Chapter 30: A Bargain of Time (Edited)

Christine was quite cooperative and directly gave Clark the phone number.

After inputting the number, Clark took a deep breath and, after a moment of preparation, pressed the call button.

He genuinely had little confidence in persuading the other party. After all, just a few days ago at a charity masquerade ball, he had left a very bad impression on the person by confronting them. Now, asking for a favor seemed almost hopeless.

However, given the urgency of the situation, Clark had no choice but to try, despite knowing the slim chances of success.

Soon after, the call was answered, and Strange's somewhat arrogant voice came through: "Hello, who is this?"

"Good evening, Dr. Strange, I'm Clark Lee." After introducing himself and without waiting for a response, Clark continued, "Would you be interested in making a bargain concerning time?"

At this point, Clark's relationship with Strange could be described as less than cordial, bordering on hostile. If he were to approach the conversation in a normal manner, it likely wouldn't last long before Strange would hang up. To avoid this, Clark directly introduced a topic that might pique Strange's interest, hoping to keep the conversation going.

Strange, before becoming a superhero, though notoriously difficult, had one distinctive quality that set him apart from others: his exceptional value of time.

This was evident in his fondness for collecting watches from around the world. To him, these weren't just watches but embodiments of time itself.

As expected, the mention of "time" made Strange's finger, which had been hovering over the end call button, pause, though his tone remained cool: "Let's hear it."

"I've purchased the restaurant above the Martha Gym and plan to turn it into a VIP area for Martha Gym, exclusively for my close friends."

Stephen Strange scoffed at the notion: "We hardly qualify as friends. What's your offer?"

Clark, sensing he had successfully captured Strange's interest, smiled and explained: "As I said, this is a bargain about time. The condition to become a VIP member is quite simple; I just need you to work an extra shift to perform a surgery for me."

Strange paused, surprised: "You're injured?"

"Yes, but…"

Before Clark could finish, Strange laughed mockingly: "I refuse. Good luck."

Despite Strange's words, he didn't hang up immediately, giving Clark a sense of assurance. Clark continued, "The VIP area offers a significantly better environment than the regular one. Not only is there no wait for equipment, but the workout effects are also much superior. An hour's workout there is roughly equivalent to an hour and a half outside."

Strange hesitated for a moment but couldn't resist the temptation of saving half an hour each day. He asked, "How can you guarantee the enhanced workout effect?"

"Trade secret! However, you're welcome to compare it to the regular gym area."

"When will the VIP area open?"

Success!

...

With Strange personally performing the surgeries, both Nalan Qing and Clark's procedures went smoothly.

Especially for Nalan Qing, who had been shot in the kidney and faced potential fertility issues, Strange's near-perfect surgery not only preserved his dignity as a man but also ensured that future progeny wasn't an issue, given some recovery time.

Although the incident stemmed from Clark, Nalan Long, a man of understanding, didn't blame him. Instead, he was genuinely grateful for bringing Strange to save Nalan Qing.

While Clark humbly declined the gratitude, he couldn't refuse Nalan Long's offer to teach him his most prized martial arts secrets.

After being discharged, Nalan Long taught Clark all the secrets and moves of the Twelve-Road Shaolin Tan Legs and even a weapon skill – the Four-Gate Staff Technique, which Nalan Qing had used against Crossbones.

Clark, seemingly a natural fit for this aggressive staff technique, mastered it quickly, thanks to his background music (BGM), achieving proficiency in just a few weeks – a feat not matched by his progress in Tan Legs.

As autumn deepened in New York, the streets were mostly empty in the chilly mornings. Yet, in an abandoned factory in Manhattan, a young man practiced his newly learned Four-Gate Staff Technique to the backdrop of "Chinese Kung Fu" BGM.

This young man was Clark, mastering the staff technique with a metallic sheen under the influence of the BGM, imagining the formidable power behind each swing.

After completing the routine, Clark turned to the factory entrance where the Pei father and daughter, bundled in autumn clothes, watched him with interest.

Setting aside the staff, Clark inquired, "How did that situation get handled?"

He referred to the incident of shooting Crossbones. Murder was a serious crime, but Clark had acted in self-defense. With Pei's support and a personal lawyer handling the case, Clark hadn't even been questioned by the police, leaving him curious about the outcome.

"You can forget about claiming self-defense," Pei began, causing Clark to frown, but Pei's confident smile suggested a favorable outcome.

Pei continued, "Here's what happened."

After clearing his throat, Pei recounted the "facts": "You were attacked in an alley, and Nalan Qing, who was bringing you your Walkman, happened upon the scene. Both of you were shot by the assailant, who remains at large. The police have issued a warrant for the assailant."

Clark was bewildered, transformed from a murderer to a completely innocent victim.

Pei explained further, "The people targeting you are connected to powerful interests, likely aiming at me."

"But clearly, they didn't want to escalate the situation. By the time the police arrived, not only had the assassin's body and weapon disappeared, but even the bloodstains had been cleaned."