Chapter 5

"So, was my father really assassinated?" 

Tony Stark's voice trembled slightly, and his fist involuntarily clenched tighter.

Even though no further evidence had been found yet.

But even so, it already spoke volumes.

If that car accident was merely an accident, why were there so many encrypted files?

Even Jarvis mentioned that some of the encrypted files have security levels that freaking surpass military-grade!

No matter how you look at it, there's a huge conspiracy behind this.

I must get to the bottom of this and find out the true reason behind my father's death!

Tony Stark made such a decision in his heart.

Of course.

Given the significance of the matter, it required long-term planning and cautious action.

Even though he is Tony Stark, possessing technology that's ahead of its time.

Institutions like police stations or the FBI, with security systems, are no challenge for him, easily hackable.

But there's one thing.

He at least needs to connect to their local network first, right?

That's not something you can do just by sitting in your luxurious villa.

It still required meticulous planning to ensure that nothing goes wrong.

[Sudden inspiration!]

[What if I tell Stark about the killer of Howard and his wife, how would he react?]

[Having finally traversed here, wouldn't it be a waste not to use this foreknowledge?]

[Then casually demand a few billion from Stark; wouldn't that propel me directly to the peak of life?]

[An amazing life is beckoning to me!]

Did this traverser, Zhou Cheng, truly know who killed his parents?

Tony Stark stared intensely at the diary in front of him, unable to keep his composure.

Just a few billion?

That's just pocket change!

If Zhou Cheng is really willing to tell him the truth, Tony Stark wouldn't even blink an eye.

[Ah, forget it.]

[Just go to sleep, this isn't like writing a novel!]

[Not to mention, with someone of Tony Stark's status, he isn't someone that just anyone can meet.]

[And even if you did meet him, why would he believe you?]

[Won't you just be regarded as insane?]

Tony Stark suddenly grew anxious.

I believe it, I truly do!

Even though he still couldn't fully believe the diary, with everything described in it.

But when it came to the death of his parents, Tony Stark believed it seventy percent.

Under such circumstances.

If spending a few billion to buy information from the other party, Tony was willing.

After all, it was related to the true circumstances of his parents' death.

But...

Tony Stark's brows furrowed slightly again.

From the looks of this diary entry, it seems like Zhou Cheng doesn't know that Tony can also see the diary?

Otherwise.

All he would need to do to tell Tony anything is communicate through the diary.

Why worry about not being able to see Tony or being thought of as insane?

That implies.

The diary wasn't sent by Zhou Cheng, but someone else?

Then who could that other person be?

[All things considered, relying on Stark getting kidnapped seems more reliable!]

[How come this guy is still unscathed?]

[Brothers of the Ten Rings, come on, put some effort into it!]

Tony Stark's face immediately turned dark. 

That jerk, he actually longed for him to be kidnapped? Can't he think of any good in himself? And what the hell is 'guy'?

In his life, Tony Stark had never been called a 'guy'! But...

When he saw the last line, a sharp look flashed across Tony Stark's face. 

So the organization that kidnapped him is called the Ten Rings?

"Jarvis, look up the Ten Rings!" 

Without wasting any words, Tony Stark immediately issued this command to Jarvis. 

"The Ten Rings, also known as the Ten Rings Gang or the Ten Rings Army, is an international, mysterious organization dedicated to destroying world peace at all costs."

"The earliest record of this organization dates back hundreds of years."

"There isn't much information truly known about this organization, but many international conflicts and turbulence have the shadow of the Ten Rings behind them."

With Jarvis's voice, some related information was also projected in front of Tony Stark.

Tony Stark quickly skimmed through it and had an idea in mind.

No wonder they dared to take a shot at him; the mastermind really had quite a history—an international terrorist organization with hundreds of years of history.

But...

Tony Stark still felt something was off.

Did those terrorist organizations really have the guts to mess with him? They could stir trouble in some small countries, but did they really have the nerve to target someone of his status? An organization of this scale surely knew what messing with him would imply, right?

Tony Stark felt that his kidnapping might not be that simple.

However, with too little information disclosed in the notebook, Tony Stark couldn't analyze much.

Aside from having Jarvis pay extra attention and investigate the Ten Rings, there wasn't much else he could do.

As for actually finding something substantial to prevent and stop the kidnapping in advance, Tony Stark did not have much confidence.

It was up to fate now.

"It must be mentioned here."

"Despite being a playboy and a rich second-generation, Stark's physique is truly exceptional!"

"Even with a big hole in his chest, he managed to swing a heavy hammer for two months in a cave. You have to admire that!"

"If it were an ordinary person, they might not recover from that even after two months in an ICU, right?"

"Even Captain America might not be able to do better?"

Tony Stark once again fell into deep thought.

Having a big hole in his chest was something he could understand.

Considering the context, it's likely that he was seriously injured when kidnapped by the Ten Rings and had to undergo thoracic surgery.

There was no need to dwell on that.

Considering it was a kidnapping incident, terrorists weren't going to prepare a luxury hotel for Tony Stark; hiding him in a cave was reasonable.

But, swinging a heavy hammer? What was that about?

Because the content in the notebook was so fragmented and erratic, it was hard to follow.

Tony Stark was truly puzzled.

What was the purpose of the Ten Rings, making him swing a hammer?

They kidnapped him, not for ransom, not for money? So, is there some other conspiracy behind this kidnapping?