A Conversation with Tony

Malibu Beach, House No. 10880.

Removing the sunglasses from his eyes, Ryan stepped forward and pressed the doorbell as he looked at the seaside villa before him.

This was Tony Stark's villa, and Ryan and Sebas had come here today to discuss a partnership with Stark.

Inside the villa, in the basement.

Tony, who was busy working on a mechanical arm, heard JARVIS's voice.

"Sir, someone is ringing the doorbell outside the villa. Facial recognition identifies him as Mr. Ryan Garcia, chairman of the Haulers Group."

"Ryan? What the hell is that bastard doing here? Has he come to thank me?"

Tony muttered in surprise, then ordered, "Let him in."

Since his rival in the entertainment world had come to visit, he felt it was necessary to meet him.

The villa gates opened under JARVIS's control. Ryan raised an eyebrow and led Sebas inside.

"You're looking well, Tony!"

As if he had entered his own home, Ryan casually picked a bottle of red wine from the cabinet, opened it, poured himself a glass, and raised it in a token toast.

"The bottle and the glass are worth thirteen thousand dollars combined. Remember to pay me back!" Tony said, raising an eyebrow at the completely unrestrained Ryan.

"You really are stingy." Ryan laughed as he looked at the glass in his hand.

"No, no, I'm only like this with you!" Tony retorted. The fact that he had even let in this bastard who constantly competed with him for magazine cover models was only because he was curious about why Ryan had come looking for him.

"Fine, let's get down to business." Ryan set his wineglass on the cabinet, his expression turning serious.

"Go on." Tony picked up the red wine Ryan had just opened and took a sip, looking utterly unconcerned.

"Let me introduce him. This is Sebas Tian, my personal butler. He's as trustworthy as your JARVIS."

Rather than immediately discussing the matter, Ryan first introduced Sebas, who stood behind him, to Tony.

"Oh, and?" After responding briefly, Tony glanced a couple of times at the handsome older man who had remained silent since entering, then shifted his gaze back to Ryan. "Were you jealous that I have such a useful butler, so you specifically hired someone to come here and feel superior? You're still so childish!"

Tony was referring to the time two years ago when they had both taken a liking to the same model and competed over her. Back then, both of them had expended considerable effort to defeat the other, but Ryan had ultimately won. It couldn't be helped; the Haulers Group simply had more influence in that area than an arms company.

"Tony, has anyone ever told you that your tone makes people want to punch you?" Ryan narrowed his eyes.

"Never!" Tony stepped forward two paces and stared directly at Ryan.

"Fine, I'm not going to bicker with you about this. Interested in a partnership?" Ryan moved two steps to the side and asked.

"A partnership? Let's hear it. Maybe I'll be interested enough to help you out!" Seeing Ryan back down, Tony's mood improved, and his tone relaxed considerably.

"Help me? Hey, Tony, you need to understand what a partnership is. I'm not here to beg you!"

Ryan's tone turned cold. Though he had long known that Tony Stark was a bastard, facing him in person still gave Ryan the urge to punch him in the face.

"I don't think I currently need any kind of partn—"

"Are you sure? I have inside information about your kidnapping."

Ryan cut Tony off. Tony, who had been heading downstairs, stopped in his tracks. He turned around, walked back, and changed his tune. "Fine, I apologize. Tell me about your partnership."

Tony's expression darkened. Compared to the matter of his kidnapping by terrorists, his minor conflict with Ryan was completely negligible.

"You look a little more pleasing to the eye like this." After saying that, Ryan stopped needling him.

He took out a document he had prepared beforehand and tossed it over. "Take a look. This is my preliminary plan. If you're willing to cooperate, I'll tell you everything I know."

Tony caught the document, frowned as he read it for a while, then closed it.

"How did you know?"

Tony asked with a grim expression.

"What are you referring to?"

Ryan sat on the sofa and raised an eyebrow.

"You know what I mean!"

Tony's gaze turned cold.

"Fine. All I can tell you is that I have my own information channels. But don't worry, the thing in your chest is merely a coincidence. It wasn't leaked by your assistant or friends."

Ryan raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

Tony looked at him for a few moments, then stopped dwelling on the matter and picked up the document to read it again.

"You want to take the company private, and you also want to go after Roxxon Corporation? Why?" Tony spoke as he read. "And I don't see any possibility of success in this plan."

Closing the document in his hand, Tony looked at Ryan as if he were an idiot.

The proposal Ryan had given him was especially simple.

Smear them, then have Stark Industries announce a new energy plan, gather funds to attack their stock, and then... there was no then.

Though the document contained more details, the basic framework was no different. Trying to bring down a conglomerate even larger than Stark Industries with such a crude plan was something one could only dream about.

"I didn't believe it when people online said you'd gone crazy, but now it seems you really have!"

Tony shook his head, got up, and prepared to head downstairs. He had nothing to discuss with a madman.

"Roxxon Corporation was one of the masterminds behind the attack on my sister, and it also had something to do with your parents' deaths."

Watching Tony stand up, Ryan spoke calmly.

Tony's advancing foot froze. He turned around with a savage expression. "Do you know what you're saying?"

Ryan ignored him and continued evenly, "Howard Stark was one of the participants in the U.S. Super Soldier Program. During World War II, he established the Strategic Scientific Reserve with Agent Carter and others. Oh, that's the organization that came to see you a couple of days ago, calling itself the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. On the evening of December 17, 1991, because Howard Stark had obstructed Hydra's development, Hydra eliminated him under the guise of a car accident."

Ryan paused there, then looked at Tony, whose emotions were churning violently, and continued, "Roxxon Corporation has a large number of Hydra members within it. The two cannot be said to be entirely identical, but because future energy involved such enormous interests, Roxxon also played a part in Howard Stark's accidental death. As Howard Stark's son, I don't think I need to remind you what kind of organization Hydra is."

Tony was silent for a long while, then suddenly laughed.

"Hydra? Haha, are you kidding me? An organization that was already wiped out during World War II, and you're saying it still exists in this world? You really are insane!"

Tony shook his head as he spoke and headed toward the basement. He had no intention of believing Ryan's words; they were simply too far-fetched.