The Young Iron Man's Screwup

"On the day of the incident, this man's family happened to witness gang members engaging in illegal activity. Aside from the girl, his wife and son tragically died."

Heli stood at the podium, recounting what had happened to Frank and displaying his daughter's critical condition notice.

As Heli spoke, sighs filled the room.

A Vietnam War veteran, a highly decorated family—shattered just like that by the actions of a gang.

Seeing that the mood was right, Heli continued:

"...Therefore, the Osborn Group has decided to help this father and his daughter."

An image of an Artificial Liver appeared on the screen.

"...There was no suitable liver available for transplantation, so Harry Osborn and his father, Norman Osborn, decided to make one."

"That's insane!" a reporter cried out. "Make a liver?"

Heli nodded.

"Yes, and they succeeded. That is what we are introducing to everyone today: Osborn Artificial Prosthetic Technology."

After numerous experiments, Conners finally settled on the first version of the Mechanical Prosthetic. This prosthetic used a polymer to simulate several of the human body's major nerves, restoring more than 70% of tactile sensation.

Of course, the Mechanical Prosthetics sold on the market were not the same as the one Conners had installed on himself. After all, commercial products had to take cost-effectiveness into account. They could certainly release prosthetics that restored 99% of nerve function, but if no one bought them and the production cycle was long, what would be the point?

Besides, if someone truly had that need, Osborn would not mind privately customizing a prosthetic for them.

But what truly set off the crowd and dominated the headlines was the Artificial Liver. Its performance was simply too impressive. Prosthetics and artificial organs were entirely different concepts—one could survive without an arm or a leg, but losing an organ was a serious matter.

The press conference went very smoothly. Heli's business abilities really were formidable; Harry never had to worry about management.

"And that concludes today's press conference. In addition, the power station using Nuclear Fusion Technology will be completed next week. Thank you all for attending."

Just when everyone thought the press conference was about to end, Heli dropped another bombshell.

The Nuclear Fusion Power Station—this was the real main event!

"So we're just going to keep them hanging? Why not hold a separate press conference afterward?" Harry walked over to Heli and kneaded her shoulders with both hands.

"If we have the ability to keep making huge news, why hide it? Not bad at massages. Did you secretly learn?"

"Yeah. Seeing how hard you work, I had to learn a few special skills, right? Want to go out for dinner tonight?"

After being busy for so long, Harry had finally gotten some free time. At the moment, the only thing left on his plate was the New York power grid.

He had been coveting the system reward for a long time.

"We could find somewhere to take a vacation. There probably won't be anything that needs special attention this week anyway." Harry shrugged. He really wanted to relax properly.

But Heli rolled her eyes at him.

"Please, Mr. Osborn. Just because you have no work doesn't mean I don't. Do you remember there's a congressional election this year? And there are quarterly audits, accounting reports..."

Listening to all that made Harry's head ache.

Indeed, both the Osborn Group and the Osborn family were at a critical juncture. How could there be any free time?

Fortunately, Heli could help him deal with those problems.

"Fine, then I guess I can only keep squatting in my lab. Boring." Harry spread his hands.

"However... it's rare for you to be this proactive. I do have time tonight." Heli licked her lips and pressed a finger against Harry's lips.

That was not bad either.

While Harry was busy with his life, Mr. Stark was not having a very good time on the other side of the world.

With Exoskeletons and Power Armor, the U.S. Military had almost absolute dominance in urban combat.

The people who had kidnapped Tony had no choice but to relocate several times, which gave Tony much more time to assemble his tin can.

"We're getting out with this thing." Tony patted the metal shell.

"But... it doesn't look very reliable." Yinsen commented from the side. "I heard they've recently been beaten senseless by some new equipment called Power Armor."

"Mine is better." Tony remained as arrogant as ever—though if he had seen the real thing, he would not have believed that the contraption he had put together could surpass the Osborn Group's Power Armor.

The current version of the Power Armor could withstand a direct hit from a tank's main gun.

And in urban combat, the only anti-armor weapons the armed militants could use were anti-tank rocket launchers.

But Power Armor was far more maneuverable in an urban environment. Working alongside infantry, they had almost no chance of winning.

Tony did not know that the U.S. Military had beaten these people into a miserable rout with Power Armor. Naturally, they would not simply sit around and wait to die.

From history, they had learned how to make an anti-armor weapon—the Lunge Mine.

It was a simple weapon made by tying explosives to a pole. The user had to hold the pole and slam it into the target.

After field testing, it was currently the most effective weapon against Power Armor, especially when they drove the pole into the joints of the armor.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The door shook with urgent knocks. They had noticed something was wrong!

"Help me, Yinsen. I need to put this thing on!"

The two immediately sprang into action, but the noise outside grew louder and louder. Yinsen heard what sounded like explosives being brought in...

Boom!

Elsewhere, in a U.S. Military operations room.

"Sir, according to Satellite imagery, there's been an explosion at this location."

The commander glanced at the map. It was enemy-held territory, and information was scarce, but the coordinates matched a suspected enemy camp they had previously identified.

"Deploy the nearest Armored Company. Find out what happened."

"Roger. We're en route. Encountered resistance, but no heavy weapons."

"Threat eliminated."

"...Wait, sir. They seem to be chasing someone... It looks like a beat-up Power Armor..."

The moment he heard the words "Power Armor," the commander immediately decided on a raid—higher-ups had issued strict recovery orders for that kind of equipment!

"Raid them directly! Recover the Power Armor!"

Tony had never found the Osborn Group logo so pleasing to the eye.

Of course, he knew what Lunge Mines were—antiquated anti-armor weapons that had supposedly been abandoned decades ago!

If not for those things, he would have torn through the camp with ease. Escaping it should have been child's play!

Just as he was about to break out of the camp, a little guy suddenly leaped out of the shadows. The club in his hand nearly made Tony think he had wandered onto the wrong set, and he almost laughed out loud.

But when the little guy shouted something and charged at him, then the Lunge Mine exploded against him, he could no longer laugh.

The Lunge Mine had crippled his armor on the spot!

Just as despair set in and he was about to be torn apart by those armed men, chaos broke out at the scene once more. A Power Armor bearing the Osborn Group logo entered his field of vision.

It was the most beautiful thing he had seen in months. Even that beauty reporter couldn't compare.