American Comics: Tales of Cultivator

Chapter 93: Shares, Attack, Iron Monger

Tang Song put down his knife and fork, picked up a salt-baked crab leg from the tray, took a pair of scissors, gently cut open the Snow Crab leg, and pulled out the tender white crab meat inside.

He placed the crystal-clear, tender white crab meat onto an exquisite small plate. Tang Song snapped his fingers behind him.

"J.A.R.V.I.S., could you please get me some crab vinegar!"

Tang Song's request was quickly answered. A mechanical arm extended towards Tang Song, holding a small dish of prepared crab vinegar.

"Thank you!"

Tang Song took the crab vinegar and politely said thanks.

"You're welcome, sir," J.A.R.V.I.S.'s steady, rich stereo voice seemed to echo in Tang Song's ears.

"Artificial intelligence. It's hard to imagine that we humans can achieve this level relying on technology!"

From J.A.R.V.I.S., the artificial intelligence, Tang Song thought of the magic treasures in the Jambudvīpa World.

The most fundamental difference between magic treasures and magic tools is the birth of their own divine sense.

Unless passed down from master to disciple, or choosing their own master, others can never seize them.

Even if one's magic power is ten times higher than the original owner's, they can only be confined. This is just like J.A.R.V.I.S.; unless authorized, others have no way to use him at all.

Unless the magic treasure's divine sense is dispersed,

But in that case, the magic treasure would fall to the level of a magic tool, losing its original agility/spirituality.

Only those who have cultivated to the Nascent Divinity stage can refine magic treasures. To manipulate magic treasures, one needs at least the cultivation of Sha Condensation or Refining Astral Qi. Any lower cultivation would be unable to truly activate a magic treasure.

Magic treasures at this level are called Void Spirit in the Jambudvīpa World.

Tang Song poured the crab vinegar over the crab meat, forked a piece of crab leg meat into his mouth, and savored the sweet and fragrant taste of the crab meat in his mouth.

Seeing Tang Song eating so happily, Tony Stark, feeling somewhat helpless, was fiercely eating his nutritional meal on the side.

Freshly squeezed bitter melon juice and some coarse buckwheat bread were indeed hard to describe in terms of taste.

Watching Boss Tang happily eating crab and drinking wine, Tony Stark couldn't help but voice his feelings: "He came from Stark's hands, unique in the entire world!"

"Indeed, a uniquely brilliant mind," Tang Song didn't refute Stark's words but praised him along his line of thought.

"Many people only look at the rise and fall of Stark's stock price. What I value is precisely Mr. Tony Stark's brilliant mind!"

"Since artificial intelligence can be developed, I believe that even if Stark Industries leaves the arms industry, with Mr. Tony Stark present, the company still has great potential!"

"I am very optimistic about the development of Stark Industries, so I'm sorry, the shares I hold will not be sold!"

At this moment, a woman in professional attire walked in quickly from outside, carrying a bag. She seemed to have heard Tang Song's words, as she didn't even have time to put down her bag.

"Mr. Tang, perhaps you don't have much concept of company operations. After Stark Industries cut off the weapon manufacturing division, its revenue decreased by at least 60%," Ms. Pepper Potts tried to persuade Tang Song:

"Currently, the stock of Stark Industries that you purchased at a high price has shrunk by at least one-third.

If I were you, cashing out now would be a wise choice to cut your losses in time."

Pepper Potts, a woman of considerable legend.

After all, not just any woman could manage Tony Stark.

Honestly, Pepper's appearance wasn't outstanding, at least not in Tang Song's eyes.

Dressed in professional attire, her barely delicate face was dotted with a few freckles.

However, she acted decisively and energetically, looking like a strong businesswoman.

It made sense. In a Mary Sue novel, Pepper would be a complete winner in life.

From a female secretary, she rose to become the president's wife with a net worth of billions, defeating countless mistresses who tried to climb the ranks.

When she was a secretary, she had to deal with the women in Tony Stark's room every morning.

Later, she served as the executive president of Stark Industries, and her business capabilities could be said to surpass Tony Stark's.

Such a woman, even Boss Tang couldn't help but look at her differently.

"Hello, Ms. Pepper Potts, I am Tang Song!"

Tang Song looked at Pepper Potts, stood up proactively, and extended his hand.

"Hello, Mr. Tang!"

Pepper smiled and shook hands with Tang Song.

Tony Stark stood nearby, his eyes fixed on their hands. Seeing that Tang Song only shook her hand briefly before letting go, he let out a long sigh of relief.

It really was like brine curdling tofu, one thing conquering another. Hearing Tony Stark's sudden change in breathing rate, Tang Song couldn't help but find it amusing.

To each their own; Boss Tang didn't like Pepper's type.

While Boss Tang didn't have many standards for finding women, there was one prerequisite: they had to be beautiful.

Pepper Potts perfectly fit the saying, "Marry for virtue." As for appearance, that was a matter of personal taste.

It wasn't surprising that Tony Stark was nervous. As an experienced playboy,

Boss Tang was handsome and wealthy. Standing next to Pepper, even Tony Stark couldn't help but feel a sense of crisis.

Tony Stark walked over to Pepper, asking about company matters, and intentionally or unintentionally, he put distance between Tang Song and Pepper Potts.

Tang Song's refusal made Pepper's expression somewhat difficult.

Inviting Tang Song to the villa as a guest was actually her idea.

Because Boss Tang currently held 7.5% of Stark Industries' shares.

Stark Industries was founded by Tony Stark's grandfather and developed into the world's top industrial company through three generations: Howard Stark, and Tony Stark.

However, due to benefit exchange and resource binding,

Stark Industries, like many other large companies, engaged in cross-shareholding and benefit exchange with various interested parties.

The Military, some partners, and a certain unnamed Agent Organization all held a large number of Stark Industries shares.

Although the Stark Family had always been the major shareholder of Stark Industries, their family's shares were not as numerous as one might imagine.

Compared to Norman Osborn, Tony Stark, thanks to his indispensable brilliant mind, had the final say in Stark Industries.

Essentially, to put it plainly, Tony Stark could lead everyone to make money, so in the company, whatever Tony Stark said, went.

However, this time Tony Stark announced the closure of the weapon manufacturing division and planned to fully enter the energy industry instead.

This was like Pony Ma of Tencent holding a press conference and announcing that Tencent would completely withdraw from the game industry, and the group would no longer develop or operate any games in the future.

Then you'd see if Tencent's shareholders would agree, and what Tencent's stock price would become.

Tony Stark's decision was undoubtedly bleeding Stark Industries dry from its main artery.

The shareholders immediately exploded.

The feedback from the financial market was the most realistic.

Similarly, less than a day after Tony Stark announced the closure of the weapon manufacturing division, Stark Industries' stock price plummeted.

Stark Industries faced its most severe market downturn in history, and everyone was frantically selling their Stark Industries stock.

For Tony Stark, this was a perfect opportunity to buy back shares.

Tony Stark was an inventive genius, once hailed as one of the eight smartest people in the Marvel World.

While his business acumen wasn't as innate as his inventions, he had Pepper Potts, who was skilled in management, working under him.

As Tony Stark's personal and administrative secretary, Pepper, like everyone else, didn't understand why Tony Stark would abandon the arms market.

However, she trusted Tony Stark, especially after he showed her his Arc Reactor.

She realized the huge profit that the stock price crash could bring.

Therefore, Pepper and Tony Stark discussed it and decided to take this opportunity to repurchase Stark Industries' stock.

Pepper directly used the authorization Tony Stark gave her for J.A.R.V.I.S. to conduct share buyback through several secret overseas accounts of the Stark Family.

Using multiple accounts, in large batches but small amounts, they swept the secondary market. With artificial intelligence like J.A.R.V.I.S. performing the most detailed operation,

Logically speaking, with the vast family funds of the Stark Family as backing, Pepper was confident she could increase Tony's shares in Stark Industries to over 40%.

Unexpectedly, after only one day of operation, J.A.R.V.I.S. keenly detected that another group of people was quietly acquiring Stark Industries' shares in the financial market.

Under J.A.R.V.I.S.'s investigation, coupled with Boss Tang not deliberately concealing anything,

That's why Tang Song received Tony Stark's invitation.

"What is J.A.R.V.I.S.'s underlying logic? If he were given true 'freedom,' could he evolve into a real artificial intelligence?"

Tang Song ignored Pepper. Instead, his gaze turned towards Tony Stark.

"Freedom? What aspect are you referring to? For me, J.A.R.V.I.S. is more like a family member than an artificial intelligence!"

Tony Stark shrugged. While speaking, he accidentally spilled more than half of the bitter melon juice in his hand.

Pretending not to see Pepper's "fierce" eyes, Tony Stark put down the bitter melon juice with a sigh of relief.

"If you're referring to the Three Laws of Robotics, that underlying logic itself has problems. Using it to restrain artificial intelligence will be counterproductive!"

The Three Laws of Robotics: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm; A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law; A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

This came from Isaac Asimov's "I, Robot" in 1950.

Many people regarded these three laws as a sacred text, but it was clear that Tony Stark was somewhat dismissive.

"The most miraculous thing about human science is its ability to turn some impossibilities into possibilities. Some of the most basic code, who would have thought it could also form life!"

Tang Song and Tony Stark engaged in a heated discussion on the topic of artificial intelligence.

"Tang, if it were plants or fungi, I'd believe they could develop civilization after millions of years of evolution. But a rock, if it truly has the heaven and earth energy you speak of, then that has already gone beyond the scope of science!"

Just as Tang Song and Tony Stark were fiercely discussing the philosophical question of whether a rock could produce a soul after being injected with energy,

Boom! A loud explosion.

With a violent explosion, the entire villa seemed to shake.

"Stinger missile!"

Tony Stark's complexion changed drastically. As a major arms dealer, he could identify the origin of the explosive just by the sound.

Although the villa's construction incorporated many bulletproof structures, it was certainly not enough to defend against this kind of missile.

"Sir, the outer bulletproof glass has been completely destroyed. The inner bulletproof structure is 38% damaged. It is recommended to go to the lower level for shelter!"

J.A.R.V.I.S.'s meticulous prompt sounded.

"Open the perimeter surveillance footage."

Tony Stark ordered J.A.R.V.I.S. to display the surveillance outside the villa.

Although many surveillance facilities had been destroyed by the missile attack, a projection appeared.

The general situation outside came into view for the few people present.

Tony Stark and Pepper Potts were immediately startled.

Outside the villa, there were shadowy figures, at least several hundred of them.

Looking at their weapons and equipment, it was clear they were ready for a major fight.

More than a dozen Humvees were mounted with heavy machine guns and even rocket launchers.

A burly blond man, nearly six feet three inches tall, was kneeling, with two muscular black men behind him carrying a Stinger missile.

Among the crowd, a bald man with sharp, predatory eyes was particularly conspicuous. He was encased in iron armor, with only his head exposed, directing the mercenaries' attack.

"J.A.R.V.I.S., open the elevator!"

"As you wish, sir!"

Ding. With the prompt sound, a hidden elevator door opened.

"Pepper, Tang, and you guys, come with me!"

Tony Stark led the way, taking Tang Song, Pepper Potts, Lane, and Natasha Romanoff into the elevator.

The elevator quickly reached the basement. Tony Stark walked out quickly.

The basement was very spacious, about four hundred square meters in area, with mechanical arms and mechanical parts extending everywhere.

Of course, what first caught Tang Song's gaze was a gold and red iron armor.

Boss Tang's first reaction upon seeing this armor was to touch the Five Yin Pouch in his inner pocket.

However, seeing Tony Stark hurriedly "wearing" the armor,

Tang Song rubbed his nose and gave up a certain idea. The technological content of the iron armor wasn't as advanced as imagined, at least before the Mark V model.

The two most valuable things Tony Stark researched for the iron armor were not the armor itself, but the Arc Reactor energy system and the intelligent control system.

The former goes without saying; without the Arc Reactor, even if the iron armor could be built, it would only be a defective product that charges for five hours and flies for five minutes.

As for the control system, the iron armor was essentially a single-person aircraft.

An ordinary human's nerves simply couldn't keep up with the Iron Armor's reaction speed. Most of the Iron Armor's operation was performed by artificial intelligence.

Click, click, click. While Boss Tang was observing, Tony Stark was already clad in the armor.

The gold and red armor looked extremely flashy.

The Mark II armor was made of super-strength titanium alloy, a material used in satellites, making it sturdy and durable.

"Pepper, Tang, you guys stay here and don't go out. I'll go deal with those terrorists!"

After Tony Stark finished speaking, he put on his faceplate. Above his head, a two-meter circular opening leading directly to the sky was revealed.

Whoosh! The Iron Armor's feet and hands sprayed blue thrust flames, carrying Tony Stark soaring into the sky.

The gold and red figure rapidly moved through the air, occasionally firing cigar-sized missiles, causing the armed personnel outside the villa to be thrown about.

With the speed and defense of the Mark II, ordinary firearms had no way of harming Tony Stark.

...

Tang Song did not hide in the basement. Instead, he came to the villa's terrace, leaning on his cane, watching Iron Man battle the terrorists with interest.

"Use Stinger missiles!"

Obadiah, watching Tony Stark flying in the air, angrily ordered.

Because of the butterfly effect caused by Tang Song, the original plot had deviated slightly.

Obadiah had been removed from access clearance to Stark's villa early on,

Tony Stark was also much more wary of him, avoiding the scene in the original plot where his Arc Reactor was stolen.

Without the Arc Reactor, although Obadiah also built an Iron Monger based on the fragments provided by the Ten Rings,

This big guy was clearly more of an ornament without sufficient energy support.

However, the gunmen Obadiah hired were also well-trained. At his order,

Several shoulder-launched racks were aimed at the gold and red figure in the air.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

Although Tony Stark fired missiles and took down two mercenaries carrying shoulder-mounted Stingers,

Three Stingers still successfully launched into the air...

Equipped with heat-seeking sensors, the Stinger missiles chased Tony Stark into the sky.

"Boss!"

Lane appeared on the terrace at some point, holding a black Beretta M9 handgun in each hand.

"Hmm," Tang Song looked back at him, picked up his cane, and sat down on a wicker chair.

The height of the terrace was perfect for enjoying the night view outside. Tang Song crossed his legs and watched the fireworks blooming in the sky. "Lane, be careful to protect Ms. Pepper Potts!"

Pepper Potts, who was standing nearby, was watching the gold and red figure in the sky with a worried expression.

Tang Song waved his hand. Lane, holding two guns, stood in front of Pepper Potts.

In the shadow of the terrace, Black Widow put down her small handgun.

...

"You guys, go into the villa and grab Pepper Potts!"

Tony Stark was high in the air. With the Mark II's maneuverability, Obadiah had no way to deal with him.

As for the Stinger missile, it was designed to destroy large targets like tanks and attack helicopters.

It was quite impractical against a small armor like the Mark II.

Obadiah brought over a dozen Stinger missiles in total, and they were almost used up, yet he hadn't even touched Tony Stark's shadow.

Obadiah was momentarily furious.

More than a dozen mercenaries charged into the villa with guns.

Tony Stark, scanning the mercenaries' movements from the sky, directly swooped down.

Da da da da...

On the vehicle-mounted Humvee, several anti-aircraft machine cannons fiercely struck Tony Stark.

The gold and red armor tumbled two or three times in mid-air.

Just as Tony Stark managed to stabilize himself, two rockets shot towards him.

By the time he dodged the rockets, more than a dozen mercenaries had already breached the villa.

"Boss?"

Tang Song waved his hand at Lane. Lane flicked his hands, and with two clicks, chambering a round. He nodded towards Boss Tang and quickly walked down from the terrace.

The villa, hit by two Stinger missiles, was somewhat dilapidated, with broken walls and ruins everywhere.

More than a dozen mercenaries entered the villa cautiously, searching for Pepper Potts's whereabouts.

In the pitch black night, Lane's figure was like a ghost in the darkness.

Puff, puff...

The handgun equipped with a flash suppressor sounded like a beast's roar. Every time a gunfire rang out, two mercenaries would fall.

These mercenaries fired frantically in the direction of the gunfire.

But how swift was Lane, who had cultivated God-Demon Transformation? It could be said that even without a gun, killing these mercenaries was no harder than killing a chicken.

A mercenary leaned nervously against the wall, holding his gun tightly, looking around nervously.

He didn't notice that above him, a black shadow was descending.

Pfft!

Lane casually pulled the dagger out of the mercenary's heart.

In less than three minutes, more than a dozen corpses lay scattered throughout the villa.

The air was filled with the pungent smell of blood.

Lane glanced towards the stairwell, and with two clicks, ejected the spent casing and reloaded, preparing to welcome the next batch of enemies.

Around the corner of the stairs, Black Widow subconsciously tightened her grip on her handgun.

What incredible skill. She looked at Lane, her gaze filled with inquiry.

Outside the villa, hearing the intense gunfire inside, a smile appeared on Obadiah's face.

As Tony Stark's godfather, standing outside the situation, he understood Pepper Potts's significance to Tony better than Tony himself did.

As long as he captured Pepper Potts, he still had a chance to turn things around.

The gunfire inside the villa stopped. Obadiah looked at the half-collapsed door blown open by the Stinger missile, quietly waiting for his subordinates, the mercenaries, to come out with Pepper Potts.

One minute, two minutes... He waited for a full five minutes, but not a sound came from the villa, only a deathly silence.

Obadiah's complexion turned ugly. He looked at the few mercenaries beside him.

"You guys, go in and get the person!"

...

Click. A burly white man with a bushy beard held a shotgun in his hand.

His steps were silent, as if padded, as he walked through the villa. The military night vision goggles on his head gave him a clear view of the darkness.

The more than a dozen corpses on the ground didn't affect him at all.

He and the other three were spread out, forming a mutually supporting field of vision.

A figure suddenly leaped up in front of him. Without thinking, he quickly and accurately pulled the trigger.

Bang! The shotgun fired, and the dense rain of bullets instantly riddled the black shadow like a sieve.

Wrong!

The burly white man glanced at the corpse that had fallen to the ground. This attire belonged to the group of mercenaries who had just entered the villa.

His look changed, and he quickly raised his gun muzzle.

Bang! Bang! Two bullets shot from the entrance.

Instantly shattering the back of his head.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang...

...

Boom, boom, boom! Tony Stark's missiles seemed to be exhausted. He flew at low altitude, attacking the enemy with the energy pulse hand cannons on his hands.

A group of mercenaries launched an attack on Tony Stark.

Just then, dozens of men in black appeared on the outskirts of the mercenaries, launching an ambush against them.

Black suits, clearly agent attire.

The leading agent looked somewhat old, balding, holding a handgun in both hands, occasionally peeking out to shoot.

"Is the government department's efficiency this bad now?"

Tang Song raised his wrist and checked the time: "One hour!"

From the moment Obadiah launched the armed attack on Tony Stark's villa until the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents appeared, a full hour had passed.

Boss Tang naturally didn't believe S.H.I.E.L.D.'s efficiency was that poor. Nick Fury, the King of Agents, was clearly doing it on purpose, wanting to leave a deep impression on Tony Stark.

Like a life-saving grace.

The late-arriving S.H.I.E.L.D. agents caught the mercenaries off guard.

Tony Stark took the opportunity to land, firing his palm cannons at Obadiah.

Obadiah, driving the Iron Monger, rammed sideways and swung his iron fist at Tony Stark's head.

Tony Stark blocked with his right arm armor, and the palm cannon on his right arm armor heavily blasted the Iron Monger's chest.

The Iron Monger armor's chest was severely dented, but the Iron Monger Obadiah built wasn't entirely useless.

Its heavy tonnage made the Iron Monger live up to its name, like a steel turtle.

Although Tony Stark's palm cannon was powerful, it still couldn't penetrate the Iron Monger's outer shell.

The Iron Monger's fist heavily struck the Mark II's head, the massive attack causing Tony Stark a wave of dizziness.

The Iron Monger wasn't just reliant on fists. On both sides of its shoulder, two heavy machine guns fired simultaneously.

Da da da da da da da...

The dense rain of bullets instantly covered the surface of the gold and red Mark II armor with dents.

Obadiah grinned ferociously, directly extending both arms. The Iron Monger firmly locked onto the Mark II armor.

Click, click!

The Iron Monger's front chest opened up two missile nests, and two Stark Industries custom-made missiles locked onto Tony Stark.

"J.A.R.V.I.S., open the emergency ejection system. Activate self-destruct mode after the backup energy ejection is successful!"

Tony Stark calmly looked at the two missiles in front of him, showing no panic.

Following Tony Stark's order, the Mark II armor rapidly disassembled.

Tony Stark was left wearing only a pair of combat boots. The combat boots sprayed blue flames, carrying Tony Stark soaring into the air.

Obadiah stared blankly at the two pieces of arm armor held in the Iron Monger's hands. Before he could react,

A violent firelight instantly swallowed him.

...

The Iron Monger armor was blown to pieces. Obadiah, covering his broken right arm with his left hand, limped out of the ruins.

He surveyed his surroundings. The mercenaries he had hired at great expense were being beaten back by a group of agents and police officers, scattering and fleeing.

Obadiah couldn't help but sigh. Looking at Tony Stark, who had landed not far in front of him, he said somewhat dejectedly.

"Tony, I lost... Ugh..."

On the terrace of Stark's villa, Tang Song casually tapped his cane.

Before Obadiah could finish speaking, his face suddenly turned pale. He clutched his heart with his left hand and slowly fell down.

Tony Stark stood before Obadiah's corpse, his expression somewhat complex.

Frankly speaking, ever since Howard Stark passed away, Obadiah had been taking care of him and helping him manage Stark Industries.

Their relationship was like uncle and father. Even though Obadiah wanted to kill him, Tony had never thought that one day Obadiah would indirectly die by his hand.

"Tony!"

Pepper Potts walked up to Tony Stark, looking at him with a worried expression.

"I'm fine!"

Tony Stark gently shook his head and said, "Pepper, have the public relations department block the information. Tell the outside world he died of illness!"

Obadiah pursued fame, profit, and glory his entire life. Tony Stark decided to give his godfather a final dignity.

Pepper Potts nodded silently.

"Mr. Stark!"

Phil Coulson, who was directing his agent subordinates to clear the battlefield, saw that Tony Stark's condition had improved and strode over.

His gaze seemed to casually sweep over the Iron Monger.

"Agent, thank you very much this time!"

Tony Stark wasn't in the mood to talk much now. He extended his hand and shook Coulson's.

"I'll leave the aftermath to you! But I want to destroy this big guy!"

Phil Coulson's smile immediately stiffened. Before he could say anything, a blond white agent walked over from the side.

"I'm afraid not, Mr. Stark. These are criminal evidence from the terrorists. You have no right to dispose of them!"

Tony Stark looked at the speaking agent and sneered, "Agent, this belongs to Stark. It doesn't belong to anyone."

The blond agent in front of him suddenly became the outlet for Tony Stark's emotions.

Tony Stark seemed to have turned back into that arrogant, willful playboy.

The blond agent's complexion stiffened. Could he afford to offend Tony Stark? The answer was no.

But this Iron Monger armor was specifically requested by the Important Figure behind him. The blond agent's complexion changed several times.

"Mr. Stark, please do not obstruct us from performing official duty!"

"Performing official duty," Tony Stark spread his hands, "What department are you from? FBI, CIA, or the Internal Revenue Service? No matter what Organization you are, if you want to take this armor, have your people talk to my legal team!"

"Tony, you've misunderstood!"

Facing the aggressive Tony Stark, the blond agent was momentarily at a loss. Phil Coulson, wearing his usual amiable smile, stepped forward to mediate.

"Our organization's responsibility is to contain unstable objects that endanger public safety. If this armor falls into the hands of terrorists and is mass produced, its harmfulness is too great!"

Tony Stark looked at Phil Coulson and snapped a stylish finger with a smile:

"Rather than being contained by you, I'd rather destroy it. Your S.H.I.E.L.D. definitely needs a large amount of funding to contain dangerous objects, right?!"

Phil Coulson's smile was starting to falter. The identity he used when appearing beside Tony Stark was that of a CIA agent.

And where did Tony Stark hear the name S.H.I.E.L.D.?

Tony looked at Phil Coulson mockingly. Giving his computer equipment to a top hacker was the biggest mistake.

Because of the existence of J.A.R.V.I.S., the artificial intelligence, many people overlooked the fact that Tony Stark himself was a top programming expert.

J.A.R.V.I.S. was created by Tony Stark.

Out of curiosity, or perhaps the sense of security after narrowly escaping death, Tony Stark quietly left a small backdoor program on Phil Coulson's notebook.

Using this backdoor program, he found out many things.

"I will not allow things I create to be used for war and killing again!"

"Mr. Stark, if I recall correctly, this armor is not yours!"

Phil Coulson retorted neither softly nor harshly.

As a qualified agent, he could see the huge profit behind this armor. If S.H.I.E.L.D.'s scientists could fully understand this technology, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s military force would see a qualitative improvement.

"It belongs to Stark!" Tony Stark insisted forcefully.

The atmosphere was momentarily awkward.

"Without sufficient energy support, this armor is just for show," a voice sounded.

Tang Song walked out of the villa unhurriedly, walked up to Tony Stark, stood side by side with him, and asked, rubbing his cane:

"Mr. Stark, do you need help?!"

"No one can forcibly take things belonging to the Stark Family!"

Tony Stark refused Tang Song's kind offer and glared at Phil Coulson.

Tang Song was not surprised by Tony Stark's reaction. He didn't really intend to interfere in the dispute between Tony Stark and S.H.I.E.L.D.

...

In the Rolls-Royce on the way back to the Manor, Tang Song sat in the back seat resting his eyes. It was a coincidence.

Actually, not really. Most of the Underworld in New York was his territory.

His influence was like a giant spiderweb covering New York.

As long as he wanted to, not even the slightest sign of trouble in the entire Underworld could escape him, let alone a major matter like Obadiah planning to hire assassins.

Perhaps the Broker Obadiah hired to find assassins was one of Boss Tang's people.

As for Obadiah setting the attack time for today, whether there was a push behind it is unknown.

Who can say for sure?

Feeling like nothing major is happening, just coughing, coughing uncomfortably. Today is another unsatisfactory chapter, written messily. I originally didn't want to follow the plot, but I watched Iron Man again.

Are the last two chapters very watered down? Please leave your opinions in the comment section.

(End of chapter)