"Shutting down Stark Industries' weapons manufacturing division? Does he really think it's going to be that simple?" Dan watched the live broadcast of Tony Stark's press conference on the screen, smiling faintly to himself with a meaningful tone.
"Master, if Stark Industries shuts down its weapons division, their stock price will definitely plunge sharply. Should we sell all the shares we're holding now?" Izu blinked while watching the news conference on the screen and asked.
Dan smiled mysteriously and waved his hand.
"No need. When the price drops to rock bottom, Genm Corporation will just buy more."
"Understood." Although Izu had no idea why, since Dan said so, he must already have everything planned — she only needed to execute.
Even though Dan's Genm Corporation already possessed more than enough wealth, earning an enormous amount effortlessly was never a bad thing.
These funds might mean little to Ichiro personally, but they could be used to grow Genm Game Corporation, expand the promotion of their game systems, and provide more fertile ground for the Bugster Virus to spread and develop.
And in the United States, as long as you have money, almost no problem is unsolvable — capital can resolve nearly all troubles.
Tony Stark had been attacked by terrorists in the Middle East and went missing for several weeks. When everyone believed his chances of survival were slim, he used his extraordinary talent to build a miniature arc reactor and the first-generation Iron Man armor in a crude cave workshop where the terrorists imprisoned him. With the help of Dr. Yinsen — the man who saved his life — Tony escaped.
Yinsen died buying Tony precious time, falling under a hail of bullets. His death became a turning point that profoundly changed Tony Stark's mindset.
Despite Tony's arrogance, narcissism, poisonous tongue, and difficult personality that made normal people unable to tolerate him — leaving him with very few real friends — he treasured the rare people he did trust deeply.
Whether it was Air Force Colonel Rhodey, his chauffeur-bodyguard Happy, or his secretary Pepper, Tony valued them greatly.
Although teasing and snark were constant, it was more the banter between friends.
From handing control of the massive Stark Industries entirely to Pepper without hesitation, to unlocking the systems and letting Rhodey take the Mark II armor back to the military when he believed himself dying from palladium poisoning, or angrily provoking the mastermind behind the Extremis attacks after Happy was critically injured — even giving away his home address — all demonstrated Tony's loyalty to those he cared about.
And Yinsen was a friend he acknowledged. Sharing life-or-death hardship together in the terrorists' cave forged a bond beyond normal friendship — and Yinsen sacrificed his life for Tony.
His death struck Tony deeply and directly triggered Tony's transformation.
So after returning to the U.S., Tony didn't rest for even a moment — he immediately held a press conference and did something shocking once again.
In the past, he often behaved unpredictably, though mostly in his personal life, such as ignoring prestigious awards at ceremonies and ditching them to gamble with models in casinos.
But this time, upon returning, he announced something fundamentally different.
At the press conference, Tony Stark sat casually on the steps before the podium, holding a half-eaten hamburger, and announced as CEO of Stark Industries: the complete shutdown of the weapons manufacturing division.
The moment the words left his mouth, chaos erupted. Reporters exploded with questions.
Stark Industries was the largest military manufacturer in the United States — weapons production was its core pillar. A sudden announcement that they would no longer produce weapons would shake the company internally to its foundation.
And the largest, most advanced weapons manufacturer in the country stopping production entirely? What kind of national-level shock would that trigger?
Within minutes of the announcement, the briefly recovering Stark stock price, boosted by the news of Tony's return, plunged off a cliff.
Both outsiders and insiders were in an uproar — a military-focused corporation abandoning weapons production? What would be left?
Tony Stark then shut himself inside his mansion, obsessively working to perfect the Iron Man armor — from Mark II through improvements of flaws and upgrades, until he completed Mark III.
When he finally left his house after days of seclusion, he learned from reporters that despite his announcement, Stark Industries was still selling and producing weapons.
Tony immediately confronted Obadiah Stane, who had been running the company during his disappearance.
There he learned that Obadiah — whom he had treated as an uncle and trusted elder — had teamed with the board to remove Tony from the CEO position.
"Tony, I did this to protect you — and for the good of the company. You can't just recklessly shut down the weapons division. Have you thought about what would happen to Stark Industries? Without revenue, the company couldn't survive. I will not stand by and watch Stark Industries collapse. Howard wouldn't have wanted that either.
After announcing that decision, you hid at home and ignored everything. This company is your father's and my life's work. I cannot let your impulsiveness destroy it."
Obadiah spoke in an earnest tone, pretending to act for Tony and the company's future.
But inside, he was ecstatic. Tony had just chopped off one of the company's arms himself. He assumed Tony's return meant he would lose the CEO position again — but with this foolish decision, the board would never support Tony now.
Obadiah could take control of the company, and later find a way to eliminate Tony entirely.
Stark Industries would no longer exist — only Stane Industries, with Obadiah Stane at the helm.
After sending Tony off, Obadiah smiled, already imagining himself ruling the company.
Tony Stark, arrogant and self-centered as he was, was also extraordinarily intelligent. Hearing Obadiah's explanation only intensified Tony's suspicion.
He kept a calm exterior, but internally he had already resolved to investigate his old family friend thoroughly.
He then asked Pepper to collect evidence of Obadiah's treachery.
Pepper narrowly succeeded — but as soon as she left, Obadiah discovered that his conspiracy had been exposed.
(End of Chapter)