Chapter 1844

Stark was discharged from the hospital in the afternoon. He didn't even stay in the hospital for twelve hours, rushing back to the Stark Group's laboratory as if his butt were on fire.

Tony Stark couldn't be called very clever in terms of power and strategy, but he always had some genius inspiration and wit.

He just instinctively felt that the top priority now wasn't to run around in the crowd like a headless fly, but to hurry back to the laboratory and build the intelligent armor he had envisioned before.

Although common sense held that fishing people out of any prison was the result of interest operations, Stark felt that this suit of armor was very likely the key to his plan.

But just on the eve of his preparing to start work at the fastest speed, he learned a piece of news from Pepper: the mercenary Erik who saved him had come to New York and now wanted to see him.

Stark, who learned this news, frowned.

People often say not to morally kidnap others for selfless dedication, and that heroes should be rewarded, but people just instinctively praise heroes who don't seek reward and dedicate themselves selflessly.

Someone like Stark with a hero complex is somewhat tainted by moral kidnapping. When he didn't set an example himself, he would project his fantasies about heroes onto others, and now that he truly intended to save the world, it was inevitable that he would judge others with a critical eye.

When Stark's intelligent brain started running again, he instinctively found that everything about Erik was wrong.

First, the time of his appearance was too coincidental. Stark had just been attacked when he appeared, but this didn't count for much. What made Stark feel most suspicious was that when Erik appeared at the time, he was alone, with no other comrades following behind him.

But Erik wasn't an individual mercenary either; he had an organization. And the mercenary organization he belonged to had no combat missions nearby, and the base was very far away. So what was Erik doing running here?

Secondly, he ran away after the second attack, but returned to try to save Stark. This didn't have any problems; it only showed he was a good person with perseverance.

But it was a bit suspicious when he returned the third time. There was a conflict in behavioral logic here.

Erik running away and returning the first time proved that his risk aversion was relatively high. In extreme situations, he would choose the way with the least risk to handle things, which was why he chose to drive away first and then return to rescue, rather than using the hidden weapons in his hand to fight on the spot and risk killing all the kidnappers.

And anyone could think that the third return was bound to be at huge risk. If Erik was willing to take risks, he could have not run away at the beginning. If he was risk-averse, then why return the third time?

This contradictory behavioral logic made Stark raise his vigilance.

Of course, Stark still acknowledged that Erik saved him the first time, but once a person had a bad impression of something, they would preemptively change many subsequent choices.

Stark pondered for a moment and then said to Pepper: "Let him wait for me in the meeting room. I'll be there in five minutes."

Erik, who was led to the meeting room, restrained his disappointment well and pretended to be curious, looking around.

He was also a bit nervous in his heart. He thought he would be invited directly into the laboratory as a special guest by Stark, but he didn't expect to wait for him in the meeting room like an ordinary guest.

But the Stark Group's etiquette was impeccable. On one hand, someone led Erik to visit, and on the other hand, someone served him champagne and cheese. There was even a black department manager who came over to greet him, chatted with Erik about the local customs and practices in Africa, and showed sufficient enthusiasm.

After Stark entered the meeting room, he immediately gave Erik a big hug. He patted Erik on the shoulder and said very happily: "I'm glad you're back. I was thinking about how to find you in Afghanistan. I don't want to go to that ghost place again. Is your mercenary organization okay?"

Erik immediately showed a sad and regretful expression. He shook his head and said: "They are dead. I came back to the United States this time precisely to investigate this matter."

"What happened?" Stark asked somewhat anxiously: "Who killed them? Are you hurt? Did you see the killer?"

Erik shook his head again, and then he looked up at Stark and said: "I... I'm very sorry, Tony, for not being able to save you. Fortunately, you were finally rescued."

"But I'm also a bit glad about this point now." Erik suddenly spoke up: "If I had taken you away at that time, I would definitely have taken you back to our station. If the enemy had come at that time, I might have implicated you."

These words of his were sincere. Stark sighed lightly, patted Erik on the shoulder, and then said: "God bless you, my brother, you escaped a disaster."

"But don't worry, Erik. No one can hurt you here. I will protect you."

Erik appeared somewhat disappointed. He turned around and walked to the sofa to sit down, while Stark sat on the other side. He heard Erik speak: "Thank you very much, but I can't stay here for long. They are very likely targeting me, Tony. This might bring danger to you."

"What happened?" Stark asked.

"I said, I am a Wakandan, but I was actually expelled by my own kin, which is why I came out to be a mercenary." Erik covered his face, sighed deeply, and said: "They are still unwilling to let me go. I have already implicated many people."

Stark leaned forward and asked: "What exactly is going on?"

"I... once offended the royal family of Wakanda." Erik turned his head to one side and said: "I was too reckless when I was young and angered the King of Wakanda. He expelled me."

Stark reached out and patted his knee, saying: "It doesn't matter, Erik. I said I would protect you. How about this: I'll arrange a position for you in the Stark Group so that you can stay in New York logically. No matter who wants to hurt you, they can't break through the defense of the Stark Group."

Seeing that Stark didn't pursue the matter of Wakanda, a flash of imperceptible disappointment flashed in Erik's eyes, but he knew this was the best result he could get today. So he stood up and hugged Stark, saying: "Thank you for being willing to take me in, Tony. If I weren't really nowhere else to go, I wouldn't have caused you trouble."

Stark patted Erik on the arm again, signaling him not to say such things anymore, and then he picked up his phone and called Obadiah.

Hearing Obadiah's name, Erik instinctively opened his eyes wide. After Stark finished arranging the work and hung up the phone, Erik immediately said anxiously to Stark: "Who is Obadiah? Is he also from the Stark Group?"

"Yes, he is responsible for security work now. What's wrong?"

"I heard this name from the mouths of that group of attackers, Tony. It's very likely that he instigated that group of people to attack you." Erik raised his voice and said: "He is the mastermind!"

But the next second he paused, because Stark showed a confused expression, even slightly dissatisfied. Erik heard Stark say: "He is my uncle, who watched me grow up since I was a child. How could he want to kill me?"

"Obadiah is my only guardian after my father passed away. If he wanted to kill me, it would have been better to do it when I was a child, wouldn't it?"

"Alright, Erik, you must have been under too much pressure and heard wrong. Uncle Obadiah must have already arranged it. You go to the security department to report. I still have some content in my experiment that needs adjustment, so I won't accompany you."

After Stark turned and left, Erik clenched his fists and cursed in his heart.

In the Devouring Engine, Stark shook his head and said: "As the saying goes, 'a distant relative cannot intervene in a close relationship.' He's a bit too anxious."

Nick sat in front of the bar and took a sip of wine before saying: "Not only that, his level is too far from Shiler's."

Stark turned his head to look at Nick. He had never been very good at this kind of thing, and the others also looked at Nick, wanting to hear the opinion of the King of Spies.

Nick held up a finger and said: "I'm not deliberately belittling him, but Shiler is a natural manipulator. In terms of manipulating others' spirits and influencing their behavior, I haven't seen anyone stronger than him. This is because he has a special talent."

"This Erik is obviously also a psychopath. This kind of person is full of charm to ordinary people, so it is also very easy to influence others' actions."

"But currently, Erik is just a fledgling calf relying entirely on talent. They usually feel that this is the best shortcut after occupying an advantage by manipulating others and tasting the sweetness, so they get out of control."

"But manipulating others is a profound study." Nick shook his head and said with some emotion: "The biggest reason why people like them can never achieve high achievements by this is that they don't understand the essence of manipulation, or they understand but can't do it."

"How so?" Stark pricked up his ears.

"They don't know how to love." Natasha tapped her cheek with her finger and said: "Psychopaths don't have the ability to love."

"And because of this, once they have this ability, absolutely no one can resist their manipulation." Nick said: "This is the biggest reason why Shiler can make everyone act according to his plan. He is a psychopath who can love."

"You might feel that Erik's emotional expression is also in place, but almost all the emotions of this kind of person are deduced, used to cover up their cold-blooded and ruthless nature."

"But fake is fake after all. If it were someone else, it would be fine, but it happens to be Tony Stark." Nick looked at Stark and said: "Your emotions are too rich, which leads to your emotional receiving port naturally having much higher power than others. You can detect every subtle change in emotion. Almost no one can hide it from you in this regard."

Stark was silent for a while before saying: "The kind of caring emotion Shiler has for me and for all of us and the entire human civilization is definitely not fake. I can fully perceive it. Perhaps sometimes it's a bit excessive, but it's real, surging, fiery... just like looking directly at the sun."

"Exactly so." Nick tapped the bar counter with his hand and said: "At least in terms of love, his emotions are real. And with him as a comparison, Tony Stark is easier to distinguish true from false."

"And there is one most important point." T'Challa spoke up: "This is also the reason why I said Erik can't be the King of Wakanda. He always plays little tricks and does superficial work, but he always fails to notice the core of the problem."

T'Challa poured Nick another glass of wine and continued: "Shiler set up this series of traps, and the ultimate goal is to guide Stark's gaze to Pierce."

"Why does he want to do this?" Eddie, sitting on the sofa, asked.

And Venom's low voice sounded: "Because having a sufficiently powerful enemy can build a united front."

T'Challa nodded and said: "Exactly so. The terrifying news that the director of S. H. I. E. L. D. is a Hydra allows Tony to temporarily tolerate all small actions, because only by winning over enough allies is it possible to defeat Pierce."

"Then first, the conflict between Tony and Obadiah won't erupt. Most importantly, this makes Shiler valuable."

"Judging by Tony's character, he can't let Pierce go, but he isn't the kind of person who engages in assassination either. He must want to judge Pierce openly and honestly, so he must have evidence."

"But this news came too suddenly. The only breakthrough for collecting evidence that Tony can think of is Shiler."

Nick smiled and said: "This can be called the highest level of Stockholm syndrome cultivation means. It doesn't need a closed environment, doesn't need the person to be present, but it can attract all the other person's attention to him, and can even create greater pressure than a closed space, urging the other person to complete the change of concept."

T'Challa explained further: "Shiler confessed long ago that he is a Hydra, but this Tony chose to accept it, and even chose to save him at all costs, because Shiler achieved the unification of emotional value and interest value."

"And the key that Erik didn't grasp is that he only hopes he has emotional value, but he failed to create interest value for himself. He is accustomed to using emotional value to exchange for interest value, but this can only ever be exchanged for small gains."

T'Challa rubbed the wine bottle and said: "Humans boast that they are animals with rich emotions, but history tells us that even if it comes again a thousand or ten thousand times, humans will only want interests and not emotions. We are much more indifferent than we imagine."

"If in a relationship, one person can only provide emotional value but constantly wants to use emotions to demand interests, then this relationship will sooner or later have a day of collapse."