This matter is settled.
Lynn did not look again at the news on the screen singing the praises of him and Yasuo.
Those were nothing more than performances with scripts already written; they were not worth a smirk.
His gaze landed on an obituary just printed out by Motoko Kusanagi on his desk.
Howard Stark.
MariaStark.
Two names printed on the pristine white paper, like two scars carved into the pages of history.
"How are the funeral preparations coming along?"
"Everything is ready."
Motoko Kusanagi replied.
"As per your instructions, we did not use any of Stark Industries' resources; all arrangements were made through Vought International channels. Additionally, we provided assistance from friends regarding security and media control."
Lynn nodded.
He stood up and put on a pure black cashmere coat that had been prepared well in advance, simple in style and tailored to fit.
He was now an ordinary person about to pay his respects to a deceased friend.
...
Long Island, Stark Estate.
The mansion, which used to be filled with genius whims and parties, now felt like a mausoleum covered in ice and snow.
The Underground Room was in a mess.
A figure was curled up under the workbench.
It was Tony Stark, his bow tie pulled askew.
Tony was not crying.
In those eyes that should have inherited all of Howard's wisdom and pride, there remained only a confusion and emptiness that transcended his age.
He clutched a circuit board in his hand, with several crooked parts soldered onto it.
That was a toy he had tried to repair yesterday, but now he didn't even have the strength to power it on.
Father and mother had overnight turned into black-and-white photos in a newspaper and two boxes buried in the mud.
He didn't understand.
Why?
Why would that smart man crash into a tree?
Why would that man, who could analyze the Universe from an atomic level, die in such a "common" car accident?
The whole World, from the Police to the media, was telling him this was an accident.
But deep within his heart, a voice was screaming crazily.
—Lies!
Footsteps coming from the stairs interrupted Tony's thoughts.
He looked at the entrance vigilantly.
Lynn's figure appeared at the door of the Underground Room.
He did not bring any entourage.
He just stood there quietly by himself, as if he were just an elder passing by.
His gaze swept across the messy studio and finally landed on those guarded eyes hiding in the shadows.
Lynn did not walk over, nor did he speak in a condescending manner.
He just casually found a chair to sit down, picked up a semi-finished mechanical glove on the workbench, and examined it carefully.
"Interesting structure."
Lynn's voice was gentle.
"The design of the energy conduction path is bold. If you can solve the heat dissipation problem at this node here, its power could be increased by at least 30%."
He pointed to an inconspicuous solder point on the glove.
Tony was stunned.
For the past few days, everyone who came to comfort him only spouted nonsense like 'my condolences,' 'be strong,' and 'your father would be proud of you.'
The way they looked at him was filled with cheap pity.
He was the first, and the only one, to discuss technology with him.
"I have known your father for nearly fifty years."
Lynn put down the glove and looked at Tony.
There was no pity in his eyes, only a kind of equal gaze that belonged between adults.
"He was an asshole—arrogant, paranoid, and sometimes so mean that it made people want to punch him."
Tony's body tensed up.
"But he was also an absolute genius."
"He could see a World others couldn't see, and could do things others couldn't. And you, you have inherited his talent, and even... surpassed him."
Lynn stood up and walked to the workbench.
He took off the pure black cashmere coat and gently draped it over the curled-up Tony.
"I promised him."
"I promised him that the honor of the Stark family would not be extinguished."
"Tony, I am not here to comfort you. Only cowards need comfort."
"I am here to tell you that from today on, I am your guardian."
"Before you officially take over the company, I will block all the storms from the outside World for you and deal with all the jackals coveting Stark Industries. There is only one thing you need to do."
Lynn squatted down, his gaze level with Tony's in the shadows.
"Grow up."
"And then, take back everything that belongs to you with your own hands."
What Tony Stark wanted was not sympathy or pity.
What he wanted was an answer, a goal.
Lynn gave it to him.
Until now, Lynn Morris was no longer just that high-and-mighty Vought International CEO in his eyes; he had truly become a "Godfather" who could understand him and whom he could rely on.
A person who held up a piece of the sky for him when his World collapsed.
...
In the following days, Lynn, in the dual capacity of "Howard Stark's close friend" and "Tony Stark's Godfather," took full charge of the transition period of Stark Industries.
He did not make any personnel changes, nor did he attempt to touch any core technology.
He simply stabilized the volatile stock price with the toughest means.
Lynn, in the name of a supervisor, convened a closed-door meeting attended only by members of the board of directors.
No one knew the content of the meeting; they only knew that those company veterans who had originally harbored ulterior motives and were preparing to stage a "pack of wolves devouring prey" scenario were, after the meeting, all pale as death and silent as cicadas in winter.
An impending internal corporate war was nipped in the bud by him.
He held a funeral for Howard and Maria that was infinitely grand, yet solemn and dignified.
The media all over the World saw that scene.
The iron-fisted leader of Vought International, Lynn Morris, stood silently behind the frail boy like a mountain, using his own figure to shield him from all the camera flashes and prying eyes.
His image was further endowed with a series of terms completely unrelated to business, such as "loyalty," "protection," and "devotion."
Vought International sold not just safety, but also "morality."
Dusk after the funeral.
Stark Estate.
Lynn was preparing to leave.
He had already arranged everything for Tony, including the best nannies and the most reliable bodyguard team.
He walked to the door, just about to get into the car.
"Uncle Lynn."
A voice came from behind him.
It was Tony.
He had changed out of his black clothes and was wearing a simple hoodie, standing on the steps at the entrance.
The setting sun cast his shadow very long.
"Thank you."
Tony said; this was the first time in these few days that he had taken the initiative to thank Lynn.
"This is what I should do."
Lynn turned back, a gentle smile on his face.
"I read the Police accident report."
There was a glimmer in his eyes that did not belong to his age.
"They said the braking system failed before the impact."
"But my father had just replaced that car with his latest invention, the electromagnetic braking system, a week ago. He said that system would never fail."
Tony stared fixedly at Lynn, asking word by word.
"You said you understood him, so tell me, would a man who could control even atoms make such a low-level mistake?"
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