Because of Lock's two life-saving acts of kindness, Gwen's love for him had reached its peak, and with no other way to repay him, Gwen could only offer herself... so everything happened naturally... However, this process didn't last as long as imagined, at least not as long as the endless night described in female-oriented CEO novels.
Firstly, because Lock wasn't a domineering CEO.
Secondly, because Gwen was a first-timer.
Lock was an old ox experienced in the battlefield, while Gwen was still a newly tilled field.
So, before evening, Gwen had already fallen into a deep sleep, and Lock was on the hotel balcony, smoking a post-coital cigarette.
However, he had only taken two puffs when Lock's phone rang.
He picked it up and saw it was Kingpin, who hadn't contacted him in almost two weeks.
Kingpin wouldn't bother him unless there was something important.
So, it seemed like there was new business.
He had just spent ten million U.S. dollars customizing a battlesuit for Peter, so now it seemed he could recoup some losses.
With a smile playing on his lips, Lock picked up the phone and answered, "My big patron, what good job do you have for me this time?"
Kingpin's hearty laughter came through the phone: "Hahaha, dear Lock, you guessed it right! This time, there's indeed a big job that requires your personal attention, and it's even bigger than the last one where I asked you to eliminate the Neon Gang!"
Lock's eyes lit up at the words!
The last time Kingpin hired him to eliminate the Neon Gang, the price was ten million U.S. dollars, which was already the highest commission he had ever received for a mercenary mission!
After all, a mission to eliminate an entire gang wasn't something that came along every day.
Normally, the mercenary missions Kingpin offered only involved eliminating a gang leader, and a commission of a few million was already considered a lot!
Only high-intensity missions like wiping out an entire gang could break the ten-million mark in commission.
This was a truly big job!
One that could sustain him for an entire year!
Therefore, Lock didn't even ask what the mission was and directly said, "I'll take the mission. Tell me the location, the target, and most importantly, this time's commission!"
Kingpin, on the other end of the phone, wasn't surprised that Lock agreed to take the mission without even asking what it was.
Because this wasn't the first time Lock had done this, as long as the commission was high enough, there was no mission Lock couldn't complete.
This was one of the reasons Kingpin valued Lock so much: because if he gave Lock enough money, Lock would be more reliable than all his subordinates combined!
And he, Kingpin, Wilson Fisk, the Emperor of the Underworld, and the head of the Fisk Corporation, had no shortage of money!
Moreover, Lock carrying out those assassination missions against his rivals wasn't a losing business for him.
On the contrary, he could use Lock to assassinate those leaders, then seize their gangs, gaining more money and territory!
This was a mutually beneficial transaction!
Thinking of this, Kingpin's smile deepened. He decided to mention the money, which Lock was most interested in, before the mission content itself:
"We're not in a hurry for the mission content. Let me first tell you about this time's commission. It's a full fifty million U.S. dollars."
Lock on the other end of the phone was silent for several seconds before speaking, "Tell me, do you want me to kill the U.S. President, or the Minister of Defense?"
Now it was Kingpin's turn to be silent.
Kingpin rubbed his forehead: "No, neither. Why would I kill the President and the Minister of Defense for no reason? Even if I killed them, I couldn't run for election yet..."
"To be honest, Lock, this mission isn't my personal business. Someone approached me through special channels and asked for my help."
"And this mission isn't the assassination mission you usually like to do, but a rescue mission."
"That's why I wanted to tell you the mission type first and ask if you'd take it, instead of assuming you would and directly informing you of the mission content."
Lock frowned: "A rescue mission? Rescue whom? Don't tell me it's the President or the Minister of Defense. If it's them, tell them to go as far away as possible and die there."
Honestly, he never liked doing any damn rescue missions.
Because such missions were usually tedious, lengthy, and might even have certain after-sales risks.
Assassination missions, however, were different. Just eliminate the target, and it's done, no need to worry about any after-sales issues whatsoever, 100% satisfaction!
So Kingpin, knowing his personality, would only assign him assassination missions in the past.
But this time, Lock felt he might have to break his habit of avoiding trouble, because the other party was offering far too much!
A full fifty million!
He'd have to wipe out five gangs to earn that much money!
Kingpin rubbed his forehead and sighed, "Sigh, Lock, why are you so at odds with the President and the Minister of Defense...?"
"You know, according to the rules, I shouldn't tell a hired assassin the mission content before they accept it, let alone who the target is. But you're the one asking, my most trusted friend."
"So I'll tell you directly: this mission's location requires going abroad, to Afghanistan. The target to be rescued is the CEO of Stark Industries, Tony Stark."
"Tony Stark?" Lock raised an eyebrow at that, then suddenly relaxed.
He had originally thought it was some disgusting politician, which was why the price was so high. It turned out to be the head of an American arms dealer, whose worth was even higher than a politician's!
However, Lock was still a bit curious and asked, "I can take this mission, but I have two questions."
Kingpin immediately replied, "Speak."
Lock asked calmly:
"First, Tony Stark is missing? How have I not even heard of such important news?"
"Second, as the CEO of Stark Industries, isn't a commission of fifty million U.S. dollars a bit too low? He's worth more than a mere fifty million, isn't he?"
"You haven't secretly taken ninety percent of the commission, have you?"
Kingpin answered Lock's two questions, saying helplessly:
"For the first question, Tony Stark is indeed missing, and has been missing for over two months..."
"But don't say you didn't hear about it; until today, even I hadn't received any news, because Stark Industries' internal team kept this information under wraps."
"For the second question, it's not that Tony Stark is only worth fifty million, but rather that the person who wants to rescue him can only afford fifty million. I didn't even take a single cut of the commission!"
"This mercenary mission wasn't commissioned by Stark Industries, but secretly by Tony Stark's personal secretary, Pepper Potts."
"However, she herself said that this is all the personal wealth she can muster. If you can truly rescue Tony Stark, I believe Tony Stark himself will give you a lot of additional benefits."
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