After getting our wounds treated by the very obvious fisk industry doctors, like is he even trying to hide his identity? Me and peter get discharged and are about to leave the arena.
"You actually fought and won against a navy seal and a trained mercenary?" Peter asked excitedly.
"Yeah, but it was because he let me. if he was serious from the start he would've wiped the floor with me..." I respond despondantly.
We continue to talk about our fights when we see a massive figure lumbering towards us. Oh right, I have to get my actual reward.
Each of his steps shakes the damn floor. Like the earth itself is making way for the sheer presence stomping toward me. The kind of weight that doesn't come from just size, but power. Authority.
Wilson Fisk. The Kingpin.
He moves like a living monolith, every step deliberate and calculated. His white suit is somehow still spotless, despite the grime of this place. His cane taps against the floor, though I'm pretty sure he doesn't need it, it's just another weapon in his arsenal. His face? Cold. Unreadable. Like he's already five steps ahead of everyone in the room.
And right now? He's walking straight towards us.
Even though I know I'm not gonna fight him, I freeze up. So does Pete beside me. The tension in the air is grotesquely thick. He then breaks it by bellowing out in deep laughter.
"Such potential and power in you youngsters! How would you guys like to work for me? I'll make sure to pay you two handsomely." He invites in a deep voice.
I could feel Peter flinch and look interested in the topic of money, but I pinch him to get his mind back on track.
"I'm very sorry, Mr. Fisk, sir. Me and my partner arent very interested in working under anybody right now. We are still students after all." I tell a half lie.
"Oh, you know me?" Kingpin sounds surprised. "Well, that makes it easier. I'm a supporter of the kingpin that orchestrated these events. I was watching the battles from the viewing pods, and I couldn't help but be amazed at the power you both showed. Are you sure you don't want to work for me?"
Looks like he's trying to pretend like he's not the kingpin. It was convincing and would have worked, too. Too bad that I already know his identity.
"Of course, I know you, Mr. Fisk. You're the CEO of Fisk Corp! However, we are sorry, we still have to decline." I reply, glazing the shit out of him out of fear he's gonna snap me in half.
"Well, that's too bad. however, feel free to give me a call if you ever change your mind." He says handing us both his business card. "Also, you two weren't planning on leaving without receiving your reward were you?"
Oh right, I forgot again. What was the reward again? The kingpin's favour? Also, why isn't he trying harder to recruit us?
He then hands us both a piece of paper. My eyes pop out, and Peters's jaws hit the floor with an audible clank.
He just casually handed us a cheque. Mine, for 1,000,000.00$ and Pete for 250,000.00$. Oh my god. I'm rich as fuck boi. Now how will I deposit this money without the IRS tryna get me...
While me and Peter are stuck in our happy thoughts, Fisk interrupts us by coughing into his hand.
"Ehem. There's one thing that I didn't mention. Grizzley, since you've beaten the reigning champion, you have become the new champion. Because of this, you are required to attend the next tournament in roughly a year. You also have gained the reward of a favour from the kingpin."
Well, that's annoying. But by next year, I should be strong enough to end Kingpin's crime empire. It should be fine. However, for the favour? I have no idea.
Kingpin is a crime boss and a notorious villain, but on the other hand, he's an honourable man of his word. He could be a good card to have in my hand. I could ask him for help building my superhero suit, if I can't get in contact with Tony, or I could possibly ask him to help me take down the other gangs like the Kitchen Irish, the Russian mob, or the yakuza. I could start a business relationship with him. he's not a man to go back on his promise or stab my back.
And if I could remember properly, I think the backstory of the kingpin is that he wanted control, to create balance. He doesn't do anything horrible, like human trafficking, but he sells drugs and weapons, gathering all the criminals in hell's kitchen. By keeping Hell's kitchen dangerous, he keeps the rest of America safe. I would say that's pretty admirable, and it makes sense. I would rather the kingpin be in power than the other gangs, who have no morals at all.
"could I cash in my favour with the kingpin now?" I ask Fisk, pretending like I don't know it's him.
He looks surprised. "Of course. I will inform him of your decision. What is the favour you want?"
"I want to form a business relationship with the kingpin." I state boldly.
he now looks even more surprised, and maybe even a little insulted, but I couldn't really tell through his poker face. "And what makes you believe that the kingpin might want to join forces with a nobody like you?" He asked coldly.
it felt like the temperature around us suddenly got lowered by like 10 degrees. Both me and Peter flinch.
I try to remain confident. "I want what you want, Mr. Fisk. Order. Stability. I'm willing to put in the work to remove the distractions in Hell's Kitchen. The Irish, the Russians, and the Japanese. I'm thinking that the kingpin might like that, since it would raise his sphere of influence. In return, I am requesting that I also get some help when I need it." I raise my head and look into his eyes.
"I, no the kingpin will think about it. We will contact you about this later. Now scram." Kingpin grumbled.
It felt like the temperature was back to normal, and me and peter booked it out of there.
before leaving, I looked back one more time, and it looked like Fisk was... Smiling?
-o-
As we are leaving the arena...
[Quest Complete!: Punch First, Regret Later.]
[Reward: Vibranium Gauntlets]
The quest complete notification popped up, and I felt something fall into my arms. Fuck yes.
It was two relatively large gauntlets, It was sleek silver and looked like a blank canvas. I'm so customizing these later. the hand part was like a sleeveless glove, only covering the back of my hand and covering the knuckles. then, as it went up the forearm, it became wider, about 30 cm, probably meant to be used as a shield like Caps shields from Infinity War. It slimmed down again as it got to my elbow, and formed another guard around my elbows. I guess it was meant for fist and elbow strikes, while also being a shield. They look sick. I love it.
Peter immediately notices because, of course, he does.
"Uh… dude?" He points at the gauntlets. "Where did you get those?"
I hesitate for half a second before lying my ass off. "…eBay."
He deadpans. "You expect me to believe you just casually won an underground fight club and, as a bonus, got delivered a pair of sick ass gauntlets off of eBay?"
I shrug. "Fast shipping?"
Peter glares at me before stepping closer and poking one of the gauntlets. He hisses and shakes his hand.
"Ow! Okay, one, those are way too solid to be anything normal, and two, why do they feel weirdly smooth? What are they made of?"
I glance down at them. "Uh… metal?"
Peter pinches the bridge of his nose. "Oh wow, thanks, genius. That narrows it down." He sighs. "Dude, these look like something out of a sci-fi movie. Did the bald dude give them to you?"
"Nah," I say, sliding one onto my forearm. It fits perfectly. "Just a little… extra reward."
Peter crosses his arms. "And you're just… okay with keeping mystery gauntlets from literal criminals?"
I smirk. "Dude, I just got a $1 million check from literal criminals. If we're already in this deep, I might as well take the freebies."
Peter groans. "I swear, one day, I'm gonna find out you've been collecting forbidden magic artifacts in your closet, and I'm not gonna be surprised."
I pat him on the shoulder. "Relax. If anything weird happens, you'll be the first to know."
He gives me a suspicious look. "That's not comforting."
I just keep walking.
Pete kept looking at me weirdly, but probably just passed it off as something that my powers (system) gave me.
as we made our way back towards our residence in silence, to catch Ned up with what happened, Pete started asking about what I talked about with in his words, "the intimidating big fat bald man that seemed way too fucking shady". I just gave him a knowing smile.
Pete's stark industry field trip is in a couple of days, which means he's about to get involved with this stuff soon. Me however? I'll figure something out.
(a/n next chapter: the start of the Peter arc!)