Mulagore hotel in marvel

The basement of the Mulgore Inn held mysterious, almost magical properties.

Time here was distorted—stretched a thousand, even ten thousand times. A torch that would normally burn for only two hours outside could last for years in this place.

Kaus had once attempted to measure the exact time distortion, but conventional tools like clocks and mobile phones failed the moment they entered. The twisted space rendered all timekeeping devices useless, and even electricity, which moved at the speed of light, ceased to function here.

His plan to install an electric light fell apart because of this.

Instead, he locked the basement entrance and placed several gasoline torches on a shelf nearby, using them for illumination whenever he ventured down.

Aside from its bizarre temporal properties, the basement was little more than a collection of towering bookshelves and scattered clutter. Kaus wasn't concerned about Carrie messing with anything—she couldn't read Azerothian script anyway.

As soon as she stepped inside, however, Carrie's eyes widened, and she let out an excited exclamation.

"Wow! This place is really long!"

Kaus raised an eyebrow. "Long? What's long?"

"I mean this passage! It's at least eight hundred thousand feet long... maybe even longer! Kaus, you're amazing! This place reminds me of the endless depths of space!"

Kaus turned to look at the staircase behind him. It was only about three meters long.

Eight hundred thousand feet? That was absurd.

And how, exactly, did a dark basement remind her of deep space? The only similarity was the lack of light.

"Well, as long as you like it," he said, shaking his head. "Just don't touch anything, even if it looks like junk."

"Got it! I swear!" Carrie beamed. "You know, I've wanted to come here since my first day."

Kaus, distracted, barely processed her words. "Wait—you found this place on your first day? Then why didn't you just come in?"

Carrie gave him a mysterious look. "Without the master's guidance, if I entered recklessly, I'd get lost in the cracks—just like anyone else."

That made no sense.

Kaus frowned. Something about Carrie's behavior was... off.

She was gazing at the bookshelves with the fascination of a museum visitor admiring ancient artifacts.

"A strange and mysterious atmosphere..." she murmured. "This is order, rules, fate—and delicious food!"

Her eyes locked onto a pile of mammoth meat in the corner, and she immediately ran over, looking at Kaus with bright, expectant eyes.

"We're eating this later, right?"

Kaus sighed, relieved that she was acting normal again.

"Sure, but only if you can finish it."

"Of course! I can eat as much as you give me!"

Laughing, they carried a large piece of raw, bloodied meat up the stairs. Kaus returned the torch to its shelf before leading Carrie back to the hall—just in time to see Daredevil's retreating figure.

"He's leaving?" Kaus asked.

Erica, standing nearby, squinted and smiled. "We just... had an understanding."

"Oh?"

"Only the one drinking the water knows if it's hot or cold."

Kaus smirked and sat down. "Well, Carrie wants to eat this, so let's hope our stomachs can handle it."

Erica's smile widened. She took the massive slab of meat from him. "I'll roast it. Carrie can eat as much as she wants. And Kaus—you're allowed to start work two hours later tomorrow. Digestion takes time."

"Two hours? I could sleep until noon!"

Kaus missed the days when he could sleep undisturbed. Ever since Carrie arrived, her early-morning cleaning sprees filled the house with noise, making it impossible to sleep in.

His plan to get extra rest, however, failed spectacularly.

Despite eating until three in the morning—devouring at least two-thirds of the barbecue—Carrie was up before eight, already sweeping and mopping. The sound of moving furniture echoed through the house.

Groaning, Kaus buried his face in his pillow.

"I swear, the moment SHIELD's next payment arrives, I'm soundproofing every room," he grumbled as he forced himself out of bed.

Yawning, he trudged downstairs and greeted Carrie, who was already working.

"Good morning..."

"Good morning!" Carrie chirped, her energy unwavering.

Kaus rubbed his eyes. "Is Erica up yet?"

"She left early."

"Oh." He shrugged. Erica was still technically Kingpin's subordinate, even if she had been staying at the inn. No one in Hell's Kitchen would dare touch her as long as she was under Kingpin's rule.

But Carrie's next words sent a chill down his spine.

"She said she had one last thing to do—and after that, she'd never leave again."

Kaus froze.

He vaguely remembered that Kingpin, frustrated by Daredevil's interference, had ordered Elektra to assassinate both Daredevil and his friend, Foggy Nelson. In that confrontation, Elektra had died, betrayed by Kingpin, and Bullseye—Kingpin's top assassin—had launched a sneak attack before ultimately being taken down.

Erica wasn't Elektra. She had no reason to target Daredevil.

Which meant the "last thing" she mentioned was likely her final confrontation with Kingpin.

Kaus clenched his jaw.

"Idiot! People say women with big chests have no brains, but Erica's flat as a board—so what's her excuse?" He started pacing angrily. "Does she seriously think she can take down Kingpin by herself? He's stronger than Daredevil and the Punisher combined! And she only has those measly three-legged cat skills—"

Carrie watched him with amused lavender eyes.

"You're going to help her, aren't you?"

"Why would I?" Kaus scoffed. "I don't have a contract with her. She left on her own. If she gets hurt, that's not my problem."

He waved dismissively.

"Besides, she's Matt's ex-girlfriend. If he doesn't care, why should I?"

Stretching, he let out a long yawn, his eyes watering from exhaustion.

"I need more sleep. Carrie, lock the door, or people will think we're open."

Carrie watched as her lazy, stingy, shameless boss trudged toward the stairs—only to suddenly turn and enter a side room instead.

A bright smile spread across her face.

"Ha," she murmured, "you Earthlings sure are contradictory."