At the press conference, Rhodes announced:
"Mr. Stark has prepared a statement. He will not be answering any questions. Thank you."
Tony walked up to the podium, facing the packed crowd of reporters.
"I haven't been in front of cameras for a while, so… let's just stick to the script."
Meanwhile, in the backstage area, Smith Dole was watching Tony on the television, smiling faintly.
"There's been speculation that I was involved in the incidents on the expressway and at the industrial park," Tony said.
A familiar reporter interrupted:
"Excuse me, Mr. Stark."
"Do you really expect us to believe it was just a movie set? When in fact—"
Tony looked at the attractive reporter he'd once had a fling with, and smirked.
"I know what you mean. It's fine to question the official story."
"But no matter what, you shouldn't just assume—out of nowhere—that I'm some kind of superhero."
Christine quickly raised her hand:
"I didn't say you were a superhero."
"You didn't?"
"Well, good. Because that'd be ridiculous."
"Absurd."
"I… I'm not superhero material. Obviously I've got too many character flaws, made too many mistakes, bad PR."
Seeing Tony rambling, Rhodes leaned over and reminded him:
"Stick to the script. Don't ad-lib."
Tony glanced down at the script, read it carefully… then lowered it.
"The truth is…"
Tony paused, then said:
"I am Iron Man."
The room erupted in an uproar.
"You're serious? You're saying you're Iron Man?"
"Mr. Stark, why did you admit it? How did you build the suit?"
Dozens of reporters were shouting questions about the armor, Iron Monger… until Christine stood up and shouted:
"Mr. Stark."
"I've just learned it wasn't you who defeated the giant robot, correct?"
At her words, the room fell silent.
All eyes turned to her. The bombshell was almost as big as Tony's own admission.
Christine held up a photo:
"Mr. Stark, according to an eyewitness, it was a man not wearing any armor—the man in this photo—who defeated the robot, right?"
"Online they're calling him 'our own Superman.'"
In the corner, Coulson slapped his forehead and muttered:
"Damn it. I knew Stark wouldn't stick to the script."
"And Smith… don't tell me he's going to admit it too."
"And those reporters—we told them to keep quiet! Who broke ranks?"
Tony walked over to Christine, held out his hand:
"May I see that photo?"
Christine handed it over.
Tony returned to the podium, looked at the photo—blurry, distorted—but he could clearly see it was Smith Dole in a martial arts gi.
Tony looked up at the reporters.
"I'm Iron Man. A superhero."
"And it's only natural to have a strong, like-minded friend at your side."
"He was the backup I called, and together we took down the villain…"
Tony thought for a moment.
"The villain, Iron Monger!"
"Using the DC template… yeah, I'm like an upgraded Bruce Wayne, and my friend, the one you've been calling 'Superman.'"
"So now… let me introduce the other man involved."
Tony stepped aside.
Smith Dole emerged from backstage, walked to the podium, and gave Tony a hug.
Seeing the reporters buzzing with excitement, Smith raised his hands to calm them.
"I'm the other man involved—Smith Dole."
"And no, I'm not the farm boy Clark Kent. After all, I'm not Kryptonian."
The crowd chuckled knowingly.
A reporter asked:
"Mr. Smith, are you from another planet too?"
Smith shook his head.
"Don't slander me. I don't get stronger just by sunbathing."
"Perhaps you don't know me well, so let me introduce myself."
"I'm the chairman of Capsule Corporation, and also the newest shareholder of Stark Industries. The stake acquisition has already been registered with the exchange."
"Capsule Corporation is a tech company dedicated to changing people's lives."
Tony chimed in:
"So Smith Dole is definitely no farm boy. And soon he'll be on Stark's board of directors."
The reporters understood. Another capitalist like Stark—one with serious clout.
No one knew yet what other backers Capsule Corporation might have.
"As for yesterday's events, Tony already admitted it. No point hiding it."
"Yes, we did join forces to defeat Iron Monger."
A reporter asked excitedly:
"Mr. Smith, so you are our Superman?"
Smith shook his head.
"I'm not Superman. Not some comic book superhero. I'm me—Smith Dole."
"And I want to tell everyone: justice is something you must achieve with your own hands, not leave to others."
"Even the Justice League can't save everyone."
"Of course, ordinary people can still call the FBI—we're all taxpayers, after all."
"Oh, and let me plug something—Capsule Corporation will soon launch a new product, and hold a launch event."
"The scientist behind the product is a genius girl who can rival Tony—she's only 16!"
All eyes turned to Tony.
He didn't undercut Smith, but said:
"I've met Bulma. She's a remarkably talented scientist, with great ideas and solid fundamentals."
"She's comparable to me at 16."
With Tony's endorsement, the reporters buzzed even more excitedly. The news today was explosive, every part of it.
(End of Chapter)
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