The Reason Sound Analysis Comes from Knowing the Answer in Advance

Worthy of being Stark's assistant, Pepper wrote out a check for a million US dollars right in front of Mike without even blinking.

Skye leaned over from behind Mike, craning her head past his shoulder and pressing her eyes close to the check. "Is this real?"

She failed to realize that her chest was pressed tightly against Mike's back, like lovers embracing from behind, arms wrapped around each other's waists.

Forgive Skye for being a country bumpkin, but she had truly never seen a check for a million US dollars. After dropping out of school, she had scraped by on the streets, where she had seen plenty of people throw punches and pull knives over a hundred dollars, and small gangs beat each other bloody over ten thousand.

Mike put away the check, then pressed a finger to Skye's forehead and pushed her back.

"Real or not, none of it is yours."

"Tch!"

Skye suddenly remembered what old Earl had said: Mike's work was dangerous. At the time, she had not taken it seriously, assuming Mike was just a scumbag whose life was constantly a romantic battlefield.

"A job worth a million US dollars must be really dangerous, right?" Skye began to worry about Mike.

Pepper said, "Since Mr. Tang has accepted the money, could you tell us what you plan to do? That wouldn't violate your rules, would it?"

"I can."

Mike's gaze fell on Pepper's bodyguard. Happy had not yet grown as round as a ball; he was merely rather solidly built.

"Is there a problem?" Happy asked, baffled.

"There is indeed a problem."

Mike's answer was unexpected. "If I remember correctly, this bodyguard here..."

"Happy Hogan," Happy introduced himself.

"This Happy is Mr. Stark's personal bodyguard and driver, correct?"

"That's right!"

As Stark's personal bodyguard, Happy often appeared with him in public and was fairly well known.

"Then why weren't you at Stark's side when he was attacked?"

Happy's face darkened with regret.

"I'll answer that for him," Pepper said, taking over. "Tony told him to stay behind and protect me."

"You suspect me?" Happy asked.

"Why shouldn't I?" Mike countered.

"You can, as long as it helps find Mr. Stark." Happy did not get angry.

Rather than Stark's bodyguard, Happy was more accurately a trusted friend, much like Pepper's role as his assistant. If Happy had wanted to harm Stark, he had at least a hundred better ways to do it.

Mike did not suspect Happy. He was simply curious.

In the movie, Happy had helped Stark carry his luggage onto the plane, but he had not appeared in Afghanistan.

"The information I have is limited. I only have a few immature ideas," Mike said.

"You dared accept a million US dollars without knowing anything..." Skye muttered so quietly that only Mike could hear her.

Mike turned and shot her a glare before continuing. "According to the news, Mr. Stark was in the lead vehicle when the convoy was attacked?"

Normally, the protected target would be placed in the middle of the convoy, guarded from the front and rear.

Pepper said, "Tony switched vehicles at the last minute. He doesn't like... restrictions."

Restrictions was a very tactful word. The truth was that he liked acting on his own.

Stark himself bore some responsibility for getting kidnapped this time.

"First, if the attackers' goal was to kill Stark, why did they take him away? If it wasn't, why attack the vehicle Stark was in directly with missiles? So..."

"I believe the employer did not tell the attackers that Stark was in the convoy. They only discovered him after the attack and abducted him..."

"Wait." Happy interrupted. "There's no evidence that someone else was behind this attack."

Mike gestured for Happy to calm down and asked, "Mr. Stark's route in Afghanistan was strictly confidential, wasn't it?"

"It was." Happy nodded.

Mike continued his analysis:

"Someone leaked the convoy's movements to the attackers, yet the attackers did not know Stark was in the convoy. That means the planner and the perpetrators were most likely not on the same side, but merely in an employer-for-hire relationship."

"Also, Mr. Stark has been kidnapped for so long, yet no one has contacted you to demand a ransom or make any other request. Why?"

Pepper and Happy's expressions changed drastically.

Mike knew they had misunderstood and hurriedly said, "It's not what you're thinking. Mr. Stark is definitely still alive."

The two looked at Mike hopefully.

Mike explained, "If Mr. Stark had unfortunately died, with terrorists being the way they are, they would definitely parade it around as an achievement. Haven't you seen how, whenever there's a major attack, all sorts of terrorist groups, big and small, claim responsibility for it? Besides, even to ransom Mr. Stark's body, I imagine you would be willing to pay an astronomical sum. Mr. Stark is alive. I'm certain of that."

It had to be said that Mike's analysis made a great deal of sense.

All this time, Pepper had only heard things like, "We're not sure," "We can't make a judgment," "Wait for further news," and "We won't give up." Now that Mike had firmly stated that Stark was still alive, even if it was only a theoretical analysis, Pepper's emotions finally erupted. She covered her face with both hands and burst into tears.

Mike said awkwardly to Happy, "I normally don't make women cry."

Happy gave Mike a grateful look.

Since Stark's disappearance, Pepper had been in a terrible mental state. She had merely been forcing herself to hold on. Letting out those pent-up emotions would be good for her.

Then Skye viciously pinched Mike from behind.

Mike: (O_O)

What did I do to offend you?

Skye thought, What do you mean, you normally don't make women cry? What about all those women you made scream and howl in bed? Scumbag! Scumbag! Scumbag!

More than ten seconds later, Pepper regained control of her emotions. "Sorry, I lost my composure. Please continue, Mr. Tang."

Worthy of being the formidable woman who could run Stark Group, she had returned to normal so quickly.

Skye thoughtfully handed her a tissue.

"Thank you." Pepper did not forget to thank her.

Mike continued, "The attackers did extort someone. After discovering that their employer had withheld information, their first target for extortion was not you, but their employer."

"How many people have the means to obtain Mr. Stark's itinerary, the strength and connections to hire terrorists in the Middle East, and something to gain from Mr. Stark's death?"

Mike counted on his fingers. "Inside Stark Group, business competitors, the military... There can't be more than ten. Eliminate a few based on the actual circumstances, and it should narrow down to five..."

"Rhodey!"

"Stane!"

"Impossible." ×2.

The two simultaneously rejected their own guesses.

Rhodey was Stark's close friend and Stark Group's military liaison. What would he gain from Stark's death?

Besides, Rhodey had been in the convoy during the attack. If Stark died, Rhodey would definitely be thrown out as a scapegoat, then transferred to some godforsaken corner to do clerical or logistics work, with no future to speak of.

As for Obadiah Stane... his relationship with Tony was like family.

Mike said nothing more and merely quoted Sherlock Holmes: "Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how strange or unbelievable, must be the irrefutable truth."

Pepper and Happy both fell silent.

"Find the mastermind, and we'll naturally learn the attackers' identities. We might even directly find Mr. Stark's location."

Mike said, "I need a little time to prepare, then I'll leave immediately. You'll have to handle the domestic investigation yourselves. Uh, it would be best to bring Coulson in."

Pepper said, "Tony's private jet can take off within an hour."

Pepper took out her checkbook and quickly wrote down an amount with seven zeros. "As long as Tony can be rescued, there is no limit on expenses."

Pepper was now full of confidence and anticipation toward Mike.

Mike did not accept the check. "I said one million US dollars. No extra money. People should keep their word."

As he said it, Mike's heart was bleeding.

Happy froze for a moment. At first, he had felt that Mike was rather obsessed with money, so why was he now acting as though money meant nothing?

Pepper left behind a tablet. JARVIS would place the intelligence it gathered on it for Mike to consult.

Time was pressing. They split up and got to work.