Chapter 22 – Salary agreement
As the man who said he was me from the future disappeared into the clouds, his body seemed heavier than it really was because all the clouds suddenly dissipated and showed me what my location was.
I had been at the top of a hill so high that I could almost be called the top of the world. As I looked at the snowy mountain that I was at the top of, I had a strange feeling.
I wanted to let go of it and jump down.
“Michael!”
Suddenly I was scared by the sound of shouting from everywhere so I lost my balance and fell down the mountain. The problem was that my fall was not on the sharp side of the mountain. I hit the rocks face first before I could fall any further.
Strangely enough, the strange desire to jump disappeared as soon as I lost my balance.
As soon as my face hit the mountain, contrary to what I expected, I sank into the mountain, as if the mountain was not made of rock but of a piece of jelly.
As I plunged into the mountain and was thrown out again with the accumulated energy, I felt something grab me by the chest.
The infinite whiteness in my vision slowly faded away and was replaced by the face of a man with black hair and a hippie mustache.
"Hey Michael, wake up."
*snap*
I recovered with a slap to my face, followed by a hard punch to Howard's face. I must not have used my breathing technique as Howard fell to the ground and looked at me as if he had been wronged.
Howard Stark is a lucky man.
“I hope you'll think twice before slapping me next time, Mr. Stark.”
"Is this how you always thank someone for trying to save your life?"
"No, if I'm not poisoned by the hands of a woman who targets that person."
“Okay, that's fair.”
At that moment, Jarvis rushed over and pulled Howard to his feet.
As I looked at Jarvis' face, many different scenes flashed in front of my eyes, and soon everything I knew about him came together in my mind. I still hadn't gotten used to this kind of feeling, but it felt really cool.
“You must be Jarvis.”
As I stood up and tried to shake Jarvis' hand, a feeling of weakness took over my whole body and I fell back onto the bed.
Howard explained briefly what had happened to me as he got up from the floor.
“You may have to stay in bed for a while longer.”
“Why, what happened to me?”
"A Russian poison, known to kill people in seconds and then disappear, entered your body and continued to fight your body for three days. Looking at your heart rate of over two hundred beats per minute with vapors coming out of your mouth and what I just said, the army would have torn you to pieces on the spot if I hadn't stopped it."
I didn't even know what to say. It's not that I didn't expect to encounter such a thing, but they are too ruthless. I already become part of the army after all.
I think that's what the future me was talking about. If I become a hero to the people, they'll have to look at me more humanely, like Captain America.
When the researcher who developed the super soldier serum dies, there must be some reason why they can't take action against a public figure, unless they're using Captain America as a lab rat with an unlimited supply of blood.
I guess I should do better in the military as soon as possible and get more integrated into the military and climb the ranks sooner rather than later. If I'm the one calling the shots at least I won't have to worry about the dangers from the government. Hopefully...
“Anyway, Jarvis, I expect Howard must have told you about me.”
"Yes, sir. You're the future assistant to my master, Mr. Michael."
"Yes, and you're a man who until recently was about to be executed across the sea and married to a Jewish woman. How long since you were rescued by Howard.”
At my words, both Jarvis and Howard looked at me in surprise.
“Yes, sir, that's right. Exactly three months ago, actually.”
“How do you know all this, Michael?”
"Before I came back to America, I did good research so I could live my new life comfortably."
“Does that mean you researched me too?”
“Of course, Howard. A not-so-ordinary boy who grew up in a poor neighborhood. I think your mother was a factory worker, wasn't she?”
“Uh, yeah. That's not exactly a secret.”
“That's all the criteria I was looking for. Knowing that much was enough to make me think that in the future you would be the most arrogant, annoying, and richest person in America.”
Howard put his hands in his pockets and pursed his lips, then said, “That's not a secret too"
“That's what I'm talking about. I chose to stand next to you because you're the kind of person who pays me a hundred thousand dollars a month and doesn't give me any trouble."
“Wait. Did you just say a hundred thousand dollars every month? Look, I'm not underestimating your abilities, that giant flame blade that sliced that building in half is really impressive, but for a hundred thousand dollars I could build myself a small army. Besides, my whole estate is only worth a few million dollars, I'm not as rich as you think."
"You have a couple of million now, but by next year I think you'll easily have ten million. And I'm not just talking about being a bodyguard.”
“but”
“Trust me, it's worth the money.”
Howard looked at my hand on his shoulder, at the steam escaping from the corner of my mouth, and then said he agreed with me.
I actually wanted to show him that I was still healthy and able to fight, but I think he thought I was threatening him. Well, that was my fault.