Moran thought that some mechanism had been touched, and curiously groped on the model, but the sensor light never came on again.Tony noticed this little episode, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.He pulled off Moriarty's arm, took a step back, and said in a low voice, "I forgot to turn off an instrument down there... If you don't mind, may I excuse you?"

Moriarty shook his hand and whispered, "Tony, I might need to use the basement...don't worry, nothing will leak out. Let Jarvis pay attention to Magnuson by the way, I'll It is suspected that there is something wrong with Magnussen's glasses."

He looked at Tony seriously, his expression serious.Tony and he looked at each other for a few seconds, nodded, turned and walked down the basement.

The atmosphere didn't change because of Tony's departure, and a weird sense of tension spread in the air.Moran studied the model intently, as if he hadn't heard anything out of the window; Hanks unwrapped the presents carelessly, not caring whether his own was inside; Andre unscrewed the lid of the hip flask , while moistening his lips with wine, while staring at Magnussen in a daze; Magnussen seemed to have suddenly become interested in the model, standing behind Moran and bending over to look at it, holding his glasses with his fingers.

Moran turned his head unhappily: "Boss, when can we kill this disgusting guy?"

"I've always advocated replacing dogs with machines." Magnussen straightened up. "In my opinion, machines are much easier to command than dogs."

Moran stared at him, slowly moving his wrist.Moriarty lowered his eyes and said calmly, "Sebas, be polite to our guests."

Moran glanced at Moriarty in astonishment, had to suppress his anger, and stepped aside holding the model.Magnuson looked at Moriarty with a repulsively meek smile on his face: "—but, loyal, isn't it? I talked to a guard dog many times, and finally realized that Humans still have to communicate with humans. I'm glad you made a wise choice, and the Christmas present I prepared is really lovely."

He walked to the shelf by the wall as if no one else was there, and reached out to pick up an antique wood carving.Moriarty shook his head and laughed: "You claim to have mastered many people's weaknesses, and you always seem to know everything, so before you bring gifts to your door, do you know that I have the habit of collecting shoes?"

"In 1989, Carl Power." Magnussen didn't turn around, as if stroking the skin of a lover, he stroked the surface of the wood carving meticulously, "At that time, you were 12 years old and got your first collection. Then you got tired of Botox and started using more direct methods. Andrei Anatolievich Morozov was your original hangman, and after a few years of doing your dirty work, he With your support, he went on a killing spree in Ukraine, and soon became the most powerful financial oligarch and arms dealer in Eastern Europe. He collected 240 pairs of exquisitely crafted leather shoes in his villa in Siberia, of course, all of them are 42 code……"

"—240." Andre interrupted him with a hoarse voice, "Your information is out of date."

Magnussen turned around slowly, glanced at him, with a smile on his face: "Thanks for the reminder, but I think those human skins are still being tanned?"

He let go of his hand while talking, and the wood carving hit the floor with a loud sound.

"I heard you are called the Napoleon of blackmail, Charles?" Hanks rolled up the wrapping paper in his hands, and said suddenly, "It just so happens that James is also called the Napoleon of crime. From the perspective of rank, He seems to be smarter than you."

"Oh... that's a bit of a misnomer, isn't it?" Magnussen raised his eyebrows and looked at Moriarty, as if it was such a ridiculous thing, "I know your secret to winning, Moriah Mr. Tee, but blackmail is based on the mastery of information... Do you think you will have more leverage than me?"

"I don't understand, Charles." Moriarty said quietly, "Since you regard me as an opponent that can be easily defeated, why didn't you come here until now?"

"—Information is only valuable when it is useful," Magnuson said. "For example, Mr. Eugene has a little secret that he doesn't want to be known. Of course I can tell it, just like Our cooperation was the same before, but for someone like Mr. Eugene, I think it would be more beneficial to make a deal directly...isn't it, Mr. Eugene?"

Hanks' face was livid.Magnussen never threatens people with empty words. What he loves most is to use the information in his hand to drive people into corners step by step.He said coldly: "Our deal can be discussed later."

"Don't worry, the price I'm asking will definitely be within your tolerance." Magnussen said softly, took off his glasses, and slowly wiped the lenses with a handkerchief.

"Knowing the weakness is equivalent to mastering the person." Moriarty said softly, "We have also had several good cooperations, you should know my style. Put your bargaining chips and requirements, and I will consider whether to accept it or not." Your wish has come true."

"You seem to have made a mistake, Mr. Moriarty." Magnuson smiled. "Now I have the upper hand, not you. Instead of asking me what I want, why don't you just tell me that for these videos you What can give...he's such a sweetheart, isn't he? Otherwise you wouldn't have let me in as soon as you saw the camera."

Hanks looked up suddenly: "James! You were threatened because of him!? You really fell in love with him!?"

Moran muttered, "They've been in love long enough to have a child, how could anyone just find out now?"

Hanks' face was livid, and he looked straight at Moriarty, waiting for his answer.Moriarty said calmly: "People always have some weaknesses, so what's wrong with me giving in for Tony?"

"Of course you can't, James. You've always had many weaknesses, but I haven't seen you stop for any of them!" Hanks' voice sounded almost out of control, his fingers trembling, "You've always been so flawless... ...as if born to belong to the altar, but now for a man of unknown origin, he abandoned his former companion, changed his behavior and even made him his weakness! And we..."

He suddenly stopped talking, his face flushed, and he tried his best to breathe to calm himself down: "...I'm sorry, James, I drank a little too much before I came here...I think I'd better get out of here first."

He wrapped his coat and left the hall with his head down.A few minutes later, the roar of the car sounded faintly, and a light flashed outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, and then disappeared quickly.

"You ruined my Christmas..." Moriarty sighed, "I like to give people gifts like this, but I don't like to receive gifts from people like this. Charles, you know it's been 25 years since I Sitting down with your family for Christmas for the first time? If you make me think that stuff isn't threatening enough, I'll turn you into another tanned human skin. I promise."

Magnussen raised his eyebrows slightly, as if mocking.Moriarty threw the phone to Andre, and walked towards the basement: "I know what you want to see. Come on, let me show you around."

Andre stuffed his phone into his pocket and watched him and Magnussen leave.Moran jumped up: "Hey, Andre, let's discuss. If there is an incoming call labeled 'that woman', can I answer it?"

-

The stairs seem a bit long.Moriarty walked unhurriedly, descending the steps according to the seconds. No.20 seconds later, he finally let go of the handrail and stopped at the end of the stairs.A frosted glass was embedded in the center of the wall. Moriarty pressed his hand on it, and a blue operation interface appeared on the glass.He entered the code, and the door slid open to both sides.Moriarty walked in first without looking back at Magnussen.

Magnussen followed Moriarty into the studio.There is almost no decoration, and the environment can be called simple. The high ceiling makes the basement look a bit empty, and the lamp sticks are arranged above the head, emitting a bright light.Several filing cabinets stood by the door, and the opposite corner was filled with half-opened or unopened crates.The wide space is divided into several areas, and some equipment is neatly placed.Several mechanical arms of different sizes and a pile of parts are stacked together, and a stack of drawings is pressed on the workbench, with a red suitcase on it.

Tony is standing in front of the 3D printer wearing a pair of glasses, his fingers pinching a broken wire.He glanced at Moriarty distractedly, and warned, "You'd better not let him touch it."

"It's just for a visit, Mr. Stark." Magnuson raised his head and looked around, "After all, I can't be ignorant of my future industry... Oh, this is the magical steel armor. You Can you open it so I can see, Mr Moriarty?"

Tony snapped the power switch and stepped out from behind the desk.He looked at Magnussen coldly, but Magnussen kept smiling: "Can't you?"

"It requires special equipment to open it." Moriarty said indifferently, "If you're curious about what it looks like, you've seen it in the living room just now. Please sit down, Charles, I think it's better to get straight to the point and finish the business. good."

Magnussen looked around. "Where's the chair?"

There is only one chair in Tony's studio, expensive and comfortable and functional.But the chair had already been laid flat by him, and debris was piled on it in a mess.Moriarty glanced at Tony, Tony pretended not to notice his gaze, and turned his head to look elsewhere.He smiled, bent down and pulled out three folding chairs from under a table, opened them up, and made an inviting gesture: "Please sit down."

Tony showed a look of astonishment for a moment, and behind Magnussen he mouthed Moriarty suspiciously.Moriarty pretended not to see his movements, and sat on one of the chairs: "As the person involved, I think Tony is qualified to attend, what do you think?"

"This is a bit cruel." Magnussen also sat down, crossed his legs, and said slowly, "Let Mr. Stark hear with his own eyes how he was betrayed by his beloved? Maybe he will bear it." Don't stop hitting."

Tony didn't speak, and sat in the chair next to Moriarty.Moriarty held his hand and said flatly, "I said, I want to see your chips."

"But the hole cards cannot be easily shown to others." Magnussen raised a hand, and a USB flash drive was shaking between his fingers, "However, I can show you a few videos first... we agreed Christmas present."

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