Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Tony's Investigation
Harvey knew that getting someone as proud and arrogant as Tony Stark to directly embrace the Void was impossible. He needed to prepare and induce him, waiting for the right moment.
However, that was still just the beginning. Tony Stark hadn't officially admitted to being Iron Man yet, so there was no rush. When Tony Stark eventually discovered that the arc reactor in his chest was causing negative effects on his body, that would be the prime time for Harvey to act.
Even though Tony Stark later managed to overcome that crisis by inventing a new element, thanks to information from SHIELD, that period would still be the best time for Harvey to try to persuade him.
Harvey recalled that Tony Stark would face that moment of realization soon, so he just needed to wait.
While Harvey had many thoughts in mind, he wasn't at the stage of implementation yet. Before his rebirth into the Marvel world as an adult, he had grown up in an orphanage. Due to his Asian heritage, he faced some discrimination there.
However, as someone who had the soul of an adult from his previous life, he didn't let these setbacks bother him. Instead, he focused on adapting to this world and learning as much as he could.
He had once considered that if he could only live an ordinary life in this lifetime, he would try to return to his homeland before 2011. In the Marvel world, there's a long-standing saying: "The rich rely on technology, while the poor rely on mutation."
Harvey didn't have the money or the intellect for technology, and mutations often came with dangerous side effects. He wasn't sure if he had the resilience of Marvel's superheroes.
Thus, Harvey knew that if he remained an ordinary person, his best chance would be to take out a loan and invest all his savings in Stark Industries' stock at the right time. This way, he could potentially double his wealth and live comfortably, even if he didn't become a top billionaire.
Although the awakening of his system had dramatically changed his life, Harvey never lacked patience. Currently, he needed to mortgage his various properties to liquidate a large sum of money.
On the other side, after Tony Stark had made his stance clear to Obadiah Stane, he rushed back to his Stark Manor.
"JARVIS, investigate Harvey Amberlock for me," Tony Stark ordered as he entered his underground workshop.
JARVIS, with its pleasant synthetic male voice, responded promptly, "Certainly, sir. I'll get right on it."
Soon, all the available information on Harvey Amberlock appeared before Tony Stark. Although Tony Stark had only heard rumors about Harvey before, the fact that Harvey had somehow discovered his successful creation of the arc reactor made Tony take the investigation seriously.
Harvey Amberlock was a prodigy in his youth. Even though he attended public schools serving the underprivileged, he had repeatedly skipped grades. At fifteen, he entered MIT and graduated with the highest honors. Thus, in Tony Stark's eyes, Harvey was a remarkable but not extraordinary genius.
However, Harvey's Asian identity had led to a less favorable upbringing, making it difficult for him to fit in with other groups in school. The records indicated that Harvey had been a reserved individual.
It wasn't until he won the lottery at eighteen, about three years ago, that Harvey's rise to fame began. This topic had been a staple in New York's news for the past two years, and Tony Stark, rather than being frustrated, studied it with patience.
The records included Harvey's major moves and recent activities. About a year and a half ago, Harvey had begun buying up Stark Industries stock, investing over $800 million in total, showing his confidence in the company.
Harvey had sold off shares in batches. While ordinary investors might not know the details, Tony Stark had full visibility.
"It turns out he really sold the shares over two months ago..." Tony Stark found this surprising.
Harvey had used $800 million in the past year and a half. Given the rise in Stark Industries' stock and the regular dividends, Harvey had earned hundreds of millions in profit just by investing in the stocks he believed in.
Tony Stark couldn't understand why Harvey, who once seemed so optimistic about Stark Industries, suddenly made such a move. It was hard to believe Harvey sold his shares just because he had made enough money. Stark himself hadn't publicly announced his decision to stop weapon production, so Harvey's timing seemed suspicious.
Tony thought that people usually had reasons behind their decisions, especially when deciding to sell a large amount of stock. Even if Harvey decided to sell during Tony's disappearance, it would still be understandable.
Many people had sold their stocks during Tony's disappearance, though there were also many buyers, which prevented the stock from falling significantly. But Harvey had decided to sell off his shares before Tony's disappearance, doing so in batches and escaping at the peak.
Harvey had no deep connections with the military or the government, which made Tony Stark unable to understand his logic.
Rumors suggested Harvey had a seemingly prophetic ability, but Tony Stark, a believer in science and technology, found it hard to accept.
"JARVIS, show me all the news about Stark Industries from the beginning of this year up to July," Tony ordered.
"Understood, sir."
JARVIS complied without questioning the reason and retrieved all the relevant news.
As Tony Stark reviewed the news, he noticed that apart from some long-standing controversies regarding Stark Industries' weapon manufacturing, most of the recent news was positive. Even the scandals that hadn't been suppressed by the board didn't affect the stock's value significantly.
The more Tony studied, the more he found Harvey Amberlock intriguing.
"JARVIS, calculate Harvey Amberlock's current wealth, including his stock and assets."
"Certainly, sir. I will assess his bank assets and property values."
"Completed. After rounding off, Harvey Amberlock's estimated total wealth is approximately $4.827 billion."
Tony Stark was astonished by this figure. In less than three years, Harvey had turned $4 million into such an impressive amount, which was indeed remarkable.
Moreover, Harvey didn't seem to have any employees, with all his assets being personal. At just twenty-one, soon to be twenty-two, Harvey was still at the beginning of his career.
Tony Stark knew that life wasn't always smooth sailing. He suspected that Harvey's peak might not yet have arrived. The recent plunge in Stark Industries' stock allowed Harvey to escape, suggesting that Harvey's legendary rise was far from over.
Tony remembered that Harvey had mentioned that someday Tony might need his help. His admiration for Harvey faded. No matter how down Tony felt, he would never seek Harvey's assistance.
Moreover, he believed he would never be in a position to need help. Despite the significant drop in Stark Industries' stock, he could turn things around and keep the company standing strong.
If such a day ever came, he would find a way to manage without seeking Harvey's help.
"JARVIS, keep an eye on Harvey Amberlock's activities. Notify me if he makes any significant moves."
"Understood, sir."
JARVIS acknowledged the instruction, and Tony Stark continued his work.
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