Howard was deeply envious of Chen Mo's extravagance. He knew exactly how valuable vibranium was — even as America's top arms dealer and the chairman of Stark Industries, he would never dare to use it so lavishly.
But Chen Mo had his reasons — he needed it for battle. He was the commander of the Special Forces, and Steve would become one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most important combat agents in the future.
Howard, on the other hand, could only watch in frustration. He wasn't a soldier — just the scientist in charge of logistics and tech development. What use would a full set of alloy armor be for him? Would he wear it to do lab work? Claim "the experiments are too dangerous, I need explosion protection"?
If he dared to say that, Chen Mo would personally show him what "real danger" meant.
Howard had considered joining the Special Forces, but he knew himself well. Following behind Chen Mo occasionally, fighting a few easy battles for fun — that he could handle. But living every day under gunfire and explosions? He'd rather stay safely in the lab tinkering with his inventions.
Chen Mo, however, didn't think much of it.
To someone controlling HYDRA, money was just a number. Vibranium, in his eyes, was nothing more than a rare material.
He had long ordered HYDRA to secretly collect vibranium worldwide.
According to Dr. MacLain's formula, once refined into adamantium, the amount would be enough to build an entire armored vehicle.
So as HYDRA's hidden boss — a man of limitless wealth and power — Chen Mo could afford to spend vibranium however he liked, while Howard could only gnash his teeth in envy.
The composition of adamantium differed greatly from the "original alloy" that made Chen Mo's vibranium shield.
The original alloy was only one-third the weight of steel — meaning it had an extremely high vibranium content.
Adamantium, on the other hand, was about the same density as steel, with less than 10% vibranium in the mix.
That meant the few dozen kilograms of vibranium in the secret lab could produce tons of adamantium — more than enough for Chen Mo to splurge.
And with HYDRA's global reach, there would only be more where that came from.
When Chen Mo said he wanted to build an adamantium combat vehicle, he wasn't joking — he really intended to do it.
(If Howard ever found out, he'd probably cough up blood.)
⸻
A few days later, the new adamantium armor and the twenty throwing knives Chen Mo ordered were completed.
It was time for him and Howard to return to Europe.
Before leaving, Chen Mo gathered everyone from the martial arts hall.
This time, he didn't plan to come back.
Once HYDRA's matter was settled, he would return directly to his real world.
So he had to make arrangements for the people who had followed him this far.
Their loyalty had never been in question — Chen Mo wouldn't abandon them.
Looking at the group standing quietly before him, Chen Mo began slowly:
"You've all been with me for quite some time. I've seen your efforts, and I'm very satisfied."
"This time, after I leave New York, I won't be coming back for a long while. You can choose — follow me to Europe, or stay here to manage the martial arts hall and the underground network in Brooklyn."
"Of course, neither path will be peaceful. Both will be dangerous. Fighting and killing will become part of daily life. If any of you don't wish to live that kind of life, I can arrange a large sum of money for you — enough for a lifetime of comfort."
When a few of them opened their mouths anxiously to speak, Chen Mo raised his hand to stop them.
"There's one thing you need to understand. Whether you choose to follow me or stay here, you'll all be exposed to certain secrets behind me. Once you decide, there's no turning back. Think carefully."
As soon as Chen Mo finished speaking, Han Qing and the others immediately stepped forward.
"Of course we'll go with you, Master!"
"Wherever you go, we follow!"
"You saved my wife and child — my life belongs to you!"
"I'm going to Europe! I want to fight by your side!"
Without exception, all four men chose to follow Chen Mo.
It wasn't just gratitude — it was admiration.
They had seen his strength, his decisiveness, his compassion.
In chaotic times like these, following a true powerhouse was only natural.
And Chen Mo had treated them far better than any "boss" they'd ever known.
When Wang Kun's wife and child were kidnapped, Chen Mo had personally walked into an ambush, rescuing them alone from dozens of armed men, then annihilating both the kidnappers and the two crime families behind the plot.
He didn't just save their lives — he erased every future threat.
With a leader like that — powerful, loyal, protective — they had already made up their minds long ago.
As for old Albert, no words were needed.
Had he never met Chen Mo, he might have died alone in a cold, dark alley in Liverpool, forgotten by the world.
It was this young man who had reignited hope in his life — who gave him purpose and light.
Having long accepted the inevitability of death, Albert now only wished to spend the rest of his days repaying Chen Mo — to follow him, serve him, protect him until the very end.
Every day since meeting Chen Mo had been a gift, a new life, full of meaning — and it was all because of him.
Chen Mo felt the same. Though Albert was officially just his butler, he had long regarded him as a trusted friend — even family.
Their eyes met, and understanding passed silently between them.
No more words were needed.
Chen Mo's gaze moved across Han Qing, Huang Quan, Luo Zhen, and Wang Kun.
In their eyes, he saw sincerity, gratitude, and unwavering loyalty.
He'd been grooming these four as his inner circle, and they had never let him down.
None of them chose to stay and rule Brooklyn's underworld, nor did any take the offer of wealth and retirement.
Power and money couldn't sway them — they chose to follow him without hesitation.
Chen Mo could see it clearly: their loyalty was real, from the heart.
Still, someone had to stay behind.
As satisfied as he was, Chen Mo knew that the newly founded Seven Commandments Gang needed a leader.
New York — and Brooklyn in particular — would play a vital role in his future plans.
When he returned someday, he expected the organization he built to have grown into something far greater — a force capable of shaping the world itself.