Target

"Are there really vampires in this world?"

Little Pepper looked utterly incredulous. That Bert Wang was actually a Vampire? He did not look like one at all. His face was not pale, and he did not have a gloomy aura. Still, he was pretty handsome! Tony frowned. "It's probably true. No wonder that kid has superpowers. No wonder he asked me to design something to protect against Ultraviolet!"

Obadiah stared in shock. "Who are you talking about?"

Tony explained simply, "The Blood God you mentioned. I've met him before, and we even went to a Casino together!"

"Then it seems he had his eye on you from the start. The vampires might be trying to swallow up Stark Industries!"

Obadiah said irritably. He had long regarded Stark Industries as his property. Now someone had suddenly come along to steal a bite?

"Just that kid?" Tony said disdainfully.

"Don't underestimate the Blood Clan," Obadiah warned. "The wealth the Blood Clan has accumulated over hundreds of years definitely exceeds yours and mine!"

"That kid is just nouveau riche!"

Tony snorted. After thinking for a moment, he shook his head. "Still, he probably isn't plotting against me. He knows Aunt Carter, and Aunt Carter wouldn't scheme against me!"

"Peggy Carter?"

Obadiah hesitated before saying, "There's been a rumor lately that Ms. Carter joined the vampires in exchange for immortality and youth. They say she's the President of the Blood God Group!"

"That's impossible. Aunt Carter isn't that kind of person!"

Tony shook his head repeatedly. How could a woman even his father had failed to woo become a Vampire just for immortality? Little Pepper, however, had a different thought. She asked in surprise, "Can you really stay young and live forever?"

"It's just a rumor. I'm not too sure either!"

Obadiah rose to his feet. "Tony, no matter what the Blood God Group wants, we're in danger right now. I need you to bring something out for the Board of Directors, to increase their confidence in you and keep them from kicking you out!"

"Stark Industries is mine. Who can kick me out? Ignore them!"

Tony said stubbornly. Obadiah tried to persuade him several times without success and could only leave in frustration. He had made up his mind. He would propose a motion to the Board of Directors and drive Tony out!

Stark Industries would belong only to him, Obadiah! After Obadiah left, Little Pepper suggested, "Tony, you and Bert are friends. Why not call him and ask what exactly is going on?"

"Who says I'm friends with him?"

Tony denied it immediately. After thinking it over, he said, "Still, we can invite him and Aunt Carter over to the house. I want to see Aunt Carter and ask about her situation!"

"Okay, I'll call him!"

"Alright. Ms. Carter and I will be there on time."

Wang Bert put down the phone and said to Carter across from him, "Tony invited us to his home as guests. Looks like he noticed what we've been doing!"

"Your actions," Carter corrected.

"A lot of people have called me, asking what our Blood Clan is planning to do."

Wang Bert shrugged. "Didn't I already reach an understanding with S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

"Thank goodness for that understanding. Otherwise, we wouldn't be this comfortable right now!"

Carter said, "Still, those people all left warnings. They want our Blood Clan to know its limits!"

"Don't worry. I won't keep buying Stark Industries stock on the market!"

Wang Bert smiled. "Though I'm looking forward to Tony working for me, that's obviously impossible. He wouldn't work for anyone!"

"Tony is prouder than anyone!"

Carter said, "Blood God, can you tell me which company you're targeting now?"

"That company!"

Wang Bert gestured for Carter to look at the television above them. Carter turned and saw news about Osborn Corporation playing on the screen. "Ever since Tony Stark shut down the Weapons Department, all stocks related to military industry have been soaring around the world. Osborn Corporation has been one of the strongest performers! Norman Osborn, chairman of Osborn Corporation, recently stated that the high-tech weapons developed by Osborn Corporation have received preliminary approval from the Department of Defense..."

"You want to acquire Osborn Corporation?"

Carter was greatly surprised. Osborn Corporation was a major conglomerate focused on military industry, genetic engineering, and energy. Its market value exceeded twenty billion dollars. Though it could not compare to Stark Industries, it was still one of America's top corporations!

"Yes, Osborn Corporation!"

Wang Bert nodded. Osborn Corporation had plenty of good things, and he would not let them slip away. Besides, its military and genetics divisions were both things he needed!

"That isn't realistic," Carter said, shaking her head. "Osborn Corporation's stock price has been rising lately. The shareholders won't sell their shares!"

"Just because it's rising now doesn't mean it'll keep rising forever."

Wang Bert smiled. "I read Norman Osborn's face. He's about to start going downhill!"

"This again?"

Carter was speechless. You were the leader of the Vampire clan, yet you kept talking about this mystical nonsense every day. It was completely unscientific, alright? Wait, no. Vampires themselves were unscientific! Wang Bert said, "Leaving everything else aside, Osborn Corporation's main business is energy. Once Tony's Miniature Arc Reactor hits the market, its stock price will definitely drop by quite a bit!"

"That's true!"

Carter was still somewhat hesitant. "But Osborn Corporation is too large. Humans might object!"

"Just give them enough benefits to shut them up! In this country, nothing is impossible with money!"

Wang Bert said, "Osborn Corporation takes the high-end route in weapons. Unlike Stark Industries, which covers the full range, it isn't as sensitive!"

"The problem is that high-end weapons basically depend on purchases from the Department of Defense," Carter said. "Once we gain control of Osborn Corporation, the Department of Defense definitely won't do business with us anymore."

"Don't worry. When the time comes, they'll beg us to sell them weapons!"

Wang Bert said confidently. Once Ivan's Armor was successfully developed, those people at the Department of Defense might even kneel and call him Daddy! Seeing how confident Wang Bert was, Carter could not say much else. "Then I'll get ready. I'll go with you to the Stark residence for dinner tonight!"

"Alright. The company can reimburse your dress bill!"

"Don't worry, I won't be polite with a rich man like you!"

That evening, at Tony's seaside villa in Malibu, Tony stared at the radiant and beautiful Peggy Carter with utter disbelief. "Are you really my Aunt Carter? You're not Sharon in disguise, are you?"

Carter smiled. "Do you need me to tell everyone about how you tried to repair a tractor when you were three and ended up falling into an oil barrel?"

"Aunt Carter, you really know how to joke!"

Tony awkwardly invited Carter inside. As for Wang Bert, he did not acknowledge him at all. How many times had this bastard set him up?

Little Pepper and Yinsen welcomed the guests in Tony's place. Yinsen could not help asking, "Bert, are you really a Vampire?"

Wang Bert set the wine he had brought as a gift to one side, then spread his hand. His palm turned into blood, forming the word "YES" in midair. Little Pepper and Yinsen both cried out in surprise. When Tony turned and saw it, he also exclaimed that it was not scientific!

"Don't worry," Wang Bert said with a smile. "Vampires aren't as scary as you think. I've been cracking down lately. Any Vampire who dares drink the blood of living humans will be arrested by the Blood Clan Police!"

Tony could not help asking, "The Blood Clan even has police? Who gave you a license? The NYPD?"

"S.H.I.E.L.D. did."

"S.H.I.E.L.D. again! Wait, you really have a license?"

Tony complained. Wang Bert gave him a pitying look. Tony became furious. That look again! He, Tony Stark, billionaire and dream lover of countless beautiful women, needed Wang Bert's pity?

Ignoring Tony's glare, Wang Bert said to Little Pepper, "Miss Potts, my invitation still stands. If you're willing to join our Blood God Group, I can give you a Youth and Immortality Package for free!"

"Really?"

Little Pepper's eyes lit up. Tony was alarmed and hurriedly stepped in front of her. "He's definitely lying. Alright, Aunt Carter, I prepared your favorite Wellington Steak. You'll definitely like it!"

"That's thoughtful!"

Carter said with a smile. Little Pepper secretly rolled her eyes, but she was also a little happy. Ever since Tony's accident, he had been caring more and more about her.

Next, everyone took their seats. The chef they had hired brought out the prepared food, and everyone chatted and laughed. The atmosphere was quite pleasant.

After dinner, Little Pepper gave Tony a meaningful look. Tony said, "Bert, it was very wise of you to buy my stock when it was low. Stark Industries' stock price will rise sharply very soon!"

"Of course! Otherwise, I wouldn't have bought it!"

Wang Bert replied.

"Good eye!"

Tony smiled. Little Pepper asked, "Mr. Wang, did you buy Stark Industries stock to make money?"

Wang Bert answered frankly, "Yes. That includes short selling Stark Industries before! Tony, you can rest assured. I won't acquire your Stark Industries, though I have the ability to!"

"Who's worried? No one can acquire my Stark Industries!"

Tony snorted, though he truly breathed a sigh of relief inside. Then he became irritated again. This kid actually had more money than he did!

Little Pepper could not help asking, "Mr. Wang, how did you know Stark Industries' stock price would plunge?"

The others also stared intently at Wang Bert. He said, "Because I can read faces. When I saw Tony that day, I noticed he had a Dark Forehead and was facing a Blood Disaster, so I chose to short Stark Industries!"

"A Dark Forehead? A Blood Disaster?"

Tony, Little Pepper, and Yinsen all had question marks on their faces. They recognized every word, but when the words were put together, they had no idea what they meant!

"I think you're messing with me!"

Tony said unhappily.

Wang Bert ignored Tony and said to Little Pepper, "Miss Potts, would you mind if I read your face?"

Little Pepper asked curiously, "Can you? Then go ahead. Is it like Tarot cards?"

"Something like that!"

Wang Bert looked at Little Pepper and said, "Miss Potts, you are a fortunate person. Your dream of many years will come true. That man will marry you, and like his father, he will devote himself wholeheartedly to his wife!"

"Really?"

Little Pepper asked in delight.

"Wait, what dream? Little Pepper, who is that man? You actually have a man you want to marry, and I don't know about it? No, I won't allow it!"

Tony became agitated and shouted loudly, losing his composure. In truth, he had always liked Little Pepper. But there had been too many women around him, so even he had not realized his feelings. It was not until he was trapped in that cave, when Little Pepper was all he could think about day and night, that he understood how important she was to him.

That was why he was so worked up now. He even wanted to duel Little Pepper's dream man! "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Little Pepper said shyly. Carter sighed and said, "Tony, when it comes to this, you're much slower than your father. The moment he saw Maria, he cast aside every other woman and focused entirely on pursuing her!"

"What?"

Tony was completely baffled. Even Yinsen could not stand it anymore. "Tony, all these years, whose side has Potts always been on?"

"Whose side? Mine, of course. Uh... that man is me?"

"That's right. That scumbag is you."

Wang Bert burst into laughter, and everyone else laughed as well. Only Little Pepper's face turned bright red. Still, Little Pepper was Little Pepper. She said to Tony, "If you want to pursue me, then there can't be any other women around you from now on!"

Compared to Little Pepper, Tony, the seasoned playboy, was actually overly excited. He nodded repeatedly. "No problem! There definitely won't be any other women around me from now on. Jarvis, I won't take calls from other women anymore!"

"Recorded!"

Jarvis, the advanced artificial intelligence, replied. Tony froze and felt a little regretful, but seeing Little Pepper's happy expression, he suddenly felt that it was not so bad! Remembering something, Little Pepper continued asking Wang Bert, "Mr. Wang, what happens after that?"

"After that," Wang Bert said, "you'll become the President of Stark Industries."

"That's impossible. I don't have that kind of ability, and the President of Stark Industries will either be Tony or Mr. Stane. It won't be anyone else!"

Little Pepper shook her head repeatedly, not believing him at all. Wang Bert said, "Tony will take up a very great profession in the future. He won't have time to manage Stark Industries anymore, so it can only be left to you!

"But that won't be a good thing, because you'll have to sleep with him and make money for him to spend. What a terrible loss!"

"Bert Wang, what do you take me, Tony Stark, for?" Tony said indignantly. "How could I let a woman earn money for me to spend? You're clearly slandering me!"

Wang Bert ignored Tony and continued to Little Pepper, "Then, you'll come into conflict with him because of his great profession. At that point, your fate will split into two branches!"

"Fate has branches?" Tony complained. "No, wait, how can you even see the branches? Do you have a drone monitoring the future?"

Little Pepper asked curiously, "What branches?"

"The first branch," Wang Bert said, "is that you can no longer stand the profession he's chosen, so you run off with his driver!"

"His driver? Happy?"

Little Pepper was stunned. Tony was also shocked. "That guy Happy actually seduces you? I'm firing him!"

"Tony!"

Little Pepper said helplessly.

"What's the second branch?" Carter asked.

Wang Bert said, "The second branch is that you accept his profession, marry him, and have a daughter together. A very adorable daughter who says 'I love you three thousand' every day!"

"Wow!"

Tony and Little Pepper's eyes both lit up. Before they could be happy, Wang Bert continued, "Then Tony will sacrifice himself because of that profession, and you'll remarry his driver with his daughter!

"Come to think of it, his driver has it pretty good. He'll get to spend Tony's money and beat Tony's daughter."

"What? Tony will sacrifice himself?"

"What? I run off with the driver again?"

Tony and Little Pepper were both stunned, though their reasons were completely different. Tony shouted, "Happy, you're not allowed to hit my daughter! Jarvis, call Happy. I'm firing him!"

"Tony, it's just a joke!"

"Why are you so worked up? Could it be..."

"Tony, I'm getting angry!"

Tony immediately shut up. Carter said, "Bert, that joke was a little too much!"

"If you don't believe it, it's a joke. If you believe it, it's fate!"

Wang Bert smiled faintly. These words would serve a purpose in the future. He stood up and said, "Tony, Miss Potts, I had a wonderful time tonight. I'll be leaving now! Don't worry about Stark Industries. I won't acquire it, though I have the ability to!"