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A Rider Kick in Marvel Rewrite Ch 44
🕑 Added 2025-03-16 14:47:46 +0000 UTCAce, Nico, and Berto stood in the school hallway, their eyes glued to the news report playing on Ace's phone. J. Jonah Jameson's stern face filled the screen as he ranted about the recent fire at a local restaurant.
"This so-called 'Kamen Rider' is nothing more than a menace!" Jameson's voice boomed from the phone's speakers. "We've got eyewitness accounts and footage of this costumed freak at the scene. Mark my words, he's behind this, and I'll expose him for the criminal he is!"
Footage played on Ace's phone, showing Kamen Rider leaping from rooftop to rooftop, his armored form a blur against the city skyline. J. Jonah Jameson's scathing commentary continued, his voice dripping with disdain.
"This so-called 'hero' is nothing but a criminal in a costume. He's been spotted at the scene of multiple incidents, always disappearing before the authorities can apprehend him. Well, I say we put out an APB on this menace and bring him in where he belongs – behind bars!"
Nico scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Typical Jameson, jumping to conclusions without any real evidence."
Berto nodded in agreement, his brow furrowed. "Yeah, I mean, just because someone in a mask was spotted doesn't mean they're the one who started the fire, right?"
Ace remained silent, his gaze fixed on the news report. He knew the truth – that he had intervened to save the family and stop the arsonists. But he also knew that Jameson would never see it that way.
The three friends stood there, watching as Jameson continued his tirade against the mysterious Kamen Rider, their own thoughts and concerns unspoken.
Nico's brow furrowed as she watched the news report. "You know, there have been a lot of arsons around the city lately. Maybe there's a connection to this Kamen Rider business."
Ace turned to her, his mind racing. "You think the fires might be deliberate? That there's something bigger going on?"
He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to these incidents than met the eye. The arsonists at the restaurant had been too organized, too determined. And the way they had targeted a family-owned business that had refused a previous offer to sell...
Nico nodded, her eyes narrowing. "Yeah, I've been hearing about that too. Apparently, some shady real estate developers have been strong-arming small business owners, trying to buy up property for cheap."
Ace frowned, recalling the conversations he'd overheard at Pole Pole. "The customers were saying that some places have even been set on fire if the owners refuse to sell."
Berto's eyes widened. "You think that's what's happening here? That the arsonists were working for some bigger group trying to take over the neighborhood?"
Nico shrugged, her expression turning thoughtful. "It's possible. I mean, the timing of these incidents is a little too convenient, don't you think?"
Nico furrowed her brow as she tapped away on her phone, her fingers flying across the screen. "Okay, let me see what I can dig up here," she murmured, her eyes narrowing in concentration.
She started by searching for recent real estate acquisitions and mergers in the New York area, cross-referencing the locations of the suspicious fires. As the pieces began to fall into place, a name emerged that made her pause.
"Silvio Manfredi," she said, her voice low. "He's one of the biggest crime bosses in the city, with his fingers in all kinds of shady real estate deals." Nico's expression darkened as she scrolled through the information on her phone. "It looks like his Maggia syndicate has been buying up properties, sometimes through intimidation and violence."
Ace and Berto exchanged a concerned glance, the implications of Nico's findings weighing heavily on them. "So you think Manfredi's behind these arsons?" Ace asked,
"It fits the pattern. And if he's involved, there could be more shady things behind the scenes."
Ace's brow furrowed as he listened to Nico's findings. The name Silvio Manfredi rang a bell, though the details were hazy. He knew the man was a notorious crime boss, a Spider-Man villain in his previous world. The thought of Manfredi's Maggia syndicate terrorizing local businesses filled Ace with a familiar sense of determination.
I can't let this Manfredi character ruin more lives, Ace thought, his hands clenching into fists. If he's behind these arsons, I need to stop him before he can do any more harm.
Ace's mind raced with possibilities, weighing the risks and considering his options. As Kamen Rider, he had the power to confront Manfredi and his goons directly. But he also knew the importance of gathering more information and building a stronger case against the crime boss.
I'll need to tread carefully, Ace mused. Manfredi is dangerous, and I can't risk innocent lives. But I won't let him continue terrorizing this city.
Nico noticed how Ace suddenly got all serious and asked what was wrong. "Hey, you okay? You looked like you were a million miles away there."
Ace snapped out of his thinking, shaking his head slightly. "Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. I was just... thinking about my science project with Peter, that's all."
He gave a quick, slightly forced smile, hoping to divert Nico's attention. "You know how it is, gotta make sure I don't fall behind on my schoolwork, right?"
Nico eyed him skeptically, sensing there was more on his mind, but she let it slide for now. "Alright, well, just don't forget to have fun too, okay? We're supposed to be enjoying our high school experience, not just burying our noses in books the whole time."
Ace nodded, grateful that Nico didn't press the issue further. "Yeah, you're right. I'll try to keep that in mind." He glanced over at Berto, who was flirting with girls down the hallway. "Speaking of having fun, looks like Berto could use a little less of that."
Nico chuckled, shaking her head. "That boy is hopeless. Come on, let's go rescue him before he embarrasses himself any further."
As Ace followed Nico over to where Berto was, he couldn't help but let his mind drift back to the implications of Nico's earlier findings. The thought of Silvio Manfredi and his Maggia syndicate causing trouble in this world filled him with a renewed sense of purpose. But for now, he would focus on the task at hand and trust that the right opportunity to confront the criminal mastermind would present itself in due time.
