On the plane, Hong Fei, now changed out of his combat uniform, leaned back in his seat to rest. On the other side of the door, a high-risk surgery was underway.
In this operation, because there was a deliberate attempt to kill and concrete actions had been taken, it was undoubtedly a bad deed.
Hong Fei's energy rose by nearly one-fifth as a result.
Behind this significant growth lay a massive expenditure of funds.
Because he had turned a blind eye to Tony's predicament and let it take its course, even though he had saved him, it didn't count as a good deed.
As for skill cards, since Tony's injuries weren't directly caused by him, naturally nothing dropped.
Frank sat opposite Hong Fei, frowning the whole time, his naturally stern features looking even more ferocious.
"What's wrong?"
Frank replied, not moving an inch: "I'm wondering, what kind of person does this World actually need?"
Hong Fei was a bit surprised: "When did you suddenly become so profound that you've started thinking about philosophy?"
Frank cast a glance at Hong Fei: "You only had to pay some money to make that airport turn a blind eye to a vehicle clearly loaded with weapons and ammunition, and they even personally escorted you onto the plane. What if you were a drug lord?"
Hong Fei immediately sat up straight: "I solemnly remind you again, that kind of talk is absolutely not allowed in front of me! Otherwise, you'll be covered in red hair and lose your mind! In my past life, this life, and my next life, I will never have anything to do with that stuff you're talking about!"
Frank rolled his eyes and simply lay back.
Hong Fei also lay back down. After a long while, his voice resonated in the cabin once more.
"Actually, the World doesn't need anyone. Only people need other people who possess certain specific traits. Just like the officer in charge of that airport, he needs rich people. In a place plagued by continuous war, he doesn't care whether you're carrying guns or anything else. He escorted me onto the plane actually to supervise me so I wouldn't pull out a gun in the airport. As long as I didn't touch his tools for accumulating wealth, he could smile and send me off for the sake of the money."
Frank didn't say a word, so Hong Fei continued: "You can become someone needed by a few, or someone needed by the many. When necessary, you can even make your enemies need you. However, you can never be someone needed by everyone at the same time."
In the lingering silence, Hong Fei gradually drifted off to sleep.
It wasn't until the door behind him opened with a beep that he woke up again.
A middle-aged Doctor took off his mask, bowed in front of Hong Fei, and smiled: "Mr. Hong, the surgery was very successful. According to your plan, we have successfully stopped the fragments inside the patient from moving further. Although you are not a Doctor, you possess the natural potential to become a renowned one."
The other man's flattery didn't make Hong Fei happy. The price they'd agreed to beforehand was enough to wipe any smile off his face.
Picking up his phone and working it for a moment, Hong Fei said, "The final payment has been made. Check it yourself."
The Doctor saw the transfer notification on Hong Fei's phone, and his smile brightened.
"Mr. Hong, thank you very much for your trust. I look forward to our next cooperation."
Spare me. I can't afford you!
"Same here. Thank you all for your hard work. You should go down and rest first."
The other man left readily, nodding at Frank as he turned. Clearly, the two knew each other.
After the Doctor left, Hong Fei frowned and asked, "How do you know him?"
Frank replied straightforwardly, "He's removed bullets from me many times. Actually, he's always been a skilled surgeon, but he took bribes, so he was fired. If you need surgery in the future and it's inconvenient to go to a hospital, you can still find him."
Hong Fei immediately refused. "Forget it, I don't have that many two millions."
That was right. The other man's fee was exactly two million U.S. dollars, not a cent more or less.
"There are benefits to being expensive; at least he won't betray you."
Hong Fei shook his head. "I'd rather find someone for long-term employment. Come to think of it, I do have a candidate."
"Oh?"
"A beautiful woman, and a scientist at that."
Frank sneered immediately. "I don't think she'll necessarily be willing to work for you."
Hong Fei sneered along. "I don't need her to be willing."
Their bickering ended because the plane began to land.
After the plane landed, the medical staff waiting at the airport immediately used a stretcher to carry Tony, who was wrapped tightly in bandages from head to toe, off the plane.
This was a necessary measure for confidentiality.
The Doctor bid farewell to Hong Fei again, and the smile on his face couldn't have been more sincere.
After getting off the plane, Hong Fei gritted his teeth and stared at Tony, who was still in a coma.
"Do you know how much I spent? Over thirty million, dollars! Not Vietnamese Dong! If I can't earn back at least ten times that from him, I'll definitely send him away with my own hands!"
Frank asked, "Send him where?"
"Hell!"
A rare smile appeared on Frank's face. He patted Hong Fei on the shoulder and 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 strange faces have been serving you along the way. Although you don't know any of them, and they are all seeing you for the first time, every single one of them treats you as the most distinguished boss."
After the group left the airport by car, they didn't enter the city but instead drove towards the mountains.
"Where are we going now?" Frank asked, very puzzled.
Hong Fei looked out the window. Through the dense forest, he could see a corner of a gray-white castle on the mountaintop.
"Do you see that castle?"
"Yeah."
Hong Fei said casually, "It's mine."
Frank was shocked again.
"Didn't you say you were broke?"
"Yeah."
"Then why do you have a castle?"
Hong Fei looked at Frank with disdain. "How expensive do you think a castle is? It doesn't even cost as much as what I paid that Doctor!"
The castle only cost less than 1.5 million U.S. dollars.
A castle needs upkeep. Even though he owned the castle, Hong Fei also had to bear the responsibility for its maintenance. The fixed annual expenses might be even more expensive than the purchase price.
He hadn't bought it because he was blinded by the castle's vastness and scenery, nor was he preparing to live in seclusion after finishing the job. He needed to use money to avoid trouble in this barren country, while also having a sufficiently private and large space.
A castle in Sokovia.
Just by the name, you knew it perfectly met Hong Fei's requirements.
After the convoy entered the castle and stopped, Hong Fei and Frank walked straight to the green stone wall.
Outside the wall, which was over a meter high, was a cliff, and below it was a vast lake.
This castle, with over five hundred years of history, was built against the mountain. It covered an area of over five thousand square meters, and it was magnificent. Besides the lake close at hand, on the other side was a verdant, winding river valley. Looking up from anywhere in the castle, one could glimpse the snow-capped mountains stretching into the distance.
It had both historical heritage and breathtaking scenery.
1.5 million U.S. dollars. Was it expensive?
It's damn expensive!
Because the actual price was at least 1.5 million per year!
Hong Fei just hoped Tony would hurry up and tinker with the Arc Reactor so that he could sell this castle off sooner.
After dismissing the group of temporarily hired people, Hong Fei and Frank sent Tony into the castle's underground space. It was a very hidden secret room, very suitable to serve as Tony's workspace for the coming period.