"By the way, I found the place you asked me to look for, but the security there was extremely tight. I couldn't go any deeper without alerting anyone."
Hong Fei immediately perked up. "Where?"
"Three hundred and twenty li north of us. It's another castle, but much larger. It looks more like a military fortress."
Sokovia, a poor, mountainous inland nation in Eastern Europe with an unstable political situation, remained relatively peaceful most of the time compared to the chaotic battlefields of the Middle East.
A Hydra faction was hidden in Solkove, led by Baron Strucker.
After a brief moment of thought, Hong Fei said, "Leave them alone for now. Maintain the necessary remote surveillance. Pick two people to stay behind."
Frank immediately said, "Then Number Four and Number Five can stay. They don't have any family left."
"That works. I'll leave them some funds, and they can handle a few other things while they're at it."
In the middle of their discussion, Hong Fei's phone suddenly rang.
The moment he saw the number, Hong Fei smiled. He put on his mask, and his voice abruptly became coarse and low. "Tony Stark, how are you?"
"I'm fine. I'd be better if you hadn't stabbed me in the shoulder."
Tony's tone was ice-cold, but Hong Fei seemed not to notice.
"You called at just the right time. I was just about to ask why I still haven't seen my money after an entire day."
Tony unconsciously clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. "Return my armor, and I'll add another hundred million."
Hong Fei immediately shook his head. "First, I don't know what armor you're talking about. Second, if you want to alter the terms of our deal, I can come find you in person. We can sit down and discuss it slowly. How does that sound?"
"I'm afraid you won't dare come!"
Hong Fei said, "Three days from now, at your villa. How about it?"
The line suddenly fell silent. A moment later, Hong Fei abruptly ended the call.
At his Long Island villa, Tony stared blankly at the failed location trace for a moment before slamming his hand down on the table in fury.
After a long while, Hong Fei called again. "I truly don't want to lay a hand on a mature, beautiful woman. You can understand how I feel, can't you?"
Tony said, "You'll see the money tomorrow."
After hanging up, Hong Fei shook his head and chuckled.
Frank said, "I'm starting to think you're like those terrorists I've seen..."
"Pah!" Hong Fei stood and walked outside. "I'd bet that when you're old, your whole body will be covered in red hair."
At the top of the Castle, Hong Fei gazed out at the shimmering lake and the snow-covered mountains rising in the distance, then slowly let out a deep breath.
That crudely made Mark I Armor truly had little use for Hong Fei, and Tony's offer of a hundred million far exceeded its actual value. But the matter could not be calculated so simply.
Although he had no interest in researching armor himself, the fact that it could produce an Iron Monger in Obadiah's hands meant it possessed a certain degree of universal value. Put simply, with the Mark I Armor as a blueprint and the Arc Reactor added in, others might not be able to create Iron Man's armor, but developing inferior armor would not be a problem.
Giving it to Tony was worth a hundred million, but if he gave it to someone else, perhaps it could not be measured in money at all.
The fundamental reason Hong Fei did not want armor was that his physical abilities could be strengthened without limit. An armor suit might instantly raise his defense to an unimaginable level, but once it was breached, his frail flesh would immediately place him in mortal danger.
Moreover, if he wore armor for too long, that sturdy shell would gradually weaken his understanding and pursuit of techniques such as dodging and dispersing force. That would be like cutting off his own retreat.
Of course, Hong Fei would not stubbornly refuse to adapt when the situation demanded it, but at least for now, there was no need.
Besides, he had already sent the Mark I Armor away when he entered Afghanistan for the second time. Only the Arc Reactor-related information remained in his possession.
The big business Hong Fei intended to pursue would not be limited to one man, even if that man would one day become the world-famous Iron Man.
The next day, Hong Fei checked his account. The nine-digit number beginning with an eight put him in an excellent mood.
Five hundred million had come from Obadiah, while the other three hundred million was the amount agreed upon in Hong Fei and Tony's deal to eliminate the traitor Obadiah. The latter had used electronic bonds that were acquired and repeatedly transferred, which was also Frank's work.
After obtaining their passports, Hong Fei, Frank, and the others scattered across Europe and returned to New York through different countries.
When he arrived home, Frank and the others had not yet returned. Hong Fei first completed the procedures with several tenants who had moved out, then sat behind the counter of the first-floor bookstore as usual, browsing the web.
He was looking through recent local New York news.
Tony Stark's return was clearly the biggest story, still prominently displayed on the website's homepage. The photo of his shoulder wrapped in bandages made him look somewhat more serious and somewhat less frivolous.
Mexicans and the Russian Mafia had clashed, but after the police arrived, they suddenly abandoned their conflict and turned on the officers instead. Seven policemen were killed and more than ten were injured, making it the largest gang-related case of the year so far.
Other than that, New York was fairly peaceful.
That afternoon, Frank and the others arrived one after another. Hong Fei assigned them the rooms left vacant by the departing tenants, reassured Frank, and then quietly waited for his guest to arrive.
At dusk, the number of pedestrians on the street abruptly increased, mixed in with children wearing school uniforms.
"Hi, sir! You're finally back!"
Peter, his backpack slung over his shoulders, burst into the bookstore with a radiant smile on his face.
Hong Fei looked up and smiled. "I just got back today. How have things been lately?"
"Great, sir. I got As in every subject. Do you want to see?" Peter's eyes shone brightly.
"Sure."
Hearing that, Peter immediately pulled off his backpack, opened the zipper, and swiftly took out a report card.
Hong Fei accepted it and examined it seriously, the corners of his mouth lifting high.
Seeing his smile, Peter became so excited that he could barely contain himself.
"Excellent, Peter. I think this is something to be proud of. As a reward, you can choose any books from the bookstore for free today. No limit."
"Thank you, sir!" Peter cried out with sparkling eyes. After setting down his backpack, he plunged into the densely packed bookshelves.
Hong Fei slipped his report card back into the backpack and put it away. As soon as he looked up, he saw a stylish sports car pull up outside the entrance.
The door opened, and Tony, dressed in a suit and wearing sunglasses, strode in with the swagger of a man who owned the world.
Reaching the counter, he looked around as though he had not seen Hong Fei's beaming face at all. "Hello? Anyone here? Why is no one here to welcome me? Believe it or not, I'll buy this place tomorrow."
Hong Fei had no choice but to stand up, his smile turning helpless. "Mr. Stark, I'm right here."
Tony slowly turned around and lowered his sunglasses slightly. "Sorry, the lighting was too dim. I didn't see you."
Keeping up his persona, Hong Fei smiled shyly. "Welcome, Mr. Stark."
"Enough nonsense. Got any alcohol?"
Hong Fei pointed outside at the car.
Tony stared at him without blinking.
Hong Fei bent down and took a bottle of brandy from beneath the counter. Tony snatched it away, frowned at the label, and said, "This is what you drink?"
Hong Fei shrugged. "I don't drink. They gave it to me when I went grocery shopping."
Tony unscrewed the cap and took a small sip. Then he screwed it back on and tossed the bottle into the trash.
Turning back around, he snapped his fingers with flair. "Close up. Let's go."
"Wait, Mr. Stark. I still have a customer."
Tony turned to look at the empty bookstore. After several seconds, he said, "Are you messing with me?"
At that moment, Peter spoke up softly, holding several new books in his arms. "Sir, just these."
Tony jumped in surprise and quickly lowered his head to look at the child beside him.
"Whoa, sorry. I really didn't see you just now."
Peter ignored him.
Hong Fei crouched down and helped Peter put the new books into his backpack. Then he said, "Remember to keep some distance when you read, or you'll become nearsighted easily."
"I'll remember." Peter put on his backpack. "I'm going home first. I'll come back tomorrow. Thank you!"
With that, he turned and walked straight past Tony, leaving without looking back.
Tony said, "Your son? Doesn't look like it. And he actually doesn't know who I am. Did he fail to recognize me?"
Before you continue