Chapter 36

Howard Stark's study was completely different from the study of an ordinary wealthy family.

It wasn't full of cabinets of hardcover books and antique books that might not be opened for years—that kind of purely decorative display. Instead, it was full of cabinets of journals, bound manuscripts, or printed drafts, some standing, some piled up.

Every book or book-like thing here looked as if it had been flipped through countless times. Various sticky notes were scattered and protruding from the top or sides of the books, and some were stacked open to specific pages.

Alex Hart, who had just entered, noticed that although the books in the study looked unorganized, the owner here probably hadn't been here for a long time. Although someone cleaned regularly, some fine dust could still be seen.

After Tony closed the door, he poured two glasses of whiskey at the liquor cabinet with wide-mouthed glasses, one for himself and one for the invited guest.

After Alex Hart took the glass, he first took a small sip and said, "Hmm, it really lives up to Howard's collection; it's indeed very good."

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

"Tony. I can call you Tony, right?" Alex Hart said.

"Yes, you can."

"Alright, Tony, you specifically invited me through Katherine; it wouldn't be just to drink up Howard's collection, would it?"

The polite part had been enough in the small talk in the living room, so this financial big shot went straight to the point after entering the study.

Tony Stark was obviously impatient to continue chatting about useless things, and asked, "You know about the murder case that happened a while ago, the one I was involved in."

"Oh, that one, I noticed. I heard that quite a few Silicon Valley... um, how do you say it, new rich, were also involved in this matter. It just seemed to fizzle out later; I haven't heard any follow-up news reports."

"That's right, that's exactly it. If I said that the FBI agents who arrived that day were all fakes, and the gunmen I left behind that day, including the bodies, also disappeared without a trace in the end, do you think this matter is still normal?"

Alex was silent for a moment and asked, "You went to investigate?"

"Because I was involved in it, it's normal to want to know the follow-up development, right?"

"You didn't go 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, you continue."

Tony Stark continued, "I went to ask the LAPD, and they insisted that the case and all evidence were handed over to the FBI. But the FBI's Los Angeles branch insisted that they didn't take over this case, and there wasn't even any relevant record.

"I also went to ask the people who attended the banquet that day, but everyone kept silent about the incident, as if nothing had happened. So I started to investigate the matter behind this.

"However, the difficulty and resistance were greater than I imagined. The main thing is that I didn't have very good means to force those who knew the truth to say what I wanted to know.

"Then I thought, regarding the incident that day, a certain gunman said it was to give everyone a warning. That's why they chose to act almost openly on such an occasion. They also knew that many people were people they couldn't afford to touch.

"So I think, rather than investigating who is operating behind this matter, it's better to find someone who understands those 'warnings' and ask directly what is going on. Right."

"So you came to me?" Alex said with a bitter smile, "I'll say it again, you go ask Howard; that is the most correct thing."

"I don't want to, so." Tony Stark pointed at the person in front of him, and the meaning was also very obvious.

Alex Hart downed the whiskey in his glass in one gulp, then refilled it for himself, and said at the same time, "You are also qualified to know, so I'm telling you, it doesn't count as breaking a taboo.

"But after walking out of this door today, I won't admit to having said anything. If you intend to involve me, I will only say to the outside world that this is a delusion produced by a genius mind. I hope everyone doesn't reach this step."

Tony Stark made a gesture of zipping 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, and there are some secret entertainments for wealthy people on the island. Because those behaviors may not be very consistent with the laws of each state, everyone tacitly keeps silent."

"You mean like the red sofa in Hollywood?"

"Maybe even wilder." Alex said, while denying at the same time, "Don't think that I have been to the island to see the world. You know, although they will extend invitations, the choice to go or not still rests in one's own hands."

Tony Stark was puzzled and asked, "Even wilder, can there be different ways to play? Even without that island, wouldn't these capable people still play?"

"You must not think that silver music is the only theme on the island, Tony. In fact, the island also provides many special medical services, all of which are the kind you don't see in regular medical institutions."

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

Realizing this, Tony felt an inexplicable disgust for this so-called island.

Alex naturally saw the change in the young man's expression and advised, "Don't think that this kind of thing is a bad thing; what exists is reasonable. Just like drugs, it's impossible to truly ban them. If one day, you or the people around you have a need, you will be glad for the existence of the island."

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

Alex said, "Since those services are not affordable for ordinary people, why let so many irrelevant people know? Do you think those poor people who have difficulty even supporting themselves can afford the huge expenses they might not be able to earn in a lifetime?"

"If these poor ghosts knew, there would only be two things they would do. One is to demand the same service for free, and the other is to make sure no one gets such a service.

"You wouldn't think this is a good thing, right? Just like that old saying, they never ask themselves 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 people who hadn't been screened know about these things. The host didn't want the matter to have the possibility of getting out of control where he couldn't see it. So they had to silence him, and by the way, they could also warn others."