章 61: Chapter 61: I Am Iron Man, New Spider Suit
BANG!!!
Inside Kingpin's office.
Kingpin, filled with rage, slammed his fist into his desk, leaving a massive hole. His eyes burned with fury as he glared in the direction of Stark Industries.
"Obadiah, you useless fool!"
From the beginning of the battle, Kingpin had been closely monitoring the situation. Thanks to his extensive network, he was receiving real-time updates on the fight. When he saw Obadiah initially overwhelming Tony, he was thrilled. He thought his grand plan was about to unfold.
But then Spider-Woman showed up!
He was certain that if it weren't for Spider-Woman, Obadiah wouldn't have lost tonight, and Stark Industries would have been completely under his control by the end of the night.
"Spider-Woman..."
Kingpin's gaze deepened as he looked toward the glowing flames on the Queensboro Bridge, scheming something.
"Boss, we've got the latest intel."
A subordinate entered the room, speaking respectfully to Kingpin's back.
"Speak."
"Tony has been secretly escorted to a hospital by the military. Should we...?"
The subordinate paused, waiting for Kingpin's decision.
Kingpin snorted coldly. "Whether Tony lives or dies no longer matters to us. But now, there's someone else I want dead."
"Who?"
"Spider-Woman. Track down Spider-Woman's true identity with all our resources. She's going to pay for meddling tonight!"
"Understood, boss."
---
Elsewhere on a New York street, a bald woman in monk robes stood on a rooftop, also gazing in the direction of Stark Industries.
"Tony Stark..."
"Unfortunately, he's still not the best candidate."
At that moment, a golden portal appeared behind her, and a black man stepped through.
He looked at the bald woman's back with great respect and said, "Master, Kaecilius has escaped."
The bald woman turned around, her expression calm. "It doesn't matter. He'll come back."
The man glanced at the distant flames and the blaring sirens echoing throughout New York. "What happened over there?"
The bald woman took a look and then said, "Nothing significant. The birth of a hero often follows a disaster."
"Let's go."
"Master, where to?"
"Back to Kamar-Taj. New York already has its guardians; I can leave for a while."
In front of them, another golden portal opened, revealing the other side—a quaint palace. In a courtyard, a group of monks seemed to be practicing some techniques.
As the two stepped through, the portal disappeared behind them, leaving the rooftop as tranquil as if nothing had ever happened.
---
On the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier.
Nick Fury had watched the entire battle unfold and had been holding his breath, worried for Tony's fate.
Thankfully, Spider-Woman had appeared. Otherwise, one of his carefully selected Avengers candidates might have been lost.
Maria Hill approached Nick Fury, handing him a phone. "Coulson is reporting in."
Nick Fury took the phone. "Coulson, where are you now?"
"Sir, we're at Tony's private hospital. I think, to minimize the impact, we need to create an alibi for Tony, something to keep him out of the media's focus. That way, we can discuss the next steps with him."
Nick Fury thought it over. It made sense. Coulson was getting the hang of things.
"No problem. I'll have it arranged."
"Agent Hill."
"Create some evidence that Tony was vacationing on an island tonight. Get a few agents to act as witnesses."
Hill stepped forward, taking the phone from Nick Fury. "Understood, Director."
Nick Fury looked at the screen showing the burning Queensboro Bridge and muttered to himself, "Tony, it looks like it's time for us to meet."
...
Outside Gwen's House.
"Auntie, thank you for having me. I'll head home now," Alan said, bidding farewell to Gwen's mom at the door.
Gwen's mom apologized, "I'm sorry about that. Her father is just like that."
"He was the one who invited you for dinner, yet he left early."
Alan smiled, "It's alright. Next time, I'll invite you all over to my place for a meal."
Gwen, standing behind her mother, waved goodbye to Alan as well.
Back home, Alan first harvested a batch of four-leaf clovers, then glanced at the Pokemon egg in his room.
"It'll hatch in two days," Alan said, looking at the egg. "Little one, I hope you'll turn out well."
"Red Queen," Alan called out.
"Yes, Master?" came the AI's response.
"Search for a bigger house in New York, one that's suitable for you to control the whole place."
"In a few days, we're moving."
"Understood, Master."
---
The Next Morning.
In a private hospital, Tony Stark sat on his bed wearing a hospital gown, having just finished some tests.
Pepper Potts walked in, carrying the clothes Tony would wear that day.
"Tony, it's time to get dressed," she said.
"Of course. Looks like Rhodey's not managing well on his own," Tony replied.
Meanwhile, the hospital's conference room was packed with reporters. Rhodey was making some innocuous statements to clarify what had happened the previous night. But the reporters were all there to see Tony.
In his hospital room, Tony had changed into his clothes and was holding a newspaper that reported the events of the previous night. Pepper stood by his side, fixing his hair.
"Iron Man... I like that name," Tony said with a grin.
Pepper rolled her eyes, ignoring his comment.
Coulson walked in, handing Tony a script. "Here's what you need to say. We've already arranged witnesses for you."
"Last night, you were on a tropical island vacation with fifty other people."
Tony took the script. "I thought it was just me and Potts."
"What organization are you from again...?" Tony struggled with the name.
Coulson chuckled. "You can call it S.H.I.E.L.D."
"That's much better."
"I thought so too."
Tony, now dressed in a suit, headed to the press conference. The scene was broadcast live on every TV station.
Alan sat on his couch, holding a cup of warm water. With no classes today, he could witness this historic moment in the Marvel universe.
Gwen swung in through the balcony on her web, seeing Alan lounging comfortably on the sofa.
"Looks like we both have some free time today," Gwen said as she walked over. Alan made room for her to sit beside him.
Gwen noticed the TV content after sitting down.
"Tony Stark... Isn't he the guy in the armor from last night?" Gwen exclaimed in surprise.
Last night, because of the armor, Gwen hadn't immediately recognized Tony. But now, seeing him on TV, she made the connection.
"Yeah, that's him."
"Let's watch together."
Gwen lay down on Alan's shoulder. "I'm not really interested in this kind of thing, but watching it with you isn't so bad."
Alan affectionately patted Gwen's head. "I'm not usually that interested either, but this is going to affect my future life."
"Your future life?" Gwen asked, puzzled. How could a press conference affect his life?
On TV, Tony suddenly went quiet, looking away from the script in his hand. He glanced around at the reporters and then at the camera.
Alan smiled, "It's coming."
Gwen looked at the TV, confused. What's coming?
Tony put down the script, took a deep breath, and said, "The truth is... I am Iron Man."
The room exploded. Reporters furiously snapped photos of Tony, eager to capture this headline moment.
Rhodey and Yinsen exchanged smiles, both clapping in agreement. This was classic Tony.
Pepper shook her head, but seeing Tony's happiness, she couldn't help but smile too.
Only Coulson looked completely baffled.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go! Weren't you supposed to stick to the script?
This is bad! How am I going to explain this to the Director?
Meanwhile, in Nick Fury's office at S.H.I.E.L.D...
Nick Fury watched Tony's final words, "I am... Iron Man."
"Interesting, he really is Howard's son," Fury remarked. "Hill, get ready to hack into Tony's home. I plan to meet him tonight."
Fury pressed the button on the phone beside him. Hill's voice quickly responded, "Understood, Director."
All of New York was fixated on this historic moment. Just an hour after the press conference, Stark Industries' stock saw an unprecedented surge.
Tony had not only revealed his identity as Iron Man but also used the opportunity to promote new energy technologies and announce the future direction of Stark Industries. Everything was moving in a positive direction.
Gwen, leaning on Alan's shoulder, stared in shock at the data the Red Queen displayed on the computer. She didn't buy stocks, but she knew what this meant—Alan had made a fortune.
"Alan, you're amazing!" Gwen was so happy for him that she threw her arms around his neck, bursting with excitement.
But where there's joy, there's also disappointment. Many were regretting selling their Stark Industries stocks too early, and among them was Kingpin.
Sitting at his desk, Kingpin's massive body trembled with rage as he stared at the skyrocketing Stark Industries stock on his computer. He felt an overwhelming urge to take out his anger on someone.
His accountant stood silently beside him, too afraid to speak.
"What are you still standing there for? Figure out a way to buy Stark Industries stocks!" Kingpin ordered.
The accountant lowered his head further. "It's impossible, Boss. When Stark Industries' stock was at its lowest, there was already a major buyer scooping it all up. And now, with the price soaring, it's even harder."
The accountant's voice grew softer until it was almost inaudible. "Right now, a large portion of Stark Industries stock is in that person's hands."
Kingpin narrowed his eyes, recalling the investigation into Alan he had ordered recently. An idea formed in his mind. "You can leave now," he said.
Kingpin pressed the intercom on his desk, "Come in."
Soon, one of his men walked in.
"How's the investigation on Alan Ford going?" Kingpin asked.
"I was just about to report on that, Boss," the man replied.
"Go on."
"Alan is a Asian orphan who inherited a large fortune after his parents passed away. He has no connection to Stark Industries or Tony Stark. He only moved to New York recently to attend university. He has no family here."
After hearing the report, Kingpin smirked. "I have an idea."
"What's your plan, Boss?" his subordinate asked.
Kingpin slowly stood up, leaning on his cane as he walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. "I'm going to buy all the Stark Industries stock he owns. And the price... will be $1."
"Understood, Boss. I'll take care of it right away!" The subordinate caught on quickly. They were no strangers to this kind of strong-arm tactics.
"No rush," Kingpin said. "Let the stock climb a bit more. The more someone gains, the more it hurts when they lose everything."
"Understood, Boss. Leave it to me."
Kingpin waved his hand, dismissing him. Little did he know that he was about to provoke someone he should never have messed with.
---
"Alan, did you really design this for me?" Gwen asked, her face lit up with excitement as she looked at the new Spider Suit displayed by the Red Queen on the computer.
"Yes, the Red Queen will explain all its features to you," Alan said, holding a cup of water. "See if there's anything you want to change."
"I've already had the Red Queen set up a small factory under my name. All the equipment and materials will be ready in a couple of days. The new Spider Suit can be made by then."
Gwen nodded eagerly.
"Miss Gwen, the new Spider Suit is made of carbon-based material, making it more comfortable and breathable without hindering any of your movements. The new web shooters are equipped with a built-in pulse current, allowing you to alter the shape of the web for more offensive capabilities. The web's firing speed has also been enhanced."
"The goggles use the most advanced display technology and can connect directly to my neural network, providing you with maximum assistance in tracking enemies and fighting," the Red Queen explained.
There were many upgrades, and the Red Queen patiently went through them all while Gwen listened attentively. This was a suit designed just for her by Alan.
Alan watched Gwen with a smile, feeling a deep sense of accomplishment.
Yes, this feeling is exactly what I was going for.
...
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