Another Road

"How would you know if you haven't tried?" Tony Stark retorted stubbornly.

Henry asked in surprise, "Does this kind of thing really need to be tried? Calm down and think about it carefully. Can you really get the information you want from that couple?"

"Even if they weren't the executors or participants, they must have known. Even if it was just some loose gossip circulating in their small circle, like old thieves chatting idly. But I know nothing. You understand? I know nothing!"

Tony Stark became increasingly agitated the more he was urged to calm down. Fortunately, he was separated from Henry by a conference table, which prevented him from grabbing the man's collar and spitting in his face.

However, even Henry was overwhelmed by the young master's manic aura. It seems he's not as indifferent to his father as he appears; it's becoming a source of inner turmoil.

Perhaps it's because of their mother who died together? Recalling Tony's behavior at his parents' funeral, even though they were supposed to each offer a flower, he placed both flowers on his mother's coffin, leaving his father without a single one.

But the deeper the hatred, the deeper the love. What If...? one truly didn't care, how could such hatred accumulate?

Henry, raising his hands in surrender, said, "My mistake. I should have spared their lives so you could have a chance to question them."

Instead of a direct confrontation, Tony Stark's retreat calmed him down. He said, "No, you did the right thing. Even if he lives, I won't be able to get the answers I want to know unless I resort to illegal means."

Henry said, "Using illegal means against someone of that status and position only has two outcomes: either he gets silenced, or you get silenced. There's no third possibility. That kind of behavior is no different from declaring war."

"I know." Tony Stark, looking exhausted, lowered his head, one hand supporting his forehead. "Our only chance is to get them to let something slip. What you heard might be our limit."

"Looks like you've dealt with those old guys a lot, and you're quite familiar with their cunning and treacherous nature."

Raising his head and resting his chin on his hand, Tony Stark pondered, "Those who aren't steady enough won't live that long, and won't climb to the highest position in the family."

"So if they were actually involved, the only people they would talk to would be the Deadman. They would boast about it before the person died, and get some amazed looks in return."

"If he says something like that while trying to intimidate and win you over, it proves that he only heard some rumors and wants to use this example to threaten you. He wasn't actually involved."

"Even if things come to light, he won't be implicated. The question is, how much do they know about this? You were the last person to see them; do you have any thoughts on that?"

Henry said, "Actually, you've reasoned quite clearly. But my opinion is, is it possible that your parents' accident was an act tacitly approved by a certain group of people?"

"They weren't the murderers, but they didn't stop it from happening either. So, the only person who knows isn't just that old man, James Arden, who voluntarily became Vampires."

"And that situation has extended to you as well. They are not executors; they just rush in to grab the opportunity when they see it, following behind others. Just like what you did today."

Tony Stark tapped his fingers lightly on the table and asked, "Who do you think the Executor might be?"

Pointing to the sky, Henry said, "One percent of United States?"

That was a quote from Tony Stark. So, he angrily retorted, "You're talking nonsense!"

Henry said helplessly, "You don't look calm at all right now. If I just randomly pick a name, you'll go around testing the other person like crazy. Do I need to tell you what the result will be?"

"I'm very calm!"

"Have you ever heard of a lunatic saying they're crazy? Everyone says they're not crazy!"

"Yes, I've seen mentally ill people clearly state that they are insane."

"So you see, this kind of person must have very severe symptoms."

"You!" Tony Stark suddenly felt that he should research special armor-piercing rounds that could overcome the invulnerability of blades and bullets.

A series of designs for depleted uranium munitions and fragmentation bombs flashed through Tony Stark's mind. He even conceived of a handheld tactical nuclear launcher; note: capable of rapid-fire. The idea was that if the damage wasn't enough, the yield would make up for it. This is the American mindset, true to the Stars and Stripes.

Unaware that he was being imagined as a target for a massive nuclear attack, Henry said, "Actually, I think you should focus on investigating your parents' car accident, What If...? you think there's something wrong with it."

"Don't overthink the rumors circulating in that circle. They might just be casual conversation over tea or boasting in a bar, saying things that seem plausible but are not."

"It's like hearing someone mention the atomic bomb and immediately suspecting they can build it, then going to great lengths to investigate them. In the end, all you find out is that it's just empty talk after a few beers."

"What If...? is the kind of person who likes to talk about international affairs, they'll always be talking about Iraq and Iran; where the aircraft carrier fleet should be positioned and how it should operate. But no matter how much these people talk, they're still just outsiders."

Tony Stark said with dissatisfaction, "Then what do you want me to do? Hire a detective? Those guys are only good at catching adulterers. If I asked them to investigate that car accident, I'm afraid they'd be at the bottom of the Hudson River the next day."

Tony Stark's statement already implied that there was something fishy about the car accident. Henry followed up, saying, "You mentioned that someone filed an investigation report on your parents' car accident; I'm guessing it's from the organization your father was involved with."

Tony nodded.

"A secret intelligence unit?"

"That's right." Tony Stark astutely spotted an opening and asked, "You think the problem lies within that organization?"

Henry quickly shook his head and said, "I don't know anything about that. I just think that What If...? someone can't find the problem, it might be because they are limited by their existing ways of thinking and channels."

"We can try finding another person to investigate from a different perspective; perhaps we'll get unexpected results. At least they won't have any preconceived notions."

"FBI? CIA? Why do I feel this is not a good idea?" Tony Stark said disdainfully.

Recalling Cruella de Vil Devy, the main villain from One Hundred and One Dalmatians, and the conditions under which she appeared in this world, Henry pondered the possibility of a certain man's existence. But even without that man, it didn't seem to make much difference.

After thinking it through, Henry coaxed, "Your relationship with the military is good enough, isn't it?"

"Not bad." Although he said "not bad," Henry knew just how good "not bad" really meant, given Tony Stark's smug expression.

Henry continued, "I've heard that the Army Police have established a special investigation unit, staffed with highly skilled investigators. Do you have a way of contacting any general and borrowing these people to do some private work?"

"You mean your father's accident was also a serious loss for the military. Perhaps this private job isn't as simple as you and I imagine. They're waiting for you to speak up before they have a reason to get involved."

The tapping of his fingers on the table, which had been rhythmic, suddenly became heavy, and he stopped abruptly. Tony Stark jumped up and stormed out.

Henry had to stop the guy and pick up the jammer on the table. "Boss, you forgot your 'pen'."

"Keep this and use it to charge my phone. I'll come back for it next time." The voice had already faded into the distance.