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'Kingpin is Iron Fist?'
Shin's mind raced, overwhelmed by the revelation. No matter how much he speculated, he couldn't have anticipated such a development.
'However... it did explain why Kingpin was able to discover the secrets of Black Sky. It made sense that Iron Fist would know about the Hand's hidden truths.'
*Whoosh!*
Kingpin wasted no time in conversation, delivering a swift punch straight to Shin's heart.
*Boom!*
The impact sent Shin flying backward, his body crashing heavily onto the ground, lifeless. His chest, caved in as if struck by a massive hammer, showed shattered ribs and a ruptured heart. What's more, the intense heat from Kingpin's fist had seared through flesh and bone, reducing Shin's heart to a pulpy mess.
Even a deity couldn't bring him back now.
Kingpin walked a few steps closer, gazing down at Shin's corpse. "Wesley, my friend, you can finally rest in peace," he murmured softly.
"How should we deal with the bodies?" one of Kingpin's trusted aides asked.
"Toss them into the sea," Kingpin replied nonchalantly, turning on his heel and leading Bullseye and the others away from the scene without a glancing back.
*Splash!*
The only sounds in the stillness of the night were the splashes of water as the bodies of Shin and the other ninjas were unceremoniously dumped into the cold sea.
Once Kingpin's people had left, silence returned to the scene. Only the cold wind remained as if nothing had happened.
Then suddenly...
*Splash!*
A large disturbance broke the surface of the water, and Shin—who had clearly died—suddenly opened his eyes!
Indeed, Kingpin had killed Shin, but somehow he had returned to back to life!
Though Shin wasn't one of the Hand's five leaders, he was the disciple of Murakami, one of the five fingers, and held significant status within the organization. Like his superiors, he had access to the power of the dragon bone, granting him immortality and resurrection.
"Kingpin is actually the Iron Fist?"
"I have to report this immediately!" Shin swam ashore from the freezing water, and his expression was deeply concerned.
There weren't many people the Hand truly considered worthy opponents, but the Iron Fist was unquestionably one of them.
Beyond that, the Iron Fist shared a complicated history with the Hand, as the Hand's five fingers were former traitors of K'un-Lun. Even more, obtaining more dragon bones required the power of the Iron Fist.
The Iron Fist wasn't just a weapon—it was a key!
With such crucial information in hand, Shin wasted no time. He went straight to the hidden base of Madame Gao, one of the Hand's five leaders, and presented himself before her.
"You shouldn't have come to me," Madame Gao said calmly, elegantly holding a watercolor brush as she put the finishing touches on a painting of lotus flowers. It was clear from the exquisite strokes that Madame Gao was quite accomplished in her art.
"To operate effectively, we all have our own identities here," she continued as she painted. In Hell's Kitchen, Gao's identity was that of a drug lord from Hong Kong, while Shin posed as a Yakuza from Japan.
But in truth, both were key members of the Hand.
"I have critical news to report!" Shin's voice was grave.
Madame Gao understood that if Shin was willing to break their protocol and come to her in person, it must be of great significance. She put down her brush and slowly approached him, leaning on her cane.
She moved like a frail old woman as if a strong gust of wind could knock her over. But anyone who thought that way would be gravely mistaken. Shin knew all too well the terrifying power hidden within Madame Gao's aged frame.
The Hand's five fingers didn't rule through age; they ruled through strength!
"Speak. What is this urgent matter?" Madame Gao finally sat down before Shin, her tone filled with confidence. With the power of the Hand behind her, she believed there was nothing in Hell's Kitchen that she couldn't control.
"I've found the Iron Fist!" Shin declared solemnly.
"Are you certain?" For the first time, Madame Gao's usually calm voice rose slightly.
The Iron Fist was immensely important to the Hand. They had been searching for the new Iron Fist for a long time, with no news. Hearing Shin's statement, even she couldn't stay calm.
"Absolutely. I saw it with my own eyes! No… more accurately, I was even killed by him."
"Good!" Madame Gao struck the ground with her cane, a smile forming on her face. "Where is he?"
"Right here in Hell's Kitchen!" Shin said without hesitation. "And not only that, we know him. We've even dealt with him on several occasions... Kingpin is Iron Fist!"
"What?"
Madame Gao's brows furrowed in disbelief. 'Kingpin?' That couldn't be right.
"I know, I was shocked too, but it's true. He is the Iron Fist. I saw his fist glow!" Shin insisted, his voice filled with certainty.
Madame Gao fell into deep thought. Shin faced Iron Fist and was even killed by him. She had no reason to doubt his word.
But Kingpin, being the Iron Fist, still took her by surprise. After a brief silence, she accepted it. If Shin had confirmed it, there could be no mistake.
Now, new questions arose, 'Why had Kingpin remained hidden in Hell's Kitchen for so long? What had prompted him to expose himself now? What was this new Iron Fist planning?'
"And there's more bad news. The Iron Fist may have discovered the identity of the Black Sky," Shin added, his tone even graver. "He interrogated me, asking about her whereabouts."
"The Iron Fist has managed to uncover that much?" Madame Gao's face showed her surprise once more, and she even rose from her seat.
The Black Sky was the Hand's ultimate weapon, a being they had been seeking for countless years—just like the dragon bones. Though they had never succeeded in finding the Black Sky, they believed it would bring them unimaginable power.
'So, was this the reason the Iron Fist revealed himself now? To eliminate the Hand's ultimate weapon before it could become a threat?'
'Clever. Truly clever.'
'This Iron Fist was indeed formidable.'
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Next Chapter: The Most Miserable Superhero
Next Next Chapter: A Dangerous and Perverted Man
Next Next Next Chapter: Marked for Death
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