Stark Industries Press Conference.
Tony Stark, having survived the disaster, stood at the podium and surveyed every reporter present. That kind of look would never have appeared on playboy Tony Stark.
"My father built Stark Industries with his own hands, helped us win World War II, and then brought us limitless clean energy, hoping to make this world a better place."
"But he left too soon. I never asked what he thought of this company, of the future—whether he ever felt conflicted, whether he ever doubted himself—perhaps he was not the man we saw in those old films."
The reporters were utterly silent. Pepper also looked at the man—she felt that Tony had changed, had grown up, like a prodigal who had avoided responsibility for far too long before finally returning to shoulder his own.
Only... there was something suffocating about his gaze.
"I saw people being killed with my own eyes—I was too late to protect them. No one was able to protect them in time. They died because of our inaction."
Tony's eyes swept over everyone as if he were trying to pick terrorists out of the crowd.
"I gradually realized that I had become part of this utterly irresponsible system."
Everyone present felt an invisible pressure weighing down on them. They had come to ask questions, yet no one dared to be the first to speak.
In the end, a young man asked the question.
"Sorry... Mr. Stark, what exactly happened there?"
Tony looked at the young man and said, "It was like waking from a dream—I began to realize that I could contribute more to this society, to this world, rather than watching crime and violence unfold before my eyes without being able to stop them."
"So I intend to completely reorganize Stark Industries' weapons manufacturing