Chapter 114: Confiscation of Money

Watching Peter’s confident, show-off demeanor, Zhong Shenxiu actually believed him.

While marveling at Peter’s growth, Zhong Shenxiu decided to ask for his opinion directly: "Who do you think that person is?"

"Who..." Peter murmured the question, his small mouth moving softly.

Seeing him lost in deep thought, Zhong Shenxiu didn't even need to guess; he knew Peter likely had no clue.

So, Zhong Shenxiu offered a hint: "Do you remember a point you mentioned to me a while back, right after you first gained your superpowers?"

"Hmm... what point?" Peter looked at Zhong Shenxiu with curiosity.

*You’ve forgotten everything you said, haven't you...* Zhong Shenxiu straightened his expression and said, word by word: "That day, besides you, was Gwen also bitten by that spider?"

"Huh? Did I say that?" Peter looked bewildered.

"You did," Zhong Shenxiu replied with a firm expression.

This left Peter speechless for a long moment. Through that hint, he suddenly understood many things.

For instance, why that person’s strength was similar to his own, and why they even had a spiderweb emblem on their mask...

He also remembered what had happened at school earlier that day.

Because he had left in such a hurry this morning, Peter had forgotten his pen, so he poked Gwen, who was sitting in front of him, wanting to borrow one... but Gwen had glared at him with flushed cheeks.

At the time, Peter had been confused, thinking Gwen had suddenly lost her mind...

Now that he thought about it, everything clicked!

"If it’s Gwen..." Peter muttered, his little face gradually becoming conflicted... a mix of embarrassment and shyness.

He remembered the cringeworthy, melodramatic moves and speeches he had made in front of her early that morning.

*Thank goodness, thank goodness, Gwen didn't recognize me...* Peter let out a long breath of relief. If Gwen ever found out it was him, he would probably die of social embarrassment on the spot.

Watching the expressions on Peter’s face shift like a rainbow, Zhong Shenxiu felt suspicious and asked, "What did you think of?"

"No... nothing!" Peter’s face stiffened, and he immediately denied it with firm words.

That only made Zhong Shenxiu more skeptical. *There’s something fishy going on,* his intuition told him.

***

S.H.I.E.L.D. New York Branch.

"Tony, what is this... um... armor on you?"

After Pepper exchanged a few words with Tony and his expression softened slightly, she finally asked the question that had been puzzling her from the very start.

Tony had also emerged from the daze caused by the loss of his arm. He realized he still had Zhong Shenxiu—that guy was an ultimate expert at regenerating severed limbs. The thought of Zhong Shenxiu’s miraculous abilities brought Tony a sudden sense of peace.

Furthermore, today, Tony had also received a gift from heaven that he had long overlooked... and so, his mood wasn't particularly bad. He responded to Pepper earnestly:

"Do you remember that time I was kidnapped in the Middle East?"

Pepper nodded; that was something she would never forget.

"Actually, I never told you, but I was kidnapped by Middle Eastern terrorists to help them build the Jericho missile..." Tony recounted his harrowing experience.

Pepper didn't speak; she listened intently. Only now did she realize what a terrifying ordeal Tony had been through.

"...Later, with Yinsen’s help, I built a suit of iron armor. It was similar to the one I have on now, but much bulkier and cruder. It was that armor that allowed me to break through the terrorists' encirclement."

Tony continued, "After I got home, I locked myself in my workshop for a month... I was improving and researching that second generation—which is this improved version I’m wearing now."

"How about it? Pretty cool, right?"

Tony used his left hand to lift the blanket slightly, revealing the iron armor while keeping his right arm covered.

But all of Pepper’s attention immediately shifted to his abdomen—to that ghastly, massive wound.

"You..." Pepper’s mouth opened, but no sound came out; her eyes were fixed firmly on Tony’s stomach.

Tony suddenly realized that besides his right arm, he had an even more terrifying injury on his abdomen. He immediately tucked the blanket back in, abandoning his urge to show off.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

A knock on the door broke the slightly awkward silence.

Pepper seized the opportunity and smiled at Tony. "I'll get the door." She walked away with quick, rhythmic steps.

***

She opened the door to find two agents standing there.

One was Phil Coulson, wearing a smile, and the other was Raphael, who had sleepy, heavy eyes.

"Ms. Potts," Coulson greeted Pepper with a nod.

Pepper wasn't surprised, as it was Coulson who had called her. After learning from him that Tony was injured, she had rushed over in a panic.

Coulson didn't linger; he walked directly toward Tony with Raphael.

They had already overheard the origin of Tony’s armor through the surveillance feed. While marveling at what a genius Tony was to invent such a weapon in a month, a new question arose in Coulson’s mind.

"Mr. Stark, though I know it is intrusive, we would like to ask: why were you wearing this armor when you went to Stark Industries? And who injured you?"

It was Coulson who spoke. Tony had some memory of this man; he knew him as the polite agent who had been standing next to Zhong Shenxiu that day.

However, Tony’s gaze fell on Raphael.

Raphael looked puzzled and asked, "Mr. Stark?" Influenced by Coulson, Raphael had become much more polite.

"I remember you. I saw your face before I passed out," Tony explained.

As soon as these words were out, Pepper and Coulson’s eyes turned toward Raphael in unison.

This made Raphael’s scalp tingle, but upon sensing that there was no suspicion in Coulson’s eyes—only inquiry—he relaxed slightly.

Raphael explained, "When I found Mr. Stark at Stark Industries, he hadn't fully lost consciousness yet. He seemed to be hanging on by a thread. When I opened his mask, he told me, 'Take me to Zhong Shen Clinic.'"

"You know about this," he added, addressing Coulson.

Coulson nodded, then turned to introduce him to Tony: "This is the agent who took you to the Zhong Shen Clinic, Mr. Stark."

"Then this injury of mine..."

"Mr. Zhong treated you," Coulson smiled. "However, because your injuries were so severe, Mr. Zhong said he prioritized saving your life. The finer details, and your right arm, will require gradual treatment."

*Life-threatening...* Hearing that, Pepper bit her lip, looking at Tony with worry.

"Haha, that money-grubber must have taken the chance to charge a fortune, right?" Hearing that it required "gradual treatment," Tony felt much more at ease—as long as it could be healed, that was what mattered.

As for the money, as long as Zhong Shenxiu wasn't too excessive, Tony didn't really care.

But Coulson shook his head. "Mr. Zhong was busy treating you at the time and didn't mention money."

*Huh? Didn't charge me?*

Hearing this, Tony’s expression turned strange.

This was a life-threatening wound; Tony had assumed Zhong Shenxiu would seize the opportunity to demand a huge sum. Hearing Coulson’s words, he realized he had misjudged a gentleman by the standards of a petty person. After a long silence, Tony sighed:

"Xiu really is a good guy—"

Coulson nodded in agreement.

*I’ll compensate him next time, otherwise, I won't feel at peace...* Tony thought to himself.

After a moment, Coulson continued, "Mr. Stark, can you answer why you went to Stark Industries at three in the morning?"

"Jarvis notified me that Stark Industries was under attack. I thought I’d test the iron armor while I was at it, so I rushed over."

Tony seemed to be in a good mood, so he answered the question seriously for once.

"An attack? Did you encounter the attackers?"

"Yeah." Tony subconsciously wanted to nod, but realized he was lying in bed, so he stopped.

"Please describe it in detail. I’m sorry to trouble you, but this is very important." Coulson’s emotions surged; he looked at Tony with anticipation, hoping this might contain new clues regarding the Crimson Baron.

Tony glanced at Pepper, thought for a moment, and began:

"Actually, by the time I arrived at Stark Industries, the assault was already winding down. All the security guards were running away in a panic, as if they had encountered a demon."

"And I found that demon. He was wearing a set of iron armor just like mine, standing on the wall..."

"Standing on the wall?" Coulson interrupted.

"Yes, standing on the wall. I assume it was a feature of his armor or something, but I couldn't see any propulsion devices on him..." Out of the pride of a technology genius, Tony didn't admit that he couldn't figure out the principles behind it either.

*Armor... standing on the wall... that’s not quite like the Crimson Baron Agent May described...* Coulson thought to himself.

According to May, the Crimson Baron was a fat man who acted more like a magician from a movie, capable of manipulating red light and hovering in the air.

*Could Tony’s injury be a coincidence?* Coulson couldn't help but wonder.

"And then, Mr. Stark?" Coulson asked.

"Later, I discovered the guy couldn't fly, so I tried to pin him down in the air. I was just about to wreck his armor and thought I’d won, when suddenly, a humanoid figure formed out of a ball of red light escaped from the wrecked armor, and then... this happened to me." Tony told the whole story, then countered, "Who is this person?"

It was precisely because he wanted to know the attacker's identity that Tony had chosen to describe his experience honestly—after all, he had lost, and if he could avoid talking about it, he normally would have.

*A humanoid figure formed of red light...* Coulson was practically developing PTSD from red light. Hearing the word "red," he was almost certain of his theory. Even if it wasn't the Crimson Baron, it was almost certainly tied to that guy.

Coulson shook his head. "I’m not sure. We’re investigating. I suspect it’s related to a super-criminal we’re tracking within S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Mr. Stark, could you check what was stolen from Stark Industries?" Coulson asked, adding, "This is very important for identifying the culprit."

Tony agreed, lowered his mask, and said, "Jarvis, check the attack from early this morning. What did Stark Industries lose?"

Since the staff had begun their inventory early in the morning and reported it to the internal system, Tony quickly received a list.

A stream of data flashed before Tony’s eyes. At the top of the list was a large quantity of palladium, followed by titanium alloy and other rare materials.

Seeing the list, Tony realized the perpetrator had a plan; almost all the stolen materials were incredibly valuable.

*Palladium... palladium...*

He remembered!

On the chest of the enemy's mechanical armor, there had been an Arc Reactor similar to his own.

!!!

The information made Tony’s scalp tingle; he felt as though he had grasped something.

"Mr. Stark?" Coulson asked.

Tony opened his mask and replied, "Just some very expensive materials."

He didn't specify the palladium or the rest. Initially, he had been clueless, which was why he had turned to S.H.I.E.L.D., but now, he had found a lead.

Arrogant as he was, Tony had a new idea:

He would investigate it himself!

After talking for a while longer, Tony was sent home under Coulson’s arrangements.

He was pushed onto a concealed heavy truck. Because Tony’s iron armor was so heavy, even the bed he had been lying on was a reinforced version.

***

Gwen had wandered around all day, but she still hadn't found Peter.

She decided to check around Peter’s home.

Peter lived at 20 Ingram Street... Gwen knew this because she had heard Peter mention it before and had remembered it.

As she arrived there, by some coincidence, she saw Peter walking out of a small courtyard nearby.

Gwen quickly hid.

After Peter returned home, she poked her head out and carefully observed the courtyard he had just left.

*It looks familiar...* she thought to herself.

Suddenly!

She realized:

Jinsha had brought her here before to drop someone off.

They had been dropping off... Zhong Shenxiu, the man Jinsha’s aunt was always chattering about.

Gwen still had a deep impression of that handsome, blue-eyed, mixed-race guy.

*This is Zhong Shenxiu’s house. That means Peter actually knows Zhong Shenxiu...*