Chapter 31: Kingpin’s Money-Making Plan and a Killing Intent

Manhattan was the beating heart of New York City. The iconic Statue of Liberty stood just off its shore on a small island. The Empire State Building, Wall Street, symbols of power and prestige, all found their home here. This was truly the domain of the wealthy. The economic and cultural center of the entire United States. Erika's car pulled into the underground parking lot of a towering skyscraper. She and Carl stepped out and made their way to the elevators. They rode up to the 53rd floor. And no, that wasn't even close to the top This building had 98 floors and stood a staggering 472 meters tall. Naturally, the price tags here were sky-high. Apartments ranged anywhere from four to twenty million dollars. U.S. dollars, that is. As for how Carl knew that so well? Because the old man who adopted him owned a place here too. Now, it belonged to Carl. Located on the 62nd floor. Carl rarely came here, much less lived here. To be honest, he found the height a bit excessive. Sure, there were elevators, so it wasn't like you had to climb. But if anything ever went wrong with the elevator? He'd be screwed. It just didn't feel worth the risk. Besides, Carl owned more properties than he could count. Missing out on one didn't matter. So this apartment usually stayed empty, managed by building staff. Erika, on the other hand, loved places like this Skyscrapers with sweeping views of the city. That's why she lived here. Once they arrived, Erika immediately went to change. Carl made himself comfortable on the couch. Not long after, Erika returned in an elegant evening gown. It was a deep crimson, slightly different from Carl's burgundy suit, but clearly coordinated. It was obvious she'd chosen that shade on purpose. "Well?" Erika said, spreading her arms playfully to show it off. "You look stunning," Carl replied with a warm smile, leaning in to kiss her. Erika lit up at the compliment, unable to hide her joy. If her dad hadn't been rushing her so much... She probably would've pulled Carl into something a little more intimate right then and there. "Let's head to the gala," she said. "Before my dad calls and nags me again." "Sure." ... They made their way downstairs. Carl had avoided this place before because of how high up it was. But now that he had the Silver Superman template, that kind of concern no longer mattered. Elevators? Who needed them? He could fly home faster than the elevator could take him. Once they got into the car, it pulled out smoothly from the garage. ... Four Seasons Hotel, Manhattan. Inside a grand ballroom on the eighth floor Dozens of well-dressed business elites mingled with glasses of fine wine in hand. Standing among them was a man built like a mountain: Kingpin. He was in deep conversation with an elderly gentleman, his hair already silver-white, named Nicholas. "You see," Kingpin said to Nicholas, "I invited someone from Stark Industries to this gala." "Have a proper talk with him. If things go well, we should be able to get our hands on a batch of weapons." "We buy the goods from Stark, and I flip them through my own network at a premium." "War zones are still active in parts of the world. This stuff practically sells itself." "A guaranteed profit. You put up half the funds, and we split seventy-thirty, my side takes the seventy." Kingpin still owed Carl a whopping eight billion dollars. He needed to make money fast. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't need a partner He could've handled the whole business on his own. But after giving Carl two billion upfront, his liquidity had taken a hit. That's why he needed an investor. And Nicholas? He was a long-time business partner. Also, he just so happened to be Erika's father. Together, they'd made a lot of money. Sure, not all of it was earned through "respectable" means. But tonight Nicholas didn't respond with the same easy enthusiasm as before. He paused, then said slowly, "Mr. Kingpin." "I'm willing to fund this deal, hell, I'll even front the full amount if needed." "And we'll keep the profit split the same: seventy-thirty." "However, after this, I'd like to handle a few independent projects." He was using this as an excuse. In business, sharing risk was common sense. Every investment came with potential danger, splitting the load was just smart. Making money together was always preferable. But in truth, Nicholas no longer wanted to be tied to Kingpin. The operations they'd run together? Not exactly clean. And lately, Kingpin had been popping up in the headlines far too often. If things continued, it was only a matter of time before the fallout dragged him down too. So he'd made up his mind, pay some hush money, wrap up this last job, and get out clean. Kingpin wasn't a fool. He heard the subtext loud and clear. His eyes narrowed. "You're saying you want to stop partnering with me?" Nicholas could see Kingpin wasn't happy. But he'd already said the words. And he had no intention of walking them back. He nodded firmly. "That's right." "Our company's shifting direction. We won't be taking on joint ventures anytime soon." "This arms deal? I'll see it through, for old times' sake." "I'll even front the whole investment myself..." He hadn't finished speaking when Kingpin cut in coldly: "How's your daughter doing?" Nicholas looked up sharply. The threat couldn't have been more obvious. Still, he wasn't just some nobody. Nicholas knew Kingpin's background well enough to expect retaliation. So he'd made preparations. He'd hired a small army of bodyguards. His gaze swept toward the two tall men in black standing a short distance away. Both were retired elite marines. Nicholas exhaled quietly and felt more at ease. "Erika is doing quite well. No need for your concern." "As I said" "I'll go through with this deal." "But after that, I'll be working alone. If a new opportunity comes up in the future, we can talk." With that, Nicholas lifted his glass and calmly walked off to mingle with other guests. Kingpin stood still, silently watching his retreating figure. He and Nicholas had made a fortune together. Now that he'd gotten a taste of wealth, Nicholas wanted to cut ties and run? Kingpin would never allow it. He'd already done his homework. He knew Nicholas had no wife, only a daughter. As for those two bodyguards? Kingpin had seen them. But he didn't even spare them a proper glance. Even bare-handed He was confident he could kill them both in ten seconds. "If you won't work with me..." "Then you can die." "I could use some extra cash anyway." Kingpin sneered and waved a henchman over. The subordinate leaned in discreetly. "Put some men on Nicholas and his daughter," Kingpin ordered. "When the gala ends... take care of them." "Yes, sir." The man nodded and slipped away.