Early the next morning, Ellen's phone wouldn't stop vibrating. When he opened it, he found dozens of messages from Kai.
Kai: Leo, I want a big model too! A really big one!
Kai: Big models are the ultimate truth!
Kai: Why didn't I think of this before?!
Kai: Leo, I want a big one. How about two meters tall?
Kai: I'm going crazy! Harry keeps asking about his, and I don't want to give it to him!
Kai: But my boss needs to stay on Osborn's good side... Damn it!
...
Ellen was confused. "What's his problem? It's just a metal model. I finished it five days ago. Why is he blowing up my phone now?"
He didn't understand the obsessive mind of a hardcore hobbyist like Kai. For Kai, he loved models more than women—it was a sickness.
Meanwhile, Kai was still in the back of the truck, stroking the exquisite Gundam model, his soul trembling with a perverse joy. The euphoric feeling made his underlings slowly back away, losing interest.
Leo: No problem, Kai. What do you want? But 1.5 meters is already pushing it. Any taller would be too much. Ellen replied calmly.
Kai immediately sent over pictures he had prepared long ago and directly transferred $50,000. "Leo, this model is a masterpiece! Please, make it as soon as possible! If you can finish it in three days, I'll add another $50,000!"
Ellen was surprised reading this. Kai was the first senior model collector he had met. After buying his first model, Kai had kept coming back, purchasing forty or fifty pieces. Even a small, all-metal model could cost tens of thousands.
He was so obsessed that he had asked to meet Ellen countless times, but was always refused. Because of this, he had started proactively supplying metal materials and, respecting the rules, never installed any cameras.
"Okay, I'll do my best," Ellen replied before setting his phone aside. After all, making models was just a source of income. He had enough; there was no need to overwork himself.
He packed his schoolbag, ready to head to school.
Kai, however, was still in the truck container, caressing the model, unable to control himself.
A big man with a beard and sunglasses hurried over and asked a younger brother standing guard, "Where's Kai?"
"In the car, boss. In the truck."
The bearded man kicked the truck's container door twice with a Boom! Boom! "Kai! Get out here!"
"Boss? What are you doing here?" Kai climbed out reluctantly, looking puzzled.
"Damn it! Because of that broken knife, our line to S.H.I.E.L.D. is cut! They'll be coming for me if I don't get out of here!"
Just mentioning it made Crow smash his sunglasses on the ground. "Hurry up and come with me to Osborn to see if we can pick up their medicine and weapons. The water in New York is too deep; we're done here anyway. We're going back to Africa tomorrow. Stark Industries is supplying us with weapons now. Selling weapons there is way more profitable than in New York!!!"
"And the people from Wakanda contacted me again. Looks like a big deal this time. I'm not staying in New York!" Crow walked toward a tall Hummer. "Let's go, to Osborn Company!"
Kai was stunned. But my model isn't ready yet... I want a big model!
...
That night, Crow was contemplating the vibranium deal when he saw Kai approaching alone. "Boss, if you need someone to stay in New York, I can do it."
"No need. The price is settled, especially for the Stark Industries goods. A bit more expensive, but the product is good. Those old warlords will love it!" Crow was imagining selling the rockets manufactured by Stark Industries.
Kai was a little curious. "The world-famous Stark Industries is willing to sell to us? Tony Stark doesn't seem like the type on TV."
"Who's talking to Stark? I'm dealing with Obadiah Stane. He's a well-known arms dealer in our circle. I heard he even has deals with people in Afghanistan. The negotiation was easy! By the way, why do you want to stay?"
"I ordered a large model. It might take a few more days to finish. I want to take it with me!" Kai said frankly; after all, everyone knew about his hobby.
"Damn it! I've got so many women on the ship, and you're still playing with toys?! Just take the guy who makes them with you! He can make models for you from now on!" Crow cursed and shooed Kai away.
Kai's eyes lit up when he heard that. Damn, he's right! Why didn't I think of that? Just take Leo away directly. Then he can make models for me, and only me!
After two years in New York, I almost forgot I'm the bad guy.
He took out his phone. Leo, I've prepared a big surprise for you. It's already in the warehouse. Come get it tomorrow!
...
Ellen, who was deep in his training, felt his phone vibrate. His hands didn't move, but the phone floated over to him.
Seeing the message, he didn't think much of it and replied, "Okay!"
He continued absorbing the metal. The progress of his Copper Skin was already at 14%, and it looked like it might reach 15% by the end of the day.
Early the next morning, looking at the Copper Skin progress that had only slowly increased by 2%, and the residue of nine broken metal rods around him, he sighed helplessly.
"The progress isn't too slow, but compared to the efficiency of that gold-titanium alloy, it's just frustrating!"
"By the way, why would Kai send me a message like that? It's strange. Is it really a surprise for me? Could it be... high-grade metal?!"
Ellen thought about the high-quality materials Kai had mentioned before.
But a thread of doubt lingered in his heart. 'Alright, I'll check it out after school. I hope Kai isn't lying to me.'
At noon, Kai brought seven underlings to the small warehouse. They all had pistols at their waists, and even Kai held an Uzi submachine gun. He was playing with a ten-centimeter-tall metal figure.
"Brother Kai, are we really going to kill the model maker?" a younger brother asked casually from the side.
Kai's eyes went wide. He swung the metal figure in his hand, and its slightly sharp base smashed into the younger brother's head.
Blood splattered, staining Kai's face. The younger brother was knocked to the ground instantly. After a few twitches, he fell unconscious, blood pooling around his head on the concrete floor.
Kai glared fiercely at the six remaining men. "I told you!! We're taking him away, not killing him! No one fires a shot unless I say so, got it?!"
"Y-yes, brother!" the remaining six stammered in unison.
They had long heard about this model-obsessed lunatic under Crow, but they didn't expect him to be this crazy—attacking someone just for a wrong word. Better to just keep quiet.
Kai didn't care at all. He wiped the model on his clothes, his mind already elsewhere.
'Once I've got Leo tied up, I'll make him build me a two-meter model. Ah! Amazing!'
Just thinking about it made Kai's body tremble slightly. An obsessive smile spread across his face, the leftover bloodstains making him look utterly sinister.
Around four o'clock, Ellen arrived at the alley near the small warehouse again. Unexpectedly, his senses picked up a small surveillance camera hidden in the corner of the wall.
He frowned. The camera instantly twisted into a small metal ball. Simultaneously, the screen on the laptop held by one of the younger brothers in the warehouse shook and went black.
The dozing younger brother jolted awake, looked at the computer, and hurriedly said, "Brother Kai! The camera's dead! Someone might be coming!"
Kai, who had been fantasizing about making a life-sized model and even encasing a person inside one—how thrilling that would be—was pulled from his dream by the underling.
He picked up the gun beside him, a trembling, eager smile on his face.
'Hurry up. Boss Crow's ship is already waiting at the dock. We need to take Leo away quickly. I'm getting excited!'
Ellen already knew something was wrong. He blinked, a faint golden light appearing in his eyes as he looked through the walls, seeing the scene inside the warehouse clearly.