Chapter 40
[56]
Kobayakawa aka the Kingpin, sat at his desk, papers completely scattered across it. The crime boss rubbed his temples to relieve his aching head.
How could their plans be falling apart so badly? If things kept up at this rate, Masayoshi Shido would personally kill him himself. With the election coming in the upcoming months, their deadline was fast approaching and they were behind in every way.
Following Spider-Man’s demise, the city streets would run rampant with criminals wielding dangerous technology with the potential to do unprecedented damage. Law enforcement would be helpless against these villains and be forced to look elsewhere for help. That was when Shido Sciences would step in, providing the police with much needed assistance in order to bring crime down to a ‘manageable level.’ After becoming the city’s savior, Shido would practically be handed the position of prime minister.
Those were the plans, however they neglected to account for the arrival of a new Spider-Man. A wrench had been thrown into the cogs of their plan and no matter what they tried, they couldn’t seem to get it out. This frustrated everyone involved in the plans to no end, with his constant interference, the plan seemed further out of reach with each failure.
Kobayakawa’s thoughts were interrupted by his secretary entering the room.
“You wished to speak with me sir?”
Kobayakawa gestured for the man to sit. “It has become clear to me now that quantity can be no substitute for quality.” As he spoke he slid the man two folders sitting on his desk, each one with a photo clipped to the front of it. “If our goals are to succeed, we can no longer waste resources on criminals plucked from off the street.”
The secretary picked up the folders and examined the photos. The first was of a red haired man with blue eyes and, most notably, an X-shaped scar running from his forehead onto his face. The second was of a man with long blue hair that obscured his right eye.
“Sho Minazuki and Minato Arisato.” Kingpin stated the two men’s names respectively. “Years of experience in their fields with impressive criminal records. They are the quality we’ve been looking for.”
“Sir as I’m sure you’re already aware, both of these men are in prison at the moment. Hiring them will prove quite...difficult. Not to mention it will take quite some time.”
“I’m well aware of that. It is quite frustrating, the blockades we must go through, however they are the best we have available. Following our ‘deal’ with Adachi, security at The Raft has increased dramatically and I’m afraid that the pickings are slim. Fortunately, neither of these men have any ‘powers’ so they are being kept at a standard maximum security prison, far easier to access then The Raft.”
“Might I ask what their incentive to accept our offer would be? I only ask as their type tends to be more difficult to control than the average criminal.”
Kingpin stared out onto the city before him from his window. “Once they are released, they are to be given their appropriate equipment as well as a contract. 10 million yen. Each. So long as the Spider-Man dies I don’t care which one kills him they will both be paid.”
The secretary looked at him in confusion. “I’m sorry sir, but why? Wouldn’t it be more cost effective to give it only to the one who succeeds?”
“Simple. This way, the two of them aren’t inclined to compete and sabotage one another. We can’t afford to fail again. So no matter what it costs, I want Spider-Man dead.”
“Yes sir of course. Please forgive my ignorance.” He bowed before exiting the room, files in hand.
As the door shut behind the man, Kobayakawa was left alone in his office once again. He took a sip of whiskey while staring out onto the city. Once the plan succeeded, the criminal underground would be his and solely his. Shido would see through to that.
All they had to do was squash one measly bug.
[57]
“C’mon Ren! Let’s hurry up and hit the beach dude!” Ryuji called to his friend from the other side of the bathroom door.
Ren examined himself in the mirror as he finished getting dressed for the beach. In his short career as Spider-Man so far, he’d accumulated no small shortage of scars, even with his healing factor some wounds remained permanently etched onto his body.
As Ryuji knocked on the door once more, Ren zipped up his red hoodie and exited the bathroom.
“Dude, what’s the hoodie for? It’s hot as hell out. You burn easily or somethin’?”
“Eh,” Ren playfully punched his friend’s shoulder. “Just being a good wingman. If the girls got a peek at my body, they wouldn’t give you the time of day.”
“Pfft yeah right. Check out these guns!” The blond flexed for his friend as the pair exited their room.
“Whoa. I stand wildly corrected. Save some for the ladies man.” Ren responded sarcastically.
“Hey guys! Are we ready to go?” Mishima was waiting for them excitedly.
“Hell yeah! Operation: Babe Hunt begins!” Ryuji cheered.
The trio arrived on the beach and Mishima and Ryuji set to work while Ren hung back at a cabana and watched. As Ryuji flirted (and struck out) with a foreign woman in her twenties, Ren’s attention was pulled away by someone speaking to him.
“Hey there handsome, come here often?” A tan woman in her early thirties with long dark hair pulled up a stool next to him. Ren looked around to make sure she was talking to him. “Yeah, I’m talking to you.”
Ren was surprised, he’d never been hit on before, at least he assumed that was what was happening. “Oh uh, no. I’m here on a school trip. I’m from Japan.”
“Oh high school boy. I thought you were older based on your looks.”
“Thank...you?”
The woman chuckled. “It’s a compliment, I assure you. You look mature for your age.”
Ren smiled at her. “Thanks, I’m just here to support my friends.” He pointed to Ryuji and Mishima. “The two over there hitting on women almost twice their age.”
She laughed at that. “Well it seems like you’re one hell of a wingman from back here.”
“Eh, I just don’t feel like embarrassing myself. I honestly don’t know where they find the confidence.”
“Hey Ren,” Ren turned around to see Ann in a bikini looking somewhat peeved. “Who’s your new friend?”
“Oh hey Ann, I was just talking with…” He turned to the woman. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”
“Trisha.” The woman smiled at him whilst grabbing her things. “I’m just gonna get outta here. Wouldn’t want to upset your girlfriend any more than she already is.”
“G-Girlfriend!?” Ann and Ren said in surprise. But Trisha left before they could correct her.
The two teenagers looked at each other with red cheeks before turning away.
“Yo Ren!” Ryuji entered the cabana. “Dude who was that? She was hot! Oh hey Ann, didn’t see you there.”
A resounding slap sounded across the beach.