"Hello, I'm an FBI Agent. I'd like to ask you some questions about the kidnapping case. Are you free right now?"
Hong Fei glanced at Coulson's FBI badge, and a look of surprise flashed across his face. "Of course, sir. It's still early; I'm free."
Coulson put away his badge, turned around, and gestured toward the coffee shop across the street. "Why don't we talk over a drink?"
"Sure."
Before long, the two were seated across from each other in a quiet corner of the coffee shop. Coulson said affably, "Don't be nervous. Just tell me what you know. You're a victim, too, so this isn't an interrogation."
Hong Fei smiled shyly, his movements still a bit stiff. "Sorry, I am a little nervous, but I'll answer your questions seriously."
Coulson nodded slightly and picked up a sugar packet. "Would you like some?"
"I'll do it myself, thank you!"
After they'd both taken a sip of their drinks, Coulson finally got to the point.
"Mr. Hong, can you describe the kidnapper's physical characteristics for me?" As he spoke, Coulson placed a digital recorder on the table in front of Hong Fei.
"Of course. I still remember that." Hong Fei began to describe Frank's physique, giving a general outline. Finally, he added, "Sorry, the other party always wore a mask, and the lighting in the Underground Room was very dim, so I don't know what he looks like. But his eyes were very fierce, and there were quite a few wrinkles on his forehead and at the corners of his eyes; he shouldn't be young."
Coulson nodded. "I already knew that much. But then again, it's fortunate you didn't see his face. Otherwise, I'm afraid it would have been very difficult for you to return."
Hong Fei nodded in agreement.
Immediately afterward, Coulson asked many questions, both directly and indirectly, especially trying to find out what Tony had done during his captivity.
Hong Fei naturally told him everything he knew, because S.H.I.E.L.D. would learn this information sooner or later, and concealing it now would only cause trouble for him later.
Therefore, when Coulson learned that Tony had actually made wearable armor while kidnapped, a look of shock finally appeared on his face.
At this time, Tony should still be busy exploring and researching the real Iron Man Armor, but judging by the timeline, the first test flight of the prototype should be soon.
In short, S.H.I.E.L.D. currently knows nothing about this.
"Wait, Mr. Hong, do you mean Tony and you manufactured a set of combat armor in the Underground Room that a human could wear and control?"
Hearing this question, Hong Fei cursed inwardly.
This was definitely digging a pit for him, and two at that.
First, what did "Tony and he manufactured it together" mean?
If things went wrong, Hong Fei might have to go to S.H.I.E.L.D. for coffee, and how long he'd be drinking it would be anyone's guess.
Secondly, "combat armor."
If Hong Fei, as an actual participant in the manufacturing, admitted personally that this was combat armor, then without a doubt, he'd have a seat at the hearing when the government wanted to seize the armor manufacturing technology from Tony in the future.
These Agents had such dirty minds!
"No, no, actually, from beginning to end, I was just helping Mr. Stark with some odd jobs, like beating metal plates or something. As for the actual manufacturing, I couldn't understand it at all. My physics grades have always been very poor, and I know almost nothing about machinery. Even the welding was done by Mr. Stark himself; he thought my welding was too ugly."
Hong Fei's answer obviously didn't satisfy Coulson, so he followed up: "Then how much do you know about this combat armor?"
Hong Fei frowned and thought for a moment, "Hmm, actually, if you ask me, that thing is just an iron can. Isn't it just welding ready-made weapons onto it? You could find any blacksmith, as long as they can weld, they could make it."
Coulson's face twitched.
He certainly wouldn't believe that something Tony Stark tinkered with would be as simple as Hong Fei said, but right now it seemed that Hong Fei really didn't know much about it, and couldn't even see the true purpose of that armor.
Thinking of this, Coulson couldn't help but sigh.
Everyone knew that anything Tony Stark personally developed, even a bullet, couldn't be underestimated. That was the intuitive impression Tony had always left on people.
This matter must be reported to the Director immediately!
Coulson hadn't expected that just by making a casual visit, he could harvest such important information. Although Hong Fei was a bit unobservant, he still acted extremely friendly.
"Mr. Hong, thank you for the information provided. I wonder if you know of any other aspects that I haven't mentioned?"
Hong Fei nodded: "Yes!"
Coulson was pleased again.
"Mr. Stark actually didn't make that iron can from the beginning. I remember we dismantled a lot of missiles together, and then he used the collected materials to make a round, glowing thing. Mr. Stark said it was an energy reactor, with billions of... how many joules of energy per second, I don't remember clearly. Oh right, he also said he had a big one at home powering his building. Mr. Stark is really amazing!"
Coulson's face could no longer hide his shock, because he knew both Tony and the reactor very well, especially that thing powering Stark Tower, which he also knew about. And according to Hong Fei's gestures, Tony had undoubtedly shrunk that massive thing down to the size of a palm. This was yet another super breakthrough in technology.
"Agent, that's all I remember," Hong Fei added. "But could you please not tell anyone that I told you? I promised Mr. Stark I would keep it a secret. Since you're an FBI Agent, I thought it would be better to tell the truth." As he spoke, Hong Fei's face flushed red, seemingly ashamed for not keeping his promise.
"Of course, that's a must. No outsider will know about our conversation today, especially Tony Stark." Coulson agreed with a smile, then put away his recorder. "Mr. Hong, thank you very much for your help. I think this information is very useful to me. I have other things to do, so I won't disturb you any further. Also, if you run into any trouble in the future, maybe I can help a little bit."
As he spoke, he stood up, handed a business card to Hong Fei, and then left very dashingly.
Watching his somewhat urgent back, Hong Fei smiled secretly.
He didn't think S.H.I.E.L.D. would get anything from Tony, nor did he think Tony would willingly hand over his research results to some Homeland… whatever bureau he'd never heard of. Even if Tony became an Avenger in the future, wouldn't he still keep the technology to himself?
Correspondingly, S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't do anything to Tony either; this was both because of his father and because of his own value.
Therefore, the things Hong Fei revealed were completely inconsequential. The only thing that might change was that S.H.I.E.L.D. would be more eager to have Tony join their alliance, rather than continuing to think he wasn't suitable based on Tony's personality.
If his personality isn't enough, his strength will make up for it.
As for just promising and then turning around and selling Tony out...
I am a bad guy!
I just kidnapped him!!
I also extorted him!!!
Can't you tell?
Leaving the coffee shop, Hong Fei went to make another recruitment poster and posted it on the door.
He wouldn't be staying at home for long periods. Going out would only become more frequent in the future. It wouldn't look good if the bookstore was often closed. In the eyes of some interested people, this might be enough to become a source of their suspicion.
It's just that Hong Fei didn't expect that the first person to come for an interview would actually be a familiar face.