69novels Chapter 690 Life is like a play, it needs actors
Chapter 690 Life is like a play, it needs actors
Chapter 690 Life is like a play, it needs actors
Sometimes things are just that strange. Just when everyone else was at their wits' end, progress suddenly appeared, highlighting a sense of the absurdity of life. Peter sat down, somewhat puzzled, and asked Matt, "So what are you guys doing?"
"We're helping Erica regain her memories; her memories are stuck on the day she went to investigate and fight the Hand, and was captured by them."
Matt adjusted his sunglasses and then explained to Peter that even if the Hand's brainwashing ritual was lifted, the brainwashed person would not remember anything that happened during the brainwashing. This was precisely the strength of the Hand's dark ritual in terms of secrecy.
You could even say that instead of expecting Erica to tell Matt where the Hand is, you might as well ask the Silver Samurai where the Hand is. At least the latter doesn't seem brainwashed and is rather simple-minded, so he might actually tell you.
Peter then thought of Deacon and X-23, whose fates were unknown, and who were probably dead, so he asked, "How was it deactivated?"
We—we just captured someone who's been brainwashed by the Hand; they might come in handy.
"Okay, uh, that happened last night—" Matt adjusted his sunglasses again, then picked up his coffee and took a sip: "You know, Peter, it rained a little in Manhattan last night. It's been really hot lately, and that rain made the Hell's Kitchen area really cool. It was on a rainy night like that—"
"I really don't want to interrupt your wonderful reminiscence of last night, but can we fast-forward a bit?"
Peter couldn't help but interrupt Matt, and even Erica called out "Matt." Matt nodded apologetically and continued, still wanting to say more: "Yesterday I met Erica. She was sent by the Hand to fight me. We fought for a long time, and we were both seriously injured. During the fight, I called her name over and over again, recalling our past, hoping that she would remember who I am."
At that moment, Peter thought of many classic scenarios: "And then you woke her up at the last moment, when life and death were at stake?"
"No, we fell off the roof together during the fight. Her head hit the windowsill and she passed out. When she woke up, the brainwashing was lifted."
Peter: ————
Peter sighed helplessly and shook his head. Matt knew there wasn't much to worry about; they still couldn't find the Hand. So he simply asked Peter, "What happened to you?"
Peter then recounted what had just happened, followed by the information he knew about the Beast, summarizing the Hand's possible objectives: to make Matt break the no-kill policy, then have him lead the Hand, and finally become the vessel for the Beast's descent.
"So, if we combine that with what you mentioned—Mysterio's helmet—and hire Deadpool, we can put on a show for the Hand, making them think an assassin killed Erica, and then I killed the assassin in a fit of rage, making the Hand think I've fallen—"
Matt started thinking about the plan. In essence, no one would die in this big show because Erica was an illusion created by Mysterio's helmet, and the assassin was Deadpool in disguise. As long as Matt acted seriously and angrily enough, theoretically the Hand wouldn't be able to find out.
However, Erica, upon hearing this, voiced her objection.
"Too... deliberate, don't you think? Where did this assassin come from? Why did he want to kill me? All of this is too contrived, not natural enough, and full of loopholes. The Hand already knows I've defected; this might be part of their plan. They might even hire assassins to kill me themselves. What then?"
"This is just an idea."
"So the safest way is to make it real. I would really be killed by the assassin, which would be enough to convince the Hand."
Matt and Peter both "looked" at Erica, with Matt tilting his head in confusion.
"Although—I don't remember very clearly, I'm certain the Hand has the means to resurrect people, not to make them immortal, but to truly resurrect them. So if I die, and they want you, Matt, to become a member of the Hand, then you can use that as the price to resurrect me—"
"No, absolutely not! How do I know if the Hand's resurrection ritual carries any additional risks? What if you don't come back? What if you—"
"Another advantage of this plan is that the assassin doesn't have to be Deadpool; it can be someone else."
"I couldn't possibly kill someone!"
Matt interrupted Erica with a roar, then took a deep breath: "I know, I know you, Stick, and the rest of the Holy Order want me to abandon my no-kill policy and become one of you to fight the Hand to the death, but—I can't do that, I'm sorry."
Erica apologized and left the room after being interrupted. After watching Erica leave, Peter looked at Matt. Matt was silent for a while before letting out a long sigh: "You probably think I'm a bit old-fashioned, right? Even you only try to avoid killing enemies, you wouldn't really be like me, not killing anyone."
Peter simply nodded knowingly, then asked, "May I ask why?"
"Because this is Hell's Kitchen. Killing, harming, trafficking, injustice—all of these form the foundation of Hell's Kitchen. If I want to truly fight against Hell's Kitchen—not just Fisk—then I cannot be a part of it. I must be absolutely different from them."
"If Daredevil is a vigilante who kills, and if Matt Murdoch is a lawyer who will stop at nothing to achieve justice, then either of me is just part of Hell's Kitchen, not his opposite. That's it."
From one perspective, Daredevil Matt Murdoch has very little sense of responsibility; everything he does is to fight against Hell's Kitchen. The vast world outside is irrelevant to him, and he has no ability to intervene in it.
Peter thought for a moment, then asked in return, "How have you managed to maintain this?"
"It didn't last. I had an ex-girlfriend named Karen. She used to be my and Foggy's assistant. She was a very nice lady, but she died. She was killed by Bullseye. I was furious that day and almost lost my mind. I nearly killed Bullseye and pushed him off the roof. He was paralyzed and suffered a comminuted fracture of his spine."
"So how did he recover?"
"It's said that a Japanese doctor performed surgery on him, reinforcing his spine with some kind of metal —"
"Adamantium," Peter interrupted Matt. "And if we're going to inject adamantium, Bullseye would also need a healing factor implanted. He's the kind of killer who won't arouse any suspicion, and Kingpin would definitely want Daredevil to fall."
Matt thought for a moment, then sighed.
"Then there's only one problem: I don't trust the Hand's resurrection ritual, and Erica believes that Mysterio's illusions can't fool the Hand."
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