—I… —he cleared his throat— I was just uploading videos.
Widow added, relentless:
—Additionally, sustained growth indicates that the next cycle could exceed $180,000 USD if the current pace is maintained.
Eric let his head fall back against the chair.
He knew the system paid him instead of YouTube, but it fully adhered to YouTube's terms and policies.
So officially, this was the massive amount he was entitled to.
He ran his hands over his face.
—Okay. Okay. Calm down. Don't lose your head.
He checked the system's transfer history.
Clean accounts. Ghost accounts.
Shell foundations.
All completely untraceable.
—Thanks for not landing me in tax prison —he muttered.
[—System priority function] —the system replied this time, its tone dry.
[—Maintain your operational freedom.]
Eric chuckled softly.
—Right. Operational.
He straightened up.
—So, to sum it up —he said— I can support my family, pay for security… and still have money left over.
—Correct.
Eric glanced at his PS counter.
Current PS: 6,000
It had only increased by a thousand, which was a bit disappointing.
But remembering how it had once jumped from thirty thousand PS to fifty thousand, he didn't complain.
He shut the laptop and stepped out of his room.
---
MALIBU — HOURS LATER
Tony had his feet up on the table, a screwdriver in one hand and a piece of armor in the other, when JARVIS interrupted.
—Sir, incoming call. Director Fury.
Tony sighed.
—Of course. Why not? Patch him through.
A blue hologram appeared.
—Stark —Fury said— we've got something I think you'll be interested in.
Tony raised an eyebrow.
—More interesting than me? Doubtful.
—A cosmic artifact. Your father researched it in the past.
Tony let the screwdriver drop.
—…Oh.
Fury continued, never missing a beat.
—Unknown energy. Non-terrestrial signature. Potential that makes your toys look like overpriced flashlights.
Tony smiled slowly.
—Tell me where and when.
—Come to SHIELD in a few days. I sent you the coordinates —Fury replied— and bring your ego. It'll need the space.
Tony laughed.
—Director… you're starting to grow on me.
The transmission cut off.
Tony looked at the ARC reactor glowing in his chest, reflected in the glass.
—Alright, Howard —he murmured— let's see what you were hiding this time.
Pepper walked in with a tablet and looked at him.
—Are you sure you want to go yourself?
Tony nodded.
—He took a lot from me. —He touched his chest, where the reactor shone— but he didn't take away my ability to decide how this ends.
Pepper set the tablet down on the table.
—Then do it right —she said— no impulsive revenge that gets you into trouble.
Tony smirked.
—Pepper… if I wanted revenge, I'd already be building something with flamethrowers.
She smiled, relieved.
—That sounds… reasonable, coming from you.
Tony looked back at the blueprints spread across his table.
His fists clenched.
---
Night had fallen over Stark Industries.
The security sensors triggered a second before something descended from the sky.
The Mark IV landed with surgical precision in front of the administrative building.
Tony walked down the main corridor, each step echoing with metallic weight that wasn't meant to intimidate… but did anyway.
An office door burst open.
Inside, Obadiah Stane looked up, first surprised… then furious.
—Really? —he sneered— You're showing up in a costume now?
It infuriated him that Tony had this kind of technology in his hands and he didn't.
Tony closed the door behind him.
—It's not a costume —he replied calmly— it's a reminder.
Obadiah let out a bitter laugh.
—A reminder of what? That you're still a child playing at being important?
He stood up, circling the desk like an aging predator that still believed itself king.
—This company —he continued— wasn't built by you, Tony. I built it. While you played philanthropist, I negotiated, got my hands dirty, did what had to be done. So please, don't walk into my office dripping with arrogance.
Tony didn't move.
—Was having me kidnapped also "necessary"?
Obadiah froze for a second. The surprise was clear on his face.
Then he exploded, realizing denial was pointless.
—YOU WERE A PROBLEM! —he roared— Unstable. Impulsive. A child with nuclear toys. I just… accelerated an inevitable process.
Tony tilted his head slightly.
—You know what's funny? —he said— For the first time in my life… it doesn't hurt hearing you say that.
Obadiah clenched his fists.
—Without me, Stark Industries would've collapsed.
Tony took a step forward. The armor hissed softly.
—No —he corrected— without you, it can finally move forward.
A brief burst of propulsion slammed Obadiah into his desk.
Obadiah struggled to get up, red with rage.
—YOU ARE NOTHING WITHOUT ME!
Tony looked at him through the visor.
—That's what I believed for years.
The door opened again.
Phil Coulson entered, flanked by three armed agents.
—Mr. Stane —he said in his politely relentless tone— you are under arrest for conspiracy, illegal arms trafficking, attempted murder, and… —he glanced at his folder— a list that's honestly impressive.
Obadiah tried to resist.
It was useless.
The agents restrained him with quiet efficiency.
As they dragged him away, Obadiah shot one last look full of hatred.
—You're going to end up alone, Tony.
Tony opened the helmet. Cold air hit his face.
—No —he replied— that's the difference this time.
Coulson watched him.
—SHIELD will handle the rest.
Tony nodded.
—Much appreciated.
When the office was empty, Tony looked out the window toward the building's central reactor, now powered by the new element he'd discovered by following his father's clues.
—Stark Industries is going to set a new benchmark —he said softly— clean energy. Technology that protects. No weapons in the wrong hands.
He closed his eyes for a moment.
—I'm not alone —he repeated— and I never will be again.
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