After speaking his final words, Qin Xiao turned and walked out of Kingpin's room.
Kingpin's eyes flickered as he watched him leave.
"'Don't go too far with deception?'" he muttered. "It seems the Eastern Devil truly covets Satan's domain… even mild deceit must be tolerated under his watch."
He had understood the hidden meaning behind Qin Xiao's last warning.
Outside Kingpin's mansion, Qin Xiao casually pulled out his phone and made a call.
"Frank, how's the situation with Tony?"
On the other end was none other than Frank Castle — The Punisher.
After rescuing Tony, Frank hadn't immediately left Stark Tower. In fact, even if he wanted to, he couldn't.
Colonel James Rhodes, Tony's military liaison, had opened an investigation into him.
After all, the military hadn't known Tony's exact location during his capture — so how had Frank known?
Fortunately, Frank was a retired Marine with a clean record. Even Rhodes, aware of Frank's tragic past — his wife and daughter murdered — couldn't help but feel sympathy.
So instead of arresting him, Rhodes simply ordered Frank to remain in Stark Tower until the investigation was complete.
That suited Frank just fine — his assignment from Qin Xiao had been to protect Tony for a while anyway.
"Tony wants to see you," Frank said. "Colonel Rhodes too."
"I see. I didn't think they'd be that impatient," Qin Xiao replied with a faint smile. "Good timing — I have something for Tony as well. Where are they now?"
"In Stark Tower."
"Perfect. I'll be right there."
Qin Xiao ended the call.
Not long after, he arrived at Tony Stark's office.
Tony's expression was unusually solemn.
"Qin," Frank greeted as soon as he saw him.
Tony turned toward the newcomer — and froze. His eyes widened slightly.
"You?"
That face — that calm, faintly smiling Eastern man — he remembered him clearly.
"Yes, it's me," Qin Xiao said with a light smirk. "Months ago, I warned you to be careful. But the ever-proud genius Tony Stark didn't think much of my words, did he? So… how does it feel, having a hole blown through your chest?"
Tony's face, still pale from his recovery, darkened further. Qin Xiao's words carried not a shred of sympathy — only mockery.
When Qin Xiao had first gained his system, he had been searching for individuals compatible with Devil Fruits. After testing countless ordinary people with no success, he shifted his focus to the extraordinary — the main characters of this world.
Tony Stark had been the first suitable match he'd found.
So Qin Xiao had sought him out, posing as a mystic of sorts, spinning words like a fortune-teller, warning Tony about danger. Naturally, Tony hadn't believed a word of it — but that had never been the point. Qin Xiao only needed to plant a seed, a faint memory that would take root in Tony's mind.
Everything had been preparation for this moment.
"The hole in my chest doesn't feel good," Tony said bitterly. "But worse than that… I still can't believe it was him."
His eyes dimmed, his voice low and heavy.
"Believe it or not, you've already found the answer, haven't you?" Qin Xiao replied coolly. "You've likely seen something unusual in your company's files."
Tony's expression tightened. "Yes. I found unauthorized transactions in Stark Industries' systems — deals I never approved. Tracing them back… they all lead to Obadiah."
He clenched his fists. "He was my father's closest friend. Together, they built Stark Industries into what it is today. Our defense contracts already made us weapon kings. So why? Why sell weapons to them behind my back?"
For once, there was confusion and grief in his voice.
"These are questions you'll have to work through yourself," Qin Xiao said dismissively. "But I doubt that's the reason you called me here, is it?"
Tony shook his head, forcing away the cloud of doubt. His expression hardened.
"This time, I wanted to thank you — you and Frank — for saving me. I owe you both. After your contract with Frank ends, I'd like to hire him as my personal bodyguard.
And as for you, Qin — if you ever need anything, name your price."
The offer was straightforward — and a little bold. Tony Stark, being Tony Stark, had no qualms about poaching someone else's man if he wanted them.
Clearly, he'd taken a liking to Frank's skills. Qin Xiao, on the other hand, left him uncertain — the man exuded an unsettling, unfathomable aura now. The same man he once dismissed as a charlatan had somehow predicted his near-death.
The air around him was different — heavier, deeper, almost… dangerous.
"Sorry," Frank said flatly before Tony could continue. "I won't be your bodyguard. Other than Qin, I don't take orders from anyone."
"Why?" Tony frowned. "Whatever he's paying you, I'll double it."
"Money?" Frank shook his head. "What he gave me isn't something you can buy."
Tony's brows furrowed. "Then what is it?"
Frank's calm eyes met his. "He gave me power. The power to stand alone against armies. That kind of strength — you can't give me that."
"Power…" Tony murmured. His eyes flashed as he remembered something. "You said the same thing to me before, didn't you? You promised me power!"
Qin Xiao smiled. His body rippled faintly — and in the next instant, a strange, brightly colored fruit with a twisted shape materialized in his palm.
"That's right," he said softly. "This… is power."
PS: Any guesses on which Devil Fruit Tony's going to get?