บท 73: Chapter 73
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"New perfume, huh?"
Tony Stark's nose was as sharp as ever.
Pepper Potts had only just arrived beside him when he keenly noticed this.
"It's much milder compared to the last one, but I think the previous one suited you better."
"You are 'Pepper' after all! It needs to be a bit spicier."
This was clearly not a proper boss-subordinate conversation, but Tony Stark delivered the comment with such smoothness.
"A person who can't even tie his own shoelaces is talking to me about perfume?"
Pepper Potts seemed to enjoy her boss's flirtatious banter and delightedly joined in.
In the basement, a cheerful atmosphere filled the space.
"Alright, Tony, cut it out!"
After a brief chat with her boss, Pepper Potts straightened her face and got down to business with Iron Man.
"Since you revealed your identity as the Destroyer, the military, politicians, countless partners - everyone you can think of has called me."
"There are lots and lots of issues here that need your confirmation."
Pepper Potts said to Tony Stark with some frustration.
Tony Stark was not surprised.
Given the unique nature of the Iron Man suit, it was certain to be coveted by all parties once revealed, without a doubt.
After all, no one is a fool; anyone can see the enormous value hidden behind the Iron Man suit.
However, Tony Stark was temporarily unconcerned with these commercial matters.
Because the main issue facing Iron Man now was on the legal front.
Or more specifically, the legality of the Iron Man suit!
This involved different departments and agencies, a complex web of interconnected issues.
It was indeed not something a small assistant like Pepper Potts could handle alone; Tony Stark needed to intervene personally.
He did not want the suit he had worked so hard to create to be confiscated just like that.
The usually frivolous and carefree Tony Stark became unusually serious.
He began to thoroughly discuss the matter with Pepper Potts.
After nearly half an hour, they finally finished - a monumental effort for Tony Stark, who usually spent so little time on company matters.
"OK, I get it, I'll take care of it now!"
After finalizing everything, Pepper Potts said goodbye to Tony Stark and immediately got up to handle these issues.
"Pepper..."
Tony Stark called out to Pepper Potts from behind, as if he had more to say.
"What is it, Tony?"
"Do you have anything else to add?"
Pepper Potts stopped and turned around, waiting for Tony Stark to confirm.
"Never mind, let's talk about it later."
Tony Stark waved it off, deciding not to reveal anything for now.
Pepper indeed had a lot on her plate, and seeing this, she did not pry further.
She left swiftly in her high heels.
She was unaware of what her boss wanted to discuss, but even if there was something, it would have to wait.
The plethora of issues surrounding the Iron Man suit was already too much for her to handle.
"Jarvis, what do you think about relaunching the Stark Industries Expo?"
After Pepper Potts left, Tony Stark excitedly broached this idea with Jarvis.
This wasn't just a whim of Tony Stark's. When he derived the new element from the model of the Stark Expo, the idea had taken root.
But until now, he had been too busy destroying the weapons sold by Stane and combating crime to give it much thought.
Now that things had settled down somewhat, Tony Stark felt it was time to put this idea into action.
Tony Stark had stopped Pepper Potts to discuss this very issue.
However, considering how occupied Pepper would be in the upcoming period, he decided at the last moment against it and kept it to himself.
"That's a brilliant idea, sir!" Jarvis voiced his strong agreement.
"That indeed it is," said Tony Stark with a nod, his tone shifting. "But first, let's deal with the small nuisances at hand."
Legalizing a dangerous weapon such as the Iron Man suit, especially when the upper echelons were well aware that it had already destroyed several terrorist weapon caches, would not be a "small nuisance" for anyone.
In fact, it would be an impossible task.
But for Iron Man?
He held an absolute core position within the military-industrial complex centered on Stark Industries.
He had a vast power that had been accumulated from Howard Stark's time till now.
So, for Iron Man, there indeed would be some trouble, but it was not an unsolvable issue.
Hence, Tony Stark, who usually shirked company matters, began to meet frequently with influential military figures.
After multiple negotiations and some bargaining over interests, Iron Man reached an agreement with the military.
The military would not publicly acknowledge the legality of the Destroyer suit, but they wouldn't take any actions against it either.
It was as if the Destroyer never existed.
Tony Stark was quite satisfied with this result and was not too surprised.
After all, the military was Iron Man's stronghold, and he naturally had the ability to manage and influence it.
For Tony Stark, the real concern were the politicians who wouldn't act until they saw a clear benefit.
They were the ones who truly required effort to handle.
But for Iron Man, even this was not a significant problem.
Despite his usual brashness and arrogance, his high intelligence allowed him to identify key points quickly in negotiations, adding considerable "persuasiveness."
Additionally, Stark Industries spared no expense in hiring top legal teams for technical support.
Everything proceeded smoothly and under control.
The situation was temporarily stabilized.
"Temporarily" because Iron Man would soon face another stern test: a Senate hearing.
Iron Man was well aware of this.
For something revolutionary like the Iron Man suit, official hearings would inevitably be convened to determine its ultimate fate.
But would Iron Man fear a hearing?
Obviously, that was impossible!
Whenever the hearing was held, Tony Stark would face it unflinchingly!
Such was the confidence of Tony Stark.
...
How Iron Man strived for legal justification for the Iron Man suit was unknown to the outside world.
Indeed, the public's focus was not on Tony Stark at the moment. No, that's not entirely accurate.
Iron Man remains at the center of public discourse, after all, he's just publicly revealed himself as the destroyer.
But Iron Man isn't at the very core.
So, what is at the core?
Without a doubt, it's the Iron Man suit!
It has been half a month since Tony Stark announced that he was the Iron Man as the public knows him.
Yet, the fervor for the Iron Man suit has not only not dissipated but has become increasingly intense.
Countless people are discussing the suit frenetically.
The enormous value of the Iron Man suit, the technology behind it, the potential threat it poses, the impact it has on the current military-industrial complex.
And so on and so forth.
Casually, any question is worth delving into, igniting public opinion and sparking endless debates among experts and scholars.
The fervor is truly unprecedented.
Riding on the east wind of the Iron Man suit, Stark Industries has returned to its peak position, even more victorious than before following the fall from grace Iron Man caused six months ago.
Since that press conference, Stark Industries' stock prices have soared like a rocket.
An ascent that is startling to behold.
However, for Zhou Cheng, it's a rise that prompts pounding on the chest, heaving sighs, and great frustration.
He thinks to himself, "I really missed out on several billion dollars."
"If I had only been more determined back then and continued to buy up Stark Industries' stock."
"By now, my balance would not be just ten billion, it would be several tens of billions, even hundreds of billions!"
Being a billionaire is one thing, but how can it compare to being a multi-billionaire?
What a difference a single thought can make!
I was too naive back then.
"I'm so stupid, really!"
"How could I have been so foolish to sell the blueprints at that time?"
Equally frustrated is Wade Wilson.
Not long after Zhou Cheng completed his assignment to take out Mrs. Gao, Deadpool also successfully struck a deal with Hammer Industries and sold the blueprints.
Back then, Deadpool was ecstatic, as he had effortlessly sold them for a whopping one billion dollars!
And although the money wasn't Deadpool's earnings, the commission he received from facilitating such a major transaction was substantial.
He was quite happy for many days.
But now?
Deadpool truly wants to slap himself!
"Why did I sell it so quickly?"
"If I had waited until now and sold the blueprints directly to Stark Industries, wouldn't I have made a fortune?"
Wade Wilson is certain that Stark Industries would have spent a fortune to ensure their technology wasn't replicated.
It wouldn't just be one billion; it might have been ten billion.
Deadpool is filled with regret.
But, unfortunately, there is no such thing as a regret medicine for Deadpool to take.
Regarding the stance on "I am the destroyer," apart from Zhou Cheng and Deadpool, there is another person with a significantly different perspective.
It's not the diary holder, Black Widow.
Instead, it's Black Widow's boss's boss, the director of SHIELD, the seasoned veteran Nick Fury.
In the Tri-Helion building, the director's office.
Nick Fury, wearing an eyepatch, looking somewhat fierce, sits at his desk.
Facing him are his two most loyal and reliable subordinates: Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff.
At this moment, the office is very quiet.
Both Hawkeye, Clint, and Black Widow are carefully reading a top-secret document known as "The Avengers Initiative."
This secrecy, of course, applies to Hawkeye.
Black Widow, the holder of the diary, has been aware of this plan for some time now.
"As expected."
"Director Fury is really going ahead with forming the Avengers."
"Everything is as described in the diary."
As Black Widow flips through that top-secret document, she sighs inwardly non-stop.
Like Tony Stark, Black Widow now has virtually no doubts about the diary.
Every event described in it has been verified.
"Do you two have anything to say?"
After Hawkeye and Black Widow finished reading the document, Nick Fury glanced at them with his one good eye and asked.
"Director, as you know, I was hoping to retire early," Clint says with a somewhat helpless shrug.
With the Avengers being so hyped up and receiving such high regard from Nick Fury.
Joining something of this caliber would make it hard to retire easily, wouldn't it?
One would be lucky to retire alive.
"People like you retiring would be a loss for SHIELD," Nick Fury stated, unmoved.
"Besides Clint and me, I'd like to know who else is part of this group."
Black Widow asks a pertinent question.
Thump!
Nick Fury tosses another stack of documents on the table, prominently featuring several individuals' information.
Clint takes one look and his expression immediately turns serious.
Because the individuals in these documents are no ordinary people.
The "Destroyer" Tony Stark, who has been stirring up the media, is included.
Then there's the person they've been monitoring, Dr. Bruce Banner, the failed military attempt to replicate Captain America.
Besides them.
There is an unremarkable-looking Asian young man.
If Zhou Cheng were here, he would realize it's his own information!
Yes, Zhou Cheng's identity as the "Satan" has been exposed at SHIELD.
It's not too surprising.
After all, Satan single-handedly took down the Ten Rings and rescued Tony Stark.
Such an act is bound to catch the attention of SHIELD.
Additionally, to ensure the diary's relevance, Zhou Cheng has shown his extraordinary abilities in public multiple times, albeit always masked. However, for an intelligence agency at SHIELD's level, uncovering Zhou Cheng's identity is not difficult.
Not to mention Zhou Cheng has Deadpool as an agent, making it even easier to trace.
Several months ago, Nicholas Fury marked Zhou Cheng, just like the other extraordinary individuals.
However, since Zhou Cheng, despite his power, has no bad record and instead engages in "activities" combating criminals, he was naturally shortlisted as a candidate for the Avengers.
"'Destroyer,' Hulk, and Satan," Clint remarks, unable to hide his amazement, "Natasha and I seem to be just making up the numbers."
Of course, the other individuals listed are all wielders of superpowers!
"This Hulk—is he the 'Big Green' mentioned in the diary?"
Black Widow ponders.
"Alright, from this moment on, you two are officially Avengers."
Nick Fury doesn't respond to Clint's jokes but makes the announcement with utmost seriousness.
"What about them?"
Clint points to the several documents on the table.
"Except for the one practicing yoga in Canada, I will make contact with the other two," Nick Fury responds as if it is the most natural thing to do.
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