Even after hearing Fury's question, Ethan remained silent, his expression unchanged.
Fury, meanwhile continued with a stoic face, continued, "Of the 100 million dollars you received, you immediately spent 80 million of it to purchase a large property in the upstate."
He fixed his 'single' eye on Ethan and added, "From rags to riches... quite a story you have, Ethan Alcardo."
"We rarely hear stories of this kind," he finished with a mocking chuckle.
Ethan chuckled like he was mocking Fury's intelligence. "Your question itself provided the answer."
"As you mentioned, I registered a consultancy firm to provide consultancy services and that money was my fee for the service I rendered to Tony Stark," he added.
"May I know what advice you gave to Tony Stark?" asked Fury as he leaned forwards in his seat.
"And when did you exactly 'provided your advice'? Tony had not even reached his house before he transferred the money to you."
Ethan shook his head. "That is a trade secret. You cannot expect me to reveal my secrets."
"And perhaps Tony was very satisfied with my services and therefore did not want to delay the payment," he added. "That might explain his haste."
In the time it took to blink, Natasha cocked her gun and pressed it against Ethan's head.
"Just answer what you are asked," she said calmly; her face was expressionless while her eyes were intense.
Ethan raised his hands in mock surrender. "You really would not kill a civilian, will you?"
"Or maybe this bald man is actually an evil crime committing pirate?" Ethan mocked Fury.
Natasha was about to speak- threaten Ethan further when she felt a twist in her hand.
She lost her grip on the gun as she felt a force seize her neck and pull her. By the time she realized what was happening, she found herself leaning against Ethan, the gun was gone from her hand.
Ethan's other hand was around her neck, and no matter how much force she applied, his grip did not budge.
Meanwhile, in the backseat, Fury and Maria's expressions tensed.
Ethan leaned nearly too close to Natasha and muttered, "Quite a wild one you are..."
Turning to Fury with a mocking expression, he added, "Next time you come to me, either come better prepared or with a business deal."
He let go of Natasha and withdrew his metallic Omni Consultancy Service card from his front pocket and flung it toward Fury.
Fury caught the card and examined it with a raised eyebrow.
"The question you asked me has a price of 150 million dollars," Ethan told him with a shrug.
Without hesitation, Ethan loosened his grip on the gun and tucked it between her legs with a lecherous grin.
He unlocked the car door and stepped out, leaving the three occupants as they stared at him.
Ethan was about to move, but he paused and leaned as he looked inside the car, "And yes... I only spare beautiful girls."
"So, next time if you send someone after me," he said, "expect a few dead bodies."
With that, Ethan walked away with a nonchalant, carefree attitude. He remained completely casual, not behaving as though he had just been threatened with a gun and then acted accordingly.
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Once Ethan was finally out of sight, Natasha's stiff shoulders slumped in relief and relaxation, and even Fury took a deep breath.
"What do you think of him, Agent Natasha?" questioned Fury after a few moments of silence.
"Too dangerous," she murmured softly. "I didn't even see him move when he took hold of me."
It had been years since she had encountered someone of her calibre in combat, and Ethan was not only of her calibre but was far beyond her league.
The way the gun was snatched from her, the way she was pulled and how she was not able to budge even slightly under Ethan's grip, let alone freed herself constantly replayed in her mind.
Despite his casual demeanour, Ethan screamed danger.
"If he wished, he could have killed us all in moments," she finished in a defeated tone as recalled those dreadful moments.
"True…" muttered Fury with a contemplative look.
"Coming here with only the three of us was a mistake," Maria Hill was also perplexed, her senses screaming warnings.
"We need a detailed plan to deal with him," added Fury.
"Maybe we could offer him that deal," suggested Maria uncertainly.
"150 million…" muttered Fury.
That was the price Ethan had asked for the answer.
Fury who was experienced in such matters and also crooked in his methods, would never completely dismiss a possibility.
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.
.
While Ethan was walking toward his rundown apartment and Fury was contemplating his next moves, Tony Stark had just finished announcing the shutdown of Stark Industries' arms and weapons manufacturing division.
Basically, Stark Industries had no business left because weapons were their primary product. And chaos had ensued.
The stock prices of Stark Industries had already been at their lowest point after Tony's kidnapping and had only just begun to recover following the news of his rescue.
However, shortly after this announcement, the stock prices plunged into another downward spiral. And one man was poised to reap maximum benefit from this plunge.
When Ethan reached his apartment, the stock prices had already hit their lowest and would likely remain so for quite some time until Tony Stark would launch his clean energy programs.
Without hesitation, Ethan purchased shares of Stark Industries worth 15 million dollars out of his remaining 20 million dollars.
He cast a look around his apartment and then at his dilapidated bed, and remarked, "Last day in this poverty hole."
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