The motorcycle gang and the Mexican-Irish groups' court proceedings had drawn considerable attention in Hell's Kitchen. However, despite being taken to court, they managed to exploit legal loopholes and were released.
Matt faced Frank, who stood before him carrying a box of weapons, and could sense the weight of Frank's intentions. As a lawyer himself, Matt understood the complexities and emotions involved.
"I... I'm sorry, Frank," Matt began cautiously, struggling to find the right words to comfort him.
"If nothing else, I'll head out," Frank replied stoically, indicating his resolve to handle his grievances personally.
Matt didn't try to dissuade him. As Frank passed by, Matt hesitated for a moment before speaking up again. "Maybe... Maybe you should wait. I can introduce you to a law firm, help with an appeal."
"Thank you, but it's not necessary," Frank responded firmly, pausing briefly before leaving Merlin's modification shop without hesitation.
After the other party left, Matt looked at Merlin in front of him.
"What did he just buy?"
"Customer privacy, no comment." Merlin shrugged, then turned and walked towards the workshop.
"What's going on? Are you closing up?" Matt inquired, shifting focus to business.
"I've heard you've got some new products. Let's see if I can afford any," Matt continued, expressing interest in the merchandise. Despite his admiration for the vigilante's work, financial constraints often prevented him from making purchases at the modification shop.
Merlin sighed inwardly, knowing Matt's tendency to visit frequently but rarely buy anything. Matt often spoke about turning over a new leaf, becoming a superhero's ally, and safeguarding the city together, but it often seemed like empty talk to Merlin.
Despite this, Merlin appreciated Matt's help in dealing with troublemakers around Hell's Kitchen, even if their motivations differed.
"...There's a newly developed gun that sells for three thousand dollars."
"Gun? I don't need that thing," Matt waved the crutch in his hand dismissively. "If the price of the Batmobile in your garage could be reduced, I'd be willing to consider buying one." Matt had been eyeing the vigilante ever since he first saw it, but the tens of millions of dollars price tag made it impossible for him to afford.
"Don't even think about it. Even if I gave you a 50% discount, it would still be out of your price range," Merlin replied bluntly, but then he changed tack. "But if you're serious about buying it, I might have a solution."
"What kind of solution?" Matt asked, intrigued.
"Let's wait until I receive the invitation card and come back on Saturday. As for my new gun, are you really not interested?" Merlin hesitated for a moment, unable to explain why, so he shifted the topic.
"It's an electromagnetic pulse launcher that can disable almost all electronic equipment."
"I really need this!" Matt exclaimed enthusiastically, eyeing the electromagnetic pulse transmitter. It seemed perfect for his vigilante activities.
"I plan to showcase this at a tech expo after the school year starts. If I can secure a partnership with a tech company, the production and cost of pulse bullets should decrease significantly," Merlin explained, handing over the compact transmitter.
"It might take until the end of the year for them to start production and make it available for sale," he added.
Matt accepted the electromagnetic pulse transmitter with care, treating it like a prized tool for his crime-fighting endeavors.
"These are the bullets, six in total. They should last you for about a week," Merlin continued, handing over the ammunition.
Finally, Matt's expression softened as he pulled out a three thousand dollar knife and offered it to Merlin.
Running his firm didn't bring in much money from the cases he handled, so three thousand dollars was still a significant amount for him.
"Welcome next time!" Merlin ignored the other person's reluctant expression and snatched the money from his hand, waving and smiling.
"You are such a little profiteer. You must keep that Batmobile for me." Matt didn't linger too long. He was going to fight criminals tonight, so he followed Frank to see if he could help.
After Matt left, Merlin finally closed the door of the modification shop and rode his Ducati back home.
The next day, in Queens, Midtown High School.
It's September, and the hot weather is gradually turning sultry, making walking on the streets a little irritating. However, this has no impact on the students of Midtown High School. They only focus on one thing tonight, and that is the long-prepared college technology exhibition.
Before the holiday, the school also left some homework for the newly promoted graduating class, which was the science and technology exhibition at the beginning of the semester, which was all voluntary.
But even so, many students formed teams and started registering.
Different from the graduation prom, this semester's science and technology exhibition is related to whether they can go to a better university. If the science and technology exhibits produced are outstanding, even if their grades are not ideal, they may be recommended and specially recruited by some universities.
Therefore, the science and technology exhibition area of the college was particularly lively tonight. Many teams arrived at the exhibition area with their own inventions and research to display.
In the science and technology exhibition area, in addition to teachers, there are also agents from many technology companies. If you're lucky, you might also discover some interesting inventions. The unbridled imagination of students is always something they lack as adults.
Gwen, who has short blond hair, stood on tiptoes among the crowd in the exhibition area and looked around, as if she was looking for something. Soon, her eyes lit up and she focused on the boy who was talking to a girl wearing glasses at the booth not far away.
"Merlin!" Gwen waved and shouted in surprise, then quickly passed through the crowd and arrived at the booth.
Today's Merlin's temperament has changed a lot from that in the modification shop. His eyes are bright and he seems to be full of curiosity about everything, giving people a sense of harmlessness.
"Gwen! I thought you were going to the band rehearsal today." Merlin was a little surprised when he saw her.
"I'm just curious about what weird thing you made again and dared to bring to the college science and technology exhibition." Gwen tilted her head, then curiously approached the booth behind Merlin and saw the exhibits inside through the glass.
"A gun?... Hmm... It looks more like a flare gun," she guessed, looking at its somewhat bloated appearance.
"This is an electromagnetic pulse transmitter, used for electronic equipment," Merlin explained, pointing to the instructions posted on the glass. "It's all written on it, so there's no need to guess."
Gwen's eyes moved up to the instructions, and she grinned in embarrassment.
She raised her head and looked at the girl who had just been talking to Merlin.
"she is?"
"Hannah Musk, we just met." Merlin introduced her.
"Hello, Gwen." Hannah greeted quietly.