my gratitude, I will personally give you an 80% discount on your next year's premium!"
"I hope you won't let me hear lies next time, Mr. Rodriguez," Matt said lightly. "Your heartbeat tells me that your excitement just now wasn't merely about 'helping heroes'."
William's smile froze instantly, and he could only cough twice to cover his embarrassment.
Dealing with this human lie detector was truly exhausting every second… Half an hour later, Midtown Manhattan, Rand Corporation Building.
Unlike the Stark Tower, which ostentatiously proclaimed "future" and "technology" on every pane of glass, the Rand Building's design exuded Eastern Zen, with ultimate luxury in its understated elegance.
William gave Matt's name and was smoothly led by a secretary in a qipao to the top-floor private elevator.
The elevator doors slid open silently.
A unique scent, a mixture of high-grade sandalwood and post-intense-workout sweat, wafted over him.
Before his eyes was an exaggeratedly large dojo, covered with top-grade tatami mats.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was the dazzling night view of Manhattan, and in the center of the dojo, two figures had just finished an intense sparring session.
One of them was a blonde young man in loose training clothes, with a sunny demeanor, but a calm and dignified presence in his brows that did not belong to his age.
He was Danny Rand.
Opposite him was a lithe, wildly charming Latina woman.
She wore a tight sports tank top, sweat outlining her perfect muscle definition.
Around her neck hung an ancient-looking tiger head amulet.
Ding! Potential client "Danny Rand" detected.
Target characteristics: Kunlun Iron Fist inheritor, controls "Chi" energy, CEO of Rand Corporation.
Current status: Conflict between superhuman abilities and mortal life, facing unique financial and legal risks.
System recommendation: Can attempt to sell "Superhuman Ability Accidental Liability Insurance," "Hero Identity Exposure Risk Management Plan," "Enterprise-level Special Risk Management Consulting Service."
Ding! Potential client "Ava Ayala" detected.
Target characteristics: White Tiger spirit possessor, possesses superhuman physique and perception.
Current status: Frequently involved in supernatural events, identity secrecy threatened, divine power brings unpredictable risks.
System recommendation: Can attempt to sell "Divine Beast Possession Risk Protection Plan," "Supernatural Sighting Event PR Insurance," "Special Artifacts and Possessed Spirits Protection Insurance."
Iron Fist!
White Tiger!
Tonight's harvest far exceeded expectations!
"Are you the 'businessman' Matt spoke of?"
Danny Rand grabbed a towel to wipe his sweat and strode over.
His gaze was curious yet scrutinizing, as if he were examining a peculiar antique.
Ava stood still, arms crossed, her eyes sharp as knives, full of vigilance.
"William Rodriguez, Founder and CEO of Rodriguez Risk Management Company."
William handed over his business card, a professional smile on his face.
Danny took the business card, glanced at it, and then handed it to Ava behind him.
His gaze fell on William's all-black tactical night-ops gear, which he hadn't had time to change out of.
"Is your company… definitely a legitimate company?" Iron Fist's tone carried a hint of amusement.
This attire made him look less like a legitimate businessman and more like a robber preparing for a heist.
William maintained his smile, a plan already forming in his mind.
"These external forms are not important, Mr. Rand."
"What's important is that I can solve many… many problems for you."
"Matt said you could solve our 'logistical problems'."
Danny got straight to the point, without beating around the bush.
"Honestly, I'm very curious. Rand Corporation has the top legal and public relations teams in the World. I don't think there's any trouble in this World that they can't solve."
Why would a little-known company like yours think it's better than my multinational corporation?
William smiled.
He knew that when dealing with someone like Danny Rand, he couldn't talk about money; that would be an insult.
He had to talk about things that money couldn't buy.
"Mr. Rand, can your legal team handle the municipal claims and public panic caused by your momentary inability to control the 'Chi' within you, leading to the instantaneous disruption of an entire city block's electrical system?"
William's first sentence made the relaxed smile on Danny's face freeze.
William didn't pause. He turned his head, his gaze precisely falling on Ava's wild beauty and the faintly glowing tiger head amulet on her chest.
"Does your public relations team know how to explain to the media and the public a mass sighting event where a translucent, divinely glowing 'Tiger God Spirit' chased a group of demon worshipers above Times Square?"
Ava's vigilant eyes were instantly replaced by shock and astonishment!
These events were the most core and secret secrets within their small circle!
This man in a ridiculous night suit had casually stripped them bare.
William watched their changing expressions, his heart settling.
He took a step forward, his voice lowered, full of seductive power.
"Your troubles cannot be solved by money. What you need is not lawyers and public relations."
"What you need is a cleaner."
-------------------------------
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