S.H.I.E.L.D. Director's Office.
A press conference held by the Russian Embassy was playing on the television screen. Chekov and Ivan Vanko took turns displaying patent documents related to the Arc Reactor, attempting to prove that the Arc Reactor had been Anton Vanko's invention.
Nick Fury was probably one of the living people who knew the most about what had happened back then. The others included Peggy Carter, lying in a hospital bed, and Hank Pym, who had left S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Black Nick Fury" naturally knew that the Russian envoy was selectively releasing information, but he had no way to publicly refute them. The Arc Reactor's concept had indeed been proposed by Anton Vanko first, before Howard Stark joined in and continuously improved it. It was no longer possible to distinguish whose contribution had been greater.
This was also why Anton Vanko's name appeared before Howard Stark's on the design blueprints. According to scientific tradition—or even human tradition—the person ranked first had contributed more and held greater status.
Later, the two sides developed disagreements.
Anton Vanko wanted to immediately apply for a patent and put the Arc Reactor into production to make a fortune. That was understandable; after all, he had originally defected in pursuit of a better life.
However, Howard Stark believed that the technological standards of the 1960s could not guarantee safety after mass production. He did not want Americans living beside one enormous nuclear bomb.
Howard Stark had founded Stark Industries as early as World War II and made a fortune selling weapons. He was already an elegant "gentleman" who had begun caring about social impact. He did not need the money.
He did not, but Anton Vanko did!
Anton Vanko had traveled all the way to America and borne the stigma of treason. Wasn't it all for money?