American Comics: Multiverse of Madness

140. ‘Dazzling Confusion’ and ‘Eye-Popping’.

"I'm here to find someone."

Hawkeye glanced at the waiter without any special actions, except that his hand holding the bow and arrow tightened under his cloak.

As far as he knew, this was Orb's territory. This villain wasn't particularly powerful, even less so than some ordinary people, but his crimes were no less severe than any other villain.

During that battle years ago, if Orb hadn't used the Observer's Eye to exploit the weaknesses of most superheroes, they wouldn't have been defeated so badly. So, perhaps Orb didn't participate directly, but he couldn't escape his guilt.

After the final battle, Orb wasn't secretly executed by the Red Skull like Mysterio. On the contrary, he received high praise from most villains. Red Skull even allocated a large sum of money for him to build his own forces in this wasteland. Because of Orb's unique ability, old Barton believed he could find information about the Thunderbolts members here.

If it had been before, Hawkeye would never have come here because his appearance would mean exposure. Red Skull wouldn't tolerate an Avenger surviving on his territory, and Hawkeye would face endless pursuit. But it didn't matter anymore. Old Hawkeye had already put his life and death aside.

For Hawkeye, an old man about to go blind from glaucoma, this was no different from death. Inside the bar, the vibrant music and the dancing girls stirred the customers' hearts, but Hawkeye remained unaffected. Soon, he spotted his target in a corner of the dance floor. Just one look, and old Barton recognized the other person — Orb.

It was impossible not to notice this grotesque figure with a huge eyeball on his neck. Even an ordinary person would find it hard to ignore him.

In the dim light, Orb was surrounded by women, gently swaying his body. Next to him, several girls dressed in sexy superhero costumes held colorful cocktails, keeping this local gangster company.

Old Hawkeye slowly walked towards Orb. The pungent smell of alcohol made him uncomfortable; it had been a long time since he drank. Perhaps life is like alcohol, sometimes intoxicating and sometimes sobering, but for old Hawkeye, only he knew if he was drunk or sober, and others couldn't tell.

Standing in front of Orb, old Hawkeye looked down at him.

"Clear the place, friend. I've booked it for today!"

Hawkeye's voice was light, but his tone was undeniably firm.

Hearing the commotion, Orb slowly raised his head, and when he saw old Barton's face, his expression visibly contorted. Old Barton was prepared. He knew he couldn't hide his identity from Orb, so he never intended to.

Raising his arm slowly, a sharp arrow gleamed in the light.

"If you scream, the next moment this will pierce your head. If you don't believe me, try it and see who's faster."

"I believe you, I believe you." Without waiting for Hawkeye to say more, Orb quickly spoke up.

No one knew better than him about Hawkeye's illustrious past. As the leader of the West Coast Avengers among many superpowered beings, Hawkeye's strength was undeniable.

"That's better. So, what are you waiting for?" old Barton coldly watched Orb.

"Clear the place!"

In the next second, Orb jumped up from his seat.

He waved his hands, shooing away the girls around him, and shouted at his subordinates, "It's over for today, friends. Leave! Everyone, get out of here!"

"But..."

"The boss has spoken."

"The music's stopped! Clear out, guys."

A drunken mercenary tried to say something, but he was quickly carried out by a few strong men. The girls and everyone else obediently dispersed. This place was, after all, established by Orb, and here, his word was law. Since Orb had spoken, they had no complaints.

In this place, hierarchy meant everything. As their boss, Orb's orders were absolute.

Old Hawkeye coldly watched this scene, and seeing everyone leave, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Originally, he thought there would be a fierce fight here...

"My God, I really don't know what happened back then, and I don't know how you ended up like this."

Orb raised his hands, taking a few steps back in fear, thinking this might give him a sense of safety because Hawkeye's current state was too terrifying.

"Cut the crap, Orb. I don't need your sympathy. I just need to know where 'they' are."

Hawkeye shoved Orb into a chair, his gaze intense as he spoke in a low voice.

"You know who I mean by 'they'!"

"I know, I know... Calm down, okay? I'm just a small fry." Orb was terrified but didn't dare to resist.

Hearing this, old Barton snorted coldly, paused, and then looked at Orb with disgust, saying each word deliberately.

"Then you better tell me quickly. I might spare your life. Don't try to deceive me; I have nothing left to lose."

"There's one, Atlas. I know his whereabouts."

Orb racked his brains, seriously thinking about those guys' information. He, of course, knew who Hawkeye meant by 'they'. To bring Hawkeye to such a state, Baron Zemo and his Thunderbolts were primarily responsible.

"Atlas?"

Old Barton raised an eyebrow, motioning him to continue.

"He works at Arcade's amusement park. I have a club over there, and he goes there often. He complains about how after all his contributions, he still has to work in a circus."

Orb paused, adding unintentionally.

"But it's better than tightening screws in a factory, isn't it?"

Old Barton stayed silent, seemingly digesting this information.

"That's all I know, sir."

Orb gulped nervously, afraid Hawkeye might shoot him.

Hearing this, Hawkeye squinted, hesitated for a moment, then released his grip on the arrow, instead grabbing a glass of wine from the table and downing it in one go.

"Here's for the drink."

Leaving a steel coin, old Hawkeye walked out of the nightclub with large strides. Watching Hawkeye's departing figure through the window crack. It wasn't until Hawkeye's figure disappeared at the end of the street that everyone retracted their gaze.

"Is what we did to him a bit too cruel?" Kara asked softly.

.......

20 advanced chapters on p@treaon
For advance chapters: /Uchiha_Itachi007 (replace @ with a)
141. Wasteland.
142. Regressed Civilization.
143. Bullseye's Special Mission.
144. A Superhero Organization?
145. Kara's Powerlessness.