Tony sat down, took a bite of his burger, and steadied his emotions.
"In Afghanistan, I saw young men killed. I almost died there myself, but a doctor with excellent skills saved me.
The very weapons I built to protect them were used to kill us, and I realized I had become part of a system that refuses to take responsibility."
Tony stood up and walked to the podium.
"What I saw there opened my eyes. I realized I can do more for the world than just make things explode—I can do much more.
Effective immediately, I am shutting down Stark Industries' weapons manufacturing division."
Reporters rose, clamoring for details.
"Until I decide the company's future—its direction—one that aligns with the interests of the world."
Escorted by bodyguards, Tony left the stage with Pepper and Jack and headed to his private suite on the top floor.
Inside, Pepper fielded one headache-inducing call after another while Tony disappeared into the lab to work on his newest project.
"Ethan, give me a hand—I need a helper."
Jack stood to one side, watching Tony and Ethan bustle about and occasionally fetch things for the clumsy Dummy.
Dummy really was a good kid; it even thanked Jack with an affectionate nuzzle to his back.
"Jack, stop flirting with my robot—he's male."
"Mouthy bastard, can't you build a Cute-Girl Robot like in those Japanese cartoons? You're one of the most hopeless scientists I've ever met."
"Find me a better scientist and I'll build you a Cute-Girl Robot."
Jack stepped up. "Are you challenging me?"
Tony gave a cocky, punch-worthy grin. "If that's how you want to take it, sure."
"Challenge accepted. If you lose, you build me one—no, three—Cute-Girl Robots, with after-sale updates included."
"And if you lose?"
"Me, lose?" Jack pointed at himself, supremely arrogant, (｡‾́ٹ‾́) certain it couldn't happen. "If I lose, I promise not to throw you into the Underground Room for a whole year."
Tony sank into unpleasant memories but had no comeback. Jack had always been setting him up, yet he'd also helped; if Jack hadn't stopped Wanda the first time they met, Tony would've been torn apart by her unscientific magic.
Seeing Tony stumped, Ethan tried to make himself invisible; he had no wish to return to that foul-smelling basement. Tony had made the bet—he could suffer it alone.
"I'll get to the bottom of Wanda's matter—who exactly sold those weapons."
Jack casually waved. (︶mouth︶〃)ﾉ "Latest intel: start with the shareholders led by Obadiah. Investigate them, and you'll find every last one dirty.
Oh, and your kidnapping in the Middle East? Obadiah wanted you dead; the terrorists kept you alive to build missiles for them. Without them, you'd already be dead—no chance for me to kidnap you a second time."
Tony was stunned. He'd take Jack's words as reference but would verify everything himself.
"Jarvis, dig deep into my shareholders—and Obadiah."
Jack added, "Obadiah's computer has all his deal logs and photos with the Ten Rings Gang. You never checked in over a decade; they've long since dropped their guard.
Better keep Obadiah calm—if he panics, he'll just send men to kill you outright. Same result, just costs more to cover up later."
Tony said nothing; he had something more urgent: build a device that could keep him alive and replace the thing in his chest for good.
With ample materials and Ethan's help, Tony finished two complete arc reactors that same night, their energy output far more stable.
Jack and Ethan tried, but their hands were too big; in the end, they had Pepper swap it for Tony.
"Oh my God, Tony, what's wrong—are you okay?" Pepper pulled out the copper-wired electromagnet, seeing Tony gasping, and asked anxiously.
"I'm fine—just that in a few minutes, I might be dead," Tony joked.
"What do I do now?"
"Easy—just plug this in and we're good."
Pepper, fighting back nausea at the slimy mess, connected Tony's new power source.
Watching from outside, Jack asked Ethan, "Ethan, you really couldn't change Tony's battery for him?"
Ethan adjusted his glasses. "I could—but I didn't want to. She's the better choice."
"I don't want to enter a man's body again either, so… ahem."
…"Tony, Obadiah's here. Do you want to see him?" Pepper came up the stairs, glanced at Jack and Ethan studying Tony's wound, then looked away. "Sorry—did I come at a bad time?"
Tony spread his hands in exasperation. "They're just looking at my injuries. You're right on time."
"Consultation over. Time to greet my dear uncle."
Tony threw on a shirt, went downstairs, and brought up a large pizza and cheeseburgers for Ethan and Jack.
"This place's pizza is decent—must be the one downstairs. Save me that cheeseburger; it's my favorite, from the California joint."
While Tony dealt with Obadiah downstairs, Jack headed to the kitchen; the pizza struck him as mediocre, so he decided to cook something himself.
"Tony, did you hire a chef?" Obadiah asked, hearing noise upstairs.
"That's it for today. I'll find the company's future. Let the board talk—we hold absolute control."
"Tony, you can't do this; I'm doing my best to salvage the situation." Obadiah blocked Tony's path, sounding so earnest you'd think he was helping.
"Enough. I've got to put out a fire, or the tower's gone."
Tony ran upstairs, unwilling to say more to Obadiah.
Obadiah shrugged at Pepper on the sofa. "He's always this willful."
Pepper smiled. "I'm used to it. I've got some fires of my own—excuse me."
Obadiah: "Good luck. Hope you can change Tony's mind."
Obadiah left with a cigar.
Jack checked the time—almost midnight. He found Tony and tapped the arc reactor to check in.
[Check-in successful. Skill acquired: Missile Survivor.]
"What is—oh, pretty impressive."
Missile Survivor: no missile of any kind can kill you, though you'll probably still be injured.
Jack pictured himself standing on Earth, facing hundreds of nukes, unflinching, fearless, immovable—cool beyond words.
"Hey, what are you grinning at? Wanda's on the line for you." Tony handed him the phone.
Interrupted, Jack took the call and went downstairs.
"Dear, I'll be right down. Let me tell you…"
Tony exhaled as Jack left; around him he always caught a whiff of the Underground Room. Only when Jack was out of sight did the smell fade.
Exhausted after a day's research, Tony collapsed at his workstation.
Good-housekeeper Pepper tucked a blanket over him, then went to bed herself, bracing for tomorrow's troubles.
Next day, Jack and Wanda returned to Stark Tower; to his surprise, Wanda insisted on coming along.
After yesterday, Jack now had direct access to Stark Tower.
They reached Tony's lab; he was already at work, Ethan sipping hot coffee nearby.
Jack inhaled the aroma. "Smells great."
Ethan smiled and pointed to the machine. "Shall I pour you a cup?"
Jack waved it off. "No thanks—I love the smell, not the taste. Wanda, want one?"
"No, I can't get used to it either," Wanda declined. "I'll get some hot water."
"Good idea. Any tea around here?" Jack asked Jarvis. "Jarvis, does Tony have Chinese tea?"
Jarvis's hologram pointed to a bar cabinet. "Yes, sir. In that cabinet; Mr. Stark bought it at auction to impress a lady."
Jack fetched the tea, grabbed a large basin from the kitchen, and brewed a whole basin.
Drink it hot; when it cools, toss in fruit for fruit tea.
Ethan stared at the lavish brew; he wanted to try the same with coffee.
Tony, finished with the Mark Armor blueprint, turned, saw the basin of tea, and looked offended—who drinks tea like that?
"Planning to bathe in it?"
"Tony Stark can't spare a bit of tea? Speaking of which, when does my 100-million rescue fee and 900-million thank-you hit the account?"
Tony frowned. "Isn't it 100 million USD rescue fee and 900 million ransom?"
Jack: "Close enough—call it a cool billion."
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