Chen Mo's final words struck like a thunderbolt, jolting everyone awake. Tony Stark and all the directors stared at Chen Mo in disbelief.
Stark Industries had a market value exceeding a hundred billion dollars. Sixty percent of the shares were worth over sixty billion. Chen Mo was just giving it away, and he wanted to include their shares as well.
"I absolutely refuse to sell my shares!"
One director declared harshly. Some other directors nodded in agreement, while others looked thoughtful, clearly tempted.
After Chen Mo's return, they had completely lost control of Stark Industries.
With Chen Mo backing him, they could no longer bully and restrict Tony Stark as before. Under the control of this playboy, they weren't optimistic about the company's prospects. Since they were powerless to change things, they might as well sell their shares.
One percent of the shares was still worth over a billion dollars.
Chen Mo's gaze swept across everyone's faces, taking in all their expressions and understanding their thoughts.
"Those unwilling to hand over their shares can continue reading the documents in front of you."
At Chen Mo's words, all the directors—whether willing to sell or not—curiously continued flipping through the documents before them.
Beneath the share transfer contract, they found another document. As they read carefully, everyone's expressions drastically changed, becoming extremely ugly—even worse than when Chen Mo announced dissolving the board and privatizing the company.
This document detailed every illegal act they had ever committed: tax evasion, arms smuggling, backroom deals, commercial crimes, hiring thugs to injure people, rape, even murder!
Every single incident was listed in detail—time, location, specific process—nothing omitted. The records were even clearer than their own memories.
All the directors looked at the documents in their hands, cold sweat streaming down their foreheads. If this information reached the police, they'd spend the rest of their lives in prison.
They nervously looked up at the others around them, only to find everyone else looking equally terrified and drenched in sweat.
Clearly, everyone's documents were the same. Their deepest secrets were all known to Chen Mo. What lay before them now was a naked threat: hand over the shares or go to jail.
The choice required no deliberation. Between giving up equity and imprisonment, the correct decision was easy. All the directors obediently signed their names on the share transfer agreements at the end of the documents.
As for resistance? After confirming Chen Mo's identity as the Commander, no one thought they could shake someone as powerful and influential as the Commander. Besides compromise, they had no choice.
Tony Stark also flipped to the back of his document, finding a share transfer agreement as well. The difference was that according to its contents, after signing this agreement, he would acquire one hundred percent of Stark Industries' shares. Stark Industries would become his private enterprise.
Tony Stark couldn't help looking up at Chen Mo.
"Dad, this..."
"Sign it. Howard and I agreed long ago—if he gave me a son, I'd give him all the shares."
Chen Mo's tone brooked no argument.
In the end, Tony Stark signed the agreement. Stark Industries thus became his personal private enterprise, completely under his sole control.
After all the directors had reluctantly signed the share transfer agreements like they'd lost their own children and left the conference room dejected, Chen Mo coldly addressed Phil Coulson behind him.
"Coulson, hand all their criminal evidence over to the police!"
"Yes, Commander!"
Tony Stark and Pepper exchanged glances, both showing satisfied smiles.
They'd actually thought Chen Mo would really let them off. They'd been feeling quite indignant about it, but Chen Mo didn't play by the rules. However, this was exactly the Commando Commander's style!
Chen Mo had never promised to spare them if they handed over their shares.
Looking at the share transfer agreement bearing both Chen Mo's and his own signatures, Tony Stark felt an indescribable emotion.
From today forward, Stark Industries would return to the Stark family's control, becoming an entirely private enterprise completely owned by him. Never again would the board interfere with his decisions, or even directly exclude him from company management, creating situations where he completely lost control of the company.
Stark Industries' future would be shaped and led by his hand alone.
The feeling was absolutely incredible!
Like reclaimed territory finally returning to its homeland, like a stolen child returning to his father's side, Tony Stark's excitement at this moment was beyond words. An unprecedented sense of fulfillment, security, and profound responsibility welled up in his heart.
Tony Stark couldn't help turning to look at Chen Mo beside him. This was the most precious, best gift he'd ever received. Having a father felt amazing!
In S.H.I.E.L.D.'s underground secret laboratory, Howard Stark let out a massive sneeze, and another precision component he'd spent days crafting was ruined in his hands.
"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"
"Damn it, how many times is this now! How could I possibly catch a cold when I've been enhanced by super-soldier serum and have a body stronger than a top athlete!"
"Could it be God doesn't want me to complete this great experiment?"
"Right! It must be that! My research has reached a level that even frightens God. I'm truly magnificent!"
"Ha! Ha! Ha!"
...
Setting aside Howard's near-madness from the sneezes, after resolving Stark Industries' power issues, Chen Mo and Tony Stark returned to Tony's beachside mansion basement to continue improving and developing the new iron suit.
Pepper Potts didn't return with them because Tony Stark's first order after completely taking control of Stark Industries was appointing Pepper as the company's new Chief Executive Officer, responsible for managing the entire company on his behalf.
Having experienced Obadiah's betrayal, Tony Stark wouldn't easily trust outsiders anymore. Of course, Pepper was an exception. Besides Chen Mo, she could be called Tony Stark's most trusted person—she was currently the best candidate for company leadership.
Pepper had been Tony Stark's personal assistant for many years, possessing extensive corporate management and secretarial experience. Her capabilities weren't in question, and she was very familiar with the company's situation. Tony felt completely at ease entrusting Stark Industries to her.
Although Tony felt deeper affection for the company after completely owning and controlling Stark Industries, having him stay at the company every day personally managing all its affairs was asking too much. Setting aside his lack of practical management experience, Tony's interests had always been in technological research and weapons manufacturing. Compared to sitting in an office handling paperwork, he much preferred staying in the laboratory conducting his research.
So he entrusted Stark Industries to his most trusted Pepper, while he continued developing his iron suit. Whenever he had opinions about the company's development, he'd just tell Pepper directly. He'd become a hands-off boss.
Though Pepper felt uncertain about suddenly managing such an enormous company, under Tony's encouragement—or rather, persuasion—she somewhat nervously accepted. She also hoped to help Tony by managing the company well for him.
The two returned to the villa laboratory and threw themselves back into improving the iron suit. Dr. Yinsen continued serving as their assistant, helping them out.
Through this period of following Chen Mo and Tony Stark in researching the iron suit, Dr. Yinsen felt as if a door to an entirely new world had opened before him. Various profound, advanced scientific technologies and new scientific theories constantly appeared before his eyes, making him feel like he'd entered a science fiction world.
Originally already a top scientist, Dr. Yinsen in this laboratory was like a country bumpkin from a primitive society stepping into the modern world. Besides gaping in shock before various era-transcending technologies and offering praise, all he could do was study desperately.
However, his gains during this time were indeed substantial.
With their deliberate help, he'd completely mastered many technologies and theories he previously couldn't understand. He could occasionally offer his own perspectives too, no longer like at the beginning when he could only pass tools and help out, completely unable to truly participate in the research.
Dr. Yinsen's abilities were actually quite strong. Otherwise, he couldn't have performed surgery on the severely bomb-injured Tony in a crude cave and installed the electromagnet in his chest, saving Tony from certain death.
It was just that previously, coming from a remote region of Afghanistan, his access had been limited. He'd had no opportunity to encounter overly advanced technology and theory.
With Chen Mo and Tony's help, Dr. Yinsen's abilities had improved tremendously. Gradually, he could offer some useful suggestions for improving the iron suit, truly participating in its development.
However, Chen Mo didn't remain in the laboratory very long.
Leaving Tony Stark to continue upgrading and optimizing the iron suit with Dr. Yinsen's assistance, Chen Mo left the villa alone and returned to the Chinese martial arts studio in Brooklyn.
But Chen Mo didn't stay there. When everyone thought he was still at the studio, he had actually already evaded all surveillance and quietly left, using Hydra's secret channels to silently return to Hydra headquarters—the top-secret base hidden deep in the Norwegian mountains.
"Eddie, pull up all intelligence files on Ulysses Klaue and Wakanda."
In the spacious office, Chen Mo sat in the chair behind his desk, giving instructions to Albert, who was pouring him coffee.
After speaking, Chen Mo picked up his coffee cup and took a light sip, his expression utterly satisfied. Pepper's coffee was nowhere near Old Eddie's level.