Fang Bie, as he entered the door, casually took out two wooden steps from a box beside him. While the two behind him were still struggling to climb over the meter-high threshold, he easily placed the steps next to the house.
"Could this be the legendary magic? To conjure objects from thin air?" Ethan asked, somewhat blankly.
"It's merely a display of the Rules," Fang Bie said modestly. He showed a small trick, then retrieved two bowls from the box and set them before the pair.
Inside the bowls was clear water, which he had just filled effortlessly. He had stored a reserve of water in a higher corner of the room.
The two men watched him as if he were manipulating invisible objects. He then produced a slab of meat half his height and, using a stone sword, carefully sliced it into portions, stacking them before them.
"I have little to offer for hospitality, so please, have some roasted mutton to line your stomachs!" Fang Bie said with a smile.
However, neither man was truly hungry and paid little attention to the food. They were simply astonished by his seemingly endless array of powerful abilities.
At this time, the Marvel Universe was still quite peaceful. The strange individuals and bizarre occurrences roaming the world had not yet emerged.
Therefore, for two scientists whose worldviews were rooted in materialism, his abilities appeared to be magical. Had they not found themselves in a fundamentally abnormal world, which had already prepared them psychologically, their worldviews might have been shattered then and there.
Even so, the two men were still on edge, like startled birds, their muscles almost constantly tense.
"Relax," Fang Bie reassured them. "I'm no demon. Just as before, simply answer my questions, and I won't make things difficult for you."
Tony Stark, true to his elite nature, quickly regained his composure and extended a hand.
"Hello, I'm Tony Stark, a traveler who arrived here by accident."
Fang Bie reciprocated the handshake. "Fang Bie, a pioneer of this world."
Although not a Marvel fan, he had seen enough science fiction films to be familiar with these characters.
If he didn't capitalize on this opportunity, wouldn't his gaming prowess be wasted?
Regardless of how these two individuals from the Marvel Universe had arrived before him, they were practically ready-made tools – no, teammates with shared goals.
Ethan watched them shake hands and quickly extended his own. "Ethan, a medical doctor living abroad."
"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you both," Fang Bie said. "May I ask why you have come to this place?"
"We were attacked by terrorists, captured, and forced to build missiles for them. Then, we accidentally discovered your stone gate and were transported here," Tony explained. He had regained his previous demeanor, though still looking somewhat disheveled, the air of a business magnate was returning.
Fang Bie's own demeanor remained languid, yet his ability to produce items at will kept the two men across from him from harboring any ill intentions.
"No wonder. So you're refugees. Which means you are still under threat from your enemies? Living in constant peril?" Fang Bie inquired, feigning ignorance while already knowing the situation well.
"Yes! They threatened to kill us if we failed to produce Jericho missiles within half a month," Ethan added.
"I'm afraid even if you succeed, you'll still be killed. It's only a matter of time," Fang Bie said casually. "Since you both have nowhere to return to, why not rest here for a while? At least, I won't take your lives."
Tony and Ethan nodded. From their conversation, they sensed that this seemingly young Chinese man before them had no intention of harming them.
This was Fang Bie's territory. If he truly wished them harm, his abilities made it effortless. He could simply ignore them, and they would never survive the monster-infested night.
After their initial tension, the two men began to feel the pangs of hunger. Though they had been given food in the cave, the terrorists were unlikely to provide anything palatable.
Being kept alive was likely the extent of their captors' mercy.
Fang Bie watched as they devoured the mutton before them, realizing it was already noon. He retrieved a piece of mutton from his backpack and began to eat as well.
Eating together was a completely different experience from eating alone. Fang Bie even thought the meat in his hand tasted better than last night's.
Tony and Ethan, now in a seemingly safe environment, finally relaxed their taut nerves and breathed sighs of relief.
Once they had finished eating and drained their bowls of water, Fang Bie asked, "You came through the stone door outside, correct?"
"That's right!" Tony nodded, now sated and regaining the air of a wealthy man, his previous disarray gone. "We accidentally found the door and came here."
"Aren't you concerned that those outside might follow you in? Judging by your circumstances, things don't seem to be going well for you over there," Fang Bie asked with feigned curiosity.
This was, in fact, a significant concern for him. If a squad of soldiers were to come through, he would be in trouble.
Tony immediately pointed to Ethan's watch. Fang Bie certainly recognized it and turned back to them, awaiting their explanation.
"After arriving in this world, the watch stopped working. Another pocket watch I left outside the door also stopped. In other words, time in our world seems to be frozen while we are here!" Tony explained his theory.
[Maybe your watch is broken,] Fang Bie thought to himself. However, he suddenly received information from the void, seemingly explaining the time-freeze issue. Since there was a 'patch', he decided to overlook it.
"Frozen? Is that so?" Fang Bie asked with feigned curiosity. "Then, do you plan to return?"
"Of course!" A complex expression crossed Tony's face. "I'm going to send those sons of bitches to hell and tear the traitor who exposed me to shreds!"
"Tony, we haven't escaped yet," bald Ethan reminded him, still cautiously observing their surroundings. "Let's think about revenge after we get out of this mess!"
"Alright!" Tony's initial fervor subsided, realizing that such matters couldn't be resolved instantly.
Fang Bie seized the moment to voice his proposal. "It seems you aren't having a good time over there. Since time is frozen, it won't affect your payment schedule. How about staying here with me for a while?"
"Here?"
"Stay for a while?"
The two men exchanged thoughtful glances. It did seem... like a rather appealing proposition.
End of Chapter