After finishing his last sentence, Qin Xiao turned and left Kingpin's room.
Kingpin's gaze flickered.
"'Don't deceive too much'… It seems the Eastern devil is quite covetous of Satan's territory—so much so that even minor deception is tolerable."
He had clearly understood the meaning behind Qin Xiao's final words.
After leaving the villa, Qin Xiao casually answered a phone call.
"Frank, anything going on with Tony?"
On the other end was the Punisher—Frank Castle.
After rescuing Tony, Frank hadn't left Stark Tower immediately.
In fact, even if he wanted to, he couldn't.
Colonel Rhodes, who served as the liaison between the military and Tony, had launched an investigation into him.
After all, even the military didn't know where Tony had been taken.
So how did Frank know?
Fortunately, Frank was a retired Marine with a relatively clean record.
Coupled with the tragedy of his wife and daughter's deaths, Rhodes even felt some sympathy toward him.
So instead of making things difficult, he simply required Frank to remain in Stark Tower until the investigation was complete.
Coincidentally, Frank's mission was to protect Tony for the time being.
So staying in Stark Tower worked perfectly for him.
"Tony wants to see you. Colonel Rhodes does too."
"I figured. Didn't expect them to be this eager.
Good timing—I have something to discuss with him as well. Where are they?"
"At Stark Tower."
"Perfect. I'll be right there."
Qin Xiao hung up.
Not long after, he arrived at Tony's office.
Tony's expression was unusually serious.
"Qin."
Frank greeted him the moment he walked in.
"You?"
Tony's face changed as he looked at Qin Xiao.
He recognized this Eastern man.
"That's right—it's me.
A few months ago, I warned you to be careful.
But the brilliant and arrogant Tony Stark clearly didn't take me seriously.
So… how does it feel to have a hole blown through your chest?"
Seeing Tony's pale face, Qin Xiao offered no comfort—only blunt sarcasm.
After obtaining the system, Qin Xiao had been searching for people compatible with Devil Fruits.
After failing with numerous ordinary individuals, he turned his attention to key figures in the Marvel world.
Tony Stark was one of the compatible candidates he had identified.
That was why he had deliberately arranged a meeting months ago.
Using a near "fortune-teller" style approach, he had tried to warn Tony.
Of course, Tony hadn't believed a word.
But Qin Xiao didn't care.
All he needed was to leave an impression.
Everything was groundwork for the future.
"The feeling of a hole in my chest is terrible.
What's worse is… I still can't believe it was really him."
Tony looked dejected.
"Whether you believe it or not, you've already reached a conclusion, haven't you?
You must've found something unusual in your company's records."
Qin Xiao shot back casually.
"Yeah. I found unauthorized transactions in company files.
All of them ultimately point to Obadiah.
He was my father's friend—the one who helped build Stark Industries into what it is today.
Our deals with the military already made us a weapons giant.
So why would he secretly sell weapons to those people behind my back?"
For once, Tony's voice carried a trace of confusion.
"You can figure that out on your own.
You didn't call me here just to talk about that, did you?"
Qin Xiao had no interest in comforting him.
Tony shook his head, pushing aside his frustration.
His expression turned serious.
"This time, you hired Frank to save me. I'm grateful.
Once your contract with him ends, I'd like to hire him as my personal bodyguard.
As for you—if you need anything, just name it."
Tony wasted no time trying to poach Qin Xiao's man.
Clearly, he valued Frank's abilities.
As for Qin Xiao, he wasn't sure how to deal with him.
If Qin Xiao had seemed like a charlatan a few months ago…
Now, he felt mysterious.
After all, everything he predicted had come true.
"Sorry. I won't be your bodyguard.
Other than Qin, I won't work for anyone else."
Frank refused without hesitation.
"Why? Whatever he's paying you, I'll double it."
Tony immediately resorted to money.
"Money? That's not what he gave me."
"Then what did he give you?"
Tony was stunned.
"He gave me power.
The power to stand as an army on my own.
That's something you can't offer."
Frank's tone was calm but firm.
"Power? You said the same thing to me before!"
Tony suddenly remembered Qin Xiao's earlier words.
Qin Xiao smiled faintly.
A ripple spread across his body.
Then, a brightly colored, oddly shaped fruit appeared in his hand.
"That's right.
This… is power."