Capítulo 10: Press Conference
Pepper Potts, Tony's secretary and personal assistant, was waiting in a military airport after receiving news that the military had found and rescued Tony Stark. Behind her was Tony's bodyguard and driver, Happy. Several medical staff members were also waiting with them, prepared to treat Tony's injuries.
A plane landed at the airport and opened its door. Rhodes supported Tony down the lowered stairs, with Yinsen closely behind.
Pepper finally smiled tearfully when she saw Tony return safely.
"What, you missed your boss that much?" Tony jokingly asked when he saw Pepper's red eyes. He somewhat realized his feelings for Pepper during the kidnapping; Pepper was the one person he was thinking about the most.
"I'm just glad I don't have to find a new job," Pepper replied defensively, keeping her own feeling secret.
Tony introduced Pepper to Yinsen and asked someone to send Yinsen to his villa. He refused Pepper's request to get a check-up in the hospital, instead ordering his assistant to inform the media and hold a press conference.
When the media received the news about Tony Stark's return and press conference, their reporters immediately flocked to the venue, not willing to miss or be late to the bombastic news.
SHIELD's Nick Fury received the news earlier than anyone. He immediately sent agent Coulson, who had just returned from Afghanistan as well, to get detailed information on Tony Stark's escape.
The poor Coulson had no time to rest. He had been spending so much time in Afghanistan looking for Tony Stark and planning a rescue, only for Tony to escape by himself. As soon as he returned to the United States, the director immediately assigned him a new task. He was rather depressed, but there was nothing he could do but follow the order to attend the press conference, hoping to catch all the details of Tony Stark's escape.
Attending the conference with similar depression was Tony's uncle, Obadiah Stane. He was one of the leaders of Stark Industries, and he had concocted a plan to remove and replace Tony Stark by using the terrorists in Afghanistan. However, the terrorists unexpectedly went back on their agreement.
The Ten Rings. That was the terrorist organization that Obadiah contacted. After discovering that they had been used to kidnap the famous arms dealer Tony Stark, the leader of the group refused to kill the hostage. Instead, he ordered Tony Stark to build a missile, greatly disrupting Obadiah's plan.
It would've been perfect if the terrorists had killed Tony or kept the genius billionaire imprisoned. Obadiah didn't expect that the terrorist group would be so useless that Tony Stark could escape.
Obadiah was also perplexed that Tony immediately held a press conference after arriving in the United States. He had a bad premonition about this; he expected Tony to do something shocking at the press conference, but he couldn't prepare any countermeasure nor stop the conference within the short time that he had. He could only hurry to the press conference.
Tony took a car with Pepper to the press conference. He greeted Obadiah Stane at the entrance but didn't waste much time before getting to the podium.
Back at Uncle John's home, Uncle John was surprised to find that Li Yue had joined him to watch the TV instead of going out early in the morning or staying in the bedroom.
"Li Yue, why are you suddenly watching the TV with me? I thought you disliked it," Uncle John asked Li Yue out of curiosity.
"I heard that Tony Stark just returned from Afghanistan and immediately held a press conference. I just want to see what he wants to say," Li Yue replied while feigning indifference. Of course, he knew what Tony would say at the press conference. He just did not want to miss the moment that changed Tony's life.
"I see. I don't know what the fuss is all about. His missing in Afghanistan for three months had plummeted the Stark Industry stock valuations. Maybe he's trying to gain attention and restore the company's value with this conference, playing to the people's sympathy for his suffering," Uncle John scoffed at Tony Stark as usual. He obviously disliked Tony.
"It doesn't matter what he had experienced out there. Nothing can change his arrogance and playboy ways," Uncle John added.
"I believe that everyone can change, even Tony Stark!" Li Yue rebuked. Uncle John's words and immense prejudice against Tony Stark perplexed Li Yue.
"I have a feeling that he will be announcing a major decision in this press conference, a decision that will change not only Stark Industries and him but also the world." Li Yue was confident that Uncle John would be shocked by the content of the press conference.
"Then let us wait and see," Uncle John replied noncommittally. He did not think that the playboy Tony could make any shocking decisions.
"I couldn't be on my father's side in his last moments. I didn't even have the chance to say goodbye to him. I wanted to ask him what he thought about this company. Did he ever feel any doubts or contradictions? He probably wasn't the same person that I watched through the news." Tony paused. "I saw, with my own eyes, young American soldiers killed by the same weapon I invented to protect them."
Tony sat on the floor, leaning against the podium. He was speaking completely off-script.
"See, I told you. This press conference was staged to gain sympathy from others," Uncle John said to Li Yue, who was staring at the screen.
Tony suddenly stood up and walked behind the podium, declaring to the microphone, "My eyes were opened. I realized that there are more that I can and must contribute to this world, more than just another weapon. So I have decided to shut down the weapon development division of Stark Industries, effective immediately. I believe that we can find new directions that align with the best interest of this country."
Everyone in attendance was shocked by this declaration. They all looked at Tony with shock and disbelief.
Coulson was trying to speak to Pepper when this announcement dropped. He immediately reported the situation to Nick Fury.
Uncle John turned his head to Li Yue in disbelief, ignoring the raucous reporters on the TV. He couldn't believe his ears. How could an arms manufacturer exist without manufacturing weapons? Had Tony Stark gone mad?
Uncle John wasn't the only one with this thought. Almost everyone who heard about this announcement was incredulous. Who could've guessed that Tony Stark would make such a radical decision right after returning?
Li Yue sighed in relief when he saw Tony making the same decision as he remembered from the movie. He was really afraid that his appearance would change things for the worse, but fortunately, nothing radical had changed.
"Everyone can change, including Tony Stark," Li Yue whispered. He glanced once again at Uncle John, who was still staring slack-jawed at the TV, and returned to his room.
Uncle John was still staring at the handsome man with a small mustache on the TV. It was hard to believe what the man had just said. Uncle John couldn't imagine what had happened to change that man so much.
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