Chapter 25: The Hand Appears
"Don't panic, Mindy."
"They might not necessarily find us."
"Tonight's operation is canceled!"
"After they take the goods and retreat, we'll deal with that bastard Hardy!"
Noticing the anxiety in Hit-Girl's voice, Big Daddy kept his voice even calmer, gently persuading her.
But if Hit-Girl could see Big Daddy's eyes, she would find them filled with an indescribable expression.
Finally, as if making a decision, he nodded his head firmly.
"I understand, I'll hide well."
"You need to hide too, Daddy!"
"When we get back, I want to stab that son of a bitch Hardy a hundred times!"
Perhaps reassured by Big Daddy's calm voice, Hit-Girl frowned slightly, thinking she might have misunderstood something earlier, and her response was noticeably more relaxed.
Qi Jun rolled his eyes to the side.
Seriously!
Listen to this!
Is this something a teenage girl should be saying?
What the hell has Big Daddy taught his child?
Not to mention the swearing, but casually talking about stabbing someone a hundred times like it's a trivial matter.
Indeed, Big Daddy's death in the original story was justified.
This isn't a world where fathers teach their daughters like this.
Being tormented to death was his karma!
Cough, cough
Of course, with Qi Jun in the mix, he wouldn't let Big Daddy die just like that.
No matter how terrible a father Big Daddy might be.
But to Hit-Girl, he is still her closest kin.
Since he gained abilities from them, he might try to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
That would be doing right by his own 'conscience'!
.............
While Qi Jun and the three of them each had their thoughts.
On the now fully docked fishing boat, dozens of figures also emerged.
Qi Jun's attention sharpened, and he quickly raised a pair of binoculars he had 'borrowed' from a guy who might have been a mercenary to take a closer look.
Qi Jun thought these people were mostly mercenaries because of the binoculars in his hand.
As a pseudo-military enthusiast, Qi Jun couldn't recognize the model of the binoculars or know which company made them.
But!
The viewfinder displayed real-time data when Qi Jun put the binoculars on his nose.
The laser-measured distance was accurate to the millimeter, and continuously changing data on wind direction and speed, air temperature and humidity, the amount of dust, and even the latitude and longitude were displayed.
Such high-end military binoculars, not to mention how much they cost in dollars. Could gang members get their hands on this?
Even Qi Jun wondered if these were regular troops sent by the United States military.
In this capitalist country of the United States, for some capitalists to strike at a thorn in their side by deploying regular troops isn't unusual!
Perhaps it's because the expanding Kingpin touched some capitalists' interests.
Or it could be a S.H.I.E.L.D. force sent as a warning.
However, Qi Jun regretted that he couldn't find any identification on these guys that could indicate their identity.
.............
As Qi Jun's mind wandered, the figures on the fishing boat came into his sight.
Asian?
Seeing their stature and skin color, Qi Jun raised an eyebrow.
But then, he furrowed his brows.
Aside from those Asians carrying boxes, the rest wore traditional samurai attire.
Even those wearing suits held swords like katanas instead of carrying firearms.
Japan?
Could it be?
Thinking it over, Qi Jun recalled that in the Marvel universe, there was the Hand.
.............
Indeed, just as Qi Jun thought about it, one of the gang leaders responsible for the transaction started shouting.
"Ha ha!"
"So it's Mr. Sasaki from the Hand leading the team again!"
"If I had known Mr. Sasaki was coming, I would have brought you your favorite Western beauty!"
The Kingpin leader responsible for the dealings seemed oblivious to what calling someone a Western beauty in his race implied. He shouted while warmly embracing Mr. Sasaki, whose back was loudly slapped by his palm-fan-like hand.
But Mr. Sasaki from the Hand, as if he didn't feel any force at all, maintained a beaming smile.
Even then, Mr. Sasaki lightly patted the Kingpin leader's shoulder, "Ha ha, no worries, it's the same if we try it next time!"
But Qi Jun saw that the Kingpin leader tensed up, his face twitching slightly, and beads of sweat instantly appeared on his forehead.
But being a gang leader, especially a Kingpin leader, this guy had some endurance.
Bearing the discomfort from his shoulder, he still said with a smile: "Great!"
"There will be a chance next time!"
"Mr. Sasaki, you must give me a chance to entertain a 'friend' next time you come!"
With that, the leader turned and shouted towards the back:
"Receive the goods!"
"Come and check how this 'laundry detergent' is!"
"Yes!"
A group of Kingpin members stepped forward, took the boxes, and started to inspect them.
.............
Qi Jun ignored the laundry detergent, which was something else.
His attention was mainly on the man called Mr. Sasaki.
A light pat on the shoulder could make a Caucasian man sweat profusely, which was quite impressive!
Qi Jun wondered if this man could be one of the legendary ninjas.
Are ninjas really that magical?
Qi Jun pondered with a frown.