Chapter 4: Bonina’s Delicious Burgers

Day after day passed, and under Luke’s deliberate efforts, he naturally became Peter Parker’s closest friend. They walked to and from school together every day. Ever since that incident, the four boys always went out of their way to avoid Luke whenever they saw him.

On this particular day, Peter came to Luke’s house to hang out. Only recently had the two realized how close they lived to each other.

"Hey, Peter, how are you?" Seeing Peter standing at the door, Luke’s foster mother, Karen, greeted him warmly.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Nelson. I’m very well," Peter replied politely. "I’m here for Luke."

"Go on upstairs, dear. Luke’s waiting for you," Karen invited him in.

"Thank you, Mrs. Nelson. See you in a bit," Peter said with a smile. Once inside, he ran into Luke’s foster father, Foggy Nelson, and greeted him just as politely: "Good afternoon, Mr. Nelson."

Karen, arm in arm with Foggy, watched Peter dash up the stairs. "I’m so glad Luke has made a friend at school so quickly. I was worried he might not adjust to this kind of environment. The psychologist said that adopted children often become withdrawn."

"Don’t worry, darling," Foggy said with a smile. "Luke is the smartest child I’ve ever met. He knows how to fit into a new life. When he grows up, he’ll surely make us proud."

"I believe that with all my heart," Karen replied, her face glowing with happiness.

"By the way, Matt will be dropping by soon," Foggy added with another smile.

"Will he stay for dinner?"

"I don’t think so. We’ve just got a bit of work to discuss; it won’t take long."

"Of course, that’s no problem."

Peter entered Luke’s room to find him surrounded by a pile of curious items. Peter watched for a while, curiosity sparking in his eyes. "Hey, man, what are you up to?"

Luke looked up and smiled. "I’m getting ready to raise some funds."

"Raise… funds?" Peter’s young brow furrowed. "Are you planning to buy something?"

"That’s a secret for now. You’ll know in a few days," Luke replied mysteriously.

Peter’s curiosity was piqued; he couldn’t take his eyes off Luke’s every move.

Spread out before Luke was a collection of assorted things: remote-controlled cars, models, collectible cards, and, most valuable, a nearly-new PSP game console and a limited-edition Disney commemorative coin.

These were all his personal possessions, gifts from his foster parents for Christmas, New Year, or his birthday. Luke was preparing to sell them all, gathering a sum to serve as the seed money for his upcoming moneymaking plan.

He had no use for these things. Selling them and putting the money to real purpose seemed a fitting way to give them new life.

By his calculations, the lot should fetch between three hundred and three hundred fifty dollars. The PSP, barely used, was almost as good as new.

Just then, Peter, peering out of the bedroom window, turned to Luke. "Looks like you have a visitor downstairs. It’s a man."

"Oh? A man?"

Luke didn’t need to guess—there were only a handful of people who visited his foster parents, and among the men, just one came to mind.

"Wait here for me, I’ll be back soon," Luke told Peter, handing him the PSP. "This is for you."

"No problem," Peter replied, nodding.

Luke went downstairs to the living room, where, as he’d expected, he found none other than blind lawyer Matt Murdock.

"Hey, is that you, Luke?" The young man seated on the sofa, wearing black sunglasses, turned his head at the sound of footsteps and smiled.

Seated opposite him was Luke’s foster father, Foggy, who smiled and looked over at Luke.

Eyeing the so-called blind man, Luke inwardly scoffed, "Keep up the act if you like." Out loud, he said, "Good evening, Mr. Murdock."

"Just call me Matt," the blind man replied with a smile.

"All right, Matt. Would you like something to drink? I’ll help Karen get some water," Luke offered, stepping into the kitchen to serve Matt tea in Karen’s stead.

He still remembered his astonishment upon learning that his foster father was colleagues with the famous Daredevil. Was it just a coincidence?

But regardless, Daredevil was a Marvel hero worthy of respect—a champion of the weak and a foe of evil. Though he couldn’t fly or summon lightning like Iron Man or Thor, he was what people called “down to earth,” a hero who walked among ordinary folk.

Blinded as a child in an accident involving radioactive chemicals, Daredevil lost his sight but gained extraordinary enhancements to his other senses. He could perceive his surroundings through sound waves, much like a bat, with a range so vast he was called a “human radar.”

His heightened sense of touch allowed him feats of balance and agility no ordinary person could match, and he’d molded these gifts into remarkable skills.

When Daredevil’s father was murdered by thugs, Matt Murdock swore to stand up for the innocent and battle the city’s underworld, becoming one of the noted guardians of Hell’s Kitchen. In the Marvel universe, the kingpin of crime, Wilson Fisk, saw him as a thorn in his side, yet Daredevil blended into the world as an unremarkable blind lawyer.

At this moment, Matt Murdock saw Luke as a well-mannered, considerate child. He’d heard a bit about Luke from his foster parents and found him likable—something Luke had intentionally cultivated.

A notification chimed in Luke’s mind: Matt Murdock’s favorability +3.

He couldn’t help but smile.

Foggy reached out his large hand, ruffling Luke’s hair. "All right, Luke. Matt and I have some work to discuss. Go play."

"Okay, Foggy." Luke’s goal achieved, he obediently went back upstairs.

Back in his room, he continued his preparations for his moneymaking venture. He desperately needed money to open a box.

Not long ago, he’d managed to save up enough for a ten-roll draw from the magic box, and what he got was not a skill book, but something called “Bonina’s Delicious Burger Recipe”—instructions for making the most delicious hamburger.

So he wondered—could he use this to make money?

Raising the initial capital was just the first step. Next, he would need Peter Parker’s help. After all, his seven-year-old body made many things difficult; two people would be much more efficient.

Watching Peter playing on the PSP, Luke asked, "Hey, didn’t you say your uncle used to have an RV?"

"Yeah, a big one. White," Peter replied.

"Color doesn’t matter," Luke mused, stroking his chin. "Can you help me get it out?"