People Working for System in Marvel - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Makes sense because the answer is known in advance

As expected of Stark’s assistant, Pepper wrote a million-dollar check in front of Mike without batting an eye.

Skye leaned over from behind Mike, head over his shoulder, eyes close to the check: “Is this true?”

Without realizing it, his chest and Mike’s back were tightly pressed together, just like a lover stopped his waist from the back and hugged tightly.

Excuse me, I have never seen a million-dollar check. After dropping out of school, Skye has been begging for a living on the streets. He has seen too many fists and knives for a hundred dollars, and two small gangs beat a dog’s brain for ten thousand dollars.

Mike collected the check, put a finger on Skye’s forehead, and pushed her away.

“Whether it’s true or not, it’s not yours anyway.”

“whispering sound!”

It occurred to Skye that old Earl had said Mike’s job was dangerous. Skye didn’t care at that time, just thought that Mike was a scumbag who was always in the Shura field.

“The million-dollar commission should be very dangerous.” Skye began to worry about Mike.

Pepper said: “Since Mr. Mike received the money, what are you going to do? Can you talk about it. It don’t you violate the rules?”

“Can.”

Mike’s eyes fell on Pepper’s bodyguard. At this time, Happy was not fat, but he was more stocky.

“Is there a problem?” Happy was puzzled.

“There is indeed a problem.”

Mike’s answer was unexpected, “If I remember correctly, Mr. Bodyguard…”

“Happy Hogan.” Happy introduced himself.

“Is this Happy Mr. Stark’s personal bodyguard and driver?”

“right!”

As Stark’s personal bodyguard, Happy often shows his face in public and has a high reputation.

“Then why weren’t you around when Stark was attacked?”

Happy’s face darkened, very regretful.

“I’ll answer this question for him.” Pepper took the question. “Tony asked him to stay and protect me.”

“You doubt me?” Happy asked.

“Can’t I?” Mike asked.

“Yes, as long as it helps to find Mr. Stark.” Happy wasn’t annoyed.

Happy is not so much Stark’s bodyguard, but a trusted friend, just like Pepper’s assistant. If Happy wanted to play against Stark, there were at least a hundred better ways.

Mike didn’t doubt Happy, just pure curiosity.

In the movie, Happy helps Stark with his luggage on the plane, but does not appear in Afghan.

“There is limited information, only some immature ideas.” Mike said.

“Dare to accept a million dollars if you don’t know anything…” Skye muttered in a low voice, only Mike could hear it.

Mike looked back at her and continued: “According to the news, Mr. Stark was in the lead car when the convoy was attacked?”

Normally, the protected target will be in the middle of the team, guarding the front and rear.

Pepper said: “It was Tony who made a temporary transfer. He didn’t like… constraints.”

Constraint is a very euphemistic word, in fact, it should be said to be on your own.

This time, Stark was tied to his own death.

“First of all, if the attacker’s goal is to kill Stark, then why take Stark away? If not, why direct missile attack on Stark’s vehicle? So…”

“I am inclined that the employer did not tell the attackers that Stark was in the convoy, and that the attackers found Stark after the attack and kidnapped…”

“Wait,” Happy interjected. “There’s no evidence that there’s a mastermind behind this attack.”

Mike motioned Happy to stay calm and asked, “Mr. Stark’s route in Afghanistan is strictly confidential, right?”

“Yes.” Happy nodded.

Mike goes on to analyze:

“So someone leaked the whereabouts of the convoy to the attackers, But the attackers did not know that there was Stark in the convoy, indicating that most of the planners and the implementers were not one group, but an employment relationship.”

“Also, Mr. Stark has been kidnapped for so long, but no one has contacted you for ransom or other demands. Why?”

Pepper and Happy’s faces changed dramatically.

Mike knew that they were thinking crookedly, and hurriedly said: “It’s not what you think, Mr. Stark is definitely still alive.”

The two looked at Mike hopefully.

Mike explained: “If Mr. Stark is unfortunate enough to die, he will definitely show off as a ‘record’ with his terrorist urgency. I haven’t seen a major attack, a bunch of big and small. Do terrorists claim to be responsible for this… and, even if you redeem Mr. Stark’s body, you must be willing to pay an astronomical sum. Mr. Stark is still alive, I am sure of that.”

I have to say, Mike’s analysis makes sense.

All the while, Pepper hears things like “not sure”, “can’t judge”, “waiting for the next step”, “won’t give up”. At this time, hearing that Mike was sure that Stark was still alive, even if it was only a theoretical analysis, Pepper’s emotions finally broke out, covering his face with his hands and crying.

Mike said embarrassedly to Happy: “I don’t normally make women cry.”

Happy gave Mike a grateful look.

After Stark disappeared, Pepper’s mental state was very bad, she just held on, and it was good for her to vent her pent-up emotions.

Then Skye pinched Mike hard from behind.

Mike: (O_O)?

Where did you mess with you?

Skye thought to himself: “What is a woman who can’t cry, what are those women who are made to cry by you in bed? Scum! Scum! Scum!”

After more than ten seconds, Pepper controlled his emotions, “Sorry, gaffe, please continue, Mr. Mike.”

As expected of a strong woman who can control the Stark Group, she has returned to normal so quickly.

Skye tenderly offered the tissue.

“Thank you.” Pepper did not forget to thank him.

Mike continued: “It’s not that the attackers didn’t extort money. After they found out that the employer had withheld information, their first extortion target was not you, but the employer.”

“How many people have the ability to obtain Mr. Stark’s whereabouts, have the strength and connections to hire terrorists in the Middle East, and benefit from Mr. Stark’s death?”

Mike clenched his fingers: “Inside the Stark Group, commercial competitors, the military… no more than ten, and then exclude a few according to the actual situation, it should be able to be compressed to five…”

“Rhodes!”

“Stain!”

“Impossible.” ×2.

The two denied their guesses at the same time.

Rhodes is Stark’s good friend and the military liaison of the Stark Group. What’s the benefit of Stark’s death?

And Rhodes was in the convoy at the time of the attack. Once Stark died, Rhodes was definitely thrown out as a scapegoat, and then transferred to an unknown Horngada to do clerical or logistical work, with no bright future.

As for Obadiah Stain… His relationship with Tony is like family.

Mike didn’t say much, just quoted Sherlock Holmes: “Once all impossible conclusions are excluded, what remains, no matter how bizarre and incredible, must be irrefutable truth.”

Pepper and Happy fell silent at the same time.

“Find the mastermind, and naturally know the identity of the attacker, and maybe even directly the location of Mr. Stark.”

Mike said: “I need a little preparation time, and then leave immediately. The domestic investigation can only be done by you, er, it is best to pull Coulson.”

“Tony’s private jet can take off in an hour,” Pepper said.

Pepper took out the checkbook, swiped the amount of seven zeros, and said, “As long as Tony can be rescued, there is no upper limit on the funding.”

Now Pepper has confidence and expectations for Mike.

Mike didn’t accept the check. “Said $1 million, no more money. I already told you.”

Mike’s heart was bleeding when he said this.

Happy was stunned for a moment, and began to feel that Mike was very obsessed with money. How could he treat money like dung now?

Pepper left a tablet in which Jarvis would put the collected intelligence for Mike to check.

Time is running out, split up.