Arlington, on the banks of the Potomac River—the Pentagon, the United States' highest military command center.
On the second floor, in the banquet hall known as the Gold Hall, soothing music with a brisk rhythm and beautiful melody flowed quietly. Key figures from the Military Committee moved about in formal uniforms adorned with medals. With Committee Chairman Congressman Duncan Hunter and the Secretary of Defense attending together, the weight of this banquet was obvious.
The two influential men kept scanning the room. Only after receiving quiet reminders from their aides did they realize that the true guest of honor had yet to arrive. That New York genius, who had not been seen lately, had supposedly thrown aside all his work and gone traveling in Eastern Europe.
Congressman Hunter and Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter exchanged smiles. Just as they had once tolerated Tony Stark, these powerful figures always had great patience for capable, valuable young people. They regarded such behavior as the wild unruliness of genius, even seeing it as an interesting sort of charm.
Of course, the prerequisite for receiving such preferential treatment was possessing exceptional ability or considerable value worthy of earning the admiration of powerful people.
Tony stood in a corner at the edge of the banquet hall and muttered sarcastically, "They used to practically grovel whenever they saw me. Now they're already used to ignoring my existence."
Pepper linked her arm through his and covered her mouth as she laughed. This had originally been a celebration for Umbrella securing a Department of Defense contract. Naturally, everyone's attention was focused on Sean, who had yet to appear. She and Tony were merely supporting players.
Stark Industries had not originally been on the guest list. On the one hand, it had already withdrawn from the Military Industry. On