Sherlock slowly walked toward Coulson with a group of police officers. George and his people had already been standing nearby, and after shifting slightly, they seemed to faintly form a circle around Coulson and the others.
Although Coulson and the others weren't afraid, they were still wary. After all, S.H.I.E.L.D. was a covert organization of agents. If they truly clashed with an overt police department like this, they would always be the ones to suffer.
Coulson remembered that Chen Changsheng wasn't a suspect in this incident and had no conflict with him, so he decided not to touch Chen Changsheng for the time being.
Besides, Fury's task for him was merely to do his best to protect Tony Stark. Since Tony Stark didn't care whether Chen Changsheng stayed or left, Coulson naturally cared even less.
As for his earlier thought of venting his anger on the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Coulson had already tossed it into the farthest corner of his mind. After all, Nick Fury was Coulson's direct superior. The director could take a back seat.
Coulson chuckled and was about to exchange a few pleasantries with the chief of the NYPD and muddle things over. However, the chief gave him no face at all. Right in front of Coulson, he contacted the head of the CIA's New York branch and confirmed Coulson's identity and those of the others before lifting the restrictions on them.
Coulson's CIA agent identification was, of course, genuine. That was the prerequisite allowing covert agents like them to act without restraint.
After confirming Coulson's identity, Sherlock felt rather disappointed, as though a major case had slipped through his fingers.
Still, it wasn't a total loss. There was also a terrorist attack at the scene, and the criminal had already been captured and killed. That was all credit for the NYPD.
Thinking about how he could lavishly publicize the NYPD's achievements and his own capable leadership at the press conference the next day, Sherlock even felt that becoming a senator someday might not be entirely impossible.
By rights, someone like Chen Changsheng, who had witnessed the entire incident, should have been taken to the NYPD for questioning. But Tony Stark, the victim, had already identified the suspect, and there was ample evidence.
Moreover, Chen Changsheng was one of the most prominent entrepreneurs in New York City. Therefore, Sherlock immediately stated that Chen Changsheng could leave at any time, and there was no need to disturb his life over such unnecessary formalities.
Chen Changsheng quietly reminded Tony not to reveal to anyone that he had been involved, then prepared to leave.
At that moment, Chen Changsheng only wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible, find a bank he knew, borrow more money, use some leverage, and short Stark Industries stock.
A fortune overnight was right before his eyes. He had to hurry and get on board.
Watching Chen Changsheng's retreating figure, Tony also fell into thought. In Tony Stark's eyes, America was a free country, and rich people were even freer. Before capital, the law treated everyone equally.
A wealthy man like Chen Changsheng shouldn't have much to worry about in America. The only things he could be concerned about were the color of his skin and his Asian identity.
As a member of the upper class, Tony Stark naturally knew a little about such matters. He had no other thoughts on it—this was, after all, America's national policy. Even though Chen Changsheng was his good friend, Tony could only help him within his capabilities. Once those limits were exceeded, even he would be powerless.
Tony felt that he had guessed Chen Changsheng's concerns. But at that moment, he had no more energy to care about Chen Changsheng's departure. After all, Chen Changsheng had saved his life again. Tony felt he was getting used to owing him favors. He could repay him when he had the chance.
Looking at the Stark Industries compound, which now had the battle-scarred appearance of Syria, Tony was truly on the verge of tears. The bare surroundings really did resemble the ruins and shattered walls he had seen in Afghanistan...
Tony Stark knew perfectly well that Chen Changsheng was deeply connected to all this. After all, once he had passed out, only Chen Changsheng and Obadiah had remained. If Obadiah had done it, he certainly wouldn't have been blown to death. And Chen Changsheng would never have claimed that he was the one who dealt with Obadiah.
Chen Changsheng and his father-in-law, George, left the scene in a police car. Watching Chen Changsheng being surrounded by people, Coulson couldn't say what he felt.
His dramatic entrance had ended so hastily. It had truly tarnished S.H.I.E.L.D.'s reputation. Fortunately, he had pretended to be from the CIA this time. Thinking of it that way, it didn't feel quite so embarrassing.
Coulson asked Tony Stark again what exactly had happened. The entire Stark Industries compound had been wrecked, and without something useful, it would be difficult for him to report back.
Under Coulson's persistent questioning, Tony could only honestly repeat what he knew. First, he said that Little Pepper, Pepper, had found evidence of Obadiah colluding with Middle Eastern terrorists. Then he said that Obadiah had tried to kill him, and that during their struggle, he had knocked Obadiah into the Arc Reactor, causing an explosion that killed him.
Coulson shrugged without offering any comment, but his amused expression made it clear that he didn't believe it. After all, Chen Changsheng had just given the exact same explanation.
However, since he had already received the evidence Little Pepper had provided concerning Obadiah's collusion with terrorists, Coulson didn't want to pursue the matter. After all, dealing with these wealthy people was a great nuisance for S.H.I.E.L.D.
An intelligence agency was supposed to remain hidden and avoid excessive contact with the outside world. His intervention to clean up Tony's mess this time had already violated numerous regulations. Fortunately, someone higher up had his back.
With the assistance of the agents Coulson had brought, Tony quickly packed up his ruined Iron Man Armor, loaded it onto a vehicle, and took it back to his private mansion, erasing all traces.
But looking at the Iron Man Armor that had become scrap metal, Tony's conscience hurt even more. This was the armor that had saved his life. And now it was ruined again?
Thinking about it, in the short time since the terrorists had kidnapped him, Tony had already spent hundreds of millions of US Dollars developing two suits of armor. Yet the outcome for each one seemed terrible. Ruined, ruined, and more ruined.
He no longer had the energy to worry about the Iron Man Armor. He was about to go bankrupt. If today's incident at the Stark Industries compound wasn't handled properly, it would all be over. Forget building another suit of Iron Man Armor—he might have trouble affording food.
Early the next morning, social media was flooded with images of the Stark Industries compound's disastrous condition. At the same time, footage of the battle between two Iron Men spread everywhere. Clearly, the previous night's fight had attracted everyone's attention.
Watching his company's stock plunge off a cliff, Tony wanted to buy back some Stark Industries shares. But when he actually tried to do so, he discovered that someone had beaten him to it and bought up all the publicly traded shares.
Confused, Tony had Pepper investigate, only to discover that Chen Changsheng was behind it. This left Tony thoroughly depressed.
Chen Changsheng had now become Stark Industries' second-largest shareholder after Tony himself. Fortunately, Obadiah had died, allowing Tony to reclaim Obadiah's shares. Otherwise, Stark Industries would soon have belonged to the Chen family.
Since the measures he had wanted to take had failed, Tony didn't dare let Stark Industries' stock price continue falling. Some things, when acted out long enough, could become real. It was better to step in and stabilize the stock price as soon as possible.
And the best way to stabilize Stark Industries' stock price was for Tony Stark himself to appear and let the public see the industry's bright future.
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