Some Rejoice, Some Worry

Today's headline: Tony Stark, president of Stark Industries, was attacked by local terrorists in Afghanistan during an arms sale. The US Army escort detail was wiped out, but Tony Stark's body was not found at the scene. He was suspected of having been kidnapped.

Economic headline: Due to Tony Stark's disappearance, Stark Industries stocks plunged by thirty percent. At the same time, shares in its competitors rose rapidly.

Other sections carried statements from Obadiah, Tony's father's close ally, as well as the US Military. Those statements were basically all empty words, taking up an entire page with long-winded nonsense but not a single substantive point. To sum them up: no comment, it's classified, still under investigation, nothing to say, I'm not telling you, just not telling you. Still, there was nothing worth caring about there, especially for Evenson.

"Yahoo! We made a killing!" Evenson was so excited he nearly started dancing. At last, he could say goodbye to the days when instant noodles were all he had to eat, maybe with two sausages at most, and even seaweed egg-drop soup counted as seafood.

Sarah leaned closer and cautiously said, "Yeah, Boss. Those miserable days are finally over. Haven't you noticed? Tyler's eyes turn green whenever he looks at Hubbs these past two days."

Evenson glanced at Tyler, who had started playing with his dumbbells again, and lowered his voice as well. "Has he finally awakened some unspeakable interest? Does he want to fuck a dog?"

Sarah, who had been bent over near Evenson's ear, immediately straightened up. "Fuck, Boss, you pervert! What the hell are you thinking? Tyler just wants to stew Hubbs to improve our meals."

Evenson's eyes widened at once, his face full of disbelief. "That's even more perverted, okay? Broadly speaking, Hubbs and Tyler are the same species."

Sarah blinked. "But Hubbs is a dog?"

Evenson dismissed it. "Hellhounds are demons too."

The two fell silent at the same time, as though struggling with whether a demon that looked human and a demon that looked like a dog truly counted as the same species. In the end, Evenson was the first to pull himself free from this topic, which could easily fill a hundred-thousand-word thesis. "Fine, forget that for now. In any case, we made money. Let's collect the dividends first, then have a good meal. I've decided we're having steak tonight to celebrate."

Sarah's face immediately lit up. Steak! For a demon who normally couldn't live without meat but had eaten instant noodles for three straight days, this was heavenly news. She was so happy that she even wanted to help Evenson do some indescribable things that night.

"Go to the supermarket and get the kind that costs ten US dollars for four pieces." But Evenson's words instantly turned Sarah's face cold again. Sure enough, lesbians were true love; the opposite sex was nothing but heresy. So stingy—no wonder he was still a virgin.

Truly, some rejoiced while others worried. The bigwigs on Stark Industries' board were frantic over the disappearance of their precious Tony Stark, popping quick-acting heart pills, while Evenson's side was already preparing to celebrate extravagantly.

But please don't forget that Evenson was a Sorcerer, and the Sorcerer class was black. Its greatest trait was ruining luck. When you opened thirty boxes you had painstakingly saved up, full of hope, only to get nothing but resources and Gold Coins, then if you looked around, there was definitely a Sorcerer within thirty yards of you.

Just as Evenson was preparing to celebrate, a bright red classic convertible pulled up in front of the shop. An uninvited guest in a suit stepped out of the car. It was S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson.

Coulson stood at the entrance and looked up at the sign for Richter's Curiosities. Though he had come here just three days ago, his heart was still filled with mixed emotions.

Three days earlier, when he had come here for the first time, he had been inexplicably knocked out. After experiencing a series of unbelievable events, he had accepted something as unscientific as Magic. Before leaving, he had even learned that Hydra had risen from the ashes. So, on the morning two days ago, under orders from Director Nick Fury, he had led a raid and arrest operation against the Deadlock Gang, which was suspected of harboring Hydra members. He had thought it was time to earn some merit, but word of the operation leaked. They failed to catch a single target, and he himself ended up under investigation. The investigation had only concluded yesterday, and the effects of the truth serum had not even worn off when those shameless colleagues came to question him about this and that. He had nearly told them what positions he used with his girlfriend. In short, he truly did not want to come back to this place.

But then again, one wave had barely settled before another rose. S.H.I.E.L.D. had only just finalized its plans regarding Hydra when news broke outside that the president of Stark Industries, the leader of America's arms manufacturing industry, one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s founders, and the only son of Howard Stark—Tony Stark—had been attacked by terrorists and gone missing during an arms sale. It nearly made Nick Fury scratch through his bald head.

But since it had happened, they had to investigate. Scratching his scalp raw would not help. In the end, they decided to leave the Middle East to the local US Army, while S.H.I.E.L.D. sent specialists over to assist. After all, the local US Army knew the area inside and out. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s main task was to investigate whether there was a mole in the United States, whether someone had been working with outside forces from within.

Stark Industries had dominated America's arms manufacturing industry for decades, crushing its competitors to the point where they could barely breathe. And based on the principle that where there was oppression, there would be resistance, perhaps one company had finally had enough and decided to rise up and sing, taking the chance to eliminate Tony while he was in the Middle East, where bullets flew everywhere.

And it would not only be vicious competition among industry rivals. Internal struggles among wealthy families and infighting within the company would also be key targets of investigation. In a corporate dynasty at Stark Industries' level, if you picked any one of them at random, all the messy affairs inside would be enough to make several seasons of television—and the ratings would definitely beat Game of Thrones, Money Heist, and Empresses in the Palace.

At that time, Coulson had only just been released after passing his isolation review when Nick Fury summoned him to his office. Fury first congratulated him on clearing the review, then informed him about the matter.

Coulson had thought he might be sent to the Middle East to eat sand, or kept in the United States to trade verbal blows with a pack of impossibly slippery business tycoons.

Between the two, Coulson would rather go to the Middle East. The environment there might be harsh, but matters were not so complicated. If someone looked suspicious, he could interrogate them however he wanted. It was different in the United States. Every one of those business magnates was formidable. One was friends with the Speaker of Congress, another was close to the Vice President, and the rest had tight connections to the President. Not a single one was easy to deal with.

But what Coulson never expected was that the task he received would be even more difficult than either of those. Go to Brooklyn, find that Sorcerer, and learn about the situation. Those were Nick Fury's exact words.

Coulson had found it strange at the time. Evenson and Tony Stark had absolutely nothing to do with each other, so why ask him about the situation? Could it be that during the days Coulson had been isolated, that guy who had been so poor he was practically eating instant noodles—though he was eating them now—had suddenly won the lottery ten times in a row and become rich overnight? Or had he suddenly graduated from MIT, transformed into a Great Scientist, and become good friends with Tony Stark?

However, Nick Fury had mentioned only one detail, and it made Coulson feel that perhaps he really should go learn about the situation.