Old Earl's life was simple: he went to work in the morning, dropping Chloe off at school along the way, picked Chloe up from school around 3 PM, and then they returned to the supermarket until 5:30 PM, when they went home together.
If Mike was treating them, they would stay until around 8 PM.
After 9 PM, Hell's Kitchen became a chaotic mess, and the streets were unsafe.
Once Old Earl's original apartment lease expired, he and Chloe would move in. After all, Old Earl's apartment was too small, and as Chloe grew older, she needed her own room.
After 8 PM, the supermarket usually only had Mike and Skye left, watching TV and chatting idly together.
A single man and a single woman… well, it wasn't awkward at all, actually.
Once they got familiar, Skye let loose, often slouching on the chair, messy, with one hand clutching potato chips and the other scratching her foot.
Sometimes she would even stick her butt out towards Mike and let out a "poof" or a series of "poofs," openly and intentionally releasing toxic gases, then collapse on the sofa, cackling uncontrollably until she was out of breath.
He never expected Skye to be like this!
How audacious!
However, Mike's frequency of going out to fool around was getting lower and lower.
"This saves money!"
Mike found an excuse for himself.
Stark Industries' stock had fluctuated several times, with a total drop of over 18 points, and was now stabilizing. After all, Stark Industries was a conglomerate with a mature operational system and management structure, and it wouldn't fall apart just because of one person, just like when Howard Stark died unexpectedly.
Tony Stark's role at Stark Industries was undeniable; he was the company's genius engineer and icon, but his role in management was far less significant than Obadiah's and Pepper's.
"It's almost time to pull out."
Mike planned to close his position tomorrow; he had already made a fortune.
No wonder some people say that if you stand in the eye of the storm, even a pig can fly, let alone a reborn person with small wings.
Skye was balancing the books, focused on the computer.
Mike made her coffee and quietly watched TV until the supermarket door was pushed open.
"Welcome."
The automatic sensor's electronic synthetic voice sounded.
Thinking it was a customer, Skye instinctively sat up straight, a smile on her face.
In walked a woman in a dark gray pinstriped suit skirt, wearing sunglasses.
Blonde, Caucasian, with thin lips, a delicate nose, and cheeks dotted with cute freckles.
She was both capable and beautiful.
For some reason, a faint sense of hostility arose in her heart, which greatly annoyed Skye.
"She's just a bit old, not Mike's type."
As Skye thought this, her hostility gradually faded.
The woman in the suit skirt removed her sunglasses; she had heavy eye makeup, but it couldn't hide the redness and swelling, and deep fatigue.
"So familiar…"
Skye suddenly widened her eyes, "Isn't this the famous Pepper Potts, Tony Stark's assistant? Why is she here?"
"Could Mike be connected to Stark Industries? Is he a low-key super-rich second generation?"
Connecting it to Tony Stark's disappearance, Skye imagined a melodramatic family feud.
"Hello."
Pepper's voice was a bit hoarse.
"H-hello."
Skye was actually a little nervous.
"Is Mr. Mike Tang here?" Pepper asked.
"Yes, he's…"
Skye turned her head and saw Mike yawning and picking his eye boogers.
Skye: (￣ェ￣;)
"That's me." Mike stood up, stretched, "Hello, Miss Potts."
Happy Hogan, who was providing close protection, stared intently at Mike's hand picking his eye boogers. If Mike dared to shake Pepper's hand with that hand, he wouldn't mind teaching Mike what a heavy punch was.
Mike just said, "Please sit down, Skye… make two cups of wolfberry tea."
At this moment, Skye was very conscious of her role as an employee.
"This is a special tea from China, with good health-preserving properties, especially suitable for…"
Mike wanted to say, especially suitable for greasy middle-aged men like Tony Stark who don't know how to exercise restraint. Considering Stark's unknown fate, saying that would be very tactless.
"Thank you."
Pepper took a small sip; the taste felt a bit strange, but not unpleasant.
She glanced at Skye, who was standing behind Mike, her gaze sharp and full of curiosity, pretending to be a secretary, and said, "What we are about to discuss is rather… confidential."
"Oh, it's related to Mr. Stark."
"Yes."
"Oh." Mike said solemnly, "Skye is not only my employee but also a friend. Just as Mr. Stark trusts you unconditionally, I trust her."
When Skye heard "I trust her," her mind went "boom," and her heart pounded like a drum.
"He trusts me!"
"He trusts me!"
"…"
Hearing Mike say this, Pepper's emotions were mixed for a moment. After considering it, she slowly said, "Phil Coulson introduced me. He's an agent from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division."
"I know, the one with the receding hairline."
Pepper: "…Indeed, that's him. He said you are a mercenary, with special abilities, capable of doing things ordinary people cannot."
When she mentioned mercenary, Pepper couldn't help but size up Mike; he didn't have the usual ruggedness of a mercenary at all.
"Private detective or jack-of-all-trades is more appropriate." This was Mike's self-positioning of his profession, as no mercenary would take on a commission to write homework.
"Miss Potts, what is your commission?"
"Tony, find Tony, help me, please, you must find Tony." At this moment, Pepper was so helpless, not at all like the future CEO of Stark Industries.
"Well… I can only say that so far, the success rate of commissions is one hundred percent."
Mike saw a white light and a golden light floating from Pepper… and a golden light.
Golden light?
It was the first time Mike had seen it.
At this moment, lines of text information appeared in his mind—
[Pepper's Commission: Find and rescue the missing Tony Stark]
[Commission: 1,000,000 U.S. dollars (System takes 90% after deducting fees)]
[Mission Description: Find the kidnapped Tony Stark in the vast mountains of Afghanistan, rescue him from the Ten Rings Gang, and return him to the U.S. to reunite with Pepper Potts.]
Mike took a breath and said, "Before accepting the commission, as per usual, there are some matters to explain…"
Pepper said anxiously, "Money is not an issue!"
"Yes, yes, yes, money is not an issue, no money is the problem…" Mike grumbled inwardly, but said seriously, "Please let me finish, Miss Potts."
Pepper said, "Sorry, I'm just too anxious."
"Understood."
Mike didn't mind at all, considering the big client and the unknown golden light.
"First, the commission fee is one million U.S. dollars, paid in full before the commission begins, and no additional fees will be charged if the mission is successful, and no fees will be refunded if the mission fails."
"No problem." Pepper readily agreed.
One million U.S. dollars might be an astronomical figure to ordinary people. In Stark's hands, it was just the price of a big toy.
Happy, however, shifted his expression, wanting to speak but holding back, feeling that Mike was like a swindler.
Skye behind him couldn't help but exclaim, "Are you robbing them?!"
Mike said proudly, "Robbery isn't this profitable."
His heart was bleeding, though.
With system commission and card fees, how much money would he actually get? He was just a system worker; it wasn't as profitable as stock trading or robbing the rich to help the poor.
Happy: "…"
He really is a swindler, isn't he!
"Stop messing around!"
Mike rolled his eyes at Skye and continued, "Secondly, the mission location is Afghanistan. I'm unfamiliar with the place and need accommodation, a guide, a helicopter and pilot on 24-hour standby, and other conveniences related to the commission."
Pepper said, "No problem."
Mike said, "Finally, I need all the information you currently have, such as areas you've searched, and other known intelligence."
After thinking for a moment, Pepper said, "Currently, the U.S. and Afghan Military, S.H.I.E.L.D., and mercenaries hired by Stark Industries are officially involved in the search and rescue of Tony. I can't guarantee I can get all the intelligence, but I will do my best."
"In that case, I'll take this job."
As his words fell, the white light cluster and golden light cluster floated before Mike's eyes and merged into his brow.
System notification:
[Soul Energy +1].
[Destiny Energy +1].
Destiny Energy?
As Mike wondered, information about Destiny Energy appeared in his mind:
[The generation of Destiny Energy is related to individuals who can influence the main storyline of the current World.]
[Mixing Destiny Energy with Soul Energy will produce a higher-level fruit—the Destiny Fruit.]
Mike understood; only commissions from plot characters could generate Destiny Energy.
Some people thought Mike's business card listings like "find pets" and "homework assistance" were purely for humor. In reality, that wasn't entirely the case.
The generation of [Soul Energy] was related to the emotional investment of the client, and often had nothing to do with the commission amount.
"What will the Destiny Fruit yield?"
Mike was very much looking forward to it.