Chapter 1876: Madman's Journey (Fifty-Two)_1

The rain season in the desert finally arrived, collapsing all the vegetation at the cave entrance. A faint mist, formed of water vapor, began to rise from the base of the entrance, adding a touch of ethereal beauty to the otherwise unremarkable view outside the cave.

But the people inside the cave had no heart to enjoy the scenery. Stark was now working beside a motor lathe. The small cave was stuffed with all kinds of industrial equipment.

Three locals brought in a new machine, leaving Stark somewhat upset by the dirt on their boots.

Doctor Schiller, who had originally followed them, moved up a couple of steps, put away his umbrella, and spoke a few words in the local language. The burly locals went outside, found a leaf and wiped their shoes with it.

They grumbled some unhappy comments but still placed the equipment where it was supposed to be. Stark brought over a large box, handed it to the lead man, and said, "This is a missile guidance disrupting device. You can bury it near your base of important supplies. There's a fair chance it'll cause the missiles to stray."

After Schiller translated Stark's words, the locals spoke rapidly. Turning to Stark, Schiller asked, "Does this thing emit radiation?"

"Everything emits radiation," Stark replied as he strode back. He seemed quite accustomed to explaining such rudimentary questions. "If they're referring to nuclear radiation, I can assure them it doesn't have it."

"They want to install it in their village since their wives and children are there. They don't want to be bombed, so they're wondering whether this device could potentially affect pregnant women."

Stark's footsteps faltered slightly. Nevertheless, he replied, "If you're truly worried, I can make a protective shield for you. With the device installed inside the shield, there should be no problem."

Once the locals left with the device, Schiller asked, "Would the protective shield actually work?"

"No, it's just a regular iron shell; it may even interfere with the signal," Stark adjusted the angle of a hammer and said, "You see, psychologists aren't entirely useless. Now, even I have learned some basic psychological concepts."

Schiller's gaze brushed past Stark to a shadowy corner inside the cave where half a robot lay amid a heap of components and metal pieces. It was Stark's achievement of the week.

"Pepper must be looking for me fervently," Stark said, staring at something in his hand. "She must be worried sick."

"And your decision to stay here is not callous or cruel. You just want to prove to her and to everyone else that you don't need to be saved by others any longer, but that you're going to save others instead," Schiller responded.

A bit of extra force crept into Stark's grip on the hammer handle. He looked up to see Schiller standing at the mouth of the cave before the shadowy silhouette softened by the foggy rain. He said, somewhat mournfully, "I never thought that the person who'd understand me best in this world would be a psychologist."

"But you should have thought of it sooner. You're the stubborn sort who thinks all psychologists can read minds, right?" Schiller replied.

Stark chuckled deeply in response, shaking his head and saying, "And you've lived up to that notion. I thought you weren't capable of…"

"Of what? Seeing through your transformation, anticipating the risk you took in abandoning safety, or understanding your willingness to sacrifice everything to save the world?" Schiller interjected.

By the time Stark composed himself, Schiller had already moved to the other side of the workstation. The darkness in the cave was intense with only a weak light coming from the entrance, hence looking against the light, Schiller morphed into a black silhouette. Stark couldn't make out his expression, but a familiar image could be crafted from his imagination.

Stark turned his head and said, "Any normal person would conclude a mix of all those, but fortunately, you're just as mad."

"I can fully understand how shocking your actions must be under normal societal judgement, but I also understand that you don't really care for societal judgement," Schiller stated.

"So you plan to say things I like to hear?" Stark countered.

"So you can happily sign on the bill," Schiller quipped.

Stark laughed heartily, hammered his metal component a little, adjusted its position, and said, "Just so you know, I do not intend to mail the bill to Afghanistan."

"Then consider this a free clinic."

"Give me a break, you just said I wasn't someone who needs saving!" Stark complained. "Do you think you're doing community service?"

"What if I too have a reason like yours to stay back?" Schiller asked.

Stark paused for a moment. Looking at Schiller, after thinking it through carefully, he cautiously said, "I thought you didn't want to leave because you didn't want to go back to America."

"Indeed, I do not wish to return to America."

Stark, setting down his hammer, massaged his aching shoulder a little. Sniffing, he said, "You seem to get along with the locals quite well."

"That's because I am a doctor and they need a doctor here," Schiller replied.

"So you stayed for the patients here?"

Schiller turned to lean against the cave wall next to the workstation. Stark could only see his undulating side profile and the shadowy, sharp eyelashes that resembled an arrow on a bowstring during the full moon.

Schiller stood in silence while Stark too remained silent. However, after a few dozen seconds, Stark said, "You want to help the Afghans reclaim their land and drive out the invaders, not because you're kind, but because you really despise America."

"I do not despise any country," Schiller retorted.

"Alright, let me rephrase that. Most of the people you despise happen to be American," Stark revised.

"If you proceed with that line of thought, it'll soon include you too."

Schiller walked towards the entrance without turning back, while Stark silently watched his retreating back. Only when Schiller opened his umbrella and walked out of the cave did Stark yell, "You can't really read minds, or else you'd know what I'm thinking!"

Stark opened his mouth again, but didn't call out Shiller's name. He sighed, a bit petulant, and rapped on the component in his hand, "Don't psychologists always say that 'communication is always beneficial'? This quack doctor…"

The grass at the entrance of the cave rustled suddenly, and Stark raised his eyebrows in surprise, thinking that Shiller might have changed his mind and come back to argue with him.

However, the figure that appeared at the entrance of the cave was Erik. As he walked into the cave, he too was taken aback by the state of things inside. The cave was jam-packed with numerous pieces of equipment, looking like a mini factory.

"Tony, what are you doing here?" Erik asked, looking around, "What are these components for?"

"Erik, how come you're back? It's dangerous here." Stark walked out from behind the worktable, looking at Erik, "You need to leave quickly. They'll be back soon."

"By 'they' do you mean that doctor?" Erik looked at Stark, "Did he convince you to stay?"

"You know Shiller?"

"I've only heard his name from the locals." Erik stepped up and pressed his hand on Stark's shoulder, "Tony, you might have been deceived by him. He is in cahoots with the locals."

"I know." Stark nodded.

Erik widened his eyes and repeated, "You know? And you're still with him?"

"He saved me."

"He did that to…"

"Regardless of his motives, he did save me, just like you did."

Erik paused suddenly, feeling a bit guilty. He wasn't sure whether Stark was implying something, so he changed the subject. "Tony, listen, you really have to leave with me this time. I just heard from my mercenary comrades that the government army is planning a new round of attacks against the terrorist bases."

"This isn't some small skirmish with a few missiles. I heard that the American military is pressuring the government army, demanding immediate full-scale warfare. The situation will be very dangerous."

Erik gazes into Stark's eyes and says, "In simple terms, a large-scale war may break out here. Untrained civilians won't survive. If you don't leave, certain death awaits."

Erik takes a step forward and continues, "The government army has secretly blocked off several supply routes to the outside world. Within about three days, the trucks won't be able to get through. The Mercenary Corps I belong to is organizing a final evacuation."

"Once I get you out of here, we can catch the last plane. We can either go back to Wakanda or take the Stark Group's private jet back to America."

Stark furrowed his brow deeply and looked at Erik. "Why is the American military suddenly pressuring the government army?"

Erik cocked his head, then turned to look at Stark again, "As you know, it's because of your disappearance."

He pursed his lips and spoke in a somewhat sad tone, "Almost everyone in America now believes you're dead. The Stark Group is in chaos. They need you back."

"More importantly, if word of your survival reaches home, there might not need to be a war, and many people would be spared."

Stark frowns and his lips purse, showing a hint of hesitation. Erik, picking up on this emotional shift, pushes further, "But you know, there are those who don't want you to go back - the ones who got you into this mess."

"What's more, they might want to incite a large-scale war with your death."

"But what's in it for them? Is Afghanistan important to them?" Stark asked.

Erik instinctively touched the weapon at his waist, looked at Stark and lowered his voice, "The whole world is important to them. They want the world in chaos."

Stark squinted, "Are you saying it's not just someone from Stark Group who wants me dead in order to control the company?"

"It's not that simple, Tony." Erik looked solemn, glanced back at the cave entrance to make sure nothing was amiss, before asking, "Have you heard of Hydra?"

Stark's eyes widened.

"You may think they're history, but when I snuck into the village yesterday, I overheard that man called Doctor Schiller, on the phone outside the house, saying 'Hail Hydra.'"

"Schiller is with Hydra?!"

"Boom!"

A sudden, intense tremor shook the entire mountain. The familiar sound of low-flying bombers came from outside. Erik rushed to the entrance of the cave and looked up, gritting his teeth. "The bombing has started earlier than expected! We need to go now, Tony!"

Stark also moved to the entrance of the cave, but held Erik back, "The cave is a natural shelter against bombings. Going out now is suicide."

Suddenly, the walkie-talkie at Erik's waist crackled to life. He pressed the button and a frantic voice came through, "All units, regroup! All units, regroup! They've launched a surprise attack, these bastards. They want to silence us. Hurry–"

Erik's face changed instantly. He realized immediately what had happened: his mercenary organization had been attacked.

Erik glanced back at Tony once more, his hand already on his stun gun. But realizing the impossibility of success while carrying another live person back to provide support, he could only grimly jump out of the cave, calling back;

"Tony, wait for me! I will definitely get you out of here!"