The Ten Rings' headquarters was located deep within the mountains—an ancient, massive complex of castle-like architecture.
The outer perimeter featured blue brick city walls, towering watchtowers, and beacon towers serving as defensive structures.
Inside were open-air training grounds, barracks, a council hall, luxurious palaces, and more, all built in an ancient Oriental architectural style.
Surrounded by dense forests and treacherous, rolling high mountains, this place could be considered an excellent, easily defensible location.
The moment Harvey stepped out of the portal, the two guards stationed at the entrance of the Dragon Abyss Hall immediately aimed the muzzles of their AK-47s at the newcomer.
Guards wearing heavy, ancient armor yet wielding modern firearms—this bizarre scene could probably only be found at the Ten Rings' headquarters.
After all, Wenwu hailed from China. When he formed the Ten Rings, he incorporated many Oriental characteristics into it.
The two guards looked agitated, continuously making shooing motions.
"Jibber-jabber... jibber-jabber..."
Although he couldn't understand Middle Eastern languages, the vigilant posture of the two guards explained everything.
With the language barrier, Harvey didn't want to waste time talking. He simply raised his hand and cast the Firework Charm.
A beam of red light shot high into the sky, exploding with a bang into a colorful firework.
Soon, the main man appeared.
Wenwu wore a black, Chinese-style Mandarin collar robe underneath, paired with black shoulder armor on the outside, and a red sash tied around his waist. His face was resolute, exuding an aura of steadiness and majesty.
At this moment, leading a few armored personal guards, he strode over to Harvey with the powerful gait of a dragon or tiger. His stern expression suddenly vanished, replaced by an approachable smile.
"Haha, little brother, you're finally here. I thought you had forgotten the time of our trade."
"Your older brother here has been waiting so anxiously I couldn't eat or sleep. Finally, I get to see you."
Wenwu spoke in Chinese. After all, during their last spar, he learned that Harvey understood Chinese as well.
"I'm terribly sorry, older brother. You know Stark's technology isn't easy to get a hold of. Fortunately, I didn't break my promise. I've brought the miniature Arc Reactor technology for you..."
Harvey casually offered a few polite pleasantries.
He had no grudge against Wenwu, and saying a few nice words didn't cost him anything.
If it weren't for an alien treasure like the Ten Rings, he wouldn't want to conflict with the man either.
"This godforsaken place in the Middle East is always damn hot. It's high noon, let's head inside before we chat."
"I'll have someone prepare a banquet, and we can discuss the specific details of the trade while we eat."
"No problem, it is a bit hot out here."
Harvey gladly accepted Wenwu's invitation.
He wasn't afraid this old bastard would use low-level tricks like poisoning the food.
He had plenty of antidote potions on him.
The group walked into the Dragon Abyss Hall. The interior decoration was almost identical to an ancient Oriental palace.
Dozens of coiled-dragon golden pillars held up the ceiling. The golden dragons wrapping around the pillars held luminous pearls in their mouths, their flowing whiskers making it seem as if they were watching the visitors.
Bypassing a carved shadow wall adorned with plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums, and a screen depicting flying birds, they sat down in the rosewood chairs in the front hall.
"Serve the tea!" Wenwu called out.
Several maids serving tea walked out from behind the screen.
Harvey wasn't in a rush to trade. After taking a sip of the nostalgically familiar tea, he started making small talk.
"Older brother, someone has been using your name recently to kidnap the American President. Did you know about this?"
Hearing this, Wenwu put down his carved teacup, frowned, and said, "There's such a thing? Our gang is primarily active in the Middle East; we don't know much about the intelligence situation in America."
Harvey's face turned serious as he explained, "As far as I know, it's a guy named Aldrich Killian."
"He publicly calls himself the Mandarin, and he's launched over a dozen bombing attacks on America recently."
"Yesterday, he even kidnapped the American President. The whole world knows about it now."
"This guy is using the name of the Mandarin to dump a pot of shit on your head. If you don't do something about it, older brother, the outside world might look down on you."
Wenwu felt this made sense as he listened.
"Thank you for informing me, little brother. I'll send someone to America later to teach this reckless fool a lesson."
Harvey continued to fan the flames: "You haven't taken action in many years, older brother. It's caused every Tom, Dick, and Harry to dare use your name. It's time to let the world witness your true power again."
Afraid Wenwu wouldn't be able to find the guy, he even thoughtfully provided Killian's whereabouts.
"Yesterday, Killian was defeated by Iron Man. I heard he was sent to a prison in New York. You can look into that area, older brother."
Having lived for so many years, the old and crafty Wenwu understood long ago that Harvey was trying to induce him to go cause trouble in America.
"Let's put this matter aside for now. Let's talk about the trade."
Seeing this old bastard wasn't taking the bait, Harvey threw out another lure.
"Don't rush, older brother. Do you know why that Killian dared to use your name?"
Without waiting for Wenwu to ask, he answered his own question: "Because Killian possesses a Super Soldier Serum with a relatively low success rate—the Extremis virus."
"He has dozens of subordinates injected with the Extremis serum, which is why he dares to launch terrorist attacks and claim he's going to rule the world."
Hearing about a Super Soldier Serum, Wenwu's interest was instantly piqued.
Although he didn't care much about American intelligence, he definitely knew about Captain America, the Avenger who appeared during the Battle of New York.
His eyebrows twitched slightly as he asked curiously, "Do you have a way to acquire this kind of serum, little brother?"
Harvey nodded, pulling a dose of the Extremis virus serum directly out of his spatial bag and placing it on the tea table.
"This is one dose of the Extremis virus serum. The usage instructions are written on the paper."
"Although the success rate is only 30%, as long as it succeeds, one can gain superpowers such as limb regeneration, superhuman strength, and fire manipulation."
"Consider this dose of serum a meeting gift for you, older brother. Coming to visit in such a hurry, I hope you won't disdain it."
Wenwu was highly interested in this kind of Super Soldier Serum. Hearing this, his face beamed with joy. "You are truly too polite, little brother. There was no need to prepare such a generous gift for a simple visit..."
While uttering polite pleasantries, he secretly shot a glance at a gang member nearby.
The heavily muscled gang member tactfully stepped forward and took the Extremis serum.
In fact, Wenwu, whose appetite was massive, was not satisfied with just a single dose of Extremis serum.
"Little brother, do you possess the manufacturing method for the Extremis serum?"
"Your older brother is willing to trade a precious treasure for it."
Although Harvey was only interested in the Ten Rings, he also wanted to hear what kind of treasure this old monster who had lived for hundreds of years could offer to move him.
"Older brother, you also know the preciousness of this kind of serum. Generally speaking, it is priceless."
"And if the Ten Rings were to possess the manufacturing technology for the Extremis serum, it would be like adding wings to a tiger. By then, ruling the entire world would be a possibility..."
What 'priceless'? Couldn't Wenwu hear that Harvey was just painting a rosy picture to drive up the price?
He waved his hand, his tone turning solemn: "Little brother, listen to me first. I have a daughter, eighteen years of age. She is exceptionally beautiful, both brilliant and virtuous..."
What the hell?
A flash of shock crossed Harvey's eyes.
This old bastard doesn't actually want to become my cheap father-in-law, does he?
Setting aside the fact that in the original plot, his daughter's looks were only so-so.
Even if his daughter truly possessed celestial beauty, a normal human being simply couldn't compare to the preciousness of the Extremis serum manufacturing method, right?
This old bastard's skin is even thicker than mine! He actually wants to catch a white wolf empty-handed?