The news of Daredevil Matt Murdock joining the Hero Association did not cause a widespread public sensation like Sandman's debut or The Silent Heart Master's appearance, but it did stir up quite a ripple within the Association and among certain circles closely following its movements.
New hero information was updated on the internal bulletin board:
Hero Codename: Daredevil
Name: Matt Murdock (Confidentiality Level B)
Ability Level: B-Rank (Current), A-Rank Potential
Core Abilities: Super Senses (Hearing, Smell, Touch, Taste, Radar Sense), Master-level Combat (adapted to dark environments)
Assessment Notes: Sensory abilities have S-Rank potential, excellent combat skills, possesses extremely high tactical value.
This announcement caused some whispers within the Association.
"Daredevil? The new guy?"
"B-Rank? Not a low starting point."
"Wait... Matt Murdock? That name sounds familiar... isn't he a lawyer?"
"A lawyer? A lawyer becoming a hero?"
After more detailed (non-confidential) information circulated, there were even more voices of doubt.
"Blind? Are you kidding? Is the Association even recruiting blind people now?"
"Super senses? Sounds very vague, is it real or fake? Did he get in through connections?"
"Letting a blind person handle supernatural events? That's too irresponsible, both for him and for the public!"
These discussions inevitably reached Matt's ears through various channels. His extraordinary hearing, even without deliberately trying to listen, could pick up the skeptical conversations of several low-ranking heroes in the training room at the end of the corridor. He didn't get angry, there wasn't even any change in his expression, he just tightened his grip on his cane slightly. He was already used to this kind of contempt and questioning based on appearances.
However, the official attitude of the Association was completely different from these private discussions.
Under Wesley's leadership, the Human Resources Department held a formal career planning meeting with Matt. During the meeting, there was no mention of his vision problem; all discussions revolved tightly around his ability data.
"Mr. Murdock, according to the evaluation report, your sensory abilities are irreplaceable in specific fields," the white-haired elder responsible for hero file management said in a serious and professional tone. "We initially plan your development direction to focus primarily on: high-difficulty intelligence reconnaissance, infiltration and reconnaissance in complex environments, and targeted combat against specific types of targets (such as wack skilled in disguise, invisibility, or relying on sonic or scent attacks). The Association will provide you with customized auxiliary equipment, such as higher-sensitivity environmental sensors, encrypted communicators, and portable terminals that can link data with your 'Radar Sense'."
Dr. Leo from the Equipment Research Department also enthusiastically participated, although his suggestions still carried a strong personal style: "Mr. Daredevil! I'm very interested in your sensory abilities! I have a brilliant idea—the 'Multi-functional Sensory Amplification Shoulder Armor'! It can emit active sound waves of specific frequencies to enhance your radar perception range and accuracy! It can also integrate miniature scent analyzers and vibration detectors! Although the appearance might be a bit... bulky for functional needs, it's absolutely practical!"
Matt calmly rejected Dr. Leo's shoulder armor, which sounded very "heavy," but accepted other customized, lightweight sensors and communication equipment. Throughout the process, the Association treated him entirely as a professional with unique advantages, rather than a disabled person requiring special care.
This kind of recognition and respect, purely based on ability and value, was something Matt had rarely experienced in his previous life.
Soon, his first mission arrived.
[Hell's Kitchen · Abandoned Textile Mill Area · Wolf-Class]: Suspected missing homeless persons, faint abnormal energy reactions detected at the scene, requiring investigation and confirmation of the situation. Reward Points: 20.
The mission level was not high, but the location was sensitive—Hell's Kitchen, his territory.
That night, Matt changed into his dark red battle suit, covering it with an inconspicuous dark trench coat for disguise, and arrived at the mission location. Accompanying him was a C-Rank logistics staff member (non-combat sequence) responsible for recording and basic support.
The abandoned textile mill area was filled with a mixed smell of rust, dust, and mold. Moonlight was cut into pale white patches by broken windows, cast upon the cluttered floor. The accompanying logistics staff member turned on a powerful flashlight and advanced cautiously, nervously watching for obstacles underfoot.
Matt, however, didn't need any of that.
He walked in front, his steps steady, his cane occasionally tapping the ground, but more often suspended in the air. In his sensory World, this World was "bright" in a different way. Echoes outlined the vast, empty structure of the factory building, subtle changes in airflow told him where the vents were and where the dead ends were. The sound of disturbed dust, the rustling of rats running in the pipes, even the sound of dripping Water in the distance, all unfolded like the clearest map in his mind.
"The third room on the left has traces of recent human activity, at least two people, scent residue more than 24 hours but less than 48 hours," Matt suddenly stopped and said in a low voice.
The logistics staff member was stunned, shining his flashlight in that direction, and indeed saw some scattered food packaging and footprints, gasping in surprise.
They continued deeper. At a staircase entrance that seemed to lead to an underground warehouse, Matt raised his hand to stop his companion.
"Something is down there," he listened intently, "Breathing... slow, with a viscous quality. Not human. And... a corrosive smell."
He motioned for the logistics staff member to stay above and provide support, while he silently slipped down.
The underground warehouse was even darker and damper. In Matt's perception, a large, irregularly shaped life form was curled up in the corner, emitting a nauseatingly acidic smell, its body seemingly covered in mucus, and breathing with gurgling sounds.
It was a giant mutant rat aggregate (Wolf-Class) that had undergone slight mutation due to long-term consumption of industrial waste and discarded food by homeless people. It sensed Matt's approach, let out a threatening hiss, and suddenly pounced, moving unexpectedly swiftly!
But in Matt's "vision," its movement trajectory was crystal clear. He could even "hear" the wind it stirred up when its muscles contracted and exerted force, and "smell" the foul odor it spewed from its mouth when it attacked.
Matt did not meet it head-on, his body ghosted sideways and backward, precisely avoiding the pounce. The cane in his hand was like a viper's tongue, striking out like lightning, hitting the relatively fragile joint connections of the mutant rat aggregate!
"Squeak—!" The aggregate let out a sharp cry of pain, its movements stalling.
Matt didn't give it a chance to breathe. Using the moment of its imbalance, he closed in, unleashing his full combat skills. Every one of his attacks landed precisely on the opponent's power nodes or sensory organs; fists, feet, elbows, knees, and even that seemingly ordinary cane, all became deadly weapons. His fighting style had no dazzling lights or shadows, only extreme efficiency and precision, like a deadly assassin dancing in the dark.
Within mere tens of seconds, the massive mutant rat aggregate wailed and collapsed to the ground, losing its ability to move.
Matt stood beside it, his breathing slightly evening out. His trench coat hadn't even picked up much dust.
The logistics staff member above, hearing the commotion cease, cautiously descended. Seeing the scene before him, he was dumbfounded. He quickly stepped forward, using the specialized container provided by the Association to collect samples and record on-site data.
[Mission "Investigate Abandoned Textile Mill" completed! Confirmed and cleared Wolf-Class threat "Mutant Rat Aggregate". Reward Points 20 have been issued to hero "Daredevil"'s account.]
[Hero "Daredevil"'s first mission performance evaluation: Excellent. Intelligence accurate, actions efficient, tactical execution perfect, collateral damage Zero.]
After the mission report was uploaded, the skeptical voices within the Association instantly vanished.
"That fast? And it was a tricky stealth type among Wolf-Class?"
"Zero collateral damage? In an underground environment? How did he do it?"
"It seems... he really has the ability."
"B-Rank, well deserved."
Wesley looked at the report and said to Kingpin: "Boss, Daredevil's abilities are indeed unique, especially in reconnaissance and precise strikes in complex urban environments; his value is extremely high. His joining fills a gap for us."
Kingpin nodded slightly, saying nothing more. For him, ability is value; everything else is unimportant.
Matt Murdock, Daredevil, proved to everyone with his clean and efficient first mission that in the Hero Association, the only measure of judgment is ability and contribution.
Blind?
So what?
The World he could "see" was far clearer and more profound than for many people with normal sight. The platform the Association provided him allowed his unique ability to find a place where its true value could be realized.
Returning to his still struggling law office, Foggy greeted him with concern: "Matt, how was it? Was the first day smooth?"
Matt put down his cane, a faint, almost imperceptible, relaxed expression appearing on his face.
"Not bad, Foggy," he said softly, "At least... they value the ability itself."
For the first time, he felt that joining the Association might not have been entirely a compromise. Here, his value as "Daredevil" seemed to have received another form of, more direct, acknowledgment.