Business Comes First—Please Keep Reading, Please Bookmark

"White Queen."

Luke Field called out.

"At your command." A woman's magnetic voice rang out in the laboratory.

"Gather the news reports on Tony Stark's disappearance," Luke Field ordered.

"Collection complete." White Queen responded almost the very next second.

"Delete the tabloid entertainment reports, the duplicate reports, the meaningless and sensationalized fake reports. Select some higher-weighted reports and project them." Luke Field waved a hand, and virtual screens suddenly appeared all around him—above, below, left, and right—forming a hemisphere that surrounded him within his field of vision.

"..."

"What are your thoughts on the massive drop in Stark Industries stock caused by the kidnapping and disappearance of Tony Stark, the soul of Stark Industries?"

"I'm not in the mood to express my thoughts right now. Tony is the child of my old friend Howard. I've always regarded him as family. Until there is new information, I will do everything in my power to rescue him and keep Stark Industries afloat. Stark Industries is the life's work of Howard and myself. No matter what happens in the future, I will not let it fall."

This was footage of an interview between a reporter and Obadiah Stane, Stark Industries' current manager.

"..."

"As a competitor in the arms industry, do you have anything to say about Tony Stark's kidnapping and disappearance?"

"It's unbelievable! Without question, this is a tremendous disaster! As everyone knows, although Tony and I are competitors, we have a fairly good relationship in private. I've always wanted to cooperate with him, combining the strength of Hammer Military Industries and Stark Industries to create something truly remarkable. I hope he returns safely."

This was a conversation between a reporter and Justin Hammer, the Master of Hammer Military Industries. Though Justin Hammer on the screen tried his best to look grave and sorrowful, the slight upward curl of his lips still betrayed the joy in his heart.

"He's been tearing his hair out lately. This is probably the best news he's heard in days." Ina Sandra curled her lip as she watched the hypocritical Justin Hammer on the Virtual Screen.

"Tony Stark has been missing for nearly a week. Do you think there is still any hope of him surviving?"

"As Tony Stark's most trusted assistant, Ms. Potts, are you worried about your own future?"

"...Can you reveal any new information about the search? Have you found any trace of Tony Stark?..."

This was Tony Stark's Secretary, Pepper Potts, looking haggard and silent as a crowd of reporters surrounded her and bombarded her with questions.

The other footage showed things like the site of Tony Stark's disappearance, dried bloodstains, and wreckage from the vehicle.

"I never really understood why you were so cautious about certain things before, but these past few days, I've started to understand. This world is too dangerous. Even someone like Tony Stark could be kidnapped, with his fate unknown." Thinking of how she had nearly been abducted by Wallace, the Captain of her own security team not long ago, Ina Sandra spoke with deep feeling.

Luke Field felt somewhat helpless at her words. This was only the opening act. What came afterward would be even more fantastical.

But at the same time, that sense of urgency made the joy from Luke Field's recent upgrade fade away.

He swept his hand through the air, clearing away every news report as though they were garbage.

"You're not watching anymore?" Ina Sandra had not expected that, given Luke Field's previous attention to Tony Stark, he would only glance at the reports twice before losing interest.

"No need to keep watching. Did you buy Stark Industries stock?" With his hands in his pockets, Luke Field walked out of the laboratory. It was time for him to properly plan his future affairs and make the decisions he had been hesitating over.

For example, whether or not to join the Avengers.

For Luke Field, joining the organization itself was not important. What mattered was the people and things he could come into contact with after joining it.

Building relationships with some of the people in that organization and becoming teammates and Companions could be infuriating at times, but they could also be relied upon when needed. For example, if he could not make contact with the sorcerer organization before the Ancient One went searching for Eternity, then if he wanted to do business with those sorcerers, he could only wait until Stephen Strange became Sorcerer Supreme and joined the Avengers.

As for building a relationship with Stephen Strange and becoming friends now?

Sorry, but the current Stephen Strange was a polished piece of trash. Just like Tony Stark before he became Iron Man, he was someone people wanted to stay far away from. Besides, if Stephen Strange became Sorcerer Supreme and pulled some Clever Maneuver with the Time Stone, noticing something in the process, then the relationship Luke had painstakingly built before Strange hit rock bottom would become a liability instead.

After all, every capable and talented person in that organization was, without exception, pathologically suspicious.

Luke Field was also very interested in the Infinity Stones. Without a doubt, the organization with the greatest chance of coming into contact with them was this one—or rather, the people within it. Of course, if one wanted to say Hydra could also work, then it was not impossible to arrange that if necessary.

"You want them?" Ina Sandra was puzzled. This was the first time she had heard Luke Field take an interest in a stock.

"Depends on the situation. Go long," Luke Field said.

Ina Sandra shrugged. She had been watching Stark Industries stock. Although it had been falling continuously these past few days—one could even call it a crash—her sharp business instincts had detected a hidden pool of capital buying up large quantities of Stark Industries stock that had been dumped because of the panic.

"Leave these matters to the professionals. We have more important things to do now." Luke Field strode forward with vigor, while Ina Sandra's long legs in high heels clicked rapidly as she hurried after him.

"You have another new idea?" Ina Sandra caught up with him, perfectly in sync.

"Have the Industrial Park make preparations. I'll be staying there for the next few days." Under Ina Sandra's gaze, Luke Field circled two fingers beside his head. "A big deal."

"How big?" Ina Sandra asked with interest.

"Big enough to catch up with Stark Industries' military contracts," Luke Field said. He planned to first test the waters with Pacific Rim's black-tech helicopter. Once he put that thing out there, he did not believe the military could refuse it.

As for whether Stark lived or died?

What did that have to do with Luke? Business came first now!

PS: Please keep reading. Tuesday's read-through results will determine next week's recommendations. Please help out and read through to the last page.