Active Skill Card: Rapid Memory (Blue)

On the plane, Hong Fei lay back comfortably, studying the blue card floating before him.

The front showed Tony's Mark I armor—a clunky, iron-bucket design.

The text on the back described the Skill Card.

Active Skill Card: Rapid Memory (Blue)

"Significantly enhances your memory capacity and speed when activated."

The first thing worth noting was the card's color.

Unlike the white card dropped by Frank, this one was a stunning starry blue, with particle effects along its edges like flowing comets.

From the glow and function, this blue card was clearly a higher tier than the white one.

Second, it was an active Skill Card—Hong Fei could toggle it on and off at will.

Finally, how would this Rapid Memory skill actually perform?

He equipped the card into a Card Slot, activated the ability, and grabbed a magazine to read.

After a minute, sensing his energy had dropped by nearly half, Hong Fei deactivated Rapid Memory and closed his eyes to recall.

Instantly, countless fragments surged into his mind, neatly stitching together one by one until they formed full magazine pages—not just the text and punctuation, but even the image details and paper texture were crystal clear.

He flipped open the magazine to compare.

Perfect match.

With a subtle smile, Hong Fei tossed the magazine aside and walked over to Frank.

Frank sat sprawled in a chair, holding a battered blade with a pitted surface and a twisted, chipped edge, studying it intently.

"Still staring at that?"

Frank didn't look up. "You're definitely not an ordinary person."

Hong Fei: "I was born extraordinary."

"I'm starting to think you're not human."

"That's a bit much." Hong Fei pursed his lips. "I'm still an Earthling, just a little sharper than the average guy. And I can tell you plainly—there'll be more discoveries like this, breaking common sense, coming down like a relentless storm. You should start getting used to it now, so you don't end up a laughingstock later."

He took the damaged blade from Frank, running a fingertip over its notched edge, and sighed. "Cheap materials just don't cut it. I'll need the best stuff to forge a proper sword someday."

Frank snorted. "I doubt any material exists that'll let you chop bullets at 850 meters per second, especially hundreds of them in a short time."

Hong Fei tossed the blade aside and said patiently, "See, you're thinking small again. The universe is vast—such materials definitely exist, and Earth has them too."

Frank clearly didn't believe that. He flopped back and ignored Hong Fei.

From Sokovia in Eastern Europe to Afghanistan in Central Asia wasn't that far—nowhere near the distance from China's northwest to its southeast coast.

The plane landed at the same airport Hong Fei had left from. The military commander in charge was already waiting on the ground, spotting Hong Fei on the gangway and spreading his arms wide with an exaggerated laugh.

Hong Fei's face lit up with a smile as he leaned slightly toward Frank behind him. "That damn bastard just cost me another million."

Stepping off the gangway, Hong Fei opened his arms too. They closed in, chests bumping, hugging tightly and slapping each other's backs like long-lost brothers.

"Colonel Abu, my old friend, great to see you again. But you didn't have to come yourself—I was already planning to visit you."

The heavily bearded Colonel Abu squinted with a grin, speaking in broken English. "Hong, my dear brother, when a guest as honored as you arrives, I can't sit still at home. Only greeting you in person shows my respect."

Hong Fei laughed loudly, walking shoulder to shoulder with Abu, chatting cheerfully as if they were the best of pals.

Frank watched their backs with contempt. Numbers Three to Five carried Tony on a stretcher at the rear.

Outside the airport, Number One and Number Two, who'd arrived in Afghanistan ahead of time, waited in two cars. With a reluctant farewell, Abu waved from outside as the vehicles pulled away.

Only after the car had driven off did Hong Fei turn and rub his sore cheeks.

"From now on, if I can enter legally, I'm never using him again."

A million per trip—who could stomach that?

Frank chimed in with a snide remark. "Didn't he show you plenty of respect? Even came to greet you."

"Hmph, that wasn't a greeting. From the second I appeared, someone had a gun trained on my head from a distance."

He could understand the caution, but his irritation was just as valid.

In short, the two men laughing together had ulterior motives. Hong Fei smiled because he might come back, while the other wanted to keep the cash flowing without tarnishing his reputation elsewhere—since he ran the airport, his under-the-table income wasn't limited to Hong Fei.

Otherwise, the guy would've ordered his men to open fire, and Hong Fei would've snapped his neck on the spot.

The two cars sped along the road, veering onto a dirt track after hitting the desert. After another four bumpy hours, they reached a desolate valley littered with gravel and shell casings.

Everyone got out, stretching their limbs. Frank said, "Number One and Number Two picked this spot. I checked the terrain—it fits your requirements."

Hong Fei nodded, and they all entered a cave.

Unlike the scorching surface, the cave was cool. Sandbags were piled near the entrance, and deeper inside, several tunnels branched off like a maze.

Scattered bullet holes inside and out showed a fierce firefight had happened here.

Frank added, "This used to be a small Armed Militants' hideout, but the US military swept through after an incident. No one should be back for a while."

Hong Fei: "Good. One night is all we need. What about the escape route?"

"There's a tunnel inside that leads to the back of this stone mountain."

"Good! Great spot. How'd you find this place?" Hong Fei looked at Number One and Number Two.

The two exchanged a solemn glance, then Number One spoke: "Boss, while we were scouting nearby towns, we ran into a survivor who fled during a US military sweep. He was more than happy to sell us this location."

"Oh? How much did it cost?"

Number One cracked a grin. "Nothing."

Hong Fei didn't press further, but shot Number One a look of firm approval.