Natasha, a seasoned agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., was an expert at lying, her face remaining unfazed as she presented her fabricated story with a convincing air of logic.
Gull scrutinized Natasha, a hint of disdain coloring his words as he asked, "You, a mere girl, can represent the police?"
It was evident that Gull's doubt wasn't about Natasha's credibility as a negotiator, but rather her youth. He saw her as a child, too young to hold sway with the New York Police Department.
Natasha, however, met his gaze unflinchingly. "Of course. My presence here means the police fully trust me. You can state any demands you have to me, and I will relay them to the authorities."
Gull continued, "You must have seen the person my bombs killed outside. I've already reduced someone to nothing. Why would the police still trust me?"
Natasha calmly countered, "And do you know how many hostages you have right now?"
Gull paused for a moment upon hearing Natasha's words, then burst into laughter.
"Impressive, impressive! A sharp-tongued young lady indeed."
Gull was not foolish; he immediately understood Natasha's implied meaning.
It was true that Gull had broken his word and killed a hostage. However, a dead person could not be brought back to life. The police outside could not abandon the safety of the forty-odd hostages inside the building for the sake of that one life; hence, they had sent a negotiator to reason with Gull and ascertain his demands.
Just as Gull, feeling completely at ease and ready to present his demands to Natasha, believed himself to be in control, the door not far away suddenly opened.
The vigilant Gull immediately checked, only to find the two female hostages returning with the liquor he requested. He then relaxed.
What he failed to notice was that the two women carrying the liquor were walking very close together, almost pressed against each other. It was under this cover that Chen Long, unnoticed, stealthily crept in.
Natasha's reflexes were lightning-fast. The moment Gull's attention shifted, she tossed out several small, fingernail-sized metal spheres.
When Gull turned back, Natasha casually sat down beside him, using the movement to conceal her recent actions.
Although Gull didn't stop her from sitting, he instinctively shifted backward a few times, putting distance between himself and Natasha.
"What's wrong? You, a grown man with bombs strapped to you, afraid of a little girl like me?"
"Better safe than sorry. Being cautious never hurts."
Changing the subject, Gull stated his demands to Natasha.
"First, I want ten million... no, fifty million US dollars. And you must deliver the money to me within two hours, or I'll press the detonator, and we'll all perish together."
"Agreed."
Natasha agreed to Gull's demands without further ado.
"And I want a helicopter. Prepare a helicopter for me."
Natasha couldn't help but suspect if this guy's experience as a kidnapper came solely from television, judging by his constant demands for helicopters. This wasn't the top floor, and a reinforced alloy door stood in the way. Where would they even land a helicopter for him?
"Mr. Gull, if I may say so, floors thirty-nine to forty of Stark Tower are not connected. Even if you blew up the entire building, you wouldn't be able to breach that alloy door. And no offense, but if you actually got a helicopter, would you even know how to fly it? You'd likely crash into another building before getting far."
Gull froze upon hearing Natasha's words. This mere girl dared to speak to him, a hardened criminal, like this? Did she think he was made of clay?
Natasha's words, though perhaps dismissible to others and spoken with a tone of lighthearted teasing, would have elicited no reaction from Gull in the past. But for some reason today, after hearing her out completely, an unprovoked anger flared within him, as if the building itself possessed a magic that deliberately stoked his rage.
The wine glass he had just received was smashed to pieces on the floor. He stood up, pointed a finger at Natasha's nose, and unleashed a torrent of abuse. "Say that again! You dare to speak to me like that, you little brat who hasn't even grown facial hair yet? What, are you made of steel, or is the gun in my hand made of mud!"
Natasha was somewhat taken aback by Gull's sudden outburst. What was happening? Her earlier remark was merely a slight jest. The assailant didn't seem to have poor psychological fortitude, so why was his mood so unstable?
There was no alternative. The plan was not yet complete, and Chen Long had not reached his designated position. Natasha had to pacify him and stabilize his emotions. Otherwise, if he pressed that button, no one on the thirty-first floor would survive.
Truth be told, Natasha's ability to calm people was exceptional. She could even soothe the rampaging Hulk to sleep. How much more could she handle Gull? With just a few words, she easily defused the situation.
With his emotions stabilized, Gull continued with his demands.
"I need a helicopter. You'll provide a pilot, and it should be parked by the window on the thirty-first floor."
After the previous incident, Natasha dared not provoke him further. She agreed, "Alright, but it will take some time to arrange for a helicopter. If you're unwilling to wait, we can arrange for a vehicle."
"No problem, I can wait that long."
Natasha nodded. "Good, we'll arrange the helicopter for you as quickly as possible. Do you have any other demands?"
Gull contemplated for a moment before stating his final demand.
"The fifty million US dollars I initially requested must be personally delivered to me by Tony Stark."
Hearing Gull specifically request Tony Stark, Natasha was slightly taken aback, feeling a sense of the unexpected yet logical.
After all, the perpetrator clearly wasn't motivated solely by money. Otherwise, why go through the trouble of targeting Stark Tower, setting up bombs, and taking hostages in such a convoluted manner?
If it were truly about money, Gull could have gathered a group of like-minded individuals and robbed a bank directly. That would have been faster and relatively less risky.
Seeing the astonishment on Natasha's face, Gull felt a sense of satisfaction, akin to a child winning an argument.
Gull emphasized, "Stark must come himself. He can choose not to, but within two hours, if he's not here, I'll kill one hostage every five minutes. If his heart is hard and his blood is cold enough, he can watch me kill all these hostages."
"Alright, you can leave now and deliver my message to those police officers."
With that, Gull grabbed the white wine on the table and took several large gulps.
After finishing the liquor, he slammed the bottle on the table and unceremoniously wiped his mouth with his hand. Then, he turned his head and noticed that she hadn't left, but was standing there, staring at him coldly.