On the plane, Hong Fei had changed out of his combat gear and was resting in his seat. On the other side of a single door, a highly risky operation was underway.
In this operation, because he had harbored the subjective intent to kill and had taken concrete action, there was no doubt that the bad outweighed the good.
The energy within Hong Fei's body increased by nearly one-fifth.
Behind that considerable growth lay a massive expenditure of funds.
Because he had turned a blind eye to Tony's predicament and let it unfold, even saving him did not count as a good deed.
As for Skill Cards, Tony's injuries had not been directly caused by him, so naturally, there had been no drops.
Frank sat opposite Hong Fei, his brow furrowed the entire time. His already stern features looked even more vicious.
"What's wrong?"
Without moving, Frank said, "I'm thinking about what kind of people this world truly needs."
Hong Fei was somewhat surprised. "Since when did you become so profound? You're actually thinking about philosophy now?"
Frank glanced at Hong Fei. "You only paid some money, and that airport was willing to turn a blind eye to a vehicle obviously loaded with weapons and ammunition. They even personally put you on the plane. What if you were a drug lord?"
Hong Fei immediately sat upright. "Let me solemnly remind you once again: never say that in front of me! Otherwise, you'll grow red fur all over your body and lose your mind! In my previous life, this life, and my next life, I will never have anything to do with that thing you mentioned!"
Frank rolled his eyes and simply lay back.
Hong Fei lay back down as well. After a long while, his voice sounded through the cabin again.
"Actually, the world doesn't need anyone. Only people need others who possess certain qualities. Like the officer in charge of that airport—what he needed was wealthy people. In a place ravaged by war, he didn't care whether you carried guns or anything else. He put me on the plane because he was making sure I didn't pull out a gun at the airport. As long as I didn't interfere with his tool for making money, he could welcome me with a smile for the sake of the cash."
Frank said nothing, so Hong Fei continued, "You can become someone needed by a few people, or someone needed by many people. When necessary, you can even make your enemies need you. But you can never become someone everyone needs at the same time."
Amid the prolonged silence, Hong Fei gradually fell asleep.
He did not wake again until the door at the rear opened with a series of beeps.
A middle-aged doctor removed his mask, bowed to Hong Fei, and smiled. "Mr. Hong, the surgery was a success. Following your plan, we successfully stopped the fragments in the patient's body from moving further. Although you aren't a doctor, you have a natural talent for becoming a renowned physician."
The man's flattery did not make Hong Fei happy, because the price he had quoted beforehand was enough to erase any smile from Hong Fei's face.
After operating his phone for a moment, Hong Fei said, "The remaining payment has been transferred. Check it yourself."
Seeing the transfer notification on Hong Fei's phone, the doctor's smile became even brighter.
"Mr. Hong, thank you very much for your trust. I look forward to our next cooperation."
No thanks. I can't afford you!
"Likewise. You've all worked hard. Go get some rest first."
The doctor readily left. As he turned around, he nodded at Frank, clearly indicating that the two knew each other.
After the doctor left, Hong Fei pursed his lips and asked, "How do you know him?"
Frank answered frankly, "He has removed bullets from me many times. He was always a highly skilled surgeon, but he accepted every bribe that came his way, so he was fired. If you need surgery in the future and it isn't convenient to go to a hospital, you can find him too."
Hong Fei immediately refused. "Forget it. I don't have that many two million dollars."
That was right. His consultation fee was exactly two million dollars, not a cent more or less.
"You get what you pay for. At the very least, he won't betray you."
Hong Fei shook his head. "I'd rather find someone I can employ long-term. Come to think of it, I really do have someone in mind."
"Oh?"
"A beauty, and a scientist too."
Frank immediately sneered. "I don't think she'll necessarily be willing to work for you."
Hong Fei sneered as well. "I don't need her to be willing."
Their bickering ended when the plane began to descend.
Once the plane came to a stop, the medical staff waiting at the airport immediately carried Tony, whose entire body was tightly wrapped in bandages, away on a stretcher.
This was a necessary measure for secrecy.
The doctor bid Hong Fei farewell again, the sincerity of his smile beyond question.
After getting off the plane, Hong Fei gritted his teeth and glared at the still-unconscious Tony.
"Do you know how much I spent? More than thirty million dollars! Dollars, not Vietnamese dong! If I can't make back at least ten times that from him, I'll personally send him off!"
Frank asked, "Where else could you send him?"
"Hell!"
A rare smile appeared on Frank's face. Patting Hong Fei on the shoulder, he said, "Don't be so angry. At least you let me experience the joy of being rich for the first time in my life. Think about it—from Afghanistan to Sokovia, countless unfamiliar faces served you along the way. You didn't know any of them, and it was their first time meeting you, but every one of them treated you like their most honored boss."
After the group left the airport by car, they did not head into the city. Instead, they drove toward the mountains.
"Where are we going now?" Frank was puzzled.
Hong Fei looked out the window. Through layers of dense forest, a corner of a gray-white castle atop the mountain came into view.
"See that castle?"
"Yeah."
Hong Fei said casually, "Mine."
Frank was shocked once again.
"Didn't you say you had no money?"
"Yeah."
"Then why do you have a castle?"
Hong Fei looked at Frank disdainfully. "How expensive do you think a castle is? It doesn't even cost as much as that doctor's consultation fee!"
This castle had cost less than 1.5 million dollars.
A castle needed upkeep. Although Hong Fei had bought it and obtained the right to use it, he also had to bear the responsibility of maintaining it. This fixed annual expense might even be higher than its purchase price.
He had bought it not because the castle's vastness and scenery had dazzled him, nor because he planned to retire here and enjoy life after finishing this job. It was because, in such a barren little country, he needed money to spare himself a great deal of trouble while also gaining a sufficiently private, large space.
Sokovia's castle.
The name alone made it clear that it perfectly suited Hong Fei's needs.
After the convoy entered the castle and stopped, Hong Fei and Frank walked straight to a wall of blue-green stone.
Beyond the wall, which stood over a meter high, was a sheer cliff, and below it stretched a vast lake.
This five-hundred-year-old castle had been built against the mountain. It covered more than five thousand square meters and possessed an imposing grandeur. Besides the lake close at hand, the other side overlooked a lush, winding river valley. From anywhere in the castle, one could raise one's head and glimpse the distant chain of snow-capped mountains.
It had both historical charm and breathtaking scenery.
Was 1.5 million dollars expensive?
Fucking expensive!
Because the actual cost was at least 1.5 million every year!
Hong Fei only hoped Tony would hurry up and finish tinkering with the Arc Reactor so he could sell this castle sooner.
After dismissing the group of people he had hired temporarily, Hong Fei and Frank brought Tony into the castle's underground space. It was an extremely concealed secret chamber, perfectly suited to serve as Tony's workplace for the foreseeable future.
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