Smith let the silence stretch for a moment, giving Ivan time to organize his pitch. When the Russian spoke, his words came with the careful precision of someone who'd rehearsed this presentation during the entire flight from Moscow.
"I propose we form a joint company," Ivan began. "I'd like to name it Vanko Industries—restoring my family name to the industry where it belongs. Primary focus would be energy systems and combat applications."
He leaned forward, warming to his subject. "You provide capital and infrastructure. I provide technology and expertise. I'll need a proper laboratory for research and development, advanced manufacturing equipment, testing facilities."
Ivan paused, then continued with the harder sell. "Regarding combat applications—I don't actually recommend manned armor like Tony's design. The palladium in these miniature arc reactors creates long-term poisoning risk for anyone wearing the suit regularly. I've experienced minor symptoms myself just from testing."
"My vision is unmanned systems," Ivan explained, his hands sketching concepts in the air. "AI-controlled or remotely-operated combat platforms. All the capability, none of the health risk to human operators."
He took a breath before delivering his final demands. "As for equity distribution—I want fifty percent ownership. And I want a sanctioned opportunity to challenge Tony Stark publicly. A fair fight, properly documented, to prove my family's legacy wasn't stolen."
Smith considered the proposal, his fingers steepled, expression unreadable. After a long moment, he spoke. "Fifty percent is too much. I can offer thirty-five percent."
Ivan's jaw tightened, but Smith continued before he could object.
"As for company direction, I have better ideas." Smith's smile was slight but knowing. "And arranging a public demonstration against Tony? That's trivial. I can make it happen easily."
Ivan sat back, calculating. Other investors would promise the world and deliver nothing—he'd seen how American capitalists operated, how they used contracts and legal language to strip away everything of value while leaving the inventor with scraps.
But Smith Doyle was different.
"Okay," Ivan said finally. "I accept thirty-five percent."
"But I'm only responsible for technology," he added firmly. "Company management isn't my strength. You handle business operations, marketing, legal matters. I'll focus on research and development."
He met Smith's eyes directly. "And you need to publicize my work immediately. Start building the Vanko name recognition. And arrange that fight with Tony—soon."
Smith nodded, unsurprised by Ivan's management limitations. Brilliant engineers rarely made good executives. "Understood. Fox, John—please come in."
The conference room door opened. Fox entered first, tablet already in hand, followed by John Wick's more measured entrance.
"Fox, establish a subsidiary under Universal Capsule Company," Smith instructed. "Registered capital of ten billion dollars. Ivan Vanko here will contribute proprietary technology for thirty-five percent equity."
Fox's fingers moved across her tablet, already drafting incorporation documents. "Company name?"
"Vanko Industries," Smith confirmed. "Primary business lines: clean energy systems, intelligent robotics, and home companion robots."
Ivan's head snapped up. "Home robots? Not military applications?"
Smith shook his head. "Military contracts are profitable short-term but create long-term complications. Government oversight, export restrictions, political entanglements. Plus the ethics are questionable."
He pulled up a drawing application on the conference room's display screen and quickly sketched a design—a large, rounded robot with soft, non-threatening features. Deliberately cute, almost huggable.
"Companion robots integrated with artificial intelligence," Smith explained, adding details to the sketch. "Think medical assistance, elderly care, childcare support, household management. We place the arc reactor here—" he indicated the robot's belly "—so the radiation source is always at least fifty centimeters from any human in contact with the unit."
Smith turned to Ivan. "You use your dividends to upgrade your personal combat suit if that's your priority. But the company focuses on civilian applications—products that can enter every household, every hospital, every care facility on Earth."
He smiled slightly. "And you can become the third superhero to capture public attention. Iron Man, God, and... we'll workshop the name. Maybe 'Whiplash' since that's your primary weapon system."
Ivan's expression shifted from disappointment to growing excitement. A superhero. Public recognition. The Vanko name associated with protection and innovation rather than Cold War shame.
Smith gestured to John. "Take Mr. Vanko to the guest quarters. Get him proper clothes—he can't keep wearing that jacket. Explain the Fraternity's mission and history. Then present him with the choice."
Ivan's confusion was evident. "The Fraternity? What choice?"
John's expression remained professionally neutral. "I'll explain everything. It's... substantial. You'll want to sit down for it."
Smith nodded. "Get it done before I leave for Monaco. I need to know his decision so I can determine whether he's coming with us to the Grand Prix."
John looked at Ivan. "Come on. Leave the armor—we'll secure it in storage. You and I need to have a long conversation."
Ivan removed his armor reluctantly, placing components back in their case with careful reverence. These were his creations, his proof of capability. Leaving them felt like leaving part of himself behind.
But he followed John out of the conference room, his mind already racing with questions about this mysterious Fraternity organization.
As the door closed, Fox turned to Smith with a slight frown. "That arc reactor on his armor chest plate—it's extremely similar to Tony's design. Nearly identical underlying principles."
Smith nodded. "They share common origin through Howard and Anton's collaboration. Ivan's version has lower energy output—maybe sixty percent of Tony's current reactor capacity—but it's still revolutionary technology."
"Rather than letting him operate independently, possibly creating problems," Smith continued, "better to keep him integrated with our organization. Give him legitimate outlets for his ambitions, proper resources, and oversight to prevent... unfortunate incidents."
Fox consulted her tablet, running calculations. "This will create direct competition with Stark Industries. You're the second-largest shareholder there after Tony. That's a significant conflict of interest."
Smith shrugged. "I just prevented Tony from a major headache. He will thank me later"
In the original timeline, Ivan would've attacked Tony publicly at Monaco, nearly killed him, then recruited by Justin Hammer to create weapons specifically designed to destroy Iron Man. That whole mess ends with dozens dead and international incident implications.
"Plus," Smith added with a slight smile, "I heard the Federal Trade Commission is preparing antitrust actions against Stark Industries. Having Vanko Industries as a competitor in the energy sector might actually solve that regulatory pressure. Competition keeps markets healthy, after all."
Fox's expression suggested she wasn't entirely convinced. "It's your decision. I just hope this doesn't damage your personal friendship with Tony."
"I'll handle it," Smith assured her. "Tony's pragmatic beneath the ego. He'll understand the strategic value once I explain properly."
Guest Quarters - Fraternity Base
Ivan sat on the remarkably comfortable sofa while a tailor took his measurements with professional efficiency. The guest room was nicer than any hotel he'd stayed in—large bed, attached bathroom, wall-mounted television, even a small kitchenette.
This is how the successful live, Ivan thought. This is what the Vanko name should've had all along.
The tailor departed with promises of a completed suit within hours. John Wick settled into the opposite chair, his posture relaxed but attentive.
"Now," Ivan said, "you should tell me about this Fraternity of Assassins."
John Wick nodded seriously, then began explaining the rituals and rules of the Fraternity to Ivan Vanko. He outlined how the organization had changed over the years. In the past, under the god guidance of the Sacred Loom, the League would eliminate anyone fated to harm human society, even if the target was only a child.
But things shifted after God Smith Doyle was born and destroy the Loom. Assassinations that had once been carried out preemptively were now performed only after a crime was actually committed and confirmed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Writing takes time, coffee, and a lot of love.If you'd like to support my work, join me at [email protected]/GoldenGaruda
You'll get early access to over 50 chapters, selection on new series, and the satisfaction of knowing your support directly fuels more stories.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~