Chapter 17: Conversation Among Fellow Patients (Part I)
Matt Murdock, also known by a name familiar to many: Daredevil.
The moment Leo saw Matt, he thought: Whoa, a fellow patient!
Indeed, Daredevil's origin story involves being splashed in the eyes with hazardous chemicals, causing him to lose his sight while his other senses became incredibly sharp—in some ways, even more effective than eyesight.
By a twist of fate, he trained under a master, honing his superhuman abilities and combat skills. Years later, he returned to Hell's Kitchen.
He works by day as a lawyer, assisting the underprivileged, and by night, he punishes (brutally beats up) bad guys as Daredevil.
"Leo, it's so great that you can move on your own now!"
Maya followed closely behind Matt, carrying a large bag of groceries. Although she didn't look like an Eastern woman, it seemed she had picked up some Eastern habits from Leo's father.
Seeing Leo standing up brought a smile to her face that she couldn't hide.
After a quick hug, Leo smiled and said, "Mom, I don't know what happened, but today, I just got up and felt fine. This gentleman is..."
"Oh, let me explain," Matt said, stepping closer to Leo. "Two and a half years ago, a truck carrying radioactive and corrosive chemicals passed through here, and then..."
Leo finished the sentence for him: "And then I became a cripple."
Matt's senses were sharp enough to detect subtle changes in body temperature, heart rate, breathing, and more.
He was surprised by how calm Leo was when he said this. He didn't sound like someone who had been in a coma for two and a half years and then woke up to find he didn't have much time left.
"That's right. It seems you're in good spirits."
"A person is doomed if they start feeling sorry for themselves," Leo said lightly.
His only worry was that Matt might immediately sense something was off with his spine, but so far, it seemed Matt hadn't noticed.
Maya, both relieved and heartbroken, cupped Leo's face in her hands and kissed him on the forehead. "You're a man now."
"Yes, Mom, I can talk to Mr. Murdock myself; you don't have to keep watching over me."
Leo felt a bit uncomfortable with this kind of affection—in his past life, though his mother had been kind, they'd never even hugged...
It was probably just cultural differences. Motherly love was the same, though.
"Alright, let's sit down and talk," Leo said naturally, taking the groceries from Maya.
After saying hello to the landlord, the three of them went inside. Maya headed for the kitchen while Leo and Matt sat down at the dining table.
"You have a mother who loves you very much," Matt said with a smile. "Let's get to the point. I've been helping your mother seek compensation from the Kate Abandoned Logistics Company. In fact, I've been trying to bring charges against them for violating safety regulations during the transport of hazardous materials. But we're still missing a witness—no one is willing to testify."
"How could that be?" Leo asked, though he had a guess.
Matt thought for a moment before responding, "The company has a lot of powerful connections. They've threatened the witnesses into staying silent."
"And now, you want me to testify in court?" Leo asked. "I believe they've threatened people, but I don't believe all the witnesses would be too scared to testify. What happened to them?"
Matt hesitated for a moment before saying, "You're right. They didn't just threaten people. One of my witnesses... he's dead."
After a pause, Matt changed his posture, sitting more relaxed with his hands on the table.
"I know a prosecutor who has been investigating Kate Company's illegal transport activities for a long time and has been trying to bring charges against them. But our legal system provides a lot of protections for defendants during the process. Without witnesses, we can't formally bring charges or secure a conviction. Leo, I won't lie to you; there is risk involved in testifying, but I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. Hell's Kitchen needs justice. People need justice."
As he spoke, Matt removed his sunglasses, revealing his sightless eyes.
"And right now, I have one more witness—myself. I, too, am a victim of this company's illegal transport. Their driver was exhausted, driving while tired, and they illegally allowed hazardous chemicals to pass through a busy area. The result was an accident. I was there, and the chemicals splashed onto my face, seeping into my eyes. I know how hard this is. That's why we need justice. We need fairness."
Leo looked over at his mother still cooking in the kitchen, his mind quickly running through all the possibilities.
In the original story, it seemed like Daredevil's unfortunate childhood was mentioned, but more details? There weren't any this specific.
Leo had to consider how a truck loaded with hazardous chemicals had managed to drive through the streets of New York City so brazenly. Who were their clients? Who was protecting them?
"Why can't you testify in court?" Leo asked.
Matt smiled and put his sunglasses back on. "They say I'm just a blind man. What I saw could have been a hallucination. Ridiculous, isn't it?"
"It certainly is," Leo said. "Mr. Murdock, but I still have some concerns. Could those punks from earlier have anything to do with this?"
"Probably not," Matt replied, shaking his head. "There's been talk that the new mayor is pushing to redevelop the Hell's Kitchen slums, but the company in charge of the project hasn't reached an agreement with the locals."
"So that company plans to drive us out without giving us adequate compensation, leaving us homeless? No offense, Mr. Murdock, but this issue seems more pressing to me."
Matt opened his mouth but didn't know what else to say. It was true.
But... what else could he do besides going out at night to catch those thugs one by one?
Leo, on the other hand, quickly found similar information online: United Construction had secured a large contract to redevelop Hell's Kitchen.
And the owner of United Construction? His name was Wilson Fisk.
The ancients did not deceive me; disputes over land often involve dark dealings.
This Wilson Fisk was none other than the notorious Kingpin, a top crime boss in America.
Of course, he might not have reached that status just yet.
After thinking it over, Leo continued, "How about this, Mr. Murdock, I agree with you. People need justice—but it's clear that right now, the justice related to eviction is more relevant to my life. I'm willing to testify in court; after all, it could benefit me too. Maybe I'll even get some compensation. But I'd like to ask you to represent us as our attorney and help deal with this dispute—no one has the right to force people out of their homes. Would you take the case? I probably don't have much money to pay you. If I'm not mistaken..."
Leo glanced toward his mother in the kitchen, making sure she couldn't hear him before continuing, "We're probably in quite a bit of debt."
This was the third time today that Matt felt truly shocked, almost to the point of being stunned.
Was this really a 15-year-old kid who had just woken up from a coma, facing an uncertain future?
So did those hazardous chemicals somehow change Leo as well?
Could it be just a coincidence? Maybe those chemicals were some kind of leftover from a super-soldier program...
Thoughts racing, Matt quickly regained his composure, smiling as he replied, "In fact, you didn't even have to ask me—I've been helping the local residents with these kinds of cases all along. Everyone here knows me, and I think soon enough, they'll know you for the same reasons."
"I hope so. I'm really glad that a lawyer as skilled as you is willing to stand for justice, Matt. May I call you by your first name?"
"Of course, you can, Leo. But what do you plan to do?"
The two were about to continue their conversation when a steaming hot dish was placed on the table.
"Dinner's ready," Maya said with a smile, wiping her hands. "Mr. Murdock, thank you for all the help you've given us."
The food looked delicious, prepared with the rich oils, salt, and spices passed down from Eastern traditions...
For a moment, Leo felt like he was back at the beginning of his career.
"Let's eat first," he said.
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