William lay on the sofa, eyes closed.
In his mind, however, was a dazzling array of golden numbers.
This money came too easily, too quickly, to the point where it felt unreal to him.
He hadn't even left his apartment; he had simply moved his lips and 'packaged' three top-tier 'talents' from their respective fields for sale.
As soon as the Rand Corporation's money hit his account, William unhesitatingly transferred a large sum to Lei Ling.
On the phone, the genius female engineer's voice was so excited it almost cracked.
William was noncommittal about this.
He just felt that money, only when spent and transformed into concrete and steel, could give him a true sense of security.
This World was chaotic in just the right way.
He was like a chess player leisurely sipping tea in the eye of a storm, watching the chess pieces, named Heroes and Villains, collide under his invisible manipulation.
Each collision sparked a series of dazzling Fire.
And he only needed to set up a small stall nearby, selling melon seeds and drinks, and collecting entrance fees.
Just then, his phone lit up again.
It was the encrypted temporary communication channel created by the contract.
Deadpool joined the chat.
Moon Knight joined the chat.
Spider-Man joined the chat.
Deadpool changed the group name to "New York's Best Booty Boys and Their Unlucky Sugar Daddy."
William's eyelid twitched.
Deadpool: "Hey, sweethearts! Is this some new online dating app?
"The interface is terrible, thumbs down!"
"Can someone tell me where the bathroom is?"
"I've been holding it in all this time! And is my sugar daddy here?"
"That accident insurance he sold me last time, I still haven't figured out how to claim for my torn-in-half undies! Oh, wait, I was talking about another World."
Spider-Man: "Wow! Deadpool?
"Is that really you?
"I've seen your videos online!
"That... booty boy, is he talking about me?
"I... I'm not so sure.
"Hello everyone, I'm Spider-Man!
"Is this the Avengers' reserve channel?
"Mr. Stark?"
Moon Knight: "Steven, shut up!
"This isn't a book club!
"Mark, do you feel it?
"This channel is filled with the stench of money and gunpowder."
"Shut up, you two are disturbing my sleep."
Three people's statements.
Three completely different styles.
One lunatic.
One talkative high school student.
And one who was a three-person dorm living in his own body.
William felt his head ache a little.
Handsome William: "Good afternoon, everyone. I am the project manager for this operation."
"Welcome everyone to the 'Urban Purification Special Operation' sponsored by Rand Corporation."
"Job content: Combat The Hand and HYDRA's illegal activities within New York City.
"Job requirements: Try to capture alive, no torture or killing, protect civilians."
"Compensation: Paid per instance, by Rand Corporation."
"Now, for the first mission: Destroy Warehouse 17 at the Bronx docks. According to intelligence, it's a weapons transit station for The Hand."
Deadpool: "Wow! Getting paid to beat people up?
"More promising than being a mercenary!
"Does the sugar daddy reimburse for bullets and Mexico burritos?
"I like double spicy sauce!"
Spider-Man: "HYDRA! Cool!
"I mean... too evil!
"We must stop them!
"I'll be there right away!
"Swinging from Queens will take about... fifteen minutes!"
Moon Knight: "The Hand... Khonshu's will shall be done."
Watching the channel instantly liven up, William contentedly turned off his phone.
Good, the problem children had found their new toys.
Next, it was just a matter of waiting for Rand Corporation's next 'talent referral fee.'
He even started to consider whether to bring in The Punisher.
Although that man was a complete killing machine, his operational capability was absolutely top-notch.
Danny Rand probably wouldn't mind paying an extra five hundred thousand for a super enforcer who could solve problems with a sniper rifle from three blocks away, right?
Just as he was immersed in planning for a bright financial future, a distant, muffled boom echoed from outside the window.
The sound wasn't an explosion; it was more like the wail of some colossal entity tearing through the sky.
William walked to the window and pulled open the blinds.
At some point, a deep, ever-expanding blue void had appeared in the Manhattan skyline.
Countless metallic-gleaming flying objects, like locusts, were continuously pouring out of that void.
Fire erupted across the City.
The Battle of New York had begun.
William's pupils reflected the apocalyptic scene, yet his face showed no panic.
He even had the leisure to pick up his phone, snap a photo of the giant spatial portal, and prepare to post it on his WeChat Moments.
Caption: Today's weather, cloudy with a chance of aliens.
He hadn't even put his phone down yet.
An encrypted communication request forcefully cut into his line.
Caller ID: Tony Stark.
As soon as the call connected, a deafening explosion and the shrill roar of some creature burst from the receiver, almost shattering William's eardrums.
"Rodriguez!"
Tony's voice was heavily distorted by static, with Jarvis's calm battle damage report mixed in the background.
"Are you free right now, goddammit?!"
"Depends on your definition of 'free,' Tony."
William put his phone on speaker, placed it on the coffee table, and poured himself another cup of coffee.
"If you mean having afternoon tea or discussing life philosophy, I'm at your disposal.
"If you mean going downstairs to fight those metal cockroach-like things, then I might need to book an appointment for next year's schedule first."
"Cut the crap!"
A barrage of energy cannon roars came from the other end of the line; Tony seemed to have taken down an enemy aircraft.
"I need insurance now! Immediately! Right away!"
William's hand, holding the coffee cup, paused in mid-air.
He suspected he had misheard.
"What did you say?"
"Insurance!"
Tony's voice sounded exasperated.
"Some... some alien invasion insurance! Or war insurance! Anything will do! Something that pays out!"
William fell silent.
He put down his coffee cup, walked to the window, looked at the portal at the top of Stark Tower in the distance, continuously spewing out enemies, and then looked at the name on his phone, earnestly requesting insurance.
"Mr. Stark,"
William's voice regained the calm and composure characteristic of a top consultant.
"I appreciate your risk awareness. However, according to the basic principles of insurance contracts, we cannot underwrite risks that have already occurred. This would be considered insurance fraud."
"Fuck your insurance fraud!"
Another loud bang, Tony's voice sounded closer; he seemed to be speeding through a street.
"I don't care about principles! I'm asking you if you'll sell it now! Name your price!"
William's mind raced.
Sell!
Of course, sell!
Being shot dead by alien lasers, is that an accident or a natural disaster?
Stark Tower being smashed, is that commercial property loss or an act of God?
No, that's not the point.
The point is, he could sell it to the entire Avengers!
This was no longer a business opportunity; it was a miracle!
"Yes, I can sell it."
William answered decisively.
"However, this policy is quite special; it's a customized, high-risk product, and the premium... might be a bit high."
-------------------------------
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