A Conversation with Tony

Malibu Beach, House No. 10880.

Removing the sunglasses from his eyes, Ryan looked at the seaside villa before stepping forward to ring the doorbell.

This was Tony Stark's villa. Ryan and Sebas had come here today to discuss a potential 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 at the villa entrance. 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 from the entertainment scene had come to visit, Tony thought it was necessary to meet him.

The villa gates opened at JARVIS's command. Ryan raised an eyebrow and entered with Sebas.

"You're looking well, Tony!"

As if he were in 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 mock toast.

"The bottle and the glass together are worth thirteen thousand dollars. Remember to pay me back!" Tony raised an eyebrow at Ryan's utter lack of restraint.

"You really are cheap." 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 let this bastard, who often competed with him for magazine cover models, inside at all was only because he was curious about why Ryan had come.

"All right, let's get down to business." Ryan set his glass on the wine cabinet, his expression turning serious.

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

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

Rather than getting straight to the point, Ryan introduced Sebas, who stood behind him.

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

Tony was referring to the time two years ago when they had both taken an interest in the same model and competed for her. They had both pulled plenty of strings to defeat the other, but Ryan had ultimately won. It couldn't be helped—the Haulers Group held 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 Ryan straight in the eye.

"Fine, I'm not here to argue about that. Are you interested in working together?" 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 became much more relaxed.

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

Ryan's tone turned cold. He had long known that Tony Stark was an asshole, but facing him in person still gave him the urge to punch him in the face.

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

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

Ryan cut Tony off. Tony, who had been heading downstairs, froze upon hearing that. He turned around and walked back, changing his tune. "All right, I apologize. Tell me about your partnership."

Tony's expression darkened. Compared to the matter of his abduction by terrorists, his minor conflict with Ryan was utterly insignificant.

"You look a little more agreeable now." 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 work with me, 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 do you mean?"

Ryan sat on the sofa and raised an eyebrow.

"You know what I mean!"

Tony's gaze turned cold.

"All right. I can only tell you that I have my own sources. But don't worry—the thing in your chest is merely a coincidence. Your assistant and friends didn't leak anything."

Ryan raised his hands in a surrendering gesture.

Tony looked at him for a few moments, no longer dwelling on the matter. Instead, he picked up the document and began reading 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 chance of this plan succeeding."

Tony closed the document and looked at Ryan as though he were an idiot.

The proposal Ryan had given him was extremely simple.

Smear them, then have Stark Industries announce a new energy plan, mobilize funds to short them, and then... there was no then.

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

"I didn't believe those reports online saying you'd gone crazy, but now it seems you really have!"

Tony shook his head and rose to head downstairs. He had nothing to discuss with a madman.

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

Watching Tony stand, Ryan spoke calmly.

Tony's advancing foot stopped at once. He turned back with a twisted 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 founded the Strategic Scientific Reserve with Agent Carter and others. Oh, that's the organization that came to see you a few 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 pretext 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 the same, but with such enormous future energy interests involved, Roxxon also played a part in Howard Stark's so-called 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? Ha ha, are you joking with me? An organization that was wiped out during World War II, and you're saying it still exists in this world? You really are crazy!"

Tony shook his head as he spoke and headed toward the basement. He had no intention of believing Ryan, because it was simply too absurd.