FBI Agent: Phil Coulson

"Hello, I'm an FBI agent. I'd like to ask you a few details about the kidnapping case. Do you have a moment?"

Hong Fei glanced at Coulson's FBI credentials, a hint of surprise appearing on his face at just the right moment. "Of course, sir. It's still early, I have time."

Coulson put away his credentials and gestured toward the café across the street. "How about we chat over a cup?"

"Sounds good."

Soon, they sat facing each other in a corner of the café. Coulson spoke amiably, "Relax, just tell me what you know. You're a victim too, so this isn't an interrogation."

Hong Fei smiled shyly, his movements still a bit stiff. "Sorry, I am a little nervous, but I'll answer your questions seriously."

Coulson nodded slightly and picked up a sugar packet. "Want one?"

"I'll get it myself, thanks!"

After they each took a sip, Coulson finally got down to business.

"Mr. Hong, can you describe the kidnapper's physical features?" As he spoke, Coulson placed a voice recorder on the table in front of Hong Fei.

"Of course, I still remember that." With that, Hong Fei began describing Frank's build in general terms, finally adding, "Sorry, he always wore a mask, and the basement lighting was very dim, so I didn't get a clear look at his face. But his eyes were very fierce, and he had quite a few wrinkles on his forehead and around his eyes. He probably wasn't young."

Coulson nodded. "I figured as much. But on the bright side, it's a good thing you didn't see his face, or you might not have made it back."

Hong Fei nodded in agreement.

Then, Coulson asked many questions from both direct and indirect angles, especially probing to find out what Tony had done during his captivity.

Hong Fei answered everything openly, because he knew S.H.I.E.L.D. would eventually find out this information anyway. Hiding it now would only cause trouble for his future self.

So when Coulson learned that Tony had actually built a wearable suit of armor while kidnapped, shock finally appeared on his face for the first time.

At this point, Tony was probably still busy exploring and developing the true Iron Man suit, but judging by the timeline, the first test flight of the prototype should be coming up soon.

In short, S.H.I.E.L.D. still knew nothing about any of this.

"Wait, Mr. Hong, are you saying that Tony built a combat suit with you in the basement—one that a person can wear and control?"

Hearing this question, Hong Fei cursed inwardly.

This was definitely a trap, and a double one at that.

First, what did "built with you" mean? That Hong Fei had participated? That he understood it? Or that he had mastered the technology?

If he wasn't careful, Hong Fei might end up drinking coffee at S.H.I.E.L.D., and for who knows how long.

Second, "combat suit."

If Hong Fei, as an actual participant in the build, admitted it was a combat suit, then when the government inevitably tried to take the suit technology from Tony, there would definitely be a seat for him at the hearing.

These agents had dirty minds!

"No, no. I was just helping Mr. Stark with some odd jobs from start to finish, like hammering out metal plates. As for the actual construction, I couldn't understand it at all. My physics grades have always been terrible, and I know next to nothing about machinery. Even the welding was done by Mr. Stark himself—he said my welds were too ugly."

Hong Fei's answer clearly didn't satisfy Coulson, so he pressed on. "Then how much do you know about this combat suit?"

Hong Fei frowned and thought for a moment. "Well, honestly, I'd say it's just an iron can. Isn't it just welding existing weapons onto it? Any blacksmith who knows how to weld could make one."

Coulson's face twitched.

He didn't believe for a second that something Tony Stark had cooked up was as simple as Hong Fei made it sound. But it seemed Hong Fei really didn't understand much about it, to the point that he couldn't even see the suit's true purpose.

Thinking this, Coulson sighed inwardly.

Everyone knew that anything Tony Stark personally developed, even a single bullet, could never be underestimated. That was the impression Tony had always left on people.

This information had to be reported to the Director immediately!

Coulson hadn't expected that a casual visit would yield such important intel. Even though Hong Fei was a bit dim, Coulson still acted very friendly.

"Mr. Hong, thank you for the information. Is there anything else you know that I haven't asked about?"

Hong Fei nodded. "Yes, there is!"

Coulson's spirits lifted again.

"Mr. Stark didn't start with that iron can right away. I remember we dismantled a lot of missiles first, and then he used the collected materials to make a round, glowing thing. Mr. Stark said it was an energy reactor—something about billions of joules per second? I don't remember exactly. Oh, right, he also said he had a big one at home powering his building. Mr. Stark is really amazing!"

Coulson's face was now barely hiding his shock, because he knew all about Tony and the reactor, especially the one powering Stark Tower. Based on Hong Fei's description, Tony had clearly shrunk that massive device down to the size of a palm—another super breakthrough in technology.

Hong Fei added, "Agent, that's all I remember. But could you please not tell anyone I told you? I promised Mr. Stark I'd keep it a secret. It's just that since you're an FBI agent, I thought I'd better tell the truth." As he spoke, Hong Fei's face reddened, as if he felt ashamed for breaking his promise.

"Of course, absolutely. No one outside will know about our conversation today, especially Tony Stark." Coulson smiled and agreed, then put away his voice recorder. "Mr. Hong, thank you very much for your help. I think this information will be very useful to me. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't keep you. Also, if you ever run into any trouble in the future, I might be able to lend a hand."

With that, he stood up, handed Hong Fei a business card, and left with a rather brisk stride.

Watching his eager retreating figure, Hong Fei smirked to himself.

He didn't think S.H.I.E.L.D. would get anything out of Tony, nor did he believe Tony would willingly hand over his research to some Department of Homeland Security he'd never heard of. Even if Tony eventually became an Avenger, didn't he still keep his technology to himself?

And correspondingly, S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't do anything to Tony either, both because of his father and because of his own value.

So what Hong Fei had revealed was ultimately inconsequential. The only thing that might change was that S.H.I.E.L.D. would be more eager to recruit Tony into their alliance, rather than continuing to think he was unsuitable due to his personality.

If personality wasn't enough, strength would make up for it.

As for promising to keep a secret and then immediately selling Tony out...

I'm a bad guy, after all.

I just kidnapped him!!

And I even extorted him!!!

Can't you see that?

Leaving the café, Hong Fei made another help-wanted poster and stuck it on the door.

He wouldn't be staying home for long; going out would only get more frequent from now on. Having the bookstore closed all the time didn't look right either—in the eyes of certain observant people, that alone might be enough to spark suspicion.

But Hong Fei never expected that the first person to come applying would be a familiar face.