Under the sunlight, upon closer inspection, the blood, sparkling like stars, was slowly drawn from his body and flowed into the blood bag.
Hock sat on a chair, squeezing the hand grip ball in his hand while looking at the Statue of Liberty standing on Liberty Island in the distance.
Anna watched the blood collecting in the blood bag with an almost worshipful gaze, unblinking.
The blood in the bag shimmered with a color like diamonds sparkling in the sunlight.
Just then.
The phone rang.
Anna took out her phone, glanced at the caller ID, apologized to Hock, who was still having his blood drawn, and then walked aside.
Sitting nearby, Gwen, who looked very much like she was accompanying Hock for his blood draw, glanced at Anna, who had walked a short distance away to answer the phone, and then turned to look at Hock beside her, lowering her voice.
"So, you exchanged 400 milliliters of blood for a carload of iron meteorites?"
"Hmm."
Hock nodded slightly, looking at Gwen: "Do you think I made a profit or a loss?"
Gwen opened her mouth.
From a U.S. dollar perspective, there was no doubt that Hock had made a profit, and a huge one at that.
After all, how much money could selling blood bring?
According to last week's quote from a New York blood product company, 400 milliliters of blood could be exchanged for 150 U.S. dollars.
But what about iron meteorites?
Gwen had just checked; also last week, a 35-kilogram iron meteorite was auctioned off by a New York auction house for 210,000 U.S. dollars.
And if calculated based on 35 kilograms equaling 210,000 U.S. dollars.
The value of 30 tons of iron meteorites was estimated to exceed 179 million U.S. dollars.
But…
Gwen frowned, looking at Hock.
"Your blood is different, Hock, your blood…"
"How about this."
Hock smiled at Gwen: "I won't sell blood anymore. I'll return the iron meteorites to Anna, and then I'll go find iron meteorites myself tomorrow. It's just 30 tons, right? Robbing the iron meteorites collected by Osborn and Stark should be enough, and I won't need to sell blood. What do you think?"
Gwen listened to Hock's reply and couldn't help but widen her mouth.
The next second.
She saw the smile on Hock's lips, realized he was teasing, rolled her eyes at him, and then asked in a low voice: "But you know about your blood, aren't you afraid Anna will…"
At this point, Gwen fell silent, because Anna, who was not far away, had finished her call.
Hock knew what Gwen wanted to say, so he smiled and said: "Don't worry, I've already discussed it with Anna. Just don't clone with my blood, and rest assured, this is just once. Besides, selling blood is more in line with the definition of a good person than going to steal it myself, isn't it?"
Gwen listened to Hock's reply and didn't want to say anything.
Either sell blood.
Or be a Bandit.
Forget it.
It's better to sell blood; at least it's self-reliance, better than robbery.
Gwen thought to herself.
At the same time.
Anna, walking back after her phone call, had a hint of joy on her face as she looked at Hock and said: "Latest news, Tony Stark's private jet, which arrived in Balat Bangalore yesterday, has taken off and is expected to arrive at the private airport 30 kilometers from Calver Lake at 2 PM on the 22nd."
The 22nd.
Isn't that today?
A glint flashed in Hock's eyes.
"Is it confirmed?"
"It's been confirmed."
Anna handed Hock a palm-sized tablet.
Upon seeing it.
Airport surveillance footage showed Bruce Banner boarding the private jet.
Hock smiled, and then, as if he remembered something, looked at Gwen: "Alright, no need to ask Helen for leave on Christmas Eve."
Christmas Eve is on the 24th.
He originally thought Hulk would only appear on Christmas Eve. If he appeared then, Gwen would also have to go, which would mean asking Helen for leave.
Just this morning, Gwen was still thinking of a reason to ask Helen for leave on Christmas Eve.
Now it's good.
No need.
Arriving this afternoon, if they move quickly, they might be back in New York tonight.
Gwen didn't answer but was somewhat curious: "Tony Stark's private jet? Didn't I hear that Tony Stark was missing?"
Yes.
Tony Stark was missing again.
However, the last time he went missing was in the Middle East, and this time it was in Los Angeles.
And this time, Tony Stark's Malibu beachfront mansion was even blown up, all because of Tony Stark's declaration of war against Mandarin last week.
Of course.
Hock knew that this Mandarin, who created Extremis, was not the real Mandarin, but an actor.
The real Mandarin was probably busy trying to resurrect his wife at this moment; he wouldn't have time to deal with this matter.
Just as Hock had heard this news last week, laughed, and then ignored it.
Anna was the same.
"Tony Stark is missing, but Stark Industries' operations haven't stopped. The private jet matter should have been set before the holidays, but we also have a guess."
"What?"
"Bruce Banner coming early likely means he found out about Tony Stark's disappearance and came to help."
"…That's possible."
Hock listened to Anna's speculation and nodded thoughtfully.
The next second.
He chuckled, shook his head, and returned the tablet to Anna: "Then if I get the chance, I'll have to properly thank Tony Stark."
If it weren't for Tony Stark's disappearance storyline, Bruce Banner would probably have delayed coming until Christmas Eve.
But now, Iron Man is missing, and Hulk has also arrived early.
From this perspective, Hock indeed should thank Iron Man.
Anna smiled slightly, said nothing, but after putting away the tablet, she looked at the blood bag, which was almost at its collection target, and quickly helped Hock remove the blood collection needle.
The moment the needle was pulled out, the needle mark on Hock's arm healed almost instantly.
Hock tidied his cuffs and stood up from the chair.
Anna also placed the blood bag, like a treasure, into a portable low-temperature preservation combination lock box.
With a click of the lock, Anna, having completed this series of operations, also showed a relaxed expression on her face.
Anna then looked up at Hock.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. I'm always like this with my friends."
Hock smiled slightly, then glanced at Gwen beside him, said nothing more, but took Gwen's hand and walked towards the yellow corolla parked not far away.
Anna stood still, watching Hock leave.
Gwen opened the car door, got in, started the car, and looked at Hock, who was sitting in the passenger seat. Although she knew where their next destination was, she still asked aloud.
"Where are we going now?"
"Calver Lake!"
Hock turned to look at Gwen, smiling.
"Revenge!"
"…"
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