Jessica's gradual return to consciousness from her coma finally allowed Hong Fei to turn his attention elsewhere. He strode back toward the manor, where security patrols with German shepherds moved through the grounds. Floodlights bathed both the main residence and the laboratory wing in stark illumination, revealing a sleek new helicopter parked beside the research facility.
Purchasing power often trumps salesmanship in this world. The helicopter had been easy enough to acquire—Hong Fei already commanded former military pilots among his ranks, their credentials making moonlighting arrangements simple. Inside, Samuel sat hunched over his laptop, absorbed in study.
With Hong Fei's restrictions lifted and a measure of trust extended, Samuel finally had breathing room to develop his enhanced cognitive abilities. His mutation had transformed him into something approaching a savant—textbook comprehension, analytical processing, and knowledge retention all operating at staggering efficiency. Though he could theoretically absorb entire fields of study, time remained the limiting factor.
Curiously, he'd abandoned his former specialization in biology. Computers, network infrastructure, and AI development now consumed his attention—directives from Hong Fei himself. In the digital age, the internet represented an omnipresent panopticon. Without technological parity, they'd remain perpetually outmaneuvered.
Especially against threats like S.H.I.E.L.D. and Stark. The door swung open as Hong Fei entered. Samuel snapped the laptop shut and scrambled to his feet until a dismissive wave sent them both toward the fireplace. The great hall stood dark except for the flickering hearth.
Crackling logs painted their faces in shifting amber light. Hong Fei stared into the flames without speaking. Samuel watched the firelight dance in his employer's unblinking eyes, uncertain how to break the silence. The tension thickened with each passing second until Samuel sat ramrod straight, hands folded primly on his knees like an overeager schoolboy.
"How much remains?" Hong Fei's sudden question made Samuel twitch.
"After your recent acquisitions? Approximately 1.574 billion," came the instant reply.
A slight nod. "You're aware of the Sokovian holdings?"
"Of course. The castle falls within your asset portfolio."
"Feasible for development there?"
Samuel's eyebrow ticked upward. "Theoretically, though castles aren't typically... purchasable properties?"
Hong Fei's sidelong glance carried weight. "You've seen Sokovia's situation. They'll either sell and eat, or I'll reduce it to rubble and buy the crater. Or land elsewhere."
Samuel's expression soured. Sokovia barely qualified as a nation-state. Despite sharing borders with the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the comparison was laughable. Decades of conflict between government forces, rebel factions, and internecine power struggles had birthed a patchwork of warlord fiefdoms—each controlling territories so minuscule they'd be counties elsewhere.
Having waged wars across continents, Hong Fei viewed these petty skirmishes over villages with contempt. Only recently had external agitators withdrawn, thinning the warlord ranks enough for tentative stability to emerge.
Hong Fei had come to understand that this nation and HYDRA likely shared a complex relationship—not overtly close, but undeniably deep.
"With sufficient funding, it shouldn't pose an issue," Samuel conceded, shifting his stance.
"Then draft a plan."
"Understood."
As the saying went, a cunning rabbit always kept multiple escape routes. Hong Fei had no intention of abandoning this estate lightly. If turmoil were inevitable, better to let it unfold in familiar territory—easier to navigate chaos when you knew the terrain.
Besides, establishing the lab required weighing numerous factors. For now, this location remained optimal. Only after full construction could he reconsider relocation. Still, no matter the investment, everything could be discarded if necessity demanded.
S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't intimidate him, but pointless conflict served no purpose. His real concern lay in exit strategies—how to vanish like a cicada shedding its shell if things turned dire. Natasha's unexpected visit had driven that point home. He could melt into a crowd effortlessly, but others might not share that luxury.
He had to account for them—especially scientists like Helen Cho—and the lab itself, already three billion dollars deep. Money didn't grow on trees, and even Master Hong felt the strain. As these thoughts churned, something sharp flickered behind his composed gaze, a sudden surge of lethal intent thickening the air.
Samuel flinched, hastily averting his eyes.
"Ah, Mr. Hong—you're back?" Helen's voice sliced through the tension, prompting Hong Fei to rein in his killing aura. He turned with practiced ease, smile in place. Samuel nearly sagged in relief.
"Dr. Cho," Hong Fei said smoothly, "it's late. Shouldn't you be resting?"
She offered a tired smile. "Just finishing up some work. You two should retire early as well."
They nodded politely as she left. Hong Fei rose immediately. "Study hard. I'm turning in."
Samuel scrambled to his feet. "Yes, Boss. Goodnight."
Days later, Ivan emerged from prolonged seclusion and sought Hong Fei out without preamble.
"I want revenge."
"Is the whip ready?"
"Yes. And I'll use it to take Stark's head."
Hong Fei shook his head. "I don't oppose vengeance. But have you forgotten? His armor flies."
Ivan's confidence didn't waver. "I'll strike when he's unprotected."
"That's recklessness. Every move requires planning, and planning demands knowing both yourself and your enemy. First, acknowledge the gap between you. Blind passion won't bridge it."
Watching Ivan's brow darken, Hong Fei pressed on bluntly, "Nothing's certain until it happens. No plan's flawless, but we can edge success closer to certainty. And always prepare for failure—so even if you stumble, you live to try again."
He leaned in. "One man's strength has limits. Stark has resources matching yours, and others you lack. You need allies—someone to supply what you can't, while keeping your involvement hidden. A dagger strikes deadliest when unseen."
Ivan frowned, tilting his head. "Who are you talking about?"
Hong Fei sank into his chair with a weary sigh, fingers steepled beneath his chin. His gaze never left Ivan's face. "I brought you back," he said, each word deliberate. "Handed you the reactor schematics. Gave you unlimited lab time, no questions asked." A bitter chuckle escaped him. "Hell, I even helped plot your revenge instead of stopping you."
The leather creaked as he leaned forward. "But look at yourself; you aren't even willing to call me Boss."