Didn't Expect You Guys to Be So Poor

The news of Obadiah Stane's death was directly suppressed and did not spread throughout New York.

However, Stark Industries' decision to pivot to the energy sector was announced.

This news was met with skepticism by many in New York.

Stark Industries was the undisputed leader in weapons manufacturing, but it was not yet a leader in the energy industry.

Unless Stark Industries could produce a revolutionary new energy source, it was unlikely that Stark Industries Shares would return to their peak or show a sustained upward trend.

However, this news also reassured some of those who still held shares.

Although it would be difficult to return to their peak, by transitioning to the energy industry, it wouldn't be a problem for Stark Industries to establish a foothold, given their past connections and network.

Tony Stark did not immediately announce the Arc Reactor, as the time was not right.

His own armor required further modifications.

He also needed to figure out how to genuinely apply the Arc Reactor to the energy industry, to prevent it from being exploited by those with ulterior motives.

If done correctly, it wouldn't be difficult for Stark Industries Shares to return to their peak, or even rise higher.

With Obadiah Stane, his biggest problem for the moment, out of the way, he had many things to do.

But they were undoubtedly less urgent, so after returning to Stark Mansion, Tony Stark took the initiative to contact Harvey Anberaka.

He wanted to share his joy with Harvey Anberaka and chat with him, to see if he could get some other intelligence.

"Sir, he has refused the call."

However, in less than a moment, Jarvis's words were like a splash of cold water on Tony Stark's head.

Tony Stark heard that the other party wasn't ignoring him, but actively refusing the call.

Who was he? A notorious playboy in New York and a celebrity in high society. Since childhood, no one had dared to refuse his calls.

"Well, well, he actually dares to not take my call."

It was enough to make Tony Stark laugh in exasperation.

"Keep trying to contact him."

So Tony Stark continued to have Jarvis try to contact him.

Since he didn't have to do it manually, he could bombard Harvey Anberaka with messages at will.

However, as Jarvis made the second call, he didn't even need Jarvis to report.

"The number you have dialed is switched off..."

The appearance of this mechanical female voice rendered Tony Stark speechless.

"Does he have any other contact methods?"

After a pause, Tony Stark asked, somewhat unwillingly.

"If nothing unexpected happens, Mr. Harvey Anberaka would likely have pulled the plug on his landline."

Jarvis replied.

Although Tony Stark was helpless, he temporarily gave up on contacting Harvey Anberaka.

As for going to Harvey Anberaka's place in person, that was absolutely out of the question.

If he went there in person, wouldn't that mean he was begging Harvey Anberaka to talk to him?

Jarvis also knew Tony's personality, so besides remote contact methods like mobile phones and landlines.

He did not suggest that Tony could drive to Harvey Anberaka's mansion to find him directly.

"Contact Pepper for me, I have some things to ask her."

Tony Stark commanded.

Pepper was upstairs watching the news. She had heard about Obadiah Stane's death.

She also knew about Obadiah Stane's attempt to murder Tony Stark, so she didn't have much of an opinion on the matter.

So, Pepper quickly received the message and hurried downstairs.

"Pepper, do you know Coulson?"

Seeing Pepper come down, Tony Stark immediately asked.

"I do know him, but you weren't interested in knowing before, were you?"

Pepper asked back, slightly taken aback when she heard the name.

"I wasn't interested before, but I am now."

"What is the scope of responsibility for the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division? Did he tell you?"

Tony Stark lay down on a chair and asked casually.

"Let me think, it seems to be a special unit established by the International Security Council to handle various unusual events."

Pepper Potts had excellent memory and execution, which was why she became Tony's capable secretary.

"Unusual events? Do you have his contact information?"

Tony Stark heard the scope of responsibility and thought for a moment before asking.

"I don't know if it'll be useful, but I do have his contact information."

Pepper nodded upon hearing this and spoke.

"That's perfect. Contact Coulson for me."

"Tell him I want to meet him tomorrow at noon to chat."

Tony Stark immediately gave instructions upon hearing this.

"I'll try, but I don't know if he's available right now."

Though Pepper didn't understand, she immediately took out her phone and began to make the call.

"Miss Pepper Potts, hello."

"May I ask what you need me for?"

However, much to the surprise of Tony Stark and Pepper, Coulson answered immediately.

"Mr. Tony wants to meet with you tomorrow at noon to chat."

Pepper explained the situation.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow at noon then."

Coulson was currently investigating the Iron Man who appeared in Afghanistan. Hearing that Tony Stark wanted to chat with them, he naturally agreed without hesitation.

Coulson actually wanted to go and talk to Tony Stark right away.

But since Tony Stark had specified a time, he wouldn't break the rule and would wait until the appointed time to talk.

Tony Stark went to bed. Regarding the unknown creature of unknown identity.

He wouldn't be able to find anything out on his own, but perhaps Coulson would know something.

Soon, at twelve o'clock the next day.

Coulson arrived at Stark Mansion punctually for the visit.

The two met in the living room on the second floor.

"Hello, Mr. Tony Stark. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me."

Coulson said politely upon seeing Tony Stark.

"I don't know what your department wants to know from me."

"But before that, you need to answer some questions for me."

"Once my questions are resolved, I'll tell you what you want to know."

Tony Stark didn't waste any time upon seeing Coulson.

"Okay, you ask first."

Coulson knew Tony Stark was arrogant and proud, so he didn't mind.

"Do you know about this shadowy figure?"

Upon hearing this, Tony Stark pressed a button on his right hand, and an image appeared. It was the shadowy figure recorded by Jarvis.

"I know who he is, but can you tell me where you captured his image?"

Coulson's eyes narrowed when he saw the shadowy figure in the image, the one that had left him, Director Fury, and Natasha helpless.

However, the figure was floating in the air, and the shot was taken from a level perspective, making it impossible to determine the location.

"Afghanistan, Gulmira."

Tony Stark paused upon hearing this and didn't hide it.

If the other party was truly a unit specialized in investigating strange events, then investigating his identity wouldn't be difficult at all.

It would be exposed sooner or later anyway, so there was no point in deliberately concealing it.

Upon hearing Tony Stark mention Afghanistan again, Coulson immediately thought of the Iron Man that had appeared in Afghanistan.

That Iron Man was undoubtedly Tony Stark himself. Since Tony Stark had no intention of hiding it.

"I see, then it's not surprising."

"This creature claims to be from the void. Our department doesn't know its real name."

"However, on Earth, it uses the alias Grim Reaper and is active in the mercenary underworld."

So Coulson revealed everything he knew.

"The mercenary underworld... No wonder Jarvis couldn't find any information about him."

Tony Stark pondered upon hearing the word "mercenary" and finally understood why Jarvis couldn't identify the other party immediately.

He had heard of mercenaries before, but he never had anyone he needed eliminated, so he had never connected to the legendary black web.

Now that he knew, Tony Stark immediately instructed Jarvis to connect to the black web.

"Mr. Tony Stark, it's not that I want to discourage you."

"Even if your AI connects to the black web, it won't be able to investigate anything."

"Our agency once paid an exorbitant price to arrange a meeting with the Grim Reaper."

"That's also how we judged the existence of the Grim Reaper."

"His appearance, strength, and origins are unknown. The only thing we know is that he is likely male and extremely dangerous."

Coulson politely reminded Tony Stark after hearing that Tony had investigated the Grim Reaper.

"Yes, sir. All I could find were some surface-level rumors."

"It's not as much as Coulson knows."

Jarvis's voice chimed in, but it still released the information it had gathered.

Jarvis knew that if Tony Stark cared, he would want to see it.

Some records about the Grim Reaper appeared before Tony Stark in text form.

"Coulson, you said you could arrange a meeting with him at a high cost?"

"Why did you want to meet him back then, and what was this cost you mentioned?"

Tony Stark asked while looking at the deeds and rumors about the Grim Reaper circulating on the black web.

"The purpose of arranging the meeting cannot be revealed to you yet. I can only tell you after I get the information I want from you."

"However, the cost of arranging the meeting was to issue a specific mission, with a deposit alone costing tens of millions of USD."

"Including the reward upon completion, it starts at at least twenty million USD."

Coulson paused for a moment, then began to explain.

"What did you say?"

"Twenty million USD is considered a high cost?"

"Is your department that poor?"

Tony Stark had initially thought he had paid for something invaluable and unobtainable with money to successfully arrange a meeting with the Grim Reaper.

He hadn't expected it to be something that could be solved with money. In Tony Stark's opinion, any problem that could be solved with money wasn't a big deal.

"Our department isn't poor, it's just that allocating funds requires planning and applications..."

Coulson showed a hint of embarrassment on his face upon hearing Tony Stark's words and tried to explain.

"To put it bluntly, doesn't it mean you have to curry favor with the higher-ups to get some funds?"

"Twenty million USD, and you need detailed plans and applications to allocate it."

"Doesn't that prove your department is very poor?"

Tony Stark directly interrupted Coulson's explanation, acting as if he understood everything.

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