The day faded and night fell.
Next to the busy street, three black commercial vehicles were parked on the side of the road.
Across the street, the lights were still on in the Stark Bank building, but few people were going in or out. Only four or five security guards stood at the door, holding batons in their hands.
"Eagle, it's time. The employees inside should be preparing to check the supplies," Bal whispered inside the car, his eyes fixed on Stark Bank.
They had discussed everything yesterday.
All the plans were made.
If they failed, they would die.
They could only gamble!
"If it weren't for that damn clown, we wouldn't be taking such a risk! Once we get the thing, we must kill him, even if we have to chase him to the ends of the earth!" Eagle said viciously.
"Alright, remember our plan. We have to move fast, grab the energy source, and get out. Don't make too much noise!" Bal instructed Eagle and reminded everyone else in the car.
"Got it. I don't want to provoke Tony Stark," Hawk said, then turned to look at the people in the back seat and asked, "Did you all hear that?!"
"Yes!" several people in the back replied in unison.
Bal frowned and repeated the same warning to the people in the other two cars via intercom. Only when he heard a chorus of "yes" did his expression finally relax.
"Okay, stop nagging. If we don't act now, the employees inside will all leave!" Eagle said impatiently.
With that, he grabbed the mask and black duffel bag he had prepared in advance and got out of the car.
Seeing Eagle step out, everyone else followed suit, putting on their masks before exiting the vehicles.
The reason they chose to wear masks—not the full black kind—was because it had just been Halloween yesterday. The festive atmosphere hadn't completely faded yet, and there were still some people on the street wearing costumes.
So walking around in masks wouldn't draw as much attention.
Led by Eagle and Bal, the group headed straight toward Stark Bank.
As soon as they reached the entrance, they were stopped by a security guard.
"Gentlemen, I'm sorry, but you have to remove your—"
Before the security guard could finish his sentence, four masked men pulled out pistols from under their coats and pressed them straight into the guards' sides.
"You talk too much," Eagle said coldly.
He stepped past the stunned guards and entered the bank lobby.
"Don't move!" As soon as he entered, Eagle drew his pistol and shouted.
Following his cue, the dozen men behind him all pulled out their guns as well.
Since it was near closing time, there weren't many people inside.
Only one or two tellers, a few security guards, and a handful of managers remained.
In total, fewer than ten people—not even as many as the robbers.
When the bank employees saw armed men storm in, they all raised their hands in fright.
The attackers had numbers and weapons on their side. No one wanted to be a hero.
"Hah, so few people," Eagle scoffed. He turned to Bal and said, "I'll go get the thing."
"I'll go. You stay out here and keep watch," Bal replied after a brief pause.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Eagle—it was just that Eagle acted too impulsively.
Bal worried something would go wrong.
With that, Bal took two of his men, held the bank manager at gunpoint, and headed deeper into the building.
"It's just grabbing a thing," Eagle muttered in frustration as he watched Bal leave.
He stood in the middle of the lobby, pistol in hand, eyes sweeping the room.
At this point, everyone in the bank was under control.
Each hostage sat frozen in their seats, panic written all over their faces, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Everything was proceeding according to plan—smoothly, without hiccups.
This made Eagle lower his guard just a little.
Watching the frightened hostages tremble before him, Eagle felt a wave of pride.
"I thought robbing Tony Stark's bank would be tough. Turns out it's this easy," said a man next to him wearing the same mask.
"Tony Stark's just a rich guy. What does he know about our kind of life? People like us live on the edge of a knife," Eagle replied, not thinking much of it.
After all, the other guy wore the same mask, and the sentiment matched his own thoughts exactly.
Hearing Eagle say that, the rest of his men nodded and echoed, "That's right."
That only made Eagle feel even more smug.
"We still have time. Since we're already robbing Stark's bank, why not take some extra cash and leave?" the masked man beside him suggested casually.
"No!" Eagle instantly refused. "If we alert Tony Stark, and he shows up, we're all screwed!"
"Do you think Tony Stark cares about this little money? We're already daring enough to steal his energy source—what else is off-limits?" the masked man pushed, taking a step closer.
Eagle paused, stunned.
"But... Bal said..."
Everyone knew Tony Stark only cared about two things—women and weaponry.
And right now, they were about to steal something developed by Stark's own company.
So was there really any difference between that and robbing the rest of his money?
"The old boss is dead. Our gang needs a new leader. I think you'd make a better boss than Bal. Bal's too cautious—not really in line with how we do things," the masked man continued before Eagle could respond.
Eagle fell silent again.
Because deep down, that was exactly what he had been thinking.
Bal never trusted him.
Always calling him reckless. Always keeping him down.
He'd been held back when the old boss was alive—and now that the boss was dead, he was still being held back.
Why?
Why should he keep getting stepped on?
"You two! Go grab all the cash in the safe and bring it here!" Eagle barked at the tellers they were holding hostage.
Then he turned to one of his men and said, "You—watch them! Don't let them try anything funny."
After giving the orders, Eagle glanced at the masked man next to him and then at another one of his own people.
"Don't think I don't see through your little tricks. Planning to pocket a little for yourself? Don't even think about it," he warned with a smirk.
The masked man didn't reply. He lowered his head, seemingly dejected.
But Eagle didn't notice the painted clown makeup beneath the mask—or the evil grin spreading across that hidden face.