Washington D.C., Capitol Building.
The Senate's Military Committee held dozens of hearings every year, sometimes more than ten in a single month. It was hardly news, not even enough to make the trending charts.
This time was different. Ever since the Military Committee announced three days ago that it would hold a hearing on the nature of Iron Man Armor, it had immediately seized the top spot on the trending charts.
Superheroes came with their own traffic, especially after the "White House Final Battle" half a month ago. Both the American government and the public had developed a sense of crisis regarding their own safety.
America's upper echelons desperately wanted to strengthen themselves. Expanding the Eunuch Brigade was one aspect, but they also wanted Tony Stark's armor-manufacturing technology.
Practicing the Evil-Warding Swordplay required taking a cut, and any man with status was unwilling to do that. Tony Stark's armor, however, was a technological creation that could be widely adopted.
By then, the military could organize armored units, while wealthy conglomerate executives could manufacture their own suits and further improve their personal protection.
Tony Stark had been a playboy before. He could become Iron Man only because of the armor, so why couldn't anyone else do the same after getting one?
Because of Lin Hao's interference, Tony Stark was under even greater pressure this time than in the original story.
"Mr. Stark, shall we continue with the previous topic?" The congressman onstage tapped his gavel.
"Sure." Tony Stark, looking perfectly relaxed, turned back and leaned toward the microphone. "No problem."
"Do you possess a special weapon?" Hydra Congressman Stern opened with a trap.
"I used to own many weapons, but the whole world knows I shut down Stark Industries' weapons manufacturing division." Tony Stark turned toward the reporters' cameras and spoke