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*****
After the chaos subsided, Feny helped Banner find a somewhat dilapidated small hotel. The security checks here were lax, and Banner, long accustomed to a life of hardship, didn't complain. Having a bed to sleep in was already a luxury; he wasn't in any position to be picky.
Feny was also exhausted after a day of continuous high-intensity battles. Once he settled Banner's affairs, he headed back to his own place and fell straight into a deep sleep.
The next morning, since Feny's school schedule only consisted of afternoon classes, he contacted Tony early on to brief him on Banner's situation.
"You're saying that when he gets angry, his physical structure changes and he transforms into an entirely different person? Like a split personality?" Tony's voice over the phone carried a hint of genuine intrigue.
"I'm not sure if it's a split personality, but I need you to help me arrange a place for him. I don't want the military to find him," Feny said into the receiver. Initially, he had wondered if Hulk was simply another side of Banner's psyche, but after chatting with Hulk the day before, he felt that the situation was far more complex than a simple psychological disorder.
"I have a vacant villa in New York. Take him there for now. I'll head over in a bit," Tony provided the address. Feny noted it down, hung up, and went back to the hotel to find Banner, whose complexion was still haggard.
Banner had spent the night lost in thought. He had considered slipping away under the cover of darkness, but after much hesitation, he decided against it. He had nowhere to go. He wasn't sure if the military would stop hunting him even without General Ross leading the charge, and he certainly didn't know how to deal with the Hulk on his own.
It seemed better to trust Feny for the time being. After all, Feny was the only man he'd met who could interact with the Hulk normally. Furthermore, Feny's mysterious and overwhelming power served as a safety net—someone who could actually stop the Hulk if he went on a rampage.
"Will there be restrictions on my personal freedom there?" Banner asked Feny before they set out. Though he lacked better options, he had no desire to be a prisoner.
"With the Hulk inside you, who could possibly restrict your freedom?" Feny rolled his eyes, speaking with a touch of exasperation. While Hulk might not be the absolute strongest being on Earth, he was definitely at the top of the list. Keeping him contained was no easy feat.
Banner fell silent. He didn't want to rely on the Hulk's power; he only wanted to live a normal life.
Following Tony's instructions, Feny opened a portal and transported them directly into the villa. Not long after, Tony arrived, descending into the courtyard in his Mark VI armor. The faceplate retracted, and after a quick glance at Feny in his casual clothes, Tony scrutinized the tense-looking Banner standing beside him.
"Hello. I assume you recognize me, so there's no need for introductions," Tony said, extending a hand to Banner.
"Of course," Banner replied, quickly shaking it. "Bruce Banner."
"I actually know of you. You've written some very impressive papers," Tony noted. This surprised Feny slightly; he hadn't expected Tony to be familiar with Banner's academic work.
The two released their grip, but before Banner could say another word, Tony suddenly lunged forward. He poked his finger sharply into Banner's ribs, causing the scientist to cry out in pain and recoil.
Tony turned to Feny, looking puzzled. "I thought you said he transforms when he's provoked?"
"Stop messing around!" Feny snapped. He hadn't expected Tony to be so reckless. Clearly, Tony hadn't experienced a "Hulk-smashing" firsthand. If he knew the extent of the Hulk's strength, he wouldn't dare pull a stunt like that—no amount of Iron Man suits would be enough to protect him from being torn apart.
"Sorry. This kid said your transformation changes your physical structure. I couldn't help but want to see it for myself," Tony explained to Banner.
Banner's expression soured. However, knowing he was a guest in another man's house, he merely frowned and warned, "Believe me, you do not want to see him."
"I'm telling you, don't push it. Don't test Dr. Banner's temper," Feny warned Tony sternly. He continued, "The Hulk can shrug off tank shells with his bare skin and rip armored vehicles apart like they're toys. If you aren't prepared for the consequences, don't provoke him."
Tony curled his lip, looking unimpressed, but he dropped the subject. After entering the villa and stepping out of his armor, he turned to Banner. "Why is the military hunting you?"
"They want to harness the Hulk's power to create weapons," Banner answered gloomily. Had it been for any other reason, he would have been more than willing to cooperate with a treatment plan.
"And you didn't fight back?" Tony asked curiously.
Banner didn't know how to explain that the man leading the hunt was the person who was supposed to be his father-in-law. He simply shook his head with a bitter smile.
Seeing Banner's distress, Feny stepped in to explain. "The power belongs to the Hulk, but the Hulk is quite simple-minded. He has a short fuse and only knows how to fight. It's not that there wasn't resistance; it's just that the resistance... failed."
"Fair enough," Tony remarked. Looking at the timid, reserved Banner, he found it impossible to imagine him as a creature capable of dismantling tanks with his bare hands. This only deepened his curiosity regarding the Hulk.
"You can stay here as long as you like. There should be fewer people here trying to trigger you."
Hearing Tony's words, Banner wore a complicated expression. Based on Tony's behavior just minutes ago, he wasn't sure if that promise was worth much.
"I have seven PhDs," Banner offered, not wanting to feel like a burden. "If there is anything you need help with, please let me know."
Tony held a genuine respect for talented individuals, and Banner clearly fell into that category. He nodded in agreement.
Seeing that Banner's housing was settled, Feny decided not to bring up the idea of letting the Hulk out more often just yet. The most important thing was to stabilize Banner. Only after he experienced a life of freedom and comfort would he be unwilling to leave. Finesse was required to convince him to let the Hulk out; it couldn't be rushed.
Feny didn't linger. He left after repeatedly cautioning Tony not to provoke Banner or summon the Hulk, stressing that the consequences would be dire. Faced with Feny's nagging, Tony finally took it seriously and discarded several ideas he had for "experimenting" on Banner's stress levels.
That afternoon, Feny arrived at school. Perhaps it was the massive amount of experience points he had gained the day before, or the fact that the situation had been resolved perfectly, but he walked with a light step and a smile on his face.
However, his smile faded when he entered the classroom and saw Billy. Billy immediately rushed over, sporting two dark circles under his eyes, and stared at Feny with an intense, unblinking gaze.
"What are you doing?!" Feny asked, shifting uncomfortably under the scrutiny.
"Feny, are we best friends or what?"
"No!" Feny answered flatly.
Billy gave him a look of deep resentment before asserting forcefully, "I am your best friend, and there's something you have to tell me the truth about!"
"What is it?" Feny looked at him, wondering what was on his mind.
Billy took a deep breath, his expression becoming solemn and dead-serious. "Do you know the Knight of Divine Punishment?"
"Uh..." Feny was stunned for a moment. He had expected Billy to guess that he was the Knight of Divine Punishment. After all, when he had disappeared so suddenly the day before, he knew it might lead to that conclusion.
He hadn't expected Billy to be so conservative in his guesswork, assuming only that Feny had gone to notify the "Knight." Finding this turn of events quite interesting, Feny put on a playful expression and said:
"Actually, I am the Knight of Divine Punishment!"
"You?!" Billy didn't look suspicious or even surprised; instead, he gave Feny a look of pure, unadulterated disdain. "Feny, even if you really do know the Knight and want to help him hide his identity, there's no need to go that far."
"I'm not an idiot. If you're the Knight of Divine Punishment, I'll eat this desk right here today!"
(End of Chapter)