74

Chapter 74: The Chosen People

As Felicia leapt and dodged her pursuers, Steve found himself defending against Falcon's relentless and merciless attacks, a former ally turned foe.

Seizing the opportunity, Purple Man intensified his efforts, releasing his pheromones towards Steve.

Finally feeling the concentration was sufficient, Purple Man halted Falcon's assault and began hypnotically commanding Steve.

"Very good. You are under my control now... Drop the shield."

Steve stood motionless, his body stiff and trembling, resisting Purple Man's influence with every ounce of his willpower.

"What the hell..." Ziren was taken aback. He had exerted every effort to control Steve completely, but Steve's indomitable will thwarted him.

The Purple Man's hypnotic powers relied heavily on the target's will, and Steve happened to possess one of the strongest wills on the planet. Frustrated, Purple Man persisted, focusing all his energy on subjugating Steve and making him his puppet.

As a result, Falcon felt the control over himself easing.

Purple Man's diversion of energy towards Steve weakened his hold on Falcon.

Seizing the moment, Falcon struck from behind.

"Ah!!!!" Ziren recoiled in shock and anger from the unexpected blow, losing control over his two powerful pawns.

Steve and Falcon seized their chance to break free, but they couldn't afford to linger. Meanwhile, Felicia, cornered by three adversaries, was nearing her limits and in imminent danger.

Felicia had arguably made the most significant impact in the night's battle, managing to single-handedly neutralize three opponents.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuu, someone, please come save me."

Quickly rejoining the fray, Steve, Falcon, and Felicia shared the burden, but they remained at a disadvantage.

The primary issue was Sandman's colossal form, impervious to the firepower Steve and the others could muster. Murdoc had even prepared carts of sand and gravel to bolster Sandman's powers, rendering conventional attacks ineffective.

This was the challenge posed by elemental superpowers.

Adding to their woes, Horror and Rhino continued to cause havoc under Sandman's cover.

"How do we take down this giant? Without dealing with him, we can't win!" Falcon shouted from above.

"Water! He's made of sand and gravel. Water will break him down," Steve suggested.

"But where do we find water?" Felicia queried.

"... x3" The trio fell into silence.

This was unfamiliar terrain; where would they find water?

Just then, a sleek figure descended from the sky. It was Tony, clad in new armor.

"Looks like someone here needs a hand?"

He deployed his armaments directly at Sandman, unleashing a barrage of missiles and overwhelming firepower.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

In an instant, the powerful area-of-effect attacks crippled the four-story giant.

Steve sighed with relief as he watched the spectacular display unfold before him.

"Alright, direct firepower did the trick."

Sandman sustained severe damage, incapacitated and unable to continue the fight. With Tony's intervention, the remaining adversaries were no match and fled in defeat.

Especially Purple Man, who attempted to assault Tony with his hormones, only to have his efforts thwarted by the steel armor.

Murdoc, witnessing his coalition's collapse, sensed the tide turning and contemplated making a swift exit.

However, Gwen intercepted him, declaring, "Now it's my turn to hold you."

"... "

In the end, all five members of the Evil Four were apprehended and confined together.

"A resounding victory, huh?" Tony remarked, glancing at Steve. "Why is there a Captain America fan here anyway? I've always wanted to gripe about it; his uniform looks like a Boy Scout's."

"..." Steve's expression darkened upon hearing Tony's comment.

Quickly stepping in, Gwen interjected, "Um, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Stark. Despite his... rough edges, he's not a bad person."

"Hey, I'm not done yet. I've got plenty more to say..."

"This is Captain America! Yes, the one you know from seventy years ago. He somehow fell into a deep sleep until recently and was awakened by S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Oh, really? He never mentioned you much."

The atmosphere chilled instantly as Tony and Steve seemed locked in a standoff, their strained relationship palpable, much to Gwen's chagrin as she attempted to mediate.

Felicia leaned over to Sam, whispering, "What's going on with them?"

Sam shrugged. "Who knows? Their relationship seems complicated—father and son, friends."

"Let's just focus on questioning these criminals," Gwen intervened, realizing the volatility of their current dynamic. "Which one of you goes first?"

After a brief exchange, they took turns interrogating the Evil Four.

It soon became apparent that these four were merely high-level enforcers, lacking significant knowledge of Jin Bin's criminal empire. The pressure then shifted to Murdoc.

"He's Murdoc, known as the Night Stalker and Kingpin's second-in-command," Falcon added smoothly, drawing from SHIELD's intel.

Murdoc's attempt to bluff his way through now seemed futile. His demeanor turned ashen; he knew that captured meant little hope, whether cooperative or not. Moreover, with his heightened senses due to blindness, pain was something he dreaded.

He quickly divulged, "Kingpin also goes by another name, Fisk..."

"I remember him. Wasn't he some sort of businessman?" Tony recalled. "I recall a bald, fat guy; his wealth is unmatched, but I don't know much beyond that."

"That's just the surface wealth," Murdoc added, a rare note of support for his former employer. "His underworld dealings far surpass that."

"..."

Gwen hadn't expected the night to go so smoothly, culminating in capturing Kingpin's true identity. With Murdoc's cooperation, obtaining evidence against Kingpin seemed assured.

"That's fantastic! We'll take them to the police station immediately, and law enforcement can initiate the capture of Jin Bin!"

However, Tony wore a peculiar expression as he looked at Gwen. "What's the holdup?"

"Spider-Woman, now that we know his identity and have him in custody, why not move to arrest him directly?" Tony suggested, advocating for a proactive approach.

"I'm not sure that's the best idea. It's probably better to leave it to the police..."

"Why should superheroes rely on the police to handle everything?" Tony countered, surprisingly finding support even from Steve, despite their differences.

"Let's go now."

As a soldier entrusted by Fury, Steve felt that Kingpin should be handed over to SHIELD rather than local law enforcement. Despite both organizations apprehending criminals, their approaches differed fundamentally.

And so, with the Evil Four secured and interrogated, they swiftly headed towards Jin Bin's stronghold.

Meanwhile, Peter, having captured Jin Bin, sat in the former crime lord's seat, awaiting their arrival like an emperor in his palace.