Mulagore hotel in marvel

"What's happening is really strange. Last night, you were drinking in my hotel, and now I'm sitting in front of you, trying to talk down a guy who's suffering from depression and might commit suicide."

In response to Kausi's complaint, Matt Murdock—battered, bloodstained, and looking completely worn out—simply smiled. "Maybe that's just life, Kausi. By the way, your wine is the best I've ever had—"

"Come on! Spare me your clumsy flattery!" Kausi rolled his eyes, rummaged around behind the counter, and pulled out the last remaining piece of dry-aged cheese. "Sit down and eat. Don't just stand there!"

The reason for Matt's sorry state was simple—he had a fight with his ex-girlfriend, and it was a serious one.

His head was bleeding, there was a gash over half a foot long on his chest, and his clothes were in tatters, covered with scratches and bruises.

As a second-tier hero, Daredevil wasn't particularly well-known. Kausi had only learned more about him after watching the 2003 movie Daredevil, which sparked his curiosity about this tragic, justice-driven figure.

But what stood out the most about Daredevil wasn't his combat skills—it was his ridiculously large number of ex-girlfriends and lovers: Black Widow, Maya (Echo), Typhoid Mary, Peggy, Heather Glenn, Milla Donovan… Even She-Hulk had once been involved with him!

However, the one woman he could never forget was his first love—Erica Nakis.

"A blind man can have a harem, but I'm stuck reading dusty tomes that no one understands."

Kausi felt a tinge of jealousy.

According to the original timeline, Erica had broken free from The Hand and returned to New York, where she became an assassin under the underworld boss, Kingpin. Due to their opposing stances, she and Daredevil had constant conflicts. They had fought before, but this time, it escalated into a full-on brawl.

Looking at Matt's wounds, it was obvious—Erica had scratched, clawed, and, in the end, used a knife in a fit of rage.

Poor lawyer Matt Murdock, unwilling to fight back against his ex-girlfriend, took the beating. Feeling frustrated and lost, he wandered the streets and eventually ended up near the Mulgore Hotel.

Despite the rough night, Daredevil didn't mind spending time with the new friend he had met just the night before. He found a strange sense of ease in Kausi—not just because the man had revealed his identity in a single breath and served him some excellent fruit wine, but because Kausi had shown him something rare: acceptance.

Yes. What Daredevil lacked most in life was a sense of belonging.

He wore a mask to uphold justice but refused to kill, believing that laws should govern even the worst criminals. This kind of idealism often earned him mockery from friends and lovers alike—who called it false benevolence.

Life is strange that way. Some people become friends in just ten minutes, while others remain strangers forever.

Sitting at the counter, chewing on the tough cheese, Matt suddenly muttered, "Kausi, do you think I'm wrong?"

"Of course, you're wrong!"

Kausi, who had endured Matt's complaints for the past two hours, was now searching for food in a kitchen that should have been well-stocked. Frustrated, he blurted out, "You could've just used your speed to get behind her, stab her, make her bleed, disorient her, and then—oh, and don't forget, if you really want fun, take off your clothes first. Otherwise, it's just domestic violence!"

The crude joke made Daredevil freeze, suddenly questioning whether he had come to the right place.

"Carrie!" Kausi shouted. "Where's all the food from the counter?"

"I ate it!"

The pretty waitress tugged at her clothes nervously. "I woke up really hungry, so..."

"You ate all of it?"

Kausi was shocked, but quickly shook his head. "Fine. Next time, prepare enough bread and milk for three people. For now, just get back to work."

Isn't it just a matter of making a few extra loaves of bread and pouring some milk? No big deal.

Turning back to Daredevil, he offered some advice: "Look, if you can't solve a problem, just solve the person causing the problem!"

Matt, who had been debating whether to leave, was stunned. He shook his head. "Erica..."

"I'm not talking about Erica. Matt, you know who's behind her!"

Daredevil's expression darkened. "Kingpin..."

Kausi smirked. "Exactly."

"But Kausi, I've fought Kingpin for years, and I've never been able to touch him. He's too powerful, too—"

"Wilson Fisk is the biggest crime boss in New York—maybe even in the entire U.S. Besides being incredibly intelligent, he's also physically a monster. He can punch through walls with his bare hands. Not to mention, he's a world-class fighter, almost at the absolute peak of human combat ability."

Daredevil nearly choked on his cheese. "How do you know all this?"

"I have a little mysterious knowledge, you know that, Matt."

Kausi poured the last half-bottle of wine into a glass and handed it to him.

"You were never meant to take down a mafia kingpin alone. The enemy of your enemy is your friend. You need more allies and fewer enemies. That's how real battles are fought—ever heard of the Punisher?"

Matt nodded. "Yeah, I know him."

Unlike Daredevil, the Punisher didn't hesitate to eliminate criminals permanently.

"Then why have you never even tried to talk to him? You never considered working with him?"

Daredevil fell into deep thought.

After a long silence, he stood up.

"Thanks, Kausi. I think I know what I have to do."

As Daredevil left, Kausi suddenly frowned.

"Wait… Did he even pay for that drink?"

"I don't think so," Carrie said, tossing a rag onto the counter. "Want me to chase him down?"

Kausi hesitated, then shook his head. "Forget it. I'll just write it down. Carrie, remind me later—Matt Murdock owes us $15 for a glass of wine and a piece of cheese."

While he was grumbling, the front door of the hotel suddenly opened.

A tall woman in a red trench coat stepped inside. Her piercing brown eyes locked onto Kausi.

"Welcome—"

"Listen carefully," she interrupted, her voice low and dripping with menace. "I don't care who you are. If you know what's good for you, stay away from Matt Murdock's business."

Kausi raised an eyebrow, immediately recognizing her.

Erica Nakis.

"A man like him keeps bouncing between The Hand and Kingpin, thinking he's in control of his own fate," Kausi said with a smirk. "But he doesn't realize—he's already trapped in the abyss."

"For Matt's sake, when you inevitably die in Hell's Kitchen, I'll burn some paper money for you," she sneered. "Consider that my only warning."

Kausi chuckled. "Don't get in the way of my business,