Want the Energy Ark? Then Buy the Armor First!!!

After the press conference ended.

Tony Stark's decision to shut down Stark Industries' weapons manufacturing division

hit public opinion like a bomb, exploding across society in an instant.

Questions, criticism, and mockery from all sides spread rapidly through every kind of media.

"Stark has gone crazy!"

"This is digging his own grave!"

"Stark Industries is finished!"

"..."

The generals at the Pentagon demanded that Stark Industries immediately resume its weapons supply, threatening to cancel all of Stark Industries' orders and even take coercive measures against Tony Stark.

Members of Congress issued public statements one after another, accusing Tony Stark's decision of being far too reckless. A weapons company that did not sell weapons?

Wall Street's financial tycoons were dumbfounded and began dumping Stark Industries stock.

Competitors in the arms industry secretly rejoiced, seeing a prime opportunity to carve up Stark Industries' market share.

Only a few days passed.

Countless investors frantically dumped Stark Industries stock, terrified of becoming the last ones left holding the bag.

Stark Industries' trillion-dollar market value plummeted.

The stock fell the moment the market opened, then crashed to rock bottom over several consecutive trading days. More than half its market value evaporated, leaving it at only twenty percent of its peak.

"Sell! Sell now! Dump all Stark Industries stock!"

"It's over, it's all over! My pension is gone!"

"Tony Stark, you lunatic!"

Wall Street was filled with wails as countless people lost everything.

Y Squad office.

Yu Xian leisurely drank coffee while watching news reports about Stark Industries' collapsing stock price on television.

He knew it was time to make his move.

Let it fall. A little more would be nice!

At least it would make putting his entire fortune into this worthwhile.

"Captain, are you sure about this?"

"Although the stock price has already shrunk drastically compared to before, but..."

Catalina looked at the constantly falling red numbers on her phone, her face pale.

She had poured all her savings, along with her parents' retirement money, into the stock market and bought Stark Industries stock in bulk.

Even as she watched the stock keep flashing red, she still could not feel at ease.

Yu Xian closed his magazine, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Relax."

"This is only temporary."

"Trust me, this will definitely be the easiest investment you make in your entire life."

"You don't have to believe me, but you should believe Tony Stark. That guy is a super genius!!!"

"Fine."

Catalina sighed. At this point, she could only choose to trust Yu Xian.

[Detected that the host is delighted by buying the dip. Pleasure Value +500]

Stark Industries, chairman's office.

Obadiah Stane sat behind his broad desk, his expression terrifyingly gloomy.

He stared at the constantly fluctuating stock chart on his computer screen, rage nearly consuming him.

This was all his money.

"Tony, that idiot!"

Obadiah Stane slammed his fist against the desk. "What exactly is he trying to do?"

Knock~ Knock~ Knock~

Just then, someone knocked on the office door.

Obadiah Stane forcibly calmed himself.

"Come in."

Tap~ Tap~ Tap~

A young man in black carrying a briefcase walked in.

"Who are you?"

Obadiah Stane frowned at the unfamiliar young Asian man with black hair before him.

"What do you want? How did you get in here?"

"None of that matters."

Yu Xian took off his sunglasses, revealing a harmless expression. "You only need to know that I have something you want, and I can solve your problem!"

"Oh? You can help me?"

Obadiah Stane sneered. "Why should I believe you?"

Yu Xian took a video player from his pocket and gently placed it on the desk. "Because of this. The Mark I Armor."

Obadiah Stane looked at it doubtfully.

The screen lit up, displaying a combat recording.

In the video,

a bulky steel armor was fighting fiercely, spewing flames and firing bullets, utterly unstoppable.

Obadiah Stane's eyes widened instantly, and his breathing quickened.

This was it?!

"This is... the Mark I Armor?"

Obadiah Stane's voice trembled slightly.

He had never expected it to be the armor prototype he had been longing for. Through special channels, he had learned that Tony had used an iron suit to break through the blockade.

He had originally planned to search for it in the Middle East. Now, there was no need.

Yu Xian nodded. "That's right."

"This is the steel armor Tony Stark built after being kidnapped in the Middle East. So, are you interested in making a deal?"

Obadiah Stane stared fixedly into Yu Xian's eyes, trying to discern something from them.

But he was disappointed. All he saw was abyssal calm.

Obadiah Stane asked in return, "How do you have this?"

"You don't need to worry about that." Yu Xian shrugged and pointed at the armor in the video. "I only want to ask whether you want this thing or not."

Obadiah Stane fell silent.

Of course he wanted it!

This armor technology was enough to change the entire arms industry and allow Stark Industries to surpass its former heights.

With this technology, he could even become the ruler of the world.

"What exactly do you want?"

Obadiah Stane could not gauge the young man's terms, but he knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. This guy had successfully caught his interest.

"I want money." Yu Xian raised one finger. "A lot, a lot, a lot of money."

"How much?"

"Ten billion dollars, plus eight percent of Stark Industries' shares."

Yu Xian named an astronomical price.

"Are you insane?!"

Obadiah Stane nearly jumped to his feet.

"Why don't you just rob me?"

"How could robbing you make money this quickly?" Yu Xian said with a smile. "Besides, I believe you can afford that price."

"We'll have future deals as well!"

"Don't you want to know what powers it?"

"This is only our first transaction. If our cooperation goes well, then some things may not be impossible!"

Yu Xian tapped his chest.

Obadiah Stane's expression shifted uncertainly, but he knew Yu Xian was right. The value of the Mark I Armor was far beyond anything money could measure.

No, more accurately, it was the energy source it represented!

As long as he mastered this armor technology, he could dominate the global arms market and restore Stark Industries' position of supremacy. By then, money would be nothing more than numbers.

"No, I don't have that much money right now. I can only offer five billion and five percent of the shares!!!! And I need to see the real thing first."

Obadiah Stane gritted his teeth. His heart was bleeding. This was money he had accumulated over years on the black market, unregulated funds he could spend as he pleased. This one deal would leave his pockets deflated and his assets severely depleted.

"Deal!!!!"

Hearing his increased offer, Yu Xian immediately agreed.

Sure enough, when people wanted to achieve their goals, all they needed was to make an offer beyond the other party's expectations. The other party would automatically reveal their greatest sincerity. The old ancestors' compromise method really worked every time.

Yu Xian then placed the briefcase he had been carrying on the desk and opened it with a bang.

"Look, these are some of the Mark I Armor's parts. As for the rest... the moment I receive the money, they will be yours!"

Obadiah Stane said nothing. He merely impatiently took out the metal components one by one and carefully arranged them.

At the very bottom of the case, an iron mask stared back at him, its outline faintly resembling the steel armor from the video.

"Very good."

Greed flickered in Obadiah Stane's eyes as he covertly glanced at the young man opposite him.

How could he obtain the thing behind this man, the thing that represented the pinnacle of energy?

Taking a loss was not in his nature!

One suit of armor had actually cost him so much money?

Suddenly, the young man's icy, emotionless voice reached his ears. "I hope you don't get any foolish ideas! I believe you won't want to bear the consequences!"

The moment he finished speaking, Obadiah Stane discovered frost spreading across and covering his desk.

In the blink of an eye, it was tightly encased in a layer of ice.

Obadiah Stane looked at the scene, his face turning livid as he instantly abandoned those improper thoughts.

"Deal. But I need to inspect these things one by one. Payment and goods exchanged at the same time!"

[Detected that the host is extremely delighted at getting something for nothing. Pleasure Value +1000]