I'm working on Marvel's Spider-Man in American comics.

Chapter 690 Life is like a play, it needs actors

Sometimes things are just that strange. Just when everyone else is at a loss, progress suddenly appears, highlighting a sense of absurdity in life. Peter sat down, somewhat puzzled, and then asked Matt, "So what are you guys doing?"

"In helping Erica regain her memories, her memories are stuck on the day she went to investigate and fight against the Hand, and was captured by them."

Matt adjusted his sunglasses and then explained to Peter that even if the Hand's brainwashing ritual was lifted, the brainwashed person would not remember anything that happened during the brainwashing. This was precisely the strength of the Hand's dark ritual in terms of secrecy.

You could even say that instead of expecting Erica to tell Matt where the Hands meet, you might as well ask the Silver Samurai where the Hands meet. At least the latter doesn't seem brainwashed and is rather simple-minded, so he might actually tell you.

Peter then thought of Deacon and X-23, whose fates were unknown, and who were probably dead. So he asked, "How was it deactivated? We...we just captured someone who had been brainwashed by the Hand. Maybe we can use him."

“Okay, uh, that happened last night…” Matt adjusted his sunglasses again, then picked up his coffee and took a sip. “You know, Peter, it rained a little in Manhattan last night. It’s been really hot lately, and that rain made the area around Hell’s Kitchen very cool. It was on a rainy night like that…”

"I really don't want to interrupt your wonderful memories of last night, but can we fast forward a bit?"

Peter couldn't help but interrupt Matt, and even Erica called out "Matt." Matt nodded apologetically and continued, still wanting to say more: "Yesterday I met Erica. She was sent by the Hand to fight me. We fought for a long time, and we were both seriously injured. During the fight, I called her name over and over again, recalling our past, hoping that she would remember who I am."

At that moment, Peter thought of many classic scenarios: "And then you woke her up at the last moment when life and death were at stake?"

"No, we fell off the roof together during the fight. Her head hit the windowsill and she passed out. When she woke up, the brainwashing was lifted."

Peter: ...

With a helpless sigh, Peter couldn't help but shake his head. Matt also knew there was nothing to worry about; given the current situation, they still couldn't find the Hand. So he simply asked Peter, "What about you? What happened to you?"

Peter then recounted what had just happened, followed by the information he knew about the Beast, summarizing the Hand's possible objectives: to force Matt to break the no-kill policy, then make him lead the Hand, and finally make him the vessel for the Beast's arrival.

"So, if we combine that with... Mysterio's helmet, and hire Deadpool, we can put on a show for the Hand, making them think an assassin killed Erica, and then I killed the killer in a fit of rage, making the Hand think I've fallen..."

Matt started thinking about the plan. In essence, no one would die in this big show because Erica was an illusion created by Mysterio's helmet, and the assassin was Deadpool in disguise. As long as Matt acted seriously and angrily enough, theoretically the Hand wouldn't be able to find out.

However, Erica, upon hearing this, voiced her objection.

"It's too... deliberate, don't you think? Where did this assassin come from, and why did he want to kill me? All of this is too deliberate, not natural enough, and full of loopholes. The Hand already knows I've defected, so this might be part of their plan. They might even hire an assassin to kill me themselves. What should we do then?"

"This is just an idea."

"So the safest way is to make it real. I would really be killed by the assassin, which would be enough to convince the Hand."

Matt and Peter both looked at Erica, with Matt tilting his head in confusion. "Although... I don't remember very clearly, I'm certain the Hand has the means to resurrect people, not just make them immortal, but truly resurrect them. So if I die, and they want you, Matt, to become a member of the Hand, then you can use that as a price to resurrect me..."

"No, absolutely not! How do I know if the Hand's resurrection ritual carries any additional risks? What if you don't come back? What if you..."

"Another advantage of this plan is that the assassin doesn't have to be Deadpool; it can be someone else."

"I couldn't possibly kill someone!"

Matt interrupted Erica with a roar, then took a deep breath: "I know, I know you, Stick, and the rest of the Holy Order want me to abandon my no-kill policy and become one of you to fight the Hand to the death, but... I can't do that, I'm sorry."

Erica apologized and left the room after being interrupted. After watching Erica leave, Peter looked at Matt. Matt was silent for a while before letting out a long sigh: "You probably think I'm a bit old-fashioned, right? Even you only try to avoid killing enemies, you wouldn't really be like me, not killing anyone."

Peter simply nodded knowingly, then asked, "May I ask why?"

"Because this is Hell's Kitchen. Killing, harming, trafficking, injustice—all of these form the very fabric of Hell's Kitchen. If I want to truly fight against Hell's Kitchen—not just Fisk—I can't be a part of it. I have to be completely different from them."

"If Daredevil is a vigilante who kills, and if Matt Murdoch is a lawyer who will stop at nothing to achieve justice, then either of me is just part of Hell's Kitchen, not his opposite. That's it."

From one perspective, Daredevil Matt Murdoch has very little sense of responsibility; everything he does is to fight against Hell's Kitchen. The vast world outside is irrelevant to him, and he has no ability to intervene in it.

Peter thought for a moment, then asked in return, "How have you managed to maintain this?"

“It didn’t last. I had an ex-girlfriend named Karen. She used to be my and Foggy’s assistant. She was a very nice lady, but she died. She was killed by Bullseye. I was furious that day, almost lost my mind. I nearly killed Bullseye and pushed him off the roof. He was paralyzed and suffered a comminuted fracture of his spine…”

"So how did he recover now?"

"It's said that a Japanese doctor performed surgery on him and reinforced his spine with some kind of metal..."

“Adamantium,” Peter interrupted Matt. “And if Adamantium is to be injected, Bullseye would also need a healing factor implanted. He’s the killer who won’t arouse any suspicion, and Kingpin would certainly want Daredevil to fall.”

Matt thought for a moment, then sighed.

"Then there's only one problem: I don't trust the Hand's resurrection ritual, and Erica believes that Mysterio's illusions can't fool the Hand."

(End of this chapter)