In the laboratory of the Malibu Villa, heavy metal rock music was deafening, almost tearing off the ceiling. Tony Stark was immersed in his World, making the final adjustments to the leg drive system of the Mark VIII armor, with data streams on the holographic design flowing like a waterfall.
Just then, Jarvis's calm voice cut through the music, clear and distinct: "Sir, you might be interested in this message we just received. It's from our... unofficial information channel within the Hero Association."
Tony didn't even look up, his fingers gesturing in the air, adjusting the parameters of an energy valve: "If it's that muscle-bound jerk spouting more 'wisdom,' or their Sandman crushing another trash can, you don't need to tell me, Jarvis. I'm busy."
"Not at all, Sir. The message includes several images, concerning... prototype products developed by the Hero Association's Equipment Research Department."
Several high-definition images were projected onto the main workbench in front of Tony. The music abruptly stopped.
Tony's gaze swept over them casually.
The first image was of the shield called the "Multi-functional Adaptive Protection Unit · Prototype." It was an irregular polygon, with crude welding Marks, and a very conspicuous, cheap green-glowing speaker in the center.
Tony's eyebrows raised, as if he had seen something dirty.
The second image was of the "Basic Tactical Load-Bearing Platform · Prototype" vest, covered in pockets, hooks, and exposed energy conduits.
Tony's mouth began to twitch slightly.
The third image showed Sandman Flint holding a spray can labeled "For Sand · Do Not Spray Eyes" and "High-Efficiency Sand Particle Interfacial Activator · Prototype."
"Pfft—" Tony finally couldn't hold back, letting out a short, sarcastic laugh. He put down his tools, crossed his arms, and walked around the workbench twice, as if admiring an absurd circus performance.
"Jarvis... are you sure this isn't a leaked set photo from some third-rate sci-fi movie? Or 'creative art' dug out of a recycling plant?" His tone was full of undisguised disdain. "Look at this! This shield! Is it kidding me? What's that speaker for? To annoy enemies to death with noise when they charge? Or to play square dancing music for the user?"
He pointed at the vest: "And this! Is this thing meant for fighting in Syria or exploring the Amazon rainforest? Do they have some misunderstanding of the word 'tactical'? This is an insult to the word 'equipment'!"
Finally, his gaze fell on the spray can, his expression becoming extremely exaggerated: "And this... 'sand hairspray'? Ha! Do they think superpowers are hair? A spray will make the sand's hairstyle more flowing? Softer? I can't even imagine Sandman holding this thing, spraying himself, and then saying, 'I feel stronger'! This is pathetic!"
The more he spoke, the more absurd it seemed, and a feeling of double insult to his intelligence and aesthetics welled up in his heart.
He, Tony Stark, Iron Man, represented the World's most cutting-edge, advanced, and coolest technology! His armor was a work of art, a symbol of power! And Kingpin's Association came up with these... scraps?
"With these scraps?" Tony's voice rose an octave, filled with an overflowing sense of superior anger. "He wants to use these things salvaged from a junkyard to compete with Stark Industries' technology? To manage his so-called 'heroes'? This is an insult to the entire tech World!"
He abruptly waved his hand, turning off the image projection, as if another glance would contaminate his eyes.
"Jarvis, connect me to all mainstream media interview requests! Immediately! Right now!" Tony's face showed a mix of excitement and mockery, preparing for something big. "I want everyone to see clearly what real hero equipment is! What technology truly means!"
Hours later, Tony Stark's figure appeared again on a highly-rated tech talk show. This time, he wasn't in a suit and tie, but wearing a Stark Industries T-shirt stained with a bit of oil, looking casual and unruly, as if he had just been pulled from the laboratory.
The host clearly knew what the audience wanted to see. After a few pleasantries, he immediately steered the conversation towards the recently prominent Hero Association.
"Mr. Stark, as is well known, you hold a different view on the Hero Association's 'hero professionalization' concept. Recently, we've noticed the Association seems to have started its own equipment research and development. What is your opinion on this?"
Tony faced the camera, revealing a standard Stark-esque smile, seven parts mocking, three parts pity.
"Opinion? Frankly, when I saw their... uh, 'equipment,' I almost thought my lab network had been hacked and redirected to some parody website." He shrugged, his tone relaxed, but every word seemed to carry a sting.
"I thought that equipment research and development should at least follow some basic principles, such as... reliability, practicality, and, please, at least a basic sense of aesthetics!" He deliberately emphasized "aesthetics."
"I cannot understand what kind of brain circuit would think putting a speaker on a shield that shouts 'Go!' is a good idea." Tony made an incredulous expression, drawing a round of low laughter from the audience. "This is combat, not a school sports day! Do they expect to use 'words of encouragement' to convert enemies?"
"And those vests that look like they were dug out of a World War II logistics warehouse, covered in all sorts of bits and bobs..." Tony shook his head. "I guess the designer's inspiration was probably a hybrid of a 'multi-tool Swiss Army knife' and a 'hobo's bindle.' Besides adding weight and hindering movement, I can't think of any other use."
"What impressed me most... uh, 'impressed me,'" Tony paused, a playful glint in his eye, "is that 'hairspray' supposedly for sand. This has gone beyond my understanding of 'equipment' and entered the realm of performance art. Perhaps their next step should be developing a spray that makes Water 'wetter,' or a fan that makes Fire 'hotter'?"
A louder burst of laughter erupted from the audience.
Tony waited for the laughter to subside, then leaned slightly forward, facing the camera, his tone becoming a little more serious, but with an even stronger hint of mockery:
"Listen, I'm not mocking innovation. Innovation is great. But innovation needs to be built on a solid scientific foundation and at least basic engineering logic, not on whimsical ideas and... treasure hunting in a junkyard."
"Mr. Kingpin might be a successful... 'resource integrator,'" he used that suggestive term again, "but in the field of technology research and development, he and his Association are still playing in the mud. To arm heroes with such things, to face real crises? This is not just irresponsible, but also a disregard for the lives of heroes who might be injured or even sacrificed due to equipment flaws!"
He concluded emphatically: "True technology is the Mark series armor, it's the Arc Reactor, it's the power to change the World and protect lives! Not these attention-seeking... children's toys!"
"If the Hero Association's so-called 'professionalization' and 'guarantee' mean providing this level of equipment, then I can only say that their understanding of the word 'hero' is fundamentally flawed."
After the interview aired, it once again stirred up a media frenzy.
Stark's supporters cheered him on, believing he had accurately exposed the Association's "makeshift" nature. The Association's supporters, however, countered that Stark was arrogant and out of touch with the people, arguing that the Association's equipment focused on practicality and cost, making it more suitable for widespread use.
Inside the Association's Equipment Research Department, Dr. Leo watched Stark's mockery on TV. Far from being angry, he excitedly ruffled his messy hair and said to the shield on the workbench, which was still muttering, "Environmental humidity detected to be rising, moisture protection recommended":
"Hear that, old pal! Stark is mocking us! This means he's scared! He feels threatened by our pragmatic technology!" He patted the shield forcefully. "Just wait! When our big baby, the 'Sandstorm Generator,' successfully passes its tests, we'll see who the real children's toys are!"
Meanwhile, on the top floor of Fisk Tower, Kingpin watched Tony Stark's flamboyant face on the screen, showing no signs of being provoked, only a deep, unfathomable calm.
"Let him laugh," Kingpin said to Wesley, his tone indifferent. "Soon, he will understand that some things cannot be negated by mere words and flashy displays."
His gaze seemed to already see a future moment when Stark's dazzling technology would be outmaneuvered by some seemingly "rustic" but absolutely practical equipment or technology from the Association.
Tony's second taunt, like a stone thrown into a lake, had yet to calm the ripples. But beneath the surface, deeper undercurrents were quietly surging. The clash of technology and the confrontation of ideologies were destined not to end with a war of words.