Stark Returns

"Stark was back."

When Ina Sandra said this, her face was full of disbelief.

Someone who had been missing for over two months, nearly three, had suddenly returned. Ina had originally assumed he had died young.

"Is that so?" Luke was still modifying his Prototype Armor while pondering the conditions required to unlock the Fourth Talent. That question had plagued Luke for a long time, and he had burned through quite a few brain cells over the past two months. As for Tony Stark? If not for Ina Sandra's reminder, he would have nearly forgotten about the guy.

"The news just came in. He and Colonel James Rhodes will be back soon." Ina sighed. "It seems he really is important. An Air Force colonel actually led people in searching for him for more than two whole months."

"Some people in the military wouldn't want to see him fall. Without Stark, where would they get new weapons? Hammer Military Industries?" Luke was noncommittal. Considering Howard's accumulated connections, Tony's own talent, and James Rhodes, his friend, arguing forcefully on his behalf, it was not hard to imagine why he was valued so highly.

"A bunch of reporters are waiting for him at the airport right now. Do you want to watch the live news?" Remembering that Luke Field liked watching live news about Stark, Ina asked with a smile.

"Sure." Although he knew roughly what might happen, watching would not hurt anything, so Luke nodded under Ina's gaze.

"White Queen, project the feed from the reporters covering Stark." Ina Sandra called out, then casually found a place and started working there. With White Queen around, she could work anywhere with assistance. So she did not mind taking some time out of her busy schedule to watch Tony Stark, who had narrowly escaped death, together with Luke.

After all, she and Luke had once nearly ended up in Stark's position. To some extent, they could empathize.

The footage continued for an hour before the private jet sent to pick up Stark finally landed.

When Tony Stark appeared with his arm wrapped in bandages, his hair disheveled, and blood scabs still on his face, the reporters who had waited so long throughout the airport erupted into chaos, putting on the usual spectacle of scrambling to interview Tony Stark in public.

"Looks like he suffered quite a bit. Pretty miserable, isn't he?" Ina Sandra, handling company affairs, watched the projected image. Looking at the bedraggled man on-screen, it was hard to connect him with the spirited man he had once been—the man who always carried himself as though no one else mattered when facing reporters. The man on the screen now gave off an air of quiet calm and silence.

"Or maybe he's been reborn." Luke's words carried another meaning.

However, after leading the reporters all the way to the hotel where the press conference was being held, the man sat right down on the ground, perched on the Steps, and calmly ate a burger in full view of hundreds of eyes. Then he suddenly announced something so shocking that everyone was left speechless.

"Stark Industries will shut down its Weapons Division and will no longer sell any high-powered destructive weapons."

The first to react was Obadiah Stane, his face kindly as ever. Almost instinctively, he stepped in front of Tony, reached out to pull him up and shove him toward the back so someone could take him away, while loudly explaining things to the reporters who had recovered from their shock and gone mad, trying to salvage the terrible impact of Tony's words.

Stark Industries was not solely in the arms business; it had many other lines of business as well. But without question, arms manufacturing was its most profitable and most comfortable business. In fact, under his influence over the years, whenever people mentioned Stark Industries, the first thing that came to mind was arms dealer! Military-industrial corporation!

It was easy to imagine that once Stark Industries shut down its Weapons Division, the public's impression of Stark Industries would collapse along with it. The impact on Stark Industries would be utterly disastrous!

Obadiah Stane did indeed want to drive down Stark Industries' stock price and take the opportunity to acquire more shares so that he could truly take control of Stark Industries in the future. But he had never intended to actually ruin Stark Industries and leave it unable to recover! So after finally sending away those reporters, who had gone completely mad after smelling blood, Obadiah Stane unusually lost his temper with Tony and told Pepper Potts to keep Tony under control for the time being and not let him show his face.

Of course, the moment Tony revealed the Arc Reactor in his chest, Stane's anger vanished completely and turned into wild delight.

Hebron Industrial Technology.

Ina stared wide-eyed as the farce came to an end, then abruptly stood up. Under Luke's astonished gaze, she unexpectedly cursed and cried out in anguish, "My stocks!"

The news Tony Stark had announced would obviously trigger a stock market collapse for Stark Industries. Those with small holdings could dump their shares on the spot; as long as they were quick, they would not lose much. But how was someone with holdings of her size supposed to run? How could she possibly get out in such a short time? The financial market could change in an instant, and Ina had already envisioned the damned days ahead, with Hebron becoming a Stark shareholder and holding a seat on the Board of Directors.

"That's good." Luke said.

"That's good?" Feeling defeated, Ina turned a dangerous gaze on Luke. Unable to accept failure, she repeated his words strangely, but her tone made it a question.

"Tony Stark isn't an idiot. He may dislike managing affairs as much as I do, but that doesn't mean he knows nothing about business. I believe he is determined to shut down the Weapons Division, but I also believe he must have a trump card capable of bringing Stark Industries back from the brink, perhaps even taking it further. He is the irreplaceable treasure of Stark Industries, not that so-called Weapons Division." Luke reminded her, "Don't forget, his brain is not only useful for researching and manufacturing weapons."

"You're right. Then this may still be an opportunity." Ina calmed down. Then, suddenly, she gave Luke a serious look. "In that case, becoming a major Stark shareholder and joining the Board of Directors wouldn't be so bad."

Malibu Villa.

Tony Stark was selecting materials for his new Iron Armor. With Stark Industries' capabilities, his Database contained information on the vast majority of materials in the world. Most manufacturers of those materials would not refuse an order from Stark Industries, either. All he needed to do was choose, place the order, and receive the delivery.

So when he selected a metal material that satisfied him, he asked his intelligent Butler, "Whose product is this Titanium Alloy material?"

"Hebron Industrial Technology." The intelligent Butler J.A.R.V.I.S. immediately gave him the answer.

"Wow, looks like the kid's doing well. Even a little better than I imagined." Tony thought of Luke, then added, "Place an order for me. I need this new Titanium Alloy material."

"How much would you like, sir?" J.A.R.V.I.S. asked.

"Let's start with a ton." Tony Stark said casually.

"Very well. Hebron Industrial Technology's new Titanium Alloy TI-0450-ZT is priced at 125 USD per gram." J.A.R.V.I.S. replied just as casually. "The order has been completed."

Hearing that unit price, even Tony, with his considerable wealth, could not help quietly cursing in his heart.

"Little vampire!"

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