Chapter 11: 11 VIGILANTISM

How does Stray steal? How does he manage to accrue the hidden amount of wealth he has now just by stealing? It is a great wonder that a thief like him still remains free. No matter how petty the amount he was stealing, he is still a thief in the end…

The secret to this is vigilantism… Vigilantism isn’t exactly heroism, but if Stray does things in a way that the ones being stolen from would be happy, then it’s all fine and dandy... Playing Robin Hood is actually easier than one could imagine.

Stray recalls infiltrating the Hammer industries. After getting into their money vault, Stray makes sure that the guards, clerks, and even the visitors of the building get a cut from the said money. Stray can still recall the smile of the people as he makes money rain from the sky.

Similar heists in different corps are also happening around America. it was quite a sight...

Today, Stray plans on stealing stuff from the Stark industries… He had a series of successful several heists on them already, but what he ought to attempt now pales in comparison to the several stealthy grab-and-go that he usually does.

Sending an email to Obadiah Stane, Stark industries’ former CEO, that he has information on Tony Stark’s hidden tech, Stray waits in anticipation as the man himself takes a bite of the bait. Of course, Stray was using an anonymous account when he sent that email, he cannot be careful enough.

Obadiah is a very ambitious man. As the villain of Ironman 1, he has everything an audience would love to see from a villain— an asshole, fame-hungry, greedy bastard. That’s what most villains are like... a target for hatred.

In an abandoned factory, Stray waits patiently… Soon, Obadiah arrives at the location with a bodyguard of his own. Stray isn’t a fool, however. Visibly, there might be one guard, but Stray knows better that more is hiding.

Stray is wearing a bonnet to secure his identity. He cannot do anything with his voice, but that’s fine. It is still 2010, there is not much to fear yet.

“Hello there, my favorite benefactor…” Stray greets Obadiah with his warm voice.

“Benefactor!? You fucking stole my money! What benefactor?”

“HA! Don’t be like that… At least your people are happy… I bet your bodyguard was there too when money starts raining from the skies…”

The bodyguard beside Obadiah nervously starts sweating. Obadiah glances at his guard suspiciously, and with a sigh finally gives up on Stray’s debts. “You know what? Fine. Tell me about Anthony Edward Stark.”

“The only son of the legendary Howard Stark! He definitely has everything shoved into his mouth golden spoon and all.” Stray start attacking Tony Stark. This way, he will be put in Obadiah’s good graces.

“He isn’t much anything, isn’t he? Take away his money, his company, and his name… He is just nothing… His public image isn't even any good. But you, Mr. Obadiah? You are a man of ambition and great abilities!”

Obadiah comes here dignified, and with Stray’s compliments, the former CEO of Stark industries cannot help but get his head bigger and bigger. “That’s plenty obvious enough. Tell me, what is your angle here?”

“Angle? Oh, there is an angle alright? What if you are not just a CEO? What if you can own the company as yours and yours alone? You know, forget the Stark industries… You can just build a big legacy of your own!” Stray knows what he is selling, and he knows what it is that Obadiah wants.

Stray is wearing long sleeves. Just under his left arm is a very familiar contraption. It was Morgan's work that has been with Stray for some time. With a jerk, Stray demonstrates this hidden weapon. Obadiah’s eyes are full of surprise as he sees something that was supposed to be still in drawings.

Stray fires a repulsor blaster at the bodyguard causing the latter to fly away.

Obadiah starts getting nervous as the palm blaster aims at him.

Stray smiles. “Relax, I won’t shoot you with it… It was just a demonstration… You see, I have more to sell… I have information.”

“How much do you want?”

“Lots of cash, you can decide on how much. If it satisfies me, who knows? There might be a second deal.” Stray removes the palm blaster contraption and throws it at Obadiah.

“Aren’t you afraid? I will be honest, you are already under a sniper’s scope.”

“You cannot intimidate me. First, you don’t want me dead. Second, if you do try to harm me, let’s say immobilize me, you don’t have any guarantee that you’ll be able to escape unscathed. I am the guy who just pulled a mysterious tech in front of your eyes. You are smart, Obadiah… You know what you want, that’s why I came to you… You see, Tony Stark doesn’t know what he wants… He just wants to stay the playboy he already is…”

Obadiah looks at his unconscious bodyguard. “You are gifted, I see that… Come and work for me.”

“Bah! No thanks. You cannot really afford me. You’ll end up working as my subordinate if we really mix up together…”

“Hmmm… How about the method of the transaction?”

“That bodyguard I just knocked out, what is his name?” Ignoring Obadiah's question, Stray points at the unconscious bodyguard. Obadiah sneers at whatever trick Stray was playing.

“Ahmed, foreign help… I like him because he doesn’t talk…”

Stray smiles unconsciously. Thankfully, the bonnet is hiding his facial expressions. It was because of the results of his search in his Marvel Wiki (S) skill.  Ahmed… There is only one Ahmed in the whole MCU… He is nothing, just a very useful grunt. Maybe this is just a coincidence, but it was no harm to have this Ahmed put in his own pockets.

“I like him, would you please leave him to me?”

You are reading story Marvel: Stray at novel35.com

Obadiah didn’t sense any suspiciousness from this. Obadiah has lived long enough to know that there are really people out there with such eccentricities. “Sure, you can have him. His contract with me is about to end anyway. Again, the method of the transaction?”

“Just drop the money in this abandoned factory, I‘ll have my subordinate get it for me. You can have your information by then. My subordinate will hand it to your man. Consider this a meet and greet. For now, let’s end it with these niceties… My subordinate will be here this Saturday, 7:00 am… don’t be late.”

Obadiah picks up the repulsor blaster lying before him.

“You’ve been dubbed so many names— the Drifter, Noble Thief, Robin Hood, the bane of the rich, and lots more… What exactly is your name?”

“Call me Stray…”

…

With all smiles, Stray carries Ahmed on his shoulders. While at it, he makes sure no one is following him. Arriving at the familiar building by 187 Chrystie Street, Manhattan, Stray carries the unconscious Ahmed to the rooftop. Of course, Stray uses the elevator. He can't be walking all those stairs.

“Waky-waky~” With his same soft voice, Stray greets the waking Ahmed.

Stray no longer has his bonnet, but Ahmed still realizes the man’s identity. He recalls being shot by this man with a curious energy pulse. Aware of his situation, Ahmed starts fighting back. As he doesn’t have any weapons to him, Ahmed quickly engages in a fistfight.

With a left jab, he rushes at Stray. Stray only needs to take a step back as he quickly judges the space between him and his enemy. Ahmed’s fist didn’t reach its target, but Ahmed was relentless.

Following up with a one and two, Ahmed continues to strike. Stray reacts just right on time as seemingly he is dodging Ahmed’s attack by a hair’s breadth. This is the work of the Fighting (A) skill.

Sometimes, Stray is thinking how irrelevant the system’s rankings of F to S are… He recalls Toussaint pummeling him in combat. Apparently, the system wasn’t so bad after all.

Stray continues to toy with Ahmed. “You prick, you haven’t made contact with Obadiah yet? Damn, your boss must be taking his sweet time…”

Ahmed stops attacking Stray and backs off. He takes his time catching on his breath. He recalls his boot camp days of training with his instructors. It feels just like this.

“In the hierarchy of the Ten Rings, where do you think I stand?” Stray chillingly says. Note, says, and not ask… It was as if he was a member of the Ten Rings himself.

In an instant, Stray arrives at Ahmed’s space. Stray just stand right there face to face with Ahmed. Ahmed stumbles back. If there is something Stray is quite confident at, it would be theatrics.

Every gangster with a ‘legitimate’ business knows how to keep appearances and how to hype things up. The ability to visually move in an instant is a trick of the eye. In Ahmed’s eyes, Stray would appear as an enigmatic figure.

Stray recalls the organization by the name of Ten Rings. Their role in the movie, Ironman 1, is indispensable to Tony Stark’s growth.

“Ahmed, was it? From now on, you work for me… Make your boss know that the Ten Rings won’t stand for selfishness! Remember the words~ quán, lì, zhuàng, wěi, jié, shì, hóng, xióng, qiáng, wēi~ do this words mean nothing to you?”

“PUNISHMENT!”

Ahmed suddenly starts shouting which scared the hell out of Stray, but Stray doesn’t let it show on his face. Ahmed removes his top and seats in a lotus position. Revealing his muscular body full of scars, Ahmed shouts a rather interesting-sounding slogan “To power, royalty, and prosperity! To the Ten Rings!”

This pretty much confirms Ahmed's membership with the Ten Rings.

But punishment, really? As in 'PUNISHMENT' in all capslock?

What does he want Stray to do? Stray keeps his doubts to himself…

Looks like Ahmed wants punishment… Stray however doesn’t know what to hit the guy with. What does he want? To be hit by a stick on his back? Nah, Stray has something better.

“I am not like most people,” Stray’s smile is getting unnerving for Ahmed. “You see… I don’t like hitting people. So, how about this?”

Ahmed’s eyes start trembling. Never did he get this scared in front of his instructor. This reminds Ahmed of the legendary Death Dealer. Maybe the person in front of him is the Death Dealer himself or something of equivalent rank.

“Hit yourself…”

Like some message from god, Ahmed feels relieved that finally, the torturous wait has come to an end. Ahmed head-butts the solid cold pavement in one swift motion.

Stray was speechless as his cheek start unnaturally twitching. After that, Stray has to go to the nearest hospital to get Ahmed fixed.