"Next, we need to put on a show for the arms dealer. You'll play the bad guy, and I'll be a..."
"Why aren't you the one playing the bad guy?" Frank asked, sounding dissatisfied. Hong Fei lowered his head and patted himself down, searching his body for something. Frank couldn't help but ask, "What are you looking for?"
"I'm trying to find a mirror, so you can have a clearer understanding of yourself."
Frank's face darkened instantly.
In the end, Hong Fei assigned Frank the role of the militant leader. Hong Fei, meanwhile, restrained his martial aura and transformed into a perfectly ordinary young tourist.
While changing, Hong Fei added, "By the way, when are those old pals of yours arriving? We can't just be the two of us forever. That arms dealer is very sharp; he might get suspicious soon."
The "old pals" he referred to were Frank's former comrades-in-arms.
Frank had served for a long time, moving through many units, eventually ending up in the Marine Corps before his retirement. Many of his former comrades had also retired, and these people were valuable resources.
Frank said calmly, "We can't rush. We must screen for people who are truly trustworthy. People change, and I don't know if they still feel the same way about me as they did before."
"That makes sense. We don't need too many, five or six is enough. After all, we aren't going to the battlefield."
In the secret room, Tony had already woken up. Hong Fei had removed the bandages on his head; there was no need for him to hide his appearance here.
Struggling to open his heavy eyelids, Tony's eyes were filled with confusion.
After scanning the dimly lit secret room, his gaze gradually fell to his chest.
Beneath the bandages, two wires extended outwards, finally connecting to a car battery beside the iron bed.
Tony was instantly shocked. He forced his weak body into a half-sitting position, tore off the blood-stained bandages on his chest, and was stunned to see a circular metal device embedded within the flesh and bone at the center of his chest.
Thud!
He immediately fell back onto the bed, his eyes wide open, gasping for air, his face filled with disbelief.
Seeing this through the hidden camera, Hong Fei, dressed in casual clothes, gestured to Frank, who had shaved his head and was wearing a black face mask. The two of them walked towards the door of the secret room.
A moment later, the sound of keys clinking came from outside the secret room door.
Amidst a teeth-gritting noise, the door to the secret room was pushed open a crack.
Tony propped himself up on his arm and turned to look.
Boom!
Suddenly, with a dull thud, a figure flew into the room, his waist curled like a shrimp. After flying several meters, he fell to the ground with a thud, and immediately after, Tony heard painful groans mixed with violent coughing.
At the doorway, Frank, wearing a black mask, slowly retracted his leg.
Hong Fei lay on the ground, clutching his abdomen, feeling as if his intestines were about to rupture.
They had originally agreed that Frank would only need to go through the motions, and Hong Fei would push off the ground to fly out. Who knew Frank would suddenly kick with full force? Even though Hong Fei reacted in time, standing at the door of the secret room, he couldn't exactly activate the Eyes of Death and fight Frank. Wouldn't that completely ruin his persona?
Frank was settling a personal score, and Hong Fei immediately wrote this down in his little notebook.
Tony first looked at Hong Fei in astonishment, then turned his gaze to the door. When he met Frank's eyes, he instantly saw the overwhelming murderous intent in them. The wrinkles on his shiny bald head made him look like anything but a good person.
Frank walked forward slowly.
"Tony Stark, the world's most famous arms dealer and weapons inventor. I saved you."
Frank's words left Tony stunned.
Seeing this, Frank pulled out a few photos. They showed scenes of the U.S. military convoy being attacked, him lying on the ground unconscious and covered in blood, and, of course, the corpses of the militants.
"We helped you kill those militants, performed surgery on you, and pulled you back from the hands of the God of Death. We did indeed save your life, and now I want to know, how will you repay me?"
Tony's expression slowly shifted; he understood what Frank meant.
"I am very grateful that you saved my life. I think rather than thanks, you probably need money more. How about this: please take me to the U.S. Base, and then I will give you..."
Swish. Frank threw another stack of photos, interrupting Tony.
Tony looked down and saw photos of the Jericho missile and scenes from the explosion test.
Frank poked the photo with his index finger. "This missile is quite good. Can you give me all the data on it?"
"No." Tony refused flatly, his tone light. There wasn't a hint of viciousness in Frank's eyes, but then he suddenly raised his arm and punched Tony right in the jaw. Tony was instantly dazed, seeing stars, and blood began to ooze from his mouth. Frank didn't say much else; he grabbed Tony by the throat and dragged him off the bed. No matter how much he struggled, he couldn't escape the grip of that large hand. The wires on Tony's chest dragged the car battery along the ground, scraping against it. The rough handling clearly caused him even more pain. Hong Fei watched from the side, his heart pounding, terrified that Frank, this brute, would play Tony to death. Tony was dragged to the other end of the secret room. Click, another light turned on, illuminating a pile of terrifying-looking torture instruments in the dark area. Tony didn't even have time to panic before Frank shoved his head into a large water tank. Back and forth, several times, he felt as if his soul had left his body, leaving behind only a walking corpse. Frank let go, and Tony was roughly thrown to the ground. With a stomp, Tony curled up in abdominal pain, clear liquid spewing from his mouth.
"One month. I'll give you one month. In addition to all the data, I want you to make one yourself. During this time, I can satisfy any of your needs, but if I don't see the item after a month, I will chop your head off and throw it at the gate of the U.S. Base."
After speaking, Frank turned and walked towards Hong Fei. He kicked Hong Fei and said, "You'd better pray that someone is willing to pay your ransom."
Hong Fei was so scared that he curled up in the corner, clutching his head and trembling.
Clang, the iron door locked again.
For a moment, only the sound of the two people's rapid breathing and whimpering remained in the secret room.
A long while later, Tony recovered slightly. He carried the car battery back to the bed and lay down again. Staring at the low ceiling, he said in a hoarse voice, "Kid, who are you? Do you understand English?"
Hong Fei huddled in the corner without making a sound.
"Regardless of whether you understand or not, I must tell you now: even if someone is willing to pay your ransom, that vicious guy will kill you anyway."
Hong Fei looked up abruptly, the terror in his eyes evident.
Tony turned his head to glance at him, curling his lips in disdain. "Scared now? Tell me, where are you from, and how did you get caught and brought here?"
"I..." Hong Fei hesitated for a long time, then whispered, "I'm from New York. I just wanted to travel the world. I didn't expect to be suddenly knocked unconscious on the street here. When I woke up, I was already standing outside that door."
"New York?" Tony turned over. "Then you must know me."
"That's right, I know you. Tony Stark, a playboy..."
"Ha, that's right. The media reports are quite accurate." Tony sat up as he spoke. "Kid, listen to me. There are only the two of us here now. We're in a relationship of mutual dependence. Tell me, do you want to live?"
Hong Fei nodded quickly.
Tony said, "Very good. I also want to leave here alive. Come here."
Hong Fei slowly stood up and tentatively approached Tony, seemingly afraid he might suddenly jump up and beat him.
Tony couldn't stand Hong Fei's dawdling manner, so he reached out and pulled him directly in front of him, their faces almost touching.
Tony whispered, "Listen to me. Just now, when that damn bald guy almost stomped me to death, an idea suddenly popped into my head. I have a way to escape from here, but you know my current situation; I need someone to help me. Can you do it?"
"I... this..."
Hong Fei's timid appearance was truly infuriating. Tony slapped Hong Fei on the head and said sternly, "Do you or do you not want to live? Do you still want to see the sun in this lifetime?"
Hong Fei was stunned for a moment.
He secretly added this to his little notebook, then nodded firmly and said, "I do!"
"Very good, then we are allies. From now on, you will do whatever I tell you to do, and you are not allowed to ask me why. Our time is very tight, and there are definitely cameras here, so don't expose us in front of them. Once we leave here, I will definitely throw a huge party for both of us, and you can be the protagonist with me."
Hong Fei's expression was very moved, but in his heart, he was extremely disdainful.
I don't want to go to your party full of the decadent aura of capitalism!