Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Quick Action
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Link's decision to offer Wilson Fisk advice wasn't because he had any faith in him or sought to collaborate. Instead, he recognized that in a place like New York, crime could never truly be eradicated. Even if Fisk were taken down, there would always be other criminals ready to carve up his territory. What could one Daredevil accomplish? S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't care about the small-time issues of Hell's Kitchen, and even if Link personally intervened, how much could he actually change?
Rather than fight the inevitable, it was better to guide Fisk onto the right path. This was the best solution Link could think of. Beyond that, the chaos of Hell's Kitchen wasn't really his concern.
Fisk, however, was thrilled. "Link, would you consider joining me?" he asked.
Link shook his head. "My money is tied up in shares. I have no interest in getting involved in operations. My only hope is for New York to become a little more peaceful."
"How to achieve that is up to you. It's a long-term project that will require force to some degree, but you can't rely solely on violence."
"Vanessa is a great partner for you. I trust you know what to do—everything should be aimed at the future."
---
After dinner, Link and Jessica left, and Fisk and Vanessa returned home, both filled with excitement.
"Wilson, I feel like Link was trying to remind you of something," Vanessa said as she poured two glasses of wine.
Fisk, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, took the glass she handed him and responded, "Yes, I sensed that too. And I understand."
"Before, to realize my vision, I bribed politicians and cops. But to them, I was always just a pawn to be discarded at any time."
"But now, things are different. You've encouraged me to step out into the light, and Link's suggestion is to take control of my own destiny. That means I can't afford any stains on my record."
"There are some things I can no longer do. With the Hand gone, I believe they either accomplished their goal or were wiped out."
"Now is the perfect time to start fresh. First, I'll raise my social standing and proceed slowly. But I still need to keep a firm hold on the gangs in Hell's Kitchen."
"I won't allow anyone else to disrupt my plans here."
Vanessa, standing beside him with her arm linked through his, said, "I'll help you. I know some promising artists. I'll speak with them."
"When you've built up enough social standing, people will naturally be willing to contribute money to our charitable endeavors."
"That will also ease the pressure on your charity efforts. I've been thinking about it—the biggest issue with the nursing homes is healthcare. We could acquire a hospital in Hell's Kitchen."
Fisk's eyes lit up. "Yes, combined with insurance, that way we won't have to bear the full cost."
"You truly are my best partner. In the future, I plan to run for district councilman, city councilman, and maybe even mayor."
The very next day, Fisk took action. He called in his trusted assistant, James Wesley.
"Wesley, we need to revise our plan!" Fisk declared.
"Fisk, are you sure about the current situation?" Wesley asked, curious.
"We don't need to know everything. No matter the situation, we have to face it ourselves now." Fisk looked at him intently. "Last night, I had dinner with Link and his girlfriend. He gave me some great advice."
"For Hell's Kitchen, we need to re-plan. Have the designers look for two plots of land with the least potential for future value."
"I want to build a nursing home and have people negotiate with the elderly and widows of Hell's Kitchen to exchange their property and rental contracts for a place in the home."
"Once the nursing home is completed, they can check it out, and if they're satisfied, they'll sign the contract."
"We can even refer them to lawyers—through Link's charity foundation, partnering with them."
Wesley, stunned for a moment, then smiled with excitement. "That's a brilliant idea. These people fear being left homeless. If they have a nursing home, they'll definitely agree."
"And charity work provides tax breaks. There are a lot of advantages here. Should we set up a charity foundation?"
"Exactly!" Fisk nodded. "I'll establish the Vanessa Charity Foundation, with Vanessa in charge. She'll host numerous charity auctions. It's all interconnected."
"Additionally, I'll build low-rent apartments and negotiate with the remaining residents to swap their rental contracts. At the same time, I'll begin developing an office building on the edge of Hell's Kitchen. These projects will proceed in tandem."
"We don't need to rush. With limited funds, we'll carefully plan and use the profits from the office buildings to gradually transform Hell's Kitchen."
"This is a long-term project, my friend. I need you fully committed."
"No problem!" Wesley replied. "Without their pressure, we don't need to acquire all the property at once. Taking it slow is better. Meanwhile, we'll clear out some of the gangs."
"For now, leave them," Fisk said. "I don't want outsiders entering Hell's Kitchen and challenging us. The gangs will serve as our barrier."
---
Fisk wasted no time. He ordered a thorough audit of the United Construction Company, now under his control, and began re-planning according to his available funds.
Fisk himself also re-emerged into the public eye, holding a press conference to announce the formation of the "Vanessa Charity Foundation." The foundation's first project would be to build a nursing home in Hell's Kitchen, specifically for elderly and widowed residents.
In exchange for securing their well-being, Fisk offered to purchase their property and rental contracts, ensuring a smooth transition for them.
At the same time, he announced plans to construct the first batch of low-rent apartments to address the housing needs of the lower-income residents. However, he emphasized that these apartments would have strict security measures in place.
His moves quickly garnered him significant public recognition, and among those most surprised was Matt Murdock.
As Daredevil, Matt knew Fisk better than anyone, and this turn of events was hard for him to believe. However, he had also noticed the Hand's disappearance.
These developments left him uncertain. He ramped up his nightly patrols of Hell's Kitchen, only to find that things had significantly improved—something that puzzled him. For now, he decided to keep a close eye on Fisk.
But after half a month, Matt had yet to find anything suspicious. Fisk seemed to be genuinely busy, attending various social events and overseeing construction companies as they began surveying and designing plots of land.
Law firms, under contracts, had begun handling legal matters for the elderly, working in conjunction with Link's charity foundation.
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