Tony had wanted to immediately begin searching through the legacy left behind by his father, Howard. Lin Hai's words over the phone—"Think about your father"—had taken root in his mind like a seed.
Although Tony had complicated feelings toward Howard, that could not define his entire judgment of him. Tony knew perfectly well that his father had been an extraordinary genius too, so perhaps Howard really had left behind something worth searching for.
However, another matter forced him to temporarily set that plan aside: the upcoming Monaco F1 Grand Prix.
Tearing through clouds at high altitude in an Iron Man suit was one kind of experience. Driving an F1 car and feeling that limit-pushing speed of skimming the ground, smelling the scorched rubber from tires grinding against the track, and experiencing the thrill of brushing past death by inches was a completely different kind of speed and passion for him.
As for Ivan Vanko, the genius engineer who had silently sharpened his blade of vengeance amid Russia's bone-chilling snowstorms, he learned from television news that Tony would be competing in Monaco's race. He then used certain methods that were less than legal, but effective enough, to arrange everything he needed to travel to Monaco.
Tony's declaration at the televised hearing—"Most countries would need five to ten years. Hammer Industries would need at least twenty."—still echoed in Ivan's ears as he obtained his identification, visa, and event credentials.
A cold curve formed at the corner of his mouth. No five years, no ten years, not even twenty days. Tony Stark would soon experience firsthand how his father's sins came knocking.
Tony, meanwhile, knew nothing of this. He was busy with something else.
Everything that had happened in 2008 had left wounds in his heart far deeper than the reactor in his