Marvel: Playing Iron Man, Falling In and Out of Love with Jinx

The next morning, at dawn.

"Neeko wants cheesecake!!"

Hanging upside down from the ceiling beam, Neeko shouted loudly. Duke, having just washed his face, wiped the water droplets off with a towel. As he set the towel down, he said helplessly, "Cheesecake first thing in the morning? Isn't that too heavy?"

"Neeko doesn't think so! Neeko loves cheesecake!"

With a sudden leap from the beam, Neeko bounced straight onto Duke's shoulder, crouching like a perched cat. Her tail drooped over his other shoulder as she ruffled Duke's hair with both hands.

"Duke, Neeko wants cheesecake!"

"Alright, alright, you'll get a huge slice."

"Duke's the best, heeheehee…"

From his spot in the corner, Pride watched their early morning playfulness with envy glowing in his eyes.

As a baby dragon not even half a year old, he also wanted to be close to Duke, to be carried on his shoulder, to be lifted high in the air. But… just one look at his own bulky frame told him that was a bad idea.

If he really tried something like that, he'd probably end up like Wall-E, hooked onto an iron rack and taken apart piece by piece.

"Call room service," Duke said as he patted Neeko's dangling tail, "Tell them to send up a freshly baked cheesecake."

Neeko let out a cheer and darted off to ring the golden bell for room service.

Duke stood by the window, slowly putting on a fresh outfit. He'd packed away yesterday's set; today's look was similar, long coat on the outside, suit vest and tie underneath, comfortable slacks, and a pair of polished leather boots.

Ding-ling!

The bell rang crisply, and Neeko looked toward the door with gleaming anticipation.

One minute… two minutes… three minutes…

A full five minutes passed, and no one from the prestigious 290 Hotel had shown up.

"Duke, the bell's broken!!"

Tearfully clutching the bell, Neeko waddled over to Duke like a child seeking comfort. Duke took the bell and gave it a shake. The chime rang out clearly and sharply.

"It's not broken."

"But no one came!"

"No one?"

Duke stepped toward the door, just in time to collide with Captain Leister, who burst in, his face pale.

"Sir! Bad news!"

"What happened?"

Leister, his arm still bound in a sling, stammered, "A lookout just ran back from the docks. Our ship… it was scuttled. And the crew we left behind…"

This weathered sailor, a man who had braved countless storms at sea for over a decade, had reddening eyes.

"They're all gone."

"Get ready, I'm heading to the dock. Send someone with Jayce to the municipal office to submit the experiment application. And have Graves go with them too."

"Yes, sir!"

Captain Leister turned to make arrangements, shoving his sorrow deep down. Duke closed the door, covered his face with both hands, and drew a long, slow breath.

"Gangplank…"

When he looked up again, Duke's eyes were filled with ice. He activated E.D.I.T.H. and called out to Neeko with a wave.

"Come on, Neeko. I'll take you out to play."

"Okay…"

Though confused, Neeko could feel the chilling pressure rising from Duke's body.

"Let's go, Pride."

With a snap of his fingers, Duke returned the obedient dragon to his inventory. Then he activated E.D.I.T.H. again.

"E.D.I.T.H., report yesterday's surveillance."

"Surveillance drones are currently monitoring sixty-seven gang leaders across Bilgewater. Seventy drones deployed. No casualties."

"Good."

Duke adjusted the E.D.I.T.H. interface and stepped into the hallway. Jayce was straightening his clothes, clearly having taken care to look presentable.

After all, he was meeting Bilgewater's acting magistrate. It was no time for sloppiness.

"Duke, are you heading out with us?"

"I have other business. Graves will accompany you for protection. Leister will send a few sailors too. As for me…" Duke descended the stairs, "I've got something else to take care of."

Captain Leister nodded at Jayce, assigning five men to protect him while the rest followed Duke out of the Grand Summit Hotel.

Jayce still had questions in his heart, but today's experiment submission was too important. Despite the unpleasantness from last night's argument, he still hoped to work with Duke as equals.

Perhaps, though, they were beginning to drift apart.

"Let's go. To the city hall."

"City hall, huh? That's Ocao's turf."

With his cigar as ever-present as his weapons, Graves lit a new one and slowly followed behind Jayce.

"We killed Gangplank's men yesterday. You think things are really gonna go smoothly today?"

"The vibe on the streets feels off, sir."

Captain Leister, ever perceptive, noticed the tension in the air. The people on the street were giving them cold, dead stares, like meat waiting to be butchered.

"I know. But getting to the dock is the priority."

As Duke walked forward holding Neeko's hand, he matched her pace. Neeko could sense the cold rejection and hostility in people's eyes. Her adorable expression twisted into a fierce glare.

"Don't pay attention to them, Neeko."

"Neeko's not scared of anyone! Who dares mess with Neeko?!"

"That's right. You're not afraid of anyone."

Duke smiled as he reassured her, though the glint in his eyes remained sharp. E.D.I.T.H. was actively scanning every inch of the street.

Everyone was watching them. And in the shadows, the gangs were starting to stir.

Swish!!

The sound of a blade cutting through air echoed. A massive figure leapt from above, slashing down at Duke with gleaming eyes full of bloodlust and greed.

"The bounty's mine!"

Thud!!

Before the blade even got close to brushing Duke's coat, the attacker was sent flying, a gaping hole in his forehead. That same twisted, excited grin still hung on his lifeless face.

"...Tch."

Captain Leister flinched at the sudden death of the brute, looking at Duke with awe. Duke continued walking at a steady pace, not sparing the attacker a single glance.

"Attacker neutralized. Surveillance continues."

E.D.I.T.H.'s voice rang through Duke's bones. With a calm face, Duke and Neeko finally arrived at the docks.

They reached the spot where their ship had once been moored.

Now, it was nothing but empty sea. A lone, torn swordfish banner drifted on the waves, the flag of their ship, the Swordfish.

On the dock stood seven or eight crucifixes, each bearing the mutilated corpses of the sailors left behind. Except for their faces, the rest had been picked clean to the bone.

Bilgewater rats were known to follow behind people in broad daylight, waiting for a moment to strike.

Without hesitation, Duke covered Neeko's eyes.

"Duke, what are you doing? Neeko can't see anything!"

He summoned Pride, leaving him to watch over Neeko and keep her from witnessing the horror.

At that moment, a man in a hooded coat was kneeling by the crucified corpses, sewing shut their eyelids and mouths with golden thread and silver needles.

He was murmuring ancient prayers in a low voice.

"Little John, Goldfang, Old Sea Dog, One-Eye…"

Captain Leister's eyes widened as he saw the bodies. Blood rushed to his head. When he saw the man with the needle desecrating the bodies, fury exploded in his chest.

"You bastard!!"

With his only arm, he pulled out his pistol and aimed it at the man's head.

"If you touch them again, I'll blow your brains out!!"

"Stand down, Captain."

Duke stepped forward, lowering Leister's trembling arm. The captain's bloodshot eyes locked with Duke's for a moment before he finally let the pistol fall.

Then this iron-willed sailor dropped to the ground and wept silently.

"You did well with the soul-soothing rite."

Duke looked solemnly at the man in the hood and whispered, "Thank you for letting them rest in peace."

The man remained silent, as though deaf, continuing his chants and sewing.

Duke took the opportunity to have the rest of the sailors gently bring down the finished bodies, wrap them in shrouds, and prepare them to be taken home.

This ritual wasn't a desecration, it was a blessing. The sewing of the lips and eyelids was meant to protect the souls of the dead from the shadows.

This was a sacred practice of the Sentinels of Light, meant to keep the dead from being disturbed.

Only those with compassion and faith could perform such rites.

Eventually, the hooded man finished his task, packed away his tools, and turned to leave in silence.

"Thank you," Duke called out. He tossed a pouch of golden coins toward him.

The man didn't catch it. He let the pouch fall to the ground and only then slowly raised his head, removing his hood.

His skin was deep brown, his features chiseled like stone. His eyes were pitch black, burning with vengeance.

A long braid hung down his back. Duke's eyes fell on the two strange pistols at his waist, sleek, alien, forged of runestone and unnamed steel. They lacked triggers, making them look like mere ornaments.

But Duke knew better. These were not decorations.

They were blessed weapons, forged for a single purpose, to hunt the dead.

Fired not by trigger, but by will and faith, they could unleash endless volleys of radiant energy, each shot capable of vaporizing spirits and shadows.

Their wielder was none other than the Sentinel of Light, the Relentless Gunslinger, Lucian.

He had come to Bilgewater for the upcoming Night of the Harrowing… and for the demon who had taken his beloved wife,

The Chain Warden, Thresh.

End of chapter...

To be continued...

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