The next morning, Tony Stark came to New York from California. The moment he entered Stark Tower, he saw several men in black suits.
"Happy, did Security hire some new people?" Tony deliberately looked at his bodyguard, Happy, and loudly whispered, "Are these your men?"
"Mr. Stark, I'm Phil Coulson." Coulson stepped forward and offered his hand. "A Level Seven agent from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division."
"An agent of what?" Tony cupped a hand to his ear, signaling that he had not heard clearly.
"The Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division." Coulson repeated himself, then deliberately added, "An organization founded by your father, Howard Stark."
Sure enough, Tony Stark's expression changed.
Nick Fury had not planned to tell Tony about this so soon, but he had not expected Tony to publicly reveal his identity last night and step into the other side of this world ahead of schedule.
"You'd better not be joking with me." Tony stared fixedly at Coulson.
Coulson waved a hand. An agent behind him carried a metal case forward and set it at Tony's feet.
"Here are some things your father left behind. You can take a look first." As he spoke, Coulson handed Tony a business card. "If you want to know more, you can contact me anytime."
Coulson had originally planned to talk to Tony further about his experience in Afghanistan, but after sensing Tony's resistance, he quickly ended the conversation and left on his own initiative.
Looking at the metal case by his feet, Tony Stark's expression was complicated. There was a trace of curiosity, a trace of resentment, and the urge to show off to his parents after receiving a little red flower.
Pepper could not stand watching any longer and spoke up. "Happy, take the case upstairs for the boss."
Happy glanced at his boss. Seeing no reaction, he bent down and picked up the case.
At that moment, an Asian young man entered Stark Tower and happened to brush past Coulson.
The Asian face made Coulson turn for another look. As a consummate Level Seven agent, he naturally memorized that face.
Lin Hao walked straight into the building without shifting his gaze, heading toward Tony Stark.
The security personnel in the lobby noticed him and hurriedly placed their hands at their waists, pointing at Lin Hao as they shouted, "Don't move! Do not come any closer!"
Lin Hao stopped. Unconcerned with the guards, he continued looking at Tony Stark.
Pepper found him somewhat familiar. She hurriedly pulled out a tablet to compare his face, then waved the guards away. "No need to worry. This gentleman is a new member of the board."
Only then did Tony turn around and see an unfamiliar Asian face.
"Tony, his name is Kurosaki Ichigo. He bought more than thirty-five percent of Stark Industries' stock and is the new major shareholder." Pepper introduced him softly. "Today's board meeting was proposed by him."
Tony Stark did not know nothing about business; he was simply too lazy to handle trivial affairs. A major shareholder had suddenly appeared, holding more than a third of the shares and proposing a board meeting the moment he arrived. Clearly, he had come with ill intent.
However, Tony was proud by nature and disdained making false pleasantries. He merely gave him a glance before turning toward the elevator.
Pepper, however, stepped forward to greet him. In less-than-fluent Japanese, she asked, "Mr. Kurosaki, hello. Do you need us to arrange an interpreter for you?"
Lin Hao shook his head and replied in an authentic American accent, "Thank you, but I can understand you."
Pepper smiled awkwardly. Her conversation with Tony just now had apparently been a little too loud.
The group entered the elevator one after another and arrived at the conference room on one of the upper floors.
The enormous conference room contained only Tony and Lin Hao. Although nearly three percent of the shares were held by retail investors, they were not qualified to enter the board or enjoy voting rights.
Tony Stark had already considered the matter in the elevator. He currently held only forty-two percent of the shares, while this Japanese man held thirty-five percent. The gap between them was not large, and the remaining twenty percent belonged to the late Obadiah.
America was a kingdom of capital. No matter what underhanded tricks capitalists used in private, they had to abide by the rules of the game everyone had made on the surface.
Stark Industries had been founded jointly by Obadiah and Howard, so it was perfectly normal for Obadiah to own shares. But Tony was not Obadiah's heir. Even if Obadiah had tried to murder him, Obadiah's assets would not automatically transfer into Tony's name.
However, Tony could petition the board to strip Obadiah's heirs of their voting rights, or even ask the court to remove them as shareholders on the grounds that Obadiah had attempted to murder a fellow shareholder, then acquire those shares.
After he announced the dissolution of the weapons manufacturing division, the stock price had plummeted. Tony could originally have raised funds and easily swallowed all of Obadiah's shares.
But now there was an additional Japanese man, and he held the same right of first refusal.
If they could not reach an agreement, they could only bid against each other for the shares, or acquire the remaining twenty percent according to their existing ownership ratios.
Although Tony had a high chance of retaining a majority stake, if this damned Japanese man maliciously drove up the price, he would have to spend more money to buy in.
"Do you know where the weapons originally manufactured by Stark Industries were used?"
Tony's mouth was just as formidable as his brain. Pepper could attest to that.
"They were used at Midway, Guam, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and even Tokyo!"
Lin Hao remained expressionless. What did that have to do with him?
If he went back in time, he would definitely install Dyna Stone across the entire Japanese Archipelago and let the weapons imagined by the Japanese personally witness Japan sinking.
Tony had tried to provoke him, but the man's composure was excellent. He showed no reaction at all.
That punch had landed on cotton.
"As the company's new shareholder, I would like to conduct an audit of the company's assets to ensure my own interests." Lin Hao smiled. "Mr. Stark, you shouldn't object, should you?"
"Fine. It's your right."
Tony did not hide his displeasure, and his words carried a barb. "If you want to inspect the accounts, I can have the accountants bring them over. But anything involving American state secrets is excluded."
"I'm not interested in the old accounts. Mr. Stark presumably will not continue overseeing the weapons manufacturing division. Without you, a genius, Stark Industries has no competitiveness in the arms industry. The old accounts are meaningless." Lin Hao smiled and shook his head.
Seeing how candid he was, Tony could not help wondering, If this guy knows Stark Industries has such a bleak future, why did he buy up so many shares?
As if he had seen through Tony's thoughts, Lin Hao spoke frankly again. "I have my eye on the Arc Reactor."
His gaze swept across Tony's chest, and Lin Hao smiled. "I also hold some shares in Osborn Electric. You understand what I mean, right?"
Tony suddenly understood, unable to conceal his shock.
"You actually want to enter America's power sector?!"
After deciding to shut down the weapons manufacturing division, Tony Stark had already planned his new direction: using the replicable, even miniaturizable Arc Reactor to enter the energy sector. It was a market even broader than arms manufacturing.
In the Marvel world, the Arc Reactor was equivalent to a cold fusion reactor: safe, efficient, and low-cost, with far too many advantages over traditional energy sources.
Compared to it, Osborn Electric's "bioelectricity generation" technology was practically an elementary school handicraft project.
But who could simply enter the energy sector?
Stark Industries could only hope to seize a small slice from traditional energy giants through the network it had built over many years, and even then it would have to share part of the profits.
How could a mere Japanese man dare covet America's power supply?
"Mr. Stark, if you are willing to cooperate, we can jointly launch an acquisition of Osborn Electric, then establish a new—"
"Heh heh."
Tony could not help laughing. "Do you know what you're saying? How could the government and the conglomerates possibly allow a Japanese man to enter the power industry?"
"That's why I need your help." Lin Hao was frank.
"Sorry, I'm American!"
Tony suddenly thought of a good way to drive Kurosaki Ichigo out.
As soon as he formally entered the energy sector, the government would definitely scrutinize Stark Industries' ownership structure. Once they discovered that a Japanese man owned more than a third of its shares, Tony would not even need to act. Plenty of people would kill this tactless fellow and seize his shares.
Lin Hao merely smiled. "If you change your mind, you can come find me anytime."
After saying that, he left the conference room and followed the executive waiting outside on a tour to inspect Stark Industries' various assets.
He merely glanced through the other places, but he lingered for more than ten seconds before the model of the city of the future left behind by Howard Stark.
That night, the model mysteriously caught fire and burned to ashes.
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