Tony Stark

"Here, your hamburger."

The car came to a stop. Tony stepped out, his face still bearing a few scrapes, while his bodyguard, Happy, handed him the hamburger he had asked for earlier.

"Tony! My dear nephew, you're finally back!"

Obadiah smiled as he came forward and warmly gave Tony a big hug.

"Let's go to the hospital first."

Seeing that Tony still seemed to have quite a few injuries, Obadiah said "concernedly."

"No need. I'm fine."

Tony smiled and looked around. Seeing that the reporters had arrived as well, he ignored Obadiah and headed straight for the reception hall. Before returning, he had already notified the media that he would be holding an emergency press conference.

At that moment, no one realized that Tony was about to announce the shutdown of the weapons division—the largest military-industrial division in America!

Naturally, Chen Mu would not miss such a classic scene. Intrigued, he followed along.

"I've completely woken up. I realized that I could contribute more to this world than merely creating weapons that explode. Therefore, I've decided to shut down Stark Enterprises' weapons manufacturing division. This decision takes effect immediately!"

Tony casually announced his decision. The moment those words came out, everyone erupted in an uproar, finding it impossible to believe.

"Until I decide on a new direction for the company's development!"

Even though Obadiah stepped forward to stop Tony from continuing, it was already too late. Tony had said it, and every reporter present had heard him. There was clearly no taking it back.

"I think today's newspapers are definitely going to sell like crazy!"

Obadiah forced a smile, trying to salvage the situation from the podium, but it was useless. Tony continued his speech.

"I will seek out a direction that I believe is appropriate and aligned with the nation's highest interests!"

After saying that, Tony turned and left, no longer concerning himself with anything else.

This was what Obadiah found utterly intolerable. Tony was simply far too self-centered. Every decision he made—even when he was clearly out of his mind—was announced without discussing it with anyone. How could Obadiah possibly tolerate that?

Stark Industries had reached its current scale in no small part because of Obadiah's efforts. Yet Tony's actions now were practically casting him aside. Naturally, Obadiah could not swallow that insult.

"Uh, I think the news we should focus on is that Tony has returned, and he's healthier. We'll discuss this matter further..."

Tony had simply walked away, leaving the mess for Obadiah. Wearing a strained smile, he began dealing with the reporters' countless questions, his head already starting to ache.

Clearly, the anger in his heart was on the verge of exploding!

As for all of this, Chen Mu merely watched as an observer, finding it quite interesting.

His thinking was completely different from Tony's. One could even say they were diametrically opposed.

Tony believed that the weapons he produced had failed to protect his country and its people. Instead, they had caused those people to die beneath the weapons that were supposed to protect them.

Overwhelming guilt and self-reproach had led him to decide to shut down the weapons division.

Chen Mu, however, believed the exact opposite. He believed that only stronger weapons could protect one's country, and only a powerful nation could withstand all kinds of unknown dangers!

That was why Chen Mu had come to America, to Hammer Industries and Stark Industries. His purpose was nothing more than to use Huaqiangbei's abilities to acquire the weapons and equipment technology of these world-leading arms dealers.

Put simply, it was "corporate espionage." The only difference was that no one could possibly imagine how he carried out his espionage.

Perhaps no one would believe it even if he told them. Merely getting close and taking a look allowed him to obtain a considerable portion of the technology, while a simple touch granted him all of it!

Such an ability was simply unbelievable. Yet it was now real, and Chen Mu had secretly obtained nearly all the advanced technology of these two major companies!

After Tony left, Obadiah began answering the reporters' various questions, trying to salvage the situation. However, none of the reporters present believed him. Before long, the explosive news that Tony intended to shut down the weapons division would likely spread across all of America, and even the entire world!

"That brat!"

After seeing all the reporters off, Obadiah smiled, though the anger in his eyes was plain to see.

"Where did he go?"

Obadiah directly asked the subordinate beside him. He wanted to confront Tony face-to-face and ask what the hell he was thinking. The weapons production division was Stark's largest source of revenue, yet that guy had declared it closed just like that. He simply had no regard for the people on the board of directors. It was infuriating!

So, Obadiah wanted to see just what had gotten into him!

"He went to the Arc Reactor."

The subordinate answered honestly.

"Let's go, Mr. Chen Mu."

Obadiah glanced at Chen Mu as he spoke. In his foul mood, he was no longer as polite as before.

Chen Mu said nothing. Obadiah was in the middle of a rage, and he was not foolish enough to provoke him, so he obediently followed.

Meeting Tony in person was something Chen Mu had wanted to do for a long time.

Following the furious Obadiah, the two quickly arrived at the Arc Reactor. Though they had left not long ago, they had returned once again.

When they entered the reactor laboratory, they saw Tony standing blankly beneath the reactor, staring at the enormous creation before him.

"Look at what you've done!"

Obadiah said irritably.

"I suppose I've become a target for everyone now, haven't I?"

Tony spoke calmly, as though all of this had been within his expectations.

"You've become a target, but what about me?" Obadiah walked up to Tony in annoyance, sighed, and said, "I can already imagine Stark's stock price plummeting before long."

"Oh, right. And who is this gentleman?"

Tony finally noticed Chen Mu standing behind Obadiah and looked curious.

"Oh, this is Mr. Chen Mu. We reached some common ground earlier regarding the smartphone industry, and we were preparing to discuss it in detail."

Obadiah had little interest in introducing Chen Mu, and answered flatly.

"Smartphones? Yes, that's a pretty good new goal. Perhaps Stark could try making phones."

Tony shrugged. At that moment, he too saw the potential of smartphones.

"Just the thing for Stark's new line of business."

At the very least, it was better than making baby bottles, wasn't it?