Hearing someone call his name, Happy raised his head.
He looked at the three men and immediately wore an expression of deep resentment.
“Oh, guess I’m pretty famous.
Even freaks who like playing dress-up in the middle of the night know who I am.” Happy let out a sigh, speaking in a gloomy tone.
“Let me correct you, buddy.
That was in the past.
As of this afternoon, I’m not their bodyguard anymore.” “Do you hear what I’m saying?!
I got fired by those damned bosses of mine.” Happy slapped the desk and let out a bitter laugh.
“This is my new job.
Night receptionist at the hotel.
The pay is only a tenth of what it used to be, but at least I don’t have to take their crap anymore.” “Anyway, that doesn’t matter.
What you should be asking is, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?
Need a room, or looking for someone?” Hearing this, John and his men exchanged looks.
All three were completely bewildered, unable to make sense of what was happening.
The Stark brothers’ personal bodyguard, a trusted confidant who had been with them for years, had gotten fired this afternoon?
And then ran over to a hotel in the middle of the night to work as a night receptionist?
Did that make any sense?!
It didn’t make a bit of damn sense!!
John took a deep breath, feeling that things might not be so simple.
He looked at Happy tentatively, voicing his doubts.
“Fired?
How is that possible?
Haven’t you been together for years?” John stared intently into Happy’s eyes, trying to spot any sign that he was lying.
The moment Happy heard him ask about it, his already aggrieved face turned bright red, and he immediately exploded with emotion.
“Do you have to ask?!
Do you have to tear open my wounds?!” Happy suddenly started shouting, waving his hands wildly in midair like someone who had suffered a grave injustice.
“Fine!
Then I’ll tell you why I got fired!
Because those damned Starks have terrible tempers!
They never treated me like a human being!” Happy leaned over the counter, spitting furiously as he began pouring out his grievances.
“You guys have no idea how agonizing it was to be a bodyguard for those two brothers!
They’re basically two oversized babies!” “Take food, for example.
Tony is a hardcore cheeseburger fanatic.
He has to eat a double cheeseburger from Burger King every single day!
And it *has* to be hot!” The more Happy spoke, the angrier he got.
“And Luca?
He hates cheese!
He demands a spicy chicken sandwich from Wendy’s!
And the lettuce inside *has* to be fresh!” “Do you know how agonizing that is?!
Every time they say they’re hungry, I have to drive through Los Angeles’s damned morning rush hour for blocks just to buy them two different burgers!” “And if it gets even slightly cold, that bastard Luca ruthlessly mocks my driving, saying I drive like a grandma!
And Tony threatens to dock my pay!” Happy continued ranting nonstop about Tony and Luca’s terrible traits.
“That’s nothing!
Do you know what happened after the press conference this afternoon?
That damned bastard Luca actually changed his clothes in the car!” “He threw his perfume-drenched shirt right in my face!
I protested just once, and that asshole Tony told me to get lost on the spot!
Said I didn’t understand Stark family humor!” Happy’s eyes were practically red, looking thoroughly heartbroken.
“All these years!
Even if I didn’t have merit, I worked my butt off!
Just over one complaint, they threw me out!
Those heartless capitalists!” Faced with Happy’s several-minute-long tirade of furious shouting, John and his team were dumbfounded once again.
They had expected a fierce battle or some kind of trap.
Instead, they were standing here listening to a fired bodyguard complain about how his bosses ate burgers.
The tone of the situation had turned surreal.
Yet none of the three found it unbelievable.
In their intelligence reports, Tony and Luca were indeed reckless, eccentric playboys.
Firing a bodyguard over a trivial matter was completely in character for the Stark brothers.
John coughed awkwardly, his tense nerves relaxing slightly.
It seemed the lobby was empty simply because hotel management was lax, and this receptionist happened to be Happy, who had just been kicked out.
It was all just a coincidence.
It had to be!!
“Right.
Well, I’m sorry to hear that,” John offered perfunctorily.
“Best of luck with your new job.
Hope you find a boss who doesn’t eat burgers.” Happy sighed, waving his hand with a look of complete despair.
“Thanks for caring, buddy.
To be honest, I don’t ever want to see anyone named Stark for the rest of my life!
Just hearing that name gives me a headache!” John blinked.
Then he smiled, speaking with deep meaning.
“Don’t worry.
You’ll get your wish very soon.” Happy paused, asking foolishly, “Why?
Are they moving out of California?” John had no intention of wasting any more time talking to this useless ex-bodyguard.
Time was tight, and he intended to proceed as planned.
John reached out, pulled out a badge wallet, and flashed it quickly in front of Happy.
“Federal Bureau of Investigation.
FBI agents,” John switched to a strict, official tone.
“We are currently on a classified mission pursuing several dangerous fugitives.
We need to inspect the hotel’s guest records immediately, specifically the guests in the penthouse suite.” Normally, if a hotel front desk encountered a situation like this, they would demand a thorough check of the credentials or even call the manager to verify.
Happy, however, did neither.
The moment he heard the FBI wanted to check the guests in the penthouse, he smiled and immediately welcomed them warmly.
“Be my guest, Officers!
Happy to cooperate!” Happy pointed toward the nearby elevator bank.
“The penthouse suite, right?
Those damned Starks are up there!
They brought five women inside—they’re definitely up to something illegal!
Audit them hard!
Better yet, throw them in prison!” Happy enthusiastically pointed the way for them.
“See that elevator?
That’s the private elevator.
You don’t need a keycard, just press the top floor button to go straight up.
Officers, do you need me to take you up?” John and the others froze yet again, failing to process what was happening.
Why was Happy being so cooperative?
He couldn’t wait for them to arrest the Starks?!
Things were progressing so smoothly that it made them feel dazed.
Still, to complete the mission as quickly as possible, John stowed his badge and shook his head.
“No need.
What happens next is classified.
Just stay here.” With that, John gave Jack and Mark a look.
Ignoring Happy, the three turned around and walked straight toward the private elevator.
Behind them at the front desk.
Happy watched the backs of the three men as they walked away into the elevator hallway.
A second later, he let out a sigh of relief, a look of pity surfacing on his face.
After thinking for a moment, he lowered his head and crossed himself over his chest.
“May God bless you.
Good luck.” Without hesitating any further, Happy immediately pulled a large, pre-packed duffel bag out from under the counter.
“I need to get out fast and drive the car around to the back entrance to wait for the bosses.
It’s gonna get real dangerous up there in a minute.
These idiots have no idea what kind of monsters they’re messing with.” Happy muttered to himself as he hurriedly slipped out of the hotel lobby.