Swish swish swish...
Leo and Lily were walking briskly ahead, their feet swift as if afraid of being tangled by a pervert.
But how could two legs outrun four wheels?
That luxury car caught up from behind again, driving alongside them on the street. Howard leaned out from the passenger seat, shouting to them across the sidewalk.
"Don't go! I'm not finished yet. How about I treat you to dinner at any luxury restaurant in New York of your choice?"
The young girl and boy sped up like they were in a race.
Leonid felt anxious inside; they just wanted to find a policeman now, but could the police even control someone like Howard?
Sure enough, this pervert harbored ill intentions. Who doesn't know luxury restaurants are both dining and accommodation? If Howard's target is Lily, then wouldn't I be another Xaiohuzi's target...
How disgusting!
Howard stuck half his body out of the car, waving his hand continuously.
"Hello? Can you hear what I'm saying?"
His shouting attracted the attention of passing pedestrians, many of whom knew him, sparking a wave of chatter.
"Saint shit! You're Howard Stark!" A black lady shouted in an operatic tone, even throwing a flirtatious look at Howard.
Howard forced a smile: "That's me, thanks for the support, goodbye."
He secretly kicked Nathaniel, signaling him to speed up the car, the lady's gaze seemed ready to assault him.
The car passed the lady's position, Howard's voice suddenly became mosquito-like as he cupped his mouth, ensuring sound waves entered only Leo's ears.
"Look here, look here, look here..."
Leo and Lily started running, only a fool would look.
Nathaniel sighed as he drove, he could see the two's actions through the glass, and knew it was Howard being seen as a sex maniac again.
No, it should be said, being seen through again.
"Today's Black Friday, everyone plans to shop at Wilson Enterprises' stores, do you think young couples would care about you?"
Howard turned his head, expression showing utter despair: "Damn, it's Slade again, but knowing that makes this easy."
He reached into his chest, pulling out a wad of cash, without counting, it was roughly seven or eight hundred US Dollars, just the pocket change he carried.
He waved the bills wildly in the air, the paper's sound exceptionally crisp: "Leo, stop, let's chat a bit, then you can take my money and go crazy shopping with your girl at the supermarket, I won't harm you!"
Just then, the police station was right ahead, and Leo finally felt relieved at heart, holding the panting Lily, he turned back.
Howard's face showed a smug smile of success, his Xiaohuzi twitching.
"Go ahead, Mr. Stark, but I'll remind you, this is a police station."
"Every police station in New York City feels like home to me, last time when I rode a horse naked after drinking, declaring love in the park to a lady, I ended up here, let me tell you..."
He was about to recount his glorious history when Nathaniel pinched his calf: "I don't think this is something to tell kids."
Howard sighed helplessly, frustrated by his partner's character: "It was a white horse, I was just telling the kids a story about a white horse prince, what's wrong with that?"
"You'll only disillusion them." Nathaniel pointed outside at the expression of the two, Leo's eyes were squinting, while Lily kept sneaking glances at the officers within the station.
"All right." Howard adjusted his tie, getting a bit more serious, he got off the car again to talk to Leo: "We were colleagues of your father, we're here to talk about him."
"My father? He died long ago." Leo showed impatience, he remembered what his father looked like, but their last meeting was over ten years ago.
Howard nodded, showing a regretful expression: "Yes, he was somewhat my guide in physics, Dr. Nikola Tesla's numerous theories benefited me greatly, wireless power transmission, black hole theory, weather weapons, death light weapon, alien research, and many more. He was a true genius, although now he seems a bit inferior to me, his passing is a huge loss to the world."
Lily looked at Leonid astonished, her mouth gaping: "Your father was Nikola Tesla? You never told anyone."
Leonid touched his head, his golden hair clearly different from Nikola: "Well... it's a long story, but I've never seen my mother, father left me nothing but debts, including his talent in physics, none of it was inherited."
"Oh, Leo..." Lily hugged his arm tightly.
"Ahem, that's why we came." Howard cleared his throat, reminding the two he was still there, after Leo recounted his tragic experience and Lily looked sympathetic, the two were drawing closer what were they up to?
"Oh, ahem, Mr. Stark." Leo was interrupted, awkwardly looking into the distance.
"Your talent lies not in this field, you know what I mean." Howard stroked his beard: "Now the unit where your father worked wishes for you to inherit his position, the compensation is excellent, you were planning to find work after graduating high school, right?"
Leo's heart skipped, he did indeed know his unique trait, but looking at the cash, then at the girl, he nodded.
He suspected he was a mutant, of course, not without basis.
"It's indeed the case."
Howard noticed his gaze, directly stuffing the few hundred dollars into Leo's hands: "So you've got a job now, congratulations, you start tomorrow."
"Uh... is job hunting this easy?" Leo saw Howard return to the car, seemingly about to leave.
"Inherit the family business, personnel operations, blah blah blah, you know, what company doesn't have a few unwritten rules? Now go have fun with your girl."
"But what can I do?" Actually, Leo was a bit panicked too. Although he was different from ordinary people, he really didn't have any scientific talent or research ability. Going there, wouldn't he be the one being researched?
Blood tests, tissue samples, cryogenics, and the like.
Howard took out a cigar, clipped it a few times, and put it in his mouth, "You're not going to be a test subject anyway, Uncle Howard wouldn't lie to you, go have fun, bye-bye."
The car started, and in a flash, it was gone.
Leo looked at the money in his hand, lost in thought, with Lily by his side offering suggestions.
But what ideas could two teenagers possibly have?
In the end, the two of them just went for a muddled meal, deciding to see what happens tomorrow. If it doesn't work out, they'd call the police, and if the job was fine, wouldn't that be better?
So, the two of them carefreely continued with their plans for a shopping trip.
Neither of them noticed that from the distant rooftop of a residential building, a slim figure wearing a white furry hat slowly withdrew after putting down a telescope...
...........
At night, Leonid was walking home alone, his steps danced as if he were drunkenly waltzing.
From time to time, he touched his lips, smiling foolishly to himself, unable to contain it.
"Hehehe... hehe..."
The stray cats and dogs by the roadside all fled, hiding behind snow heaps or garbage bins to watch him. Was this guy sick?
"Screech!"
Just then, the sound of tires screeching was heard beside him, car headlights blinding him so much he couldn't keep his eyes open, as a car drifted to a halt in front of him.
The car's front was directly facing him, illuminating him snow-white. After turning his body to dodge, he realized it was the familiar car from earlier that day.
Leo raised his hand to shield his eyes, continuously adjusting his gaze. Through the strong light, Howard, dressed in a coat, stood in front of the headlights, hands in his pockets, looking laid-back.
"Little Leo, we're here to pick you up for work. Get in the car."
"But it's nine o'clock at night?" Leo showed his newly bought watch that day, disgruntledly tapping its face.
Howard also raised his arm to look at his handcrafted watch, "That's right, work time should be just right."
"But you never said it was a night shift."
Leo said helplessly, feeling deflated.
That's what it means to owe someone a favor. With the money Howard gave him, he not only bought a watch, but also clothes and shoes, and had a great time on a date with Lily.
Howard walked up to him, hooked his neck, and led him to the car: "It's not a night shift, don't worry, it's very easy."
"Really? There's no danger to life?"
"How could there be any danger to life? Hehe, we'll be there soon."
Howard slammed the car door shut, and immediately the car sped off like a ghost shadow on the night road. Howard's driving skills were very good; he was quite the race car driver.
An hour later, the car stopped. On the road, the three of them barely talked about anything meaningful, it was all Howard bragging. When they reached their destination, Howard was still boasting about an incident with a Hydra spy during World War II.
But these topics were too adult for Leo, and he was red-faced the whole time, at a loss for how to respond. It wasn't until he got out of the car in a daze that he realized where they were.
On the tarmac, not far away was a twin-engined passenger plane, its tail lights blinking, illuminating the Stark Industries logo.
"Is this an airport?"
"Yeah, Kennedy Airport, established in 1942, just opened last year." Howard led Leo inside, accompanied by beautiful flight attendants the whole way.
"Is my workplace at the airport?" Leo was confused.
"Of course not, the plane is just a transportation tool." Howard smiled, leading him and Nathaniel, and the three of them boarded the plane directly.
The interior of the plane was quite luxurious, with leather sofas, several bedrooms, a bar, and a dance floor, not to mention a few scantily clad stewardesses; even Air Force One might not have such conditions.
"Take a seat, make yourself at home." Howard threw himself onto the sofa, sinking deep into it. The stewardesses brought champagne and cigars, and he flirted with them as if by instinct, "Let's play a few rounds later, you ladies and I."
The three stewardesses bashfully tapped him, faces responding in mock ejection, "You're so bad, Mr. Stark."
Leo didn't know what kind of code Howard was speaking in. Is playing a few rounds what grown-ups call sleeping together now?
However, at the moment, he was more concerned about where they were going, but seeing Howard being escorted towards the back of the plane by the stewardesses, he missed his chance to ask.
It was Dr. Richards who noticed the confusion on his face. He raised his glass, took a sip, and picked up the newspaper beside him, "Our destination is Rome."
The plane took off, but they didn't notice that almost simultaneously, on another runway, a cargo plane took off.
On the body of that plane, even at night, the huge orange W emblem was clearly visible.