Chapter 9: Chapter: 9
"Welcome back, sir. Please get in the car," Happy opened the backseat door and welcomed the few of them inside. "Where are we going?"
"To the hospital," Pepper replied without hesitation.
"No, we're not going," Tony refused.
"Why not, Tony? You need to go to the hospital!" Pepper glared at Tony with some anger.
"I said we're not going. Even with your concerned look, Pepper, I'm throwing a tantrum," Tony replied, displaying a childish attitude.
"Fine, Pepper. Mark here will be the peacemaker. If we're not going to the hospital, then we won't. Besides, I've put Baymax in the trunk. If there's anything wrong, Baymax will diagnose it, and I'll personally take him to the hospital," Mark interjected.
"That's right, Pepper. I know my own body. Even if you don't believe me, don't you trust Baymax, the invention of Mark? I've been held captive for three months, and now there are two things I want to do. First, I want a cheeseburger, and second, I want..." Tony's words were interrupted by Pepper.
"That's enough, Tony! You're shameless!" Pepper interrupted, her face turning red.
"It's not what you think. I want to hold a press conference."
"A press conference?"
"Yes, but before that, Happy, drive. Let's go find a cheeseburger."
...
Stark Convention Center, backstage after the press conference.
"Baymax, examine this old man's body."
"Understood, Master. Scan initiated."
"Scan complete. Based on the data analysis, the patient has multiple soft tissue contusions and open wounds, a slight fracture in the right forearm, residual metallic foreign objects in the chest area that may cause major organ bleeding, accompanied by symptoms of mental lethargy and excessive fatigue. I suggest you refrain from consuming junk food like cheeseburgers, adjust your condition through sufficient sleep and a balanced diet, and proceed to the next phase of treatment."
"Dad!" Mark looked at Tony and reminded him.
"Alright, I'm satisfied with your service," Tony acknowledged and evaluated Baymax's service.
"And what else?"
Looking at the palm extended in front of him by Mark, Tony reluctantly placed the last cheeseburger in Mark's hand. "Is this enough?"
"For now, it'll do. After the conference, remember to go back and get a good sleep. No more chasing after women!" Mark nodded in satisfaction and added another piece of advice.
"Am I that kind of person?!"
Upon hearing this, Mark showed a look of disdain. "Of course, you are."
"But I've been reborn. I'm not the same Tony as before!"
"Mountains may change, but nature remains. A dog can't stop eating shit!"
"You... you... are you still my son? It pains me!"
Despite the mischief between father and son backstage, Pepper, who was organizing and arranging the event flow on the front stage, encountered a mysterious man.
"Miss Potts, is that you?"
"Uh, yes, it's me." Faced with the inquiry from this unfamiliar man, Pepper hesitated.
"Can I talk to you for a moment?"
"I'm not participating in the Q&A session of this reception, but the press conference is about to start." Pepper indicated that the person could raise their question after the meeting.
"I'm not a reporter. I'm an agent. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Phil Coulson, affiliated with the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division."
"Are you reciting tongue twisters?" Pepper, facing this long and stinky organization name, couldn't help but unleash her sarcastic side.
"We're still working on that. Miss Potts, we're an independent agency with clearer and more specific goals. We need to inquire about Mr. Stark's specific circumstances during his escape."
"I'll add it to Tony's schedule, okay?" Pepper made an excuse to dismiss Coulson.
"Thank you." Coulson understood that it couldn't be helped and decided to retreat for now, waiting for the next opportunity.
....
"Ladies and gentlemen, the press conference is about to begin. Please take your seats according to the seating arrangement. Next, I invite Mr. Tony Stark to the stage for his speech."
"Alright, the reception has started. Don't be so tense, everyone. It's too formal that way.
As we all know, I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to my father, and I have some questions that I never had the opportunity to ask him.
How did he view the company? Did he have struggles and doubts? Maybe he was just like the person in a news documentary.
But this time, I saw young soldiers of our country being killed, and it was my weapons that I created to protect them that caused their deaths.
I also realized that I have become a member of a system that refuses to take responsibility."
Tony's topic gradually deepened, and the atmosphere on-site became increasingly heavy. The people in attendance held their breath and focused intently on Tony's speech. Only one person's expression turned increasingly ugly as he sensed something unusual in Tony's words. That person was Obadiah Stane, a senior figure in Stark Industries and Howard Stark's business partner.
"Mr. Stark, where did you experience all of this?" A journalist stood up and asked his question.
"I had an eye-opening experience there. I realized that I could do more for this world than just creating explosions.
Therefore, I made a decision: to shut down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark Industries."
After Tony announced this decision, Obadiah Stane's face turned completely dark. "Tony Stark, damn it--"
"Furthermore--" Just when the scene had already turned chaotic due to Tony's earth-shattering speech, Tony's talk wasn't over yet. "I would like to introduce someone to you all."
"Perhaps you all already know him, considering that the circulation of your newspapers increased significantly when the news of me having a son broke out. Yes, the person I'm introducing is none other than my son, Mark Stark!
Mark possesses mechanical talents that are in no way inferior to mine. His youthful and vibrant mind is filled with fresh ideas that may even open a new door for me. And not long ago, he truly achieved that. Baymax--"
With Tony's call, the inconspicuous red suitcase placed on the stage automatically opened, and after a while of inflation, Baymax swayed his way to the front of the stage.
(●—●) "Hello, I am Baymax, your personal healthcare assistant. Do you require medical care?"
"Wow!" The appearance of Baymax caused a wave of exclamations in the audience. And after Tony repeated Mark's experiment using a roll of duct tape, everyone's gaze was fixated on Baymax on the stage.
"So, as the Chairman of Stark Industries, the second decision I am announcing today is that Stark Industries will enter the healthcare industry!"
With Tony's announcement of this decision, the crowd erupted once again. Obadiah Stane in the audience couldn't sit still anymore and immediately went up to the stage, putting his arm around Tony's shoulder and moving him away from the microphone.
"Alright, I believe you won't have any trouble selling newspapers tomorrow. The good news you should take away from here today is that Tony Stark is back, and he is healthier than ever. Alright, today's press conference ends here!"
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