Chapter 83: Secret Meeting in the Study

Howard Stark's study was completely unlike the studies of ordinary wealthy families.

It was not filled with hardcover and antique books that might not be touched for years, mere decorations for show. Instead, it was full of journals, bound manuscripts, or printed book drafts, some standing upright, others piled up.

Every book or book-like thing here looked as if it had been read countless times. Various label papers stuck out messily above or to the sides of the volumes, and some were open at specific pages, stacked together.

Alex Hart, who had just entered, noticed that although the books in the study looked unorganized, the owner of the place probably hadn't been here for a long time. Even though someone cleaned regularly, some fine dust was still visible.

After closing the door, Tony poured two glasses of whiskey from the liquor cabinet using wide-mouthed glasses, one for himself and one for the invited guest.

After taking the glass, Alex Hart took a small sip first and said, "Hmm, truly worthy of Howard's collection; it is indeed very good."

Tony Stark also took a sip. Although it felt different from the taste when he was underage and sneaked in to drink, after tasting the inferior liquor from outside bars, he could still distinguish the value of this bottle.

"Tony. May I call you Tony?" Alex Hart said.

"Yes, you may."

"Alright, Tony, you specifically invited me through Katherine; you didn't come just to drink up Howard's collection, did you?"

There had been enough small talk in the living room, so this financial tycoon went straight to the point after entering the study.

Tony Stark was obviously also impatient to continue with useless chatter and asked, "Do you know about the murder case that happened a while ago, the one I was involved in?"

"Oh, that one, I noticed. I heard quite a few of Silicon Valley's... um, what do you call them, new rich, were also dragged into this matter. It just seems to have fizzled out later; I haven't heard any follow-up news reports."

"That's right. If I say that all the FBI agents present that day were fakes, and that the gunmen I left behind that day, including the bodies, also ended up missing, do you think this situation is normal?"

Alex was silent for a moment and asked, "Did you go investigate?"

"Because I was involved; wanting to know the follow-up development is quite normal, isn't it?"

"Didn't you ask Howard?"

"I am an adult; I don't need a nominal father to take care of me."

With a light sigh, Alex said, "Alright, continue."

Tony Stark continued, "I went to ask the LAPD; they insisted the case and all evidence were handed over to the FBI. But the FBI Los Angeles division insisted they never took this case and even have no related records.

"I also went to ask the people who attended the banquet that day, but everyone remained silent about that event, as if nothing had happened. So I started investigating what lay behind this.

"However, the difficulty and resistance were greater than I imagined; mainly, I didn't have very good means to force those who knew to tell me what I wanted to know.

"Then I thought, regarding the events of that day, one of the gunmen said he wanted to give everyone a warning. That's why he chose to act almost openly in such a setting. They also knew there were many people they couldn't touch.

"So I felt that instead of investigating who was operating behind this matter, it would be better to find someone who could understand those 'warnings' and ask directly what was going on. Right?"

"So you came to me?" Alex said with a bitter smile, "I still say, go ask Howard; that is the most correct path."

"I don't want to, so..." Tony Stark pointed at the person in front of him, the meaning being quite clear.

Alex Hart downed the whiskey in his glass in one gulp, then poured himself another, saying at the same time, "You are also qualified to know, so telling you doesn't count as breaking a taboo.

"But once you leave this door today, I will not admit to having said anything. If you plan to drag me into this, I will only tell the outside world that this is just a delusion produced by a genius's mind. I hope we don't reach that point."

Tony Stark pretended to zip up his mouth and said, "I just want to know what is going on behind this."

Alex cleared his throat and said, "There is an island off the coast of California where some wealthy people have secret amusements. Because those behaviors might not quite comply with the laws of various states, everyone tacitly keeps silent."

"You mean something like the Red Sofa in Hollywood?"

"Perhaps even wilder." Alex said, while simultaneously denying, "Don't think I've been to the island and seen the world. You know, although they extend invitations, the choice to go or not remains in your own hands."

Tony Stark was confused and asked, "Even if it's wilder, could there be different ways to play? Even without that island, would these capable people just stop playing?"

"You must never think that silver play is the only theme on the island, Tony. In fact, that island also provides many special medical services, the kind you can't see in regular medical institutions."

With this hint, Tony Stark understood many things. Often, what hinders medical development and achievements is not a technical problem, but an ethical one.

Realizing this, Tony developed an unreasoning aversion to this so-called island.

Alex certainly saw the change in the young man's expression and advised, "Don't think such things are bad; existence implies reason. Just like vice, it cannot be truly banned. If one day you or someone around you needs it, you will be glad the island exists."

"So what does this have to do with that warning?" Giving up on pursuing the matter behind it, Tony Stark asked directly about the part relevant to himself.

Alex said, "Since those services are unaffordable for ordinary people, why let so many unrelated people know? Do you think those poor people who struggle even to support themselves can afford the huge costs they might never earn in a lifetime?

"If these poor devils find out, there are only two things they will do. One is to demand the same services for free, and the other is to ensure no one gets such services.

"You wouldn't think this is a good thing, would you? Just like that old saying: they never ask what they have done for the country, only what the country has given them."

"So, the person who died was a big mouth?" Tony asked.

"That's right. He let too many unvetted people know about these things. The hosts didn't want the possibility of things getting out of control in places they couldn't see. So they had to silence him, and at the same time warn others."

(End of this chapter)