Having finally waited for Wanda to leave, Tony was about to start his nonstop chatter.
"Friend, what's your name? From now on, you'll be one of the richest people in the world, and I still don't even know your name."
"By the way, is that your girlfriend? Why does she look so unhappy? She looks like she wants to kill someone."
"If that's your girlfriend, how are you going to live like this? Our parties only need men. I'll arrange for your girlfriend to go shopping—unlimited malls."
Tony noticed the smile at the corner of Jack's mouth and assumed Jack was doubting his party-hosting abilities.
"I guarantee that party will be the most exciting thing you've ever seen. Yinsen, why are you looking at me like that? Don't worry, I'll definitely bring you along."
Yinsen covered his face painfully.
"Tony… behind you."
"Behind wh—"
Before Tony could turn around, Wanda released Chaos Magic from her hands, plunging him into a deep sleep filled with horrific nightmares.
Yinsen sensibly raised his hands.
"I promise, I won't make a sound."
Ever since leaving the cave, Yinsen knew Tony wouldn't have it easy.
Judging by the girl's expression, it was clearly aimed at Tony. So Yinsen hadn't spoken to him the entire way, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.
"Tony… take care."
Yinsen took the initiative to help Jack stuff Tony into a body bag, then climbed into another one himself and lay down quietly.
He didn't sense any killing intent from Jack or Wanda, so he cooperated fully.
Yinsen felt himself being placed onto a stretcher. They were likely being transported to a designated area.
After lying down for a long time, his numb body finally felt movement. He quietly observed his surroundings, but saw nothing noteworthy.
The environment resembled the Afghanistan airport, full of planes.
After being loaded into another vehicle, Yinsen heard a familiar voice.
"Wanda, let's go to my shelter in the suburbs. There's an underground room there."
"I'll listen to you."
Finally, the bag was unzipped, and Yinsen saw the bright sun.
"Thank you very much, but may I ask where this is?"
Jack replied with a smile,
"Welcome to New York. This is my private shelter. Now please get out of the car."
Jack grabbed Tony's feet through the bag and started dragging him toward the house.
Seeing the steps ahead, Yinsen quickly lifted the bag to keep Tony's head from smashing into the ground.
Once inside the underground room, Jack unzipped the bag and had Wanda wake Tony.
Watching Wanda's magic, Jack commented,
"The power of revenge is really terrifying. She didn't even know these spells a few days ago, and now she's mastered all of them."
Yinsen nodded, thinking of the slow-acting poison he'd mixed into the terrorists' medicine.
A pity—he wouldn't live to see the effects.
Wanda released red Chaos Magic at Tony's temples. Tony's limbs flailed wildly as incoherent words spilled from his mouth.
Yinsen sucked in a breath. He couldn't imagine what nightmare could make the usually calm Tony react like this.
"No… you old stinker… Mom, run…!"
"Run fast… he's coming…"
Wanda stood up and leaned against Jack.
"Hubby, I'm tired today. I want to rest for a bit."
"Go wait in the car. I'll join you soon." Jack gently stroked her head.
Wanda nodded. Jack carried her out, and she waited obediently in the car. Jack then brought packaged food and two small bottles of water back down.
"You'll have to suffer together for a while. I'll help when I can. Wanda's hatred for this genius is still very deep."
Jack patted Yinsen's shoulder and looked at Tony, who was rolling on the floor.
"Wake up. Wake up."
Jack nudged Tony twice with his foot, accidentally turning on the video recorder.
Tony suddenly snapped his eyes open and tried to grab Jack's leg, but Jack dodged easily.
"Mom, run! Dad's gone crazy! He wants to feed you shit!"
After shouting that, Tony stared at the grey ceiling for half a minute without blinking.
"Yinsen? You didn't become some big guy's toy? That's great."
"Was I dreaming just now? Blech—"
٩(≥ཀ≤˵)
Tony started dry-heaving violently, but his stomach was empty.
Yinsen supported him.
"Tony, were you dreaming? What did you see?"
That was a mistake.
As soon as Yinsen spoke, Tony remembered everything and dry-heaved even harder.
Jack recorded calmly from the side, the camera almost shoved into Tony's face.
After a long while, Tony collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily.
"Since you're awake, eat something. You were talking nonstop earlier—why are you so dried up now?"
Jack's smiling tone made Tony furious.
"Who the hell are you? Why save me just to treat me like this? What do you want?"
Jack smiled mysteriously.
"I'm the one who saved you. That girl is the one who will redeem you. Just remember—when I let you leave alive later, don't say too much in front of her."
"You two rest well. Don't think about escaping. This area isn't peaceful. If some redneck big guys find two 'cute' little darlings in this underground room…"
"I can't guarantee what they'll do."
"You should know—they won't care if you're Tony Stark. They'll have their fun first."
At the mention of "big guys," Tony's body stiffened instinctively.
Jack left without looking back, the heavy iron door slamming shut.
Tony's heart sank straight to the bottom.
"Tony… what did you dream about? You kept saying strange things."
"Don't ask, Yinsen. Those are images that'll take a lifetime to heal from. Let me rest."
"I won't ask anymore. Eat something."
Yinsen handed him a chocolate baguette.
"Blech—urgh—"
Σ_(꒪ཀ꒪」∠) Blech
"Take it away! Take it away! I can't eat this—I've had enough!"
"Alright, then eat this."
Yinsen handed him a Chinese-style sugar-free bun.
This time, there was no reaction.
The two slept in the underground room that night.
Jack returned to the car. Wanda held his arm silently. It affected his driving slightly, but not enough to matter.
Back in the room, Wanda rested her head on Jack's chest.
"Jack, thanks to those ideas of yours. Otherwise, I'd only ever see Tony Stark dead on the news. I wouldn't have seen him this miserable."
Jack patted her shoulder.
"We need to lie low for a while. When you get bored of him, we'll finish Tony Stark and avenge your parents."
"Mmm… Jack, I'm sleepy. Do whatever you want."
"I'm sleeping too. You can't handle it alone."
Wanda pinched Jack's chest lightly, making him grimace.
"Sleep."
Only then did Jack remember to check in.
[Check-in successful. Speed +1]
…[The following content is awkward; recommended to move to the next chapter]
The next day, after Jack and Wanda woke up, they went to the agency across from Stark Tower.
Mei had arrived early and was knitting a sweater.
"Mei, who taught you knitting? That's not easy to learn."
Seeing Jack return, Mei stepped forward and hugged him.
Jack subconsciously compared—Wanda still won.
"You're finally back. I was worried something might happen. Afghanistan is so dangerous."
Jack nodded.
"There shouldn't be any commissions recently, right? I'm not ready to take small jobs."
Mei frowned.
"Jack, you can't think like that. No company grows overnight."
"It's fine. Just record who posts commissions."
Mei stopped persuading him.
Jack and Wanda strolled through Central Park. The scenery was nice, but the people… not so much.
Jack felt his agency lacked purpose.
"Forget it. Consider it an investment in Peter."
They soon arrived at Midtown High School.
They walked inside without being stopped.
Jack witnessed a familiar scene—Flash Thompson bullying Peter Parker.
Before Flash's fist could land, Jack intercepted it.
"Kid, violence is meaningless. Keep this up and you'll just get… pew pew pew."
Flash struggled.
"Bastard, stop preaching!"
Jack squeezed his arm, forcing him down.
"Want me to continue?"
"I'll listen! I'll listen!"
A pleasant female voice spoke behind them.
Gwen Stacy bowed apologetically and dragged Flash away.
"That's better. Keep your head down. Otherwise, one day someone will pull a Glock and put a hole in you."
Jack patted Flash's shoulder.
"I'm opening a burger shop. I'll name it 'Flash.'"
"Impossible! I want to be a cop!"
Jack smiled.
"Is that because of your abusive cop father? Or because of her?"
Flash froze.
"How did you know?"
Jack waved dismissively.
"That's not important."
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