Justin Hammer returned to his company in a fury. In his eyes, Sean Sipes was just like that playboy Tony Stark—an arrogant bastard who looked down on everyone. The latter's pride and conceit were known to the world, but who would have thought that Sean, who seemed modest and mild-mannered, was no different?
Hammer could barely accept Stark's arrogance and debauchery. After all, Stark Industries had once been a colossal giant standing at the peak of the industry. Back then, Hammer Industries could only exist beneath its shadow, relying on its own resources and connections to seize a portion of the market.
But Sean's Umbrella was merely a newly risen research institution with shallow foundations. It was supported by no more than a few promising, highly effective drugs, and had lucked into attaching itself to the towering trees of Stark Industries and Koch Industries. Yet it actually dared to ignore his offer of cooperation?
The fire in Hammer's heart burned ever hotter. His fingers jabbed hard at the desk as curses spilled from his mouth. He had paid a huge price to purchase Stark Industries' weapons manufacturing plant because he wanted to make a grand entrance into the military-industrial field, sweep away years of frustration, and completely swallow up the vacant market share.
He had even invested enormous sums to imitate Tony Stark's Iron Armor, hoping to use it to secure a long-term partnership with the Department of Defense. The military committee's hearing against Stark Industries had also been secretly fueled by Justin Hammer. He had intended for the military to forcibly confiscate the Iron Armor and seize the firsthand data in the process.
Who could have expected Tony to reach an agreement with Nick Fury? With S.H.I.E.L.D. as his new backer, the military's pressure instantly became useless, and Hammer's