I translate for fun. If it doesn't meet your standards you could read it's MTL.
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Twenty Minutes Later – New York Streets
A black SUV was parked on the side of the road.
A blonde woman in high heels hurried out, relief washing over her face as she spotted Tony Stark standing there.
"God bless…"
"Tony, thank God you're okay!"
"Pepper, I'm always okay."
Tony shrugged nonchalantly, playing it cool.
No way in hell was he telling Pepper that he had almost been forced into an unspeakable situation in a public restroom.
Behind Pepper Potts, a middle-aged man in a black suit with a slightly receding hairline stepped forward.
With a friendly smile, he extended a hand toward Tony.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Stark."
"I'm an agent of the Homeland Strategic Defense Attack and Logistics Support Agency—Phil Coulson."
Tony blinked.
Then turned around and walked straight toward the SUV without another word.
Coulson's hand remained awkwardly extended in midair.
"...Okay."
"Tony," Pepper quickly caught his arm, leaning in to whisper, "Agent Coulson has been helping search for you since you disappeared."
Tony sighed.
"Fine."
He turned back around and crossed his arms, eyeing Coulson.
"Ten minutes, Phil."
"Say what you need to say. Fast."
"Of course."
Coulson remained calm, his professional smile never wavering.
"Mr. Stark, according to our investigation, the person who kidnapped and impersonated you appears to possess certain special abilities. Can you elaborate on what happened?"
Tony's expression darkened slightly as he thought back to the humiliating experience.
"Bastard had Joker makeup plastered all over his face," he muttered.
"He could change his appearance—turned into me right in front of my eyes."
Coulson's eyes narrowed.
"Shapeshifting…?"
"That's not all."
Tony's fingers tapped against his arm.
"He also summoned some kind of Japanese-style ninjas—but these weren't normal guys. They could move through space. It was like…"
Tony hesitated, struggling to describe it.
"Like… a space that was dark, cold, and unreal. I was inside for just a few seconds, but it felt way too long."
Coulson frowned, processing the information.
"Interesting…"
After a moment, he asked, "Did this 'Joker' mention why he kidnapped and impersonated you?"
Tony pursed his lips.
He did not want to admit the stupid answer he had received.
"...He said… for fun."
---
[System Notifications]
[Exclamation Value from Tony Stark +500]
[Exclamation Value from Phil Coulson +400]
[Exclamation Value from Pepper Potts +300]
[Exclamation Value from Nick Fury +200]
---
Far from the scene, in a dimly lit warehouse, Lu Cheng's eyebrows lifted as a series of notifications rang in his mind.
He was currently in Madame Gao's factory, overseeing his new subordinates.
Or rather—disciplining them.
"Sometimes, they need a little… convincing."
At his feet, the four other Hand leaders knelt, bruised and swollen, their expressions grim.
"You see…"
Lu Cheng twirled a Gu worm between his fingers.
"People only behave after they get their asses kicked."
He crouched down, looking them over.
"Now, let's make it official."
"Eat the Gu worm."
The four Hand leaders exchanged hesitant glances.
They had no choice.
The "immortal power" they once relied on was fading, and in their weakened state, they knew they had no chance against this blood-robed monster.
After a long silence, Murakami, the most senior among them, finally spoke.
"Lord Bai Yifei… we submit."
The others followed immediately.
"We submit."
Lu Cheng smiled faintly.
"Good choice."
One by one, they swallowed the Gu worms, their expressions twisting as the parasites settled inside them.
Lu Cheng's voice turned casual.
"Remember—your lives are in my hands now. So don't get any bright ideas."
His eyes flicked toward Madame Gao, who was standing silently beside them.
This old fox had led the others here with the obvious intent of trying to backstab him.
And now?
She was playing the obedient servant.
"Of course," Madame Gao lowered her head, feigning submission.
"Lord Bai Yifei, what would you have us do?"
Lu Cheng leaned back, folding his arms.
"I need some… sacrifices."
"Specifically—bring me a group of vampires. Their blood needs to be pure."
Madame Gao's face stiffened.
"Vampires…?"
Her hesitation was obvious.
The vampire clans of New York were powerful and well-connected, protected by wealthy patrons and supernatural allies.
Compared to The Hand, they had far more resources and influence.
"Is that a problem?" Lu Cheng's voice remained light—but his eyes turned cold.
Madame Gao shivered, immediately bowing lower.
"Of course not. It will be done."
---
[System Notification]
[Exclamation Value from Daredevil Matt Murdock +200]
---
Lu Cheng's eyes flickered.
"Daredevil?"
He quickly realized—
Matt Murdock was eavesdropping nearby.
A small smirk crept onto Lu Cheng's lips.
Interesting.
Matt Murdock—blind lawyer by day, vigilante by night.
Though he had lost his sight due to an accident with radioactive chemicals, the rest of his senses had been amplified to superhuman levels.
He had trained under Stick, becoming a skilled fighter and a sworn enemy of The Hand.
Later, after The Hand fell, he would take over as its new leader.
Lu Cheng chuckled.
"Looks like our dear Daredevil thinks he can just stand outside and listen in."
He glanced at the Hand leaders, then spoke loudly enough for Matt to hear.
"We have a guest."
"Why don't you all go entertain him?"