When Hawk returned home, he had a twenty-inch carry-on suitcase with him, and an extra express envelope in his left hand.
This was given to him by the deliveryman just now.
It was sent express from New York University in the afternoon.
New York University?
Hawk casually pushed the suitcase aside and sat down on the sofa. He glanced at the header on the express envelope and ripped it open directly.
The next second.
He pulled out an admission letter for the New York University School of Law, covering a full scholarship, from the envelope.
"Hiss!"
Hawk took a sharp breath, looking at the stamped and validated admission letter in his hand, waiting for him to report next September with blinking eyes.
Then...
He couldn't help but frown.
Good gracious.
It really is a no-strings-attached gift.
Hawk thought in his heart, then while looking at this admission letter, likely printed just this afternoon, he took out his phone, searched through the call log, and dialed the most recent call.
The phone was quickly connected, the voice from the other end sounding a bit surprised.
"Mr. Hawk!"
"I received the gift."
"That's great... wait a minute, Mr. Hawk, the New York University you referred to isn't the gift, it's just a welcoming gift."
"Hmm?"
"I just checked, the true gift, Mr. Hawk seems to have not yet reviewed."
Hawk raised an eyebrow.
The next second.
Anna's voice came through: "Mr. Hawk, have you not logged into that previous website to check my information?"
Hawk said to wait a moment, then got up and walked to the folding table, turned on the phone's hotspot, and opened the computer.
Still the same underground forum from yesterday, still the same chat box.
But at this moment, there was an additional message, timestamped as sent by Anna after eleven o'clock.
Hawk looked at this additional message, eyes narrowing.
At a glance.
"New Jersey, Calver Lake, Bruce Banner and Betty Ross will start their Christmas vacation there."
"..."
Hulk!
After comprehending the content of this message, Hawk's breathing involuntarily deepened a few notches.
"Is this information accurate?"
"So far, Bruce Banner and Betty Ross's plans haven't changed, the holiday cabin was booked by Miss Betty Ross and hasn't been canceled."
Anna on the other end of the line continued smiling.
"Does Mr. Hawk like this gift?"
"Call me Hawk."
Hawk replied in a deep voice, focusing his gaze on the information sent by Anna: "I like it very much, what do you want from me?"
Anna smiled.
"Mr. Haw..."
"Just call me Hawk."
"Alright, Hawk!"
Anna's voice seemed a bit more delighted: "New York University was just a welcoming gift, this is the real gift, giving a friend a gift doesn't expect anything in return, isn't it? Of course, if Hawk truly considers us friends."
Hawk slowly diverted his gaze from the computer screen, speaking solemnly: "If the information is accurate, from now on, you have earned my friendship, Anna."
He was too lazy to guess who or what force was behind Anna.
Whoever helps him is his friend.
The logic is as simple as that.
Furthermore, the greatest possibility behind Anna is just Hydra.
So what.
Because of the Hulk situation, he already lost the filter for these superheroes.
The so-called big villain Hydra?
Heh.
As Kaka said, failure is called rebellion, success is called revolution.
Hydra failed, and history is written by the victors, so Hydra became the big villain.
Hawk's response was solemn.
This was also the first time he formally made a promise.
"I always repay kindness with kindness!"
"Anna."
"Whatever you want, just say it. Whatever I can provide, I'll definitely meet your needs, as long as this information is accurate."
"This is a gift, between friends, gifts are given without expecting anything in return."
Despite Hawk making such a solemn promise, Anna on the other end of the call maintained that this was merely a gift, a gesture of friendship between friends.
Seeing this, Hawk didn't press further.
The next second.
He suddenly thought of something and laughed, saying: "I just happen to have something, if you could help, maybe we can strike a deal."
Hearing this, Anna was slightly taken aback, then she understood.
"Please, go ahead."
"I need iron meteorites."
"How many?"
"The more, the better."
"By when?"
"Before Christmas."
Hawk said in a calm tone, then added, "But I have no money for you, though you can make a request of me. As long as I can meet it, the deal is done."
His Little Cosmos Phoenix Star Map was still being refined into Gammanien.
To imbue Gammanien the ability to give life to the Holy Armor, refinement of the associated constellation is needed.
But Hawk estimated that this Christmas holiday would complete the refinement, thus the next step would be to initiate meteorite refining.
Hawk's original plan was to get the needed meteorites this Christmas holiday, then after the holiday, once he turns eighteen next year, he could head to Wakanda to retrieve the Vibranium he needed.
After all, he couldn't fly now, and he didn't have any channels for smuggling.
But now?
During the conversation with Anna, Hawk suddenly thought that maybe he could get the meteorites he wanted without leaving home.
Whether Anna or the force behind her was playing to his likes, or casting a long line to catch a big fish, it didn't matter.
He did really like and was satisfied with the gift Anna gave him.
The most important thing.
The less Anna wanted to gain something from him, the more he wanted to give her something.
In a word.
He made friends not by who the other person was, but by whether they suited his taste.
After stating the trade conditions, Anna on the other end of the phone fell silent again.
No surprises, Anna was likely consulting with the force behind her or the real decision-maker.
Hawk didn't rush; instead, he turned on the speakerphone and opened the satellite map to search for the New Jersey Calver Lake Anna mentioned in her message.
After a while.
Anna's voice came back on, but this time there was a cautiousness, as if afraid to demand too much and anger Hawk.
"Mr. Haw..."
"We're already friends, Anna."
"Alright."
Anna chuckled at Hawk's interruption, and her tone relaxed slightly.
"Really, anything?"
"Of course, as long as I have it."
"Then..."
Anna paused here, then seemed to brace herself and said, "Could we ask for some of your blood?"
Hawk raised an eyebrow at Anna's request.
...