The next day.
The entire United States, and even the whole world, erupted in the early morning sunlight.
The same story dominated every major mainstream outlet, from newspaper front pages to television news.
"This is Fox Morning News. In the early hours of this morning, a massive earthquake struck Wall Street."
"Mr. Obadiah Stane, a veteran executive and president of Stark Industries, was found dead at his private villa in Beverly Hills."
"According to preliminary reports from the Los Angeles Police Department and the medical examiner, the cause of death was a sudden heart attack brought on by prolonged, intense work pressure. Let us observe a moment of silence for this man, who devoted his life to the American military industry."
The news footage immediately switched to another television station.
A CNN anchor sat at the news desk, his expression grave.
"Just yesterday afternoon, at a press conference, Tony Stark, who narrowly escaped death, announced that the company would stop taking military weapons orders. Luca Stark also made a firm declaration that he would thoroughly investigate the traitor within the company."
"And in the early hours of this morning, the company's third most powerful figure suddenly died of a heart attack. The coincidence certainly gives one pause."
"Worse still, following the news, Stark Industries stock suffered another precipitous drop less than ten minutes after the market opened today. It is currently down more than fifteen percent."
A guest commentator for The New York Times was also voicing strong opinions on television.
"Regardless of whether there was a conspiracy behind Mr. Obadiah Stane's death, what concerns us most now is that Tony Stark and Luca Stark, the sole two legal heirs and highest-ranking decision-makers of Stark Industries, are currently nowhere to be found."
"No one has seen them since the yacht party ended last night. Why haven't they come forward to steady the situation? Does this mean that the vast business empire of Stark Industries is about to fall apart?"
For a time, the whole world was abuzz.
Conspiracy theories and dire predictions flew everywhere.
All eyes were fixed on Los Angeles, on the Stark Family.
Meanwhile, the Daily Bugle was also selling out at newsstands, its front-page headline impossible to miss.
"The end of Stark Industries? Veteran executive dead, two genius young masters missing!"
That was right.
What the outside world found very strange and hotly debated was this:
As the company's first and second most powerful figures, Tony and Luca seemed to have no intention of coming forward to comment at such a critical moment.
They held no press conference, nor did they appear in public to mourn.
It was as though the veteran executive's death had nothing to do with them.
For a time, conspiracy theories and speculation flew all over the internet.
Some said the Stark brothers had suffered severe psychological trauma from their kidnapping in Afghanistan and had now lost their minds.
Others said Obadiah's death had not been caused by a heart attack at all, but by a power struggle within the company.
But no matter how much noise the outside world made, the Stark brothers remained silent.
Meanwhile.
Malibu Beach, Los Angeles.
The villa built on the edge of the cliff was in a state of chaos.
Cameras of all sizes filled the living room.
Several reporters wearing different press badges held up microphones, their eyes fixed on the woman sitting on the sofa.
It was Pepper Potts.
She sat upright on the sofa. Though she wore exquisite makeup, it could not hide her fatigue or the dark circles under her eyes.
She had not closed her eyes since receiving Luca's call that morning.
She had dealt with the scene where the body was found, handled the police, contacted the medical examiner, and issued the death notice.
Then, without a moment's rest, she had begun dealing with wave after wave of reporters.
"Miss Potts! Was Mr. Obadiah's death really just a heart attack?"
"There are rumors that this was an assassination carried out by the Stark brothers to seize complete control! What do you have to say about that?"
A bearded male reporter practically shoved his microphone into Pepper's face.
Pepper took a deep breath and put on a flawless smile.
"That is complete nonsense. Mr. Stane was always one of the elders most respected by the Stark Family. Tony and Luca are deeply saddened by his passing. No one could have been closer to him than they were."
"As for the cause of death, the Los Angeles Police Department's medical examiner has already issued an authoritative medical report. If you question the scientific findings, I suggest you interview the Los Angeles Police Department rather than waste your time here."
Another female reporter immediately pushed forward and called out a question.
"Then, Miss Potts, if they're so saddened, why haven't they come forward to make a statement themselves? Why are they letting the stock keep plunging instead? Where exactly are they now?"
Pepper maintained her polite smile, her hands folded in her lap.
"As everyone knows, Tony and Luca endured two months of torture in Afghanistan."
"They have only just escaped the terrorists' clutches, and both their bodies and minds have suffered tremendous trauma. Their doctor strongly recommended that they have peace and rest."
"As the chief executive assistant of Stark Industries, I am fully authorized to handle all current matters on their behalf."
"As for the stock fluctuations, they are a normal market response to an unexpected event. Stark Industries remains a strong company, and we will soon get through this difficult time."
Pepper's answers were airtight, giving the reporters no opportunity to take her words out of context.
But everyone was somewhat speechless.
Tony and Luca had suffered psychological trauma?! Were they kidding them??
Who would believe that two people who had thrown a bikini party on a yacht as soon as they got back had suffered psychological trauma?!
But everyone was used to it. Compared with what Tony and Luca had done before, this was fairly normal.
Soon, after several heated exchanges,
the reporters realized they really could not coax any major news out of Pepper.
Finally, under Happy's firm escort, the fifth wave of reporters reluctantly packed up their equipment and left the Malibu villa.