Obadiah, Please Enter the Jar

The next day.

"Hmph, they stuck a magnet in my chest and made me use a clunky car battery as a power source—absolutely idiotic." Tony grumbled as he scribbled down a list of materials he needed.

Hong Fei sat silently in the corner, looking almost depressed.

In truth, Tony's surgery could have been done better, but Hong Fei didn't need better.

Tony then said, "Don't worry. If your family won't pay your ransom, I'll cover it for you. But you'll have to work at Stark Industries to pay me back."

"I don't have a family." Hong Fei said suddenly.

Tony's pen paused for a moment, then resumed as usual. "So what? Can't a person live without one? Relax, I'll front your share. If that guy tries to pull a double-cross, I'll say you're my assistant now. Guarantee you won't die."

Hong Fei sighed inwardly. If Tony kept this up, he'd start feeling embarrassed.

The only way to repay Tony was to help him clean out the traitor in his house. Hmm, that bald guy might drop a Skill Card, right?

Before long, Tony kept pounding on the iron door until Frank showed up. Handing over the list, Tony said, "I can give you the specs, or I can build one on the spot. But I need better treatment... at least, I'd like some solid food every meal."

Frank's fierce glare made Tony instinctively tone down his original demands.

Hearing this, Frank gave him a cold glance and left without a word, slamming the door shut.

Tony grumbled in annoyance, "I bet a guy like him has no friends."

Tony's suggestion clearly worked. By the second meal, Tony and Hong Fei were eating US military canned meat.

Hong Fei was enjoying his food when the vicious Frank suddenly burst in again. Without a word, he grabbed Hong Fei by the collar and hauled him out.

Startled, Tony dropped his food and rushed over to block him. "Wait, what are you doing? Where are you taking him?"

Frank didn't say a word. He shoved Tony's face aside with his big hand.

But Tony stubbornly charged back. "Hold on! He's my assistant. I need him. There are things I can't do alone—I need help!"

"He won't die." Frank tossed out the words flatly and dragged Hong Fei away.

Back upstairs, Frank set Hong Fei down. Hong Fei immediately asked seriously, "What's going on?"

"They're here."

Hong Fei blinked. "Who?"

Frank said coldly, "Reinforcements. Five of them. After they retired, they all went broke fast. Some lost their wives and kids. They're in a bad way. They're very willing to take the job you offered—even eager to do more."

Hong Fei understood.

Soon, Hong Fei met the five men in the castle.

They stood in a line with their hands behind their backs, each dressed in black suits. Their heights were nearly indistinguishable to the naked eye.

But their builds weren't strong—in fact, they looked almost scrawny.

Thinking back to how they'd likely been homeless and unemployed, Hong Fei didn't pry further.

Frank volunteered, "They were all soldiers, and they served under me. Their overall quality might not match the Marine Corps, but every one of them has been through real combat. Also, I can vouch that none of them have PTSD."

Hong Fei nodded slightly and exchanged glances with the five.

They were also curiously sizing up their new boss, but none showed any odd expressions. After all, what they needed now was a steady job and income.

"My name is Hong Fei. I'm really glad you're joining—truly glad. As you probably know, right now this big castle only has me and Frank. Each of you has traits I need. What we're doing is very simple: no guns, no charging through bullets. All you have to do is put on a change of clothes and act out some real-life dramas."

Suddenly, a loud voice rang out: "Sir, boss, I can go to the battlefield!"

"Me too!"

"Same here!"

The others chimed in, not wanting to be left behind.

Hong Fei turned to Frank, who nodded, and he smiled. "Your fighting spirit is admirable. But it's too early for that. Focus on the task at hand first. At least I can promise you won't go back to the life you had before."

With that, Hong Fei turned and left. Frank gave the five a few instructions and quickly caught up.

"What's next?"

Hong Fei smiled faintly. "Give me the phone. We should surprise our big client."

Hong Fei had already found Obadiah's contact info in Tony's phone.

The first call was ignored. The second, same. Only on the third try did the other end pick up.

"Who is this?"

Hong Fei chuckled. "Mr. Obadiah, good afternoon—oh, it might be nighttime where you are. Good evening!"

Then Hong Fei heard rustling on the line, as if Obadiah had sat up in bed.

"Get to the point. I don't like people beating around the bush."

"Good, neither do I. Then listen up: Stark is with me. To prove it, I sent you an email—check it. If you want him back safe, prepare five billion in bearer bonds or gold. Then wait for my call within twenty-four hours. If you hang up on me again, every time you do, I'll cut a piece off Mr. Stark."

Snap!

Hong Fei hung up directly, turned off the phone, and handed it back to Frank.

"Wait, weren't you asking for a ransom? Why didn't you let him talk? And didn't you just say five billion?"

"Of course I want the ransom. Five billion is my compensation for the suffering I've endured, so I'm raising the price. Not letting him speak is because I want to give him time for deep thought."

Frank looked confused. "What do you mean?"

Hong Fei countered with a question instead of answering. "Do you think Obadiah wants Stark to come back?"

Frank frowned, as if something had dawned on him.

"Not just anyone could know Stark's whereabouts, yet he was ambushed while under US military escort. And you saw it too—those armed militants never intended to leave any survivors." Hong Fei chuckled. "Tony Stark's parents died long ago. Obadiah is currently the closest person to him. But the problem is, Obadiah doesn't see it that way. Without Tony Stark, wouldn't he naturally become the company's sole master? When you can be in charge, why settle for being under someone else's thumb?"

"So you want Obadiah to admit to you that he wants Tony Stark dead?"

Hong Fei grinned. "Bingo. That way I can bump up the price again. The risk of kidnapping versus murder is completely different—it's only reasonable."

Frank thought it over and said, "But I don't think you actually want to kill Tony Stark."

"Of course not. If he dies, who do I collect the second payment from?"

"What second payment?"

Hong Fei waved a hand. "Alright, you're not a straight man in a comedy act, so why so many questions? Hurry up and send me back. I still need to keep building trust with Tony. What a shame about this castle—it's already mine, and yet I can't enjoy it for even a moment. There's no justice in this world."