The straightforward Daredevil didn't have the slightest clue what Batman meant by those words.
Night passed in an instant, and in the blink of an eye, the next day arrived. A large-scale charity auction hosted by Stark Industries was underway, bustling with activity.
Daredevil had changed into a black suit, wearing a deep red tie and glasses. He sat in his seat at the auction, his ears twitching as he gathered information from his surroundings.
Currently, his identity was that of the blind lawyer, Matt Murdock.
"Iron Man, Tony Stark, is at the very front of the auction, three rows away from me. To his left is his personal bodyguard and driver, Happy Hogan. Who is that on his right?" Matt pondered.
"The voice is very young, the tone steady yet full of vitality. He's chatting quite happily with Tony Stark."
"Approximately 1.8 meters tall, with a physique that seems to have undergone some fitness training. But neither his sitting posture nor his hand gestures show any suspicious signs. It's certain he isn't the human identity disguised by Batman... Who is he?"
Charity auctions weren't uncommon in New York; there was usually one or two every month.
For instance, last month there was one also hosted by Stark Industries, where Eddie Brock—who had just been promoted to a gold-medal reporter at the time—was invited.
Fortunately, the doubt in Matt's mind was resolved just a few minutes later. Tony Stark and the young man next to him were talking animatedly, and Matt heard the young man's name clearly:
"Peter Parker."
"Peter, there's a celebration banquet after the auction. Don't you even think about slipping away," Tony Stark whispered at the very front of the venue, three rows away from Matt, his shoulder almost touching Peter Parker's.
"I will," Peter Parker said with a chuckle. "I mean I'll attend, not that I'll slip away."
"Of course." Tony Stark also wore a smile; it seemed Peter Parker's presence put him in a very good mood. "Actually, the auction is just a pretext. The celebration banquet afterward is the main event."
"Why do you say that?" Batman asked, playing the role of a Peter Parker who had never been exposed to high society.
"Look." Tony Stark gestured with his chin toward the auction stage.
Batman looked in that direction. On stage, besides the auction items and the hostess in a dark green off-the-shoulder dress, there was nothing else.
What Tony Stark wanted him to see was precisely that hostess, whose long hair was pinned up, looking dignified and elegant yet with a hint of charm.
Batman played dumb. "What's wrong with her?"
"I arranged her for you. Don't give me that silly look," Tony Stark winked at Batman. "Last time I asked you to a banquet, you didn't show up. This is your compensation."
"Batman said he had already handed the mission over to Tony Stark... but so far, all I hear Tony and Peter Parker talking about are hostesses, models, and receptionists."
After listening for a while, Matt chose to tune out their conversation.
Judging by their dialogue, one was a playboy experienced in the field of romance, and the other was a successful young entrepreneur who hadn't really dealt with women yet.
For more than half the time, Tony Stark was teaching Peter how to choose a beautiful woman he liked and how to win them over with a romantic dinner or a few humorous remarks.
As if those women were actually there for Tony's conversation and a meal, rather than his billionaire status.
"Kingpin is sitting at the far right of the row behind me. No one has spoken to him since the auction began. This also seems to be the first time Kingpin has attended such a gathering of businessmen, lawyers, doctors, and government officials."
"It seems Kingpin wasn't lying last night; his identity has indeed been laundered into that of a legitimate businessman through some means."
Matt's ears twitched slightly. Even though Kingpin didn't speak, Matt could tell by the subtle sounds of him sitting in his chair and his breathing—which was longer and deeper than that of an average person—exactly where he was.
"If I return to Hell's Kitchen now, can I take advantage of Kingpin's absence to find Luke Cage and Jessica Jones and rescue them?"
Matt judged the situation silently in his mind, then shook his head in rejection.
He decided to observe Kingpin in secret and tail him after the celebration banquet ended.
"Kingpin's identity is that of a legitimate businessman, but his actions—imprisoning Luke Cage and Jessica Jones after capturing them—are not legal."
"Perhaps I can make use of this point."
Matt decided to play along; he was no longer in a hurry to rescue Luke and Jessica. Instead, he would use them as bait to see if he could catch the "big fish" that was Kingpin.
The auction concluded with the announcement from the elegant hostess. Most of the chairs in the hall were cleared away. The hostess went backstage to change, and a well-known band took her place on stage to begin performing.
Waiters brought out tables and arranged them in two rows, laden with an array of exquisite food platters, flowers, and fruit.
The doors to the auction hall opened, and twice as many hostesses as the main participants entered with light steps.
They wore various styles of evening gowns, hailing from different countries, with different skin tones and outfits; some were even models from magazines and runways.
Waiters carrying trays in one hand, balanced with glasses of champagne, wove through the crowd, occasionally whispering to ask guests what they needed.
The high-society figures who had just been sitting in their suits now almost all held a glass of champagne, gathering in groups of two or three, talking loudly or laughing in low tones.
With his eyes closed, Matt accurately took a glass of champagne from a waiter and took a light sip. He seemed to be wandering aimlessly through the hall, but in reality, he was constantly monitoring Kingpin's movements.
"Peter, do you need me to introduce you?"
Not far from Matt, Tony Stark was speaking to Peter Parker and the hostess, who had just changed into a burgundy velvet gown that bared her shoulders.
"Thank you, but we'd rather get to know each other more... intimately," the hostess said, linking her arm with Peter Parker's and smiling at Tony.
Tony Stark's mouth twitched. "It's only been a few minutes and you've already hooked up? You don't even need me to play matchmaker?"
Batman raised his champagne toward Tony Stark. "Yes, perhaps it's just talent."
Tony winked at Batman, left the two of them, and headed straight for Kingpin.
Batman looked at the hostess clinging to his arm. "What's your name?"
"Lydia," the hostess replied, pressing most of her body against Batman's arm and whispering softly into his ear. "You're Peter Parker, right? Your name has been all over New York high society lately... Would you like to find somewhere quiet to share more with me... deeply?"
"Of course," Batman smiled, walking with Lydia toward the stairs at the back of the auction hall. From there, they could reach the private boxes on the second floor.
Matt Murdock paced slowly. He "looked" in Peter Parker's direction, but didn't pay much more attention to the young man. Instead, he moved toward Tony Stark.
Tony Stark was now chatting face-to-face with Kingpin.
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