With a state of death like this, even if the five global hegemonies collectively declared it a suicide, it was unlikely anyone would believe them.
However...
It was perfectly normal for an assassin executing their very first assignment to run into a mishap. After all, this Steve wasn't some kind of prodigy assassin, so one couldn't expect him to execute his first assignment so flawlessly without leaving a trace.
Moreover, after Locke watched the surveillance footage from that restaurant, he was still quite satisfied.
At the very least, Steve's marksmanship was highly commendable.
He taught it.
Locke watched the surveillance as Steve, after riddling Olson into a hornet's nest, quickly ran up to the corpse to retrieve an item, then turned around to retreat. He managed to leave without exposing a single frame that could be used for facial recognition or tracking. Watching Steve depart, Locke smiled.
Right at this moment.
An update from Arthur was also sent through to his email inbox.
"My plan has commenced. You know my alternative email address; if you need me, send me a message."
"Understood."
Locke replied briefly, then closed down his computer.
This was Arthur's story, not his. He was merely dropping by for a cameo role, and there was no way he could turn his cameo appearance into the main protagonist's narrative.
The next day.
When Locke arrived at Gwen's home as usual, he spotted George hurriedly stuffing a pancake into his mouth.
"Honey, where did I put my credentials?"
Helen's voice drifted down from upstairs, "Check the laundry room."
With a swift swish, George ran off toward the laundry room.
Locke froze slightly, looking toward Gwen who had opened the door. "Did something happen?"
Gwen shrugged. "There's a case."
"Didn't George just get promoted to Senior Inspector a week ago?" This was part of the transaction with SHIELD. Not just George; even Hank's investigation by Internal Affairs over in Chicago had ground to a sudden halt.
Locke looked at George, who came bustling out of the laundry room, and asked curiously,
"George, what's got you so..."
When outside, he called him sir, but at home, if Locke still called George "Mr. Stacy," Helen would be displeased.
George glanced at Locke.
"We've got a lead on the Peerless assassin."
Locke froze slightly.
"Real or fake?"
George nodded.
"Real. Last night, we apprehended an illegal immigrant attempting to swim across the Hudson River into Manhattan Island. He confessed that a man who wore sunglasses even in the dead of night smuggled in alongside him."
The Peerless assassin had appeared near New York City once again.
"This time!"
George was brimming with fighting spirit, clenching his fists tight, his face written all over with determination.
"I will absolutely capture this outlaw!"
Locke's heart twitched violently.
Gwen spoke up beside him, "Dad, I believe in you. You can definitely do it, keep it up."
Locke snapped out of it, nodding.
"George, I believe in you too. As long as you persevere, there will definitely be a reward."
George threw on his coat, and then, under the collective gaze of Locke, Gwen, and the three background figures led by young George, he departed straight from the house.
Locke had only just said that perseverance would bring a reward; he never stated that as long as George persevered, George would manage to capture him.
However...
What on earth was that illegal immigrant thinking?
You already smuggled your way into New Jersey. Dammit, couldn't you just take the roads into Manhattan Island like a normal human being? Why did you insist on a night swim across the Hudson River? Did this fellow honestly think entering Manhattan Island required smuggling too?
Locke felt somewhat speechless in his heart.
Great, now a single idiot had compromised the eight or nine people who flew over on the flight last night. If this continued, the operation company running that black flight would likely lose another aircraft.
To be safe and prevent George from tracing the thread back to him boarding a plane from Maryland—which might cause an deviation in Arthur's plan—Locke made a trip to the restroom to place a quick call to Arthur right as he and Gwen arrived at the restaurant for the "Poseidon Survivors Monthly Gathering."
After all, if George directed that fierce passion toward him, searching for commonalities between himself and the Peerless assassin, Locke felt there was a genuine risk George might discover something.
Fortunately.
Up until now, his disguise had held up remarkably well.
A short while later.
The Poseidon survivors began arriving one after another.
Gathering for a meal once a month was an arrangement they had agreed upon right after coming off the Poseidon, to chat and share interesting anecdotes from their lives.
For instance, the story of Locke and Gwen going hunting.
The tale of Cindy and Kahn running off to Las Vegas.
Dylan and Maggie spoke about taking Conor to Hawaii.
As for Robert, he mentioned with a smile that he was currently planning to run for the New York State Senate.
The moment Pepper heard this, she looked at Robert, becoming quite interested in the topic. The incumbent senator Stark Industries supported in New York State happened to be stepping down this year, and they were still scout-hunting for a new senator who could support them when necessary.
As they spoke, within a matter of minutes, Pepper and Robert ironed out an agreement to meet at Robert's office tomorrow to discuss the details thoroughly.
There was also Kahn's matter.
Pepper recalled this issue and turned her gaze toward Kahn.
"Kahn, Dr. Wallace is highly interested in your patent, and he would be absolutely delighted to have a genius like you join his research team to conduct studies together."
Dr. Wallace was the nation's foremost leading expert regarding shark research.
It just so happened.
The patent Kahn had sold off back then was precisely related to shark serum.
Kahn froze slightly.
"Really? That's amazing! Thank you so much, Pepper."
Pepper smiled warmly.
"You're welcome. In fact, Dr. Wallace intended to chat with you himself, so I didn't actually have to do much. Dr. Wallace stated that you are very welcome to join his research group at any time."
Kahn was rather thrilled. "I'll head over tomorrow."
In any case, they were top students, and their academic credits were largely completed. The reason they delayed heading off to university was merely to utilize the relatively relaxed environment of high school to do more preparations for the future.
Gwen was exactly the same way. Over the past few days, she had resumed her routine of going to Dr. Connors' lab to continue working, and Gwen had even received a promotion.
Right now, Gwen was already Dr. Connors' research assistant.
Of course.
There was also a full-time research assistant, unlike Gwen; Gwen's position fell under the part-time category of assistant.
Locke thought to himself.
And then...
He suddenly recalled a certain matter.
Speaking of which, when the autumn school opening season arrived next month, it seemed someone from Brooklyn would be transferring over, and among them would be Peter Parker, while Gwen had also become a research assistant.
Which meant, the little spider was about to emerge?
Locke arched an eyebrow.
The very next second.
Locke smiled inwardly. Let the little spider come; what else could he do, try to steal his girl?
Heh.
He had chopped down Nick Fury himself. A mere little spider was nowhere near enough to make Locke show a soft heart. His blade could not only strike with power, but also with absolute precision.
Locke thought along these lines and promptly cast the matter to the back of his mind.
After all, right now was a gathering, a joyful occasion. Bringing up bloody images and unpleasant thoughts at a time like this was a terrible idea.
At three in the afternoon.
The group paid for their meals, planning to head over to Central Park together for a stroll to continue their conversation.
However, just as Locke stepped out of the restaurant, he heard someone calling his name from not far away.
Locke looked up.
In the distance.
A lawyer stepped down from a Volkswagen sedan, and judging by appearances, he seemed to be a lawyer who had just recently obtained his credentials and joined the District Attorney's office.
As for how he judged that?
It was exactly the same way the FBI preferred Chevrolet SUVs, SHIELD preferred Ford SUVs, and Locke preferred Audis. Certain professions could be determined purely by outward appearance.
The lawyer practically jogged all the way up to Locke, presenting his business card.
"Mr. Broughton."
Locke accepted the card, glanced at the name written on it, and looked up.
"Are you that unfortunate lawyer assigned by the District Attorney to the Bell family?"
A bitter smile surfaced on the lawyer's face.
After all, while he was currently a licensed attorney, he had joined the DA's office with the intention of becoming a prosecutor. Defending the opposing side was merely a matter of institutional procedure.
But...
Where this lawyer's misfortune lay was that he had been assigned by the DA's office right after Nina Bell's original attorney was also indicted by the FBI, and this happened to be his very first case.
Taking on a first case where he stood zero chance of fighting back, he was thoroughly routed by his colleagues at the DA's office. Out of three defendants, two received the death penalty and one received life imprisonment.
No matter which angle one viewed it from, it was an absolute failure. A crowd of people had even begun accusing him of racial discrimination, claiming that was the reason he didn't put forth his full effort.
Don't find it strange.
After all, New York City had its share of impoverished individuals who couldn't afford an attorney. Consequently, the court would mandate the DA's office to provide a free attorney for the defendant.
However, these public defenders were almost always like the young man standing before him—essentially new lawyers who had just passed their credentials and joined the DA's office.
Everyone had the right to counsel; if you lacked one, the DA's office would grant you a free lawyer.
But...
The DA's office would never dispatch their ace attorneys to the defendant. They handed you a free lawyer to showcase their version of justice, not to allow you to stage a miraculous counterattack.
However.
Locke looked at the card in his hand, looking with a hint of curiosity at the unfortunate lawyer before him.
"So, you've taken on a second case? What, is the District Attorney planning to indict me?"
Hearing this, Gwen looked toward the lawyer. "Is that true?"
Cindy suggested from the side, "Locke, you should call your legal team right away."
The unfortunate lawyer was instantly flustered.
The next second.
The lawyer shook his head repeatedly. "No, Mr. Broughton, my visit this time is actually at the explicit request of my clients."
Locke felt a bit curious. "Your clients?"
The lawyer nodded. "Yes. To be precise, Mr. and Mrs. Bell."
Gwen frowned. "Nina Bell's parents? What do they want with Locke?"
Cindy added, "Yeah, I recall aren't they about to... face that?"
The lawyer looked toward Locke.
"The execution time for Mr. and Mrs. Bell has been finalized. It is set for a week from now, on August 16th. Mr. and Mrs. Bell invite you to bear witness to their final journey."
Locke: "..."