"Who are you working for? The Military? General Ross? Or that one-eyed guy from S.H.I.E.L.D.? I don't get it. They wouldn't send a... a living bomb to take me down with them just for a mere two million, would they?"
"Or... could it be the Ten Rings Gang?"
Reze took the money bag, tilted her head, and gave a meaningful smile. "I'm just a... demon."
"The bomb demon."
"bomb demon?" Tony frowned, sizing Reze up.
It really was... an unpretentious name... and... it lived up to it.
Reze didn't explain.
She hoisted the heavy duffel bag full of US dollars onto her back and was about to leave when her gaze suddenly swept toward a corner.
There lay a heap of twisted red and silver metal that looked like scrap—it was the Mark 5 portable armor that Tony had just ripped off by force.
"That, do you still want it?" Reze pointed at the scrap metal.
"Huh?" Tony was stunned.
"Then you don't." Reze nodded, not waiting for Tony to say anything.
She walked straight over and picked up the wrecked armor, which was larger than she was, with one hand.
「villainess value +20」
Carrying the money bag on her back and the wreckage of Iron Man's armor in her hand, Reze walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.
"Thanks, Mr. Stark. If there's a need, I'll be back."
Reze carried the canvas bag full of US dollars on her left shoulder and dragged the wreckage of Iron Man's armor with her right hand.
The armor's helmet dragged on the ground, making a "skree-skree" sound of metal friction.
She walked with light steps toward the spiral staircase leading from the garage to the living room.
Reaching the stairs, she stopped, turned back, and gave Tony—who was still slumped on the floor—a bright and polite smile:
"If there's a need, I'll be back."
"No need to see me out, bye-bye~"
After saying that, she hummed an unknown tune and walked up the stairs step by step.
Tap, tap, tap.
The sound of footsteps echoed in the empty garage, accompanied by the occasional "clank" of the dragged armor hitting the steps, making it seem exceptionally eerie.
She just... left.
Just like a girl-next-door visiting... thoughtfully taking a bag of trash with her before leaving... No... that's my damn armor!
In the empty underground garage, Tony watched Reze leave with wide eyes, looking like he was questioning his life.
"..."
For a long time, the garage was dead silent.
Only dummy was still spraying fire extinguisher into the air.
Tony Stark slumped onto the floor, staring at the empty stairwell.
This absurd scene actually made him laugh out of anger.
His home was bombed, his secret stash of money was plundered, his best portable armor was swiped... he even almost lost his life.
"bomb demon, huh..."
...After a long while.
A familiar number dialed his cell phone.
"Hello, Pepper."
"Tony?! Are you okay? That girl... that monster..." Pepper's anxious voice, tinged with a sob, came from the other end of the phone.
"I'm fine, perfectly fine. Aside from a bruised ego, a slightly thinner wallet, and a house that needs remodeling, everything is great."
Tony gave a bitter smile:
"Also, help me contact the insurance company. Tell them... tell them I was robbed by a demon. If they don't believe it, tell them to check the surveillance."
"By the way, help me create a new file with the highest encryption level."
Tony paused, the figure with the choker and a sweet yet extremely dangerous smile appearing in his mind.
"Call it... bomb demon."
...Nights in Hells Kitchen are always exceptionally long.
But for Su Modie tonight, this dilapidated slum became resplendent because of the presence of that black duffel bag.
"Click."
The worn-out security door closed.
After confirming the lock and chain were fastened, Su Modie, feeling very much like a thief, carefully dragged the heavy pair of duffel bags onto the creaking single bed.
The zipper opened.
Rustle—
Under the dim, yellowed light bulb, bundles of tightly bound old bills looked like green bricks, emitting the most charming and reassuring scent of ink in the World.
Two million US dollars.
A full two million!
This amount of money was just a drop in the bucket for a tycoon like Tony, but for Su Modie, it was the first pot of gold to turn her life around.
As for why she didn't ask for more... firstly, such a large amount of cash would be difficult to hide and transfer.
Secondly... you have to shear the wool slowly. If you shear it bald all at once and make the fat sheep desperate, who will she find next time?
"I'm rich... I'm really rich!"
Su Modie felt her heart was about to jump out of her throat.
Eighteen years! Do you know how I've lived these eighteen years?
Eating near-expired bread, living in a drafty, dilapidated house, and preferring to walk until my legs gave out just to save two dollars on subway fare!
Now, she's made it!
Overwhelmed by extreme excitement, Su Modie suddenly turned and hugged Reze, who was standing nearby with her arms crossed and a calm expression.
"Reze! We're rich! We don't have to go to that damn convenience store and take crap from people anymore! Wahhh!"
Facing this sudden bear hug from her main body, Reze was stunned for a moment.
Then, a hint of a smile flashed in her emerald eyes. She didn't push her away, but instead reached out her arms and hugged Su Modie's waist in return.
Her chin rested gently on Su Modie's shoulder, her nose brushed against Su Modie's earlobe, and her breath was warm.
"Yeah, we're rich, Modie-chan."
The two bodies pressed tightly against each other.
Although they were the same person, one was thin and weak from long-term malnutrition, while the other was full and firm enough to be used as a weapon.
This hug lasted for over ten seconds.
Su Modie's surge of ecstasy slowly faded, and her reason reclaimed the high ground.
She wanted to let go and count the money, but found... she couldn't move.
Reze's arms held her waist like iron pincers, with no intention of letting go.
"Ahem..." Su Modie struggled a bit awkwardly, her cheeks heating up. "That... that's enough, I need to count the money."
Reze didn't move, just chuckled in Su Modie's ear, her tone faint. "Who was it that came crying and shouting for a hug just now?"
"What? Now that the money is in hand, you're tossing the hero aside?"
Su Modie: "..."
What's with this "resentful wife" tone?!
"I'm not... I didn't... Gosh, let go already!"
Su Modie was both annoyed and amused, and it took a lot of effort to break free from that fragrant embrace.
Reze finally let go, straightened her slightly messy tank top, and looked at her blushing main body with a playful gaze. "So heartless, you scumbag..."
Su Modie didn't dare respond, fearing her drama-queen avatar would stir up more trouble.
She took a deep breath and began to take stock of tonight's gains.
Besides the pile of green US dollars, there was also a heap of red and silver, twisted metal scrap in the corner of the room—
It was the wreckage of Iron Man's Mark 5 armor.
"This Simulation Game seems to be able to recycle equipment..."
Su Modie suddenly remembered a gray recycle button in the corner of the mall, so she opened the mall interface.
To her surprise, the button had actually turned green.
Su Modie's eyes immediately lit up.
Even though it was broken, it was Stark tech after all; it should be worth something, right?
「Scanning item: Mark 5 Portable Armor (Severely Damaged Version)」
「Appraising...」
「Recycle Price: 5 simulation value.」
「Evaluation: Core energy source missing, external armor 95% damaged, internal circuitry completely melted. More than a high-tech armor, it's now a pile of expensive alloy scrap. Recommended for the trash can.」
"Only five?!" Su Modie's eyes widened, nearly choking on her breath..
"Are you kidding me?! This is Iron Man's armor! Even as scrap metal, it should be worth more than this!"
She looked at Reze gloomily, unable to stop complaining in her heart. "This spendthrift woman went too far... If she had exploded it a bit more gently and left an arm or a leg intact, it wouldn't be worth only five points... My simulation value..."
It's just... she seemed to have suddenly forgotten that a certain someone could share her thoughts and hear what was on her mind.
Ãdvåñçé çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn luffy1898