Magical Marvel: The Rise of Arthur Hayes : Ch. 189

Disclaimer:
This chapter is an older draft that has since been rewritten based on feedback. It is not part of the current canon storyline. It has been preserved for transparency and for patrons who like viewing the evolution of the writing process.

Chapter 189: Eve

Arthur’s secret base materialized around him like breath condensing on glass — faint, then solid. Buried deep beneath the earth in a location known only to him, it was his true workshop.

Screens glowed to life, displaying surveillance feeds from every corner of the world. Magical instruments hummed alongside technology that wouldn't be available to the public for decades, if ever. The sheer processing power here would make Stark weep and demand a guided tour.

“Welcome back, Master,” came a pleasant voice from the unseen speakers.

“Eve,” Arthur called. “Were you able to dig into the hit?”

“Nothing online, sir,” the AI replied, irritation coloring her tone. “I have been monitoring every dark-web channel since the moment of the attack. No contract. No chatter. This was arranged through old-world channels — cash, unregistered connections, complete silence. No digital trail.”

Arthur’s jaw tightened. The most dangerous enemies never left one.

He took out a secured phone and made a call.

“Arthur,” Ariadne answered instantly, as if waiting for him — voice sharp, composed. “I was expecting your call.”

“There was a hit on me today,” he said. “Anything in the underground?”

“Yes.” A brief pause. “I traced the client. Sending you the file now.”

Encrypted documents appeared across his screens. Arthur skimmed them quickly.

“Richard Morse,” Ariadne continued. “Lost everything in the crash a few months ago. His wife left, his kids cut ties. He believes you profited from his misery. If he’s going down, he intends to drag you with him.”

Arthur sighed through his nose. “I should have stayed in the background. It’s not like I caused the market to crash. Just profited a little.”

“People don’t care about nuance,” Ariadne replied coolly. “They just see billionaires and blame them for their own pain.”

“Fair enough,” Arthur muttered. “Eve — location?”

“Already acquired,” she said. “Transmitting coordinates to Miss Ariadne.”

“Good.” Arthur’s tone hardened. “Send someone to clean it up. Make sure the message is clear — anyone who targets me or my family pays for it. A few more examples, and perhaps the idiots will think twice.”

“Already in motion,” Ariadne said. “It will be handled within the hour.”

Arthur nodded once. Softer, barely noticeable: “Thank you.”

A beat. Then Ariadne’s voice shifted — curiosity wrapped in challenge.

“Arthur… introduce me to Eve someday. She gathers intel faster than my entire network. What is she — some god-tier hacker?”

“Something like that,” he deflected.

He hadn't told Ariadne about Eve yet. Ariadne could keep secrets, but too many eyes surrounded her. No one could learn that his AI far surpassed anything human agencies had conceived — not even Stark’s Jarvis. Kree tech had ensured Eve was the most advanced intelligence on Earth.

Let the world believe they still had the technological edge. Let them sleep peacefully at night. Arthur had no desire to become the villain in their nightmares.

He turned his thoughts to Ariadne.

She had come so far from the wounded Chaste warrior he’d found all those years ago. Three years after he’d moved to New York, he’d returned to invite her to his wedding — and barely recognized the woman who greeted him.

—

Ariadne stood in a fortified London safehouse, flanked by silent operatives who would not meet her gaze. Not out of disrespect. Out of fear. She had already carved the UK underworld into something lean, disciplined, and terrifyingly efficient — the icy queen of shadows wrapped in tailored wool and quiet fury.

And then he’d felt it — her chi. Still white to the eye, but pulsing with the unmistakable resonance of dragonfire. Ever since the night he’d healed her after her battle with Alexandra, something fundamental had changed. She now wielded a variant of dragon chi. The weakness of being unable to draw chi outside Kun-Lun was gone. Her strength had surged. Her presence was no longer merely dangerous…

It was dominant.

With that power unleashed, she tore through the criminal sphere — crushing one gang after another and bending them to her will.

Arthur had been proud. And he had decided to help her rise even faster.

Together, they raided the Red Room and liberated its victims from Dreykov’s grip. Melina and every Black Widow — including Natasha and Yelena — walked out free. Many joined Ariadne. With Melina as her seasoned lieutenant, Ariadne transformed her forces from deadly to unstoppable.

Years passed, and Ariadne’s empire grew. She claimed Europe, driving the resurrected Alexandra — snarling for revenge — into panicked exile.

Now her eyes were set on America.

Ariadne knew more about the world thanks to Arthur, and she didn't want to be just a small underworld leader. She wanted real power, to be able to give back to Arthur for all the help he'd given her. 

Her underworld business had a clean front – a security company providing bodyguard services – and Ariadne maintained a clean public image. 

Arthur had advised her: “Be famous. Let them see you on magazine covers, not in police reports. Once you’re known, they need warrants, not bullets.”

She’d taken it to heart.

Next year, she planned her move to New York.

The Hand would soon learn what true fear tasted like.

—

"Are you coming to the Christmas party?" Arthur asked, changing the subject.

“Yes,” she said, and he heard the faintest softening in her voice. “I need a break. And I’ve always liked your wizard friends. Sirius tells the best stories.”

"Winky will pick you up on the twenty-third."

"Looking forward to it. How are Eileen and the children?"

"Perfect," Arthur said simply. "Elena bought everyone presents today. She's very proud of herself."

Ariadne actually laughed — a rare, warm sound. “I can’t wait to unwrap mine. I never thought I’d see Arthur Hayes as a doting father.”

“Neither did I,” he admitted. “You should settle down too.”

“Maybe,” she said, her tone drifting back toward steel. “After I finish what I set out to do.”

They hung up.

Arthur stood in the center of the base, hands in his pockets, watching global feeds scroll past. The hit itself was nothing — a mosquito bite. But he hated that it brushed against his family at all.

Maybe it was time to redirect the world’s anger.

The real villains of the market collapse still walked free — drinking champagne, celebrating, while others lost everything.

They should be the targets. Not him.

“Eve,” he said quietly, “handle that.”

Then he turned off the lights.

He Apparated back into his study and slipped through the silent house. Eileen was in bed, book in hand, lamplight turning her hair to gold.

"Everything handled?" she asked without looking up.

"Yes."

"Good. Come to bed."

As he changed, Arthur couldn’t help reflecting on the contrast. Eight years ago, he would have stayed awake all night — hunting every loose thread, eliminating threats before they even realized they were threats. Now he trusted his systems. He trusted his allies. And most importantly… he had something worth coming home to.

"Stop thinking so loud," Eileen murmured, pulling him close as he got into bed. "Whatever it is will still be there tomorrow."

"How do you always know?"

“Because I know you, Arthur Hayes.” She tapped his chest lightly. “Now sleep. Tomorrow Elena wants to bake cookies for the neighbors — and she insists you help.”

Arthur let out a dramatic groan. “I don’t bake.”

“You do now.” She smiled against his shoulder. “Welcome to fatherhood.”