CHAPTER : 45

Ben reached for the remote and turned on the TV. The screen flickered to life, revealing a news broadcast already in progress. The studio was bright, the news anchors sitting upright with serious expressions. The lower third of the screen displayed the headline in bold white letters:

"MYSTERIOUS HEROES SAVE CAPTIVE IMMIGRANTS FROM BUNKER—WHO IS THE KNIGHT?"

The footage cut to aerial shots of emergency responders at the scene from last night. The bunker entrance was surrounded by NYPD vehicles, ambulances, and floodlights. Freed captives—men, women, and even children—huddled together, wrapped in blankets as medical personnel checked their vitals. Some were crying, others were too exhausted to react.

A news anchor, a woman in a dark red blazer, turned to face the camera.

"Good morning, New York. We begin today with shocking revelations about the horrifying discovery beneath our city. Last night, the NYPD, with the alleged help of Spider-Man and an unknown vigilante the public is now calling 'The Knight,' uncovered a hidden bunker in which dozens of people were being held captive. The victims, primarily undocumented immigrants, were found in dire conditions, many of them malnourished and suffering from exhaustion after being trapped for days—possibly weeks."

The screen changed to a press conference held outside the NYPD precinct. Officer George Stacy stood behind a podium, looking worn out but composed. Cameras flashed as reporters bombarded him with questions.

A male reporter in a gray suit spoke first. "Officer Stacy, do we have any leads on how such a large number of people were trafficked into New York without the authorities noticing?"

George Stacy exhaled, gripping the sides of the podium.

"As of now, the investigation is ongoing. What I can tell you is that this operation was well-organized and well-hidden. Whoever is behind this had resources, connections, and a network capable of smuggling people into the city without drawing attention. But make no mistake—we will find them."

The reporters erupted in more questions.

"How many traffickers have been apprehended?"

"Can you confirm if this is linked to international crime rings?"

"What will happen to the victims now?"

George Stacy held up a hand to settle the noise before responding.

"We have made several arrests at the scene, including guards and suspected enforcers working for the organization. The victims are currently receiving medical care and counseling, and immigration authorities, alongside social services, will be working on their legal status and protection moving forward."

The screen switched again, now displaying shaky cellphone footage taken from last night. The video captured Spider-Man swinging through the underground bunker, prying open cages, and pulling people to safety. Another video showed the moment the vigilante—now labeled "The Knight"—multiplied into dozens of copies, taking down armed guards with precision and unrelenting force.

One of the news anchors, an older man with silver hair, spoke with growing intrigue.

"Now, let's talk about the so-called 'Knight.' Witnesses describe him as having the ability to multiply himself, using his duplicates to disarm and neutralize the traffickers. which people are saying is shifter but hiding his identity This, of course, raises a few questions. Who is this person? What are his abilities? And most importantly—where did he come from?"

The footage cut back to George Stacy at the press conference.

A different reporter, a woman with sharp eyes and a notepad in hand, leaned forward. "Officer Stacy, do you consider 'The Knight' and Spider-Man to be allies of law enforcement? Or do you see them as vigilantes operating outside the law?"

George Stacy took a moment before responding. "Last night, those two saved lives. That much is undeniable. But law enforcement cannot condone vigilantism, no matter the intentions behind it. The NYPD is investigating all aspects of this case, including how these individuals became involved. As of now, we are prioritizing the victims and the criminals responsible for their suffering. That is our focus."

The screen then cut to interviews with some of the rescued individuals.

A young woman, barely in her twenties, with bruises on her arms and exhaustion in her eyes, clutched a blanket around herself as she spoke into the microphone.

"They… they came out of nowhere," she said, her voice shaking. "We heard gunfire, shouting, and then… the cages opened. Spider-Man pulled me out. I thought… I thought I was going to die in there, but he told me I was safe."

The footage changed again, now showing an older man with disheveled clothes, his face still stained with dirt. He wiped at his eyes before speaking.

"The Knight… he fought like—like a ghost," he murmured. "He split into so many of himself, and they all fought together. The men with guns didn't stand a chance."

The screen faded back to the news anchors.

"As the public speculates about the identities of these masked figures, one thing is clear—New York has two new heroes in the shadows. Whether they are here to stay remains to be seen," the female anchor concluded.

Here's the refined and immersive version of your scene:

Ben's grip on the remote tightened as he turned off the TV, his mind still processing everything. The name "Knight" echoed in his thoughts, but it barely mattered right now. There was still unfinished business.

He took a deep breath, then spoke. "Baymax, have you found out who's behind all of this?"

A soft chime sounded in his earpiece as Baymax's voice came through, calm yet efficient.

"Sir, after extensive data analysis and security breaches into criminal networks, I have traced multiple connections leading to a single individual—Wilson Fisk. He is publicly known as a wealthy businessman and philanthropist, but within the underworld, he is feared as 'Kingpin.'"

Ben's eyes narrowed. "Fisk… I've heard that name before."

"Indeed," Baymax continued. "Wilson Fisk operates a vast network of illegal businesses, but he conceals them behind legitimate fronts. His empire extends into real estate, construction, and even technology firms. He has successfully masked his criminal activities by using his corporate holdings as a laundering mechanism."

Ben leaned forward, his frustration growing. "Explain."

"By infiltrating encrypted financial records, I have uncovered a well-structured money laundering operation," Baymax said. "It works as follows: major corporations and government officials invest in Fisk's 'business ventures' without realizing—or sometimes knowingly accepting—that their money is being funneled into illegal operations. The funds are then rerouted through fraudulent transactions."

Ben's mind raced as he tried to grasp the full scale of it. "How does he clean the money?"

"Through an advanced double-invoicing system," Baymax responded. "For example, when a major retailer or tech company purchases inventory, they document it as two products per transaction when, in reality, only one product exists. The 'second product'—which exists only on paper—becomes a placeholder for laundering illicit money. By forging documents and using corrupt government officials, Fisk ensures that these fake transactions appear legitimate in audits. The funds from his criminal enterprises are then funneled into these transactions, effectively turning illegal money into clean corporate revenue."

Ben clenched his jaw. "And the government doesn't catch this?"

"They receive taxes on these 'legal' transactions, and as long as the money appears properly documented, they have little incentive to investigate further. Fisk ensures that his companies pay just enough in taxes to avoid suspicion, while his network of bribed officials buries any irregularities that might arise."

Ben exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. The scale of this wasn't just big—it was massive.

"So this isn't just about the trafficked people in that bunker. This is bigger than that."

"Correct," Baymax confirmed. "Human trafficking is only one of many revenue streams under Fisk's control. Drug trade, arms dealing, corporate fraud, and political corruption are all interconnected. He operates not just in New York, but on an international scale. Many of the high-ranking individuals involved have vested interests in keeping Fisk's empire intact."

Ben slammed his fist onto the table, his anger boiling over.

"So the entire system is protecting him?"

"To a degree, yes. However, his operations rely on secrecy. If exposed, even his most powerful allies would be forced to distance themselves to protect their own interests."

Ben's mind was spinning, calculating. Fisk wasn't just some crime boss running a gang—he was the system itself. The government wasn't just ignoring his crimes; it was benefiting from them. No wonder this had been allowed to go on for so long.

"Baymax, compile everything you have. I want every connection, every dirty official, every shell company. If we're going after Fisk… we need to know exactly where to hit."

"Understood, sir. Compiling now."

power stone plz

buymeacoffee : buymeacoffee.com/riteshjadhav0869 plz

Discord https://discord.gg/vqcGrgs