Building Superheroes at Marvel

"Next, we have a slate unearthed from the Sumerian period, covered with numerous cuneiform characters. No scholars have had a chance to study it thoroughly yet."

"That's right. This could either be a worthless piece of junk or a valuable treasure," the auctioneer continued, her tone slightly bemused.

She went on to explain how the slate had been given to them by an unknown man clad in a black robe. Despite efforts to gather more information, nothing could be found. In line with their professional guidelines, they had refrained from conducting any research on the slate and decided to auction it off without further investigation.

"And now, the starting price for this slate is 600,000!"

The mention of the price instantly stirred interest in the crowd. To many in attendance, 600,000 was a modest amount, easily affordable.

A smile appeared on Heatwell's face. It seemed the true value of the slate had yet to be uncovered, which worked in his favor.

As a Hydra member, Heatwell knew more about the slate than anyone else in the room. This slate had been unearthed alongside the Sumerian king's table, though its contents mostly documented mundane matters of daily life, which is why it had been largely overlooked. However, Hydra had conducted extensive research on the cuneiform inscriptions. According to their findings, when the inscriptions were reordered to align with the stars' positions at night, they could be the key to unlocking the ancient methods used to craft weapons of mass destruction. The Sumerian civilization was known for its deep mysticism and advanced knowledge, and this slate could hold the key to an unimaginable power.

"$700,000!" Heatwell shouted, preparing to place his bid, only to be outpaced by Kyle, sitting in the front row.

Kyle raised his own placard with a calm demeanor, calling out his bid, "1 million."

The room grew tense. Heatwell had anticipated this would be an easy acquisition. After all, with limited funds available, securing the slate would have been a simple task—provided Tony Stark and Kyle Walter weren't interested. But now, it was clear that these two financial titans were about to clash.

The Stark Group, a long-established force in New York, had weathered many battles in the corporate world. On the other hand, Kyle's Water Company had risen to prominence at an astonishing pace. Though the Water Company had not yet reached the level of the Stark Group, it was widely regarded as the most promising new player in the market.

Despite being younger, Water Company's growth was impressive. Although they had not yet fully developed their potential in beauty serums and specialized medical treatments, their future was promising. Once international channels were established, it wouldn't be long before their market value soared.

Stark Industries, on the other hand, had earned its reputation over decades, and with Tony Stark's genius, they had a near-unmatched control over advanced technology and weaponry. The market for Stark's weapons was ever-expanding, and Tony had always been able to generate new innovations.

"Hurry up and raise the price!" Heatwell urged his associates, signaling his frustration. If they didn't act fast, the slate could end up in the hands of someone far more powerful than him.

"1.2 million!" shouted one of Heatwell's subordinates, raising the bidding sign.

The stakes were growing higher, and Kyle's calm, calculated approach was matched only by his resolve to secure the slate. The Hydra faction knew they were entering a dangerous territory. If they were to win this bidding war, they would need to ensure that Tony Stark and Kyle didn't outbid them.

"Gasco, keep bidding. I'm going to win this slate," Kyle said, his eyes narrowing as he watched Heatwell's team respond to the growing competition.

"5 million!" Kyle raised his bid with confidence.

"7 million!" Heatwell countered immediately.

"9 million!"

"12 million!"

The room was abuzz with excitement. The price of the slate was skyrocketing, and people were beginning to question whether this object was truly a treasure or simply the result of an intense bidding war.

Tony Stark, seated in the front row, began to take notice. Though usually uninterested in such objects, Tony had become intrigued by the slate's significance. His knowledge of ancient artifacts was vast, and something about this one seemed to have caught his attention.

"Jarvis, is there anything special about this slate?" Tony asked, speaking into his earpiece.

"Sir, this slate was unearthed alongside the Sumerian king's table. The items recorded on it were not considered valuable at first glance," Jarvis responded, pulling up the data. "After deciphering the cuneiform inscriptions, it was treated as an ordinary artifact for safekeeping. Its current whereabouts are unknown."

Tony pondered the information for a moment. He trusted Jarvis implicitly, but something still felt off about this auction.

"Interesting. Since you all want it so much… $80 million!" Tony suddenly declared, raising his bid dramatically.

The room went silent, shocked by the magnitude of Tony's offer. Known for his focus on technology, inventions, and even the occasional high-profile purchase of rare jewelry, this was a new side of Tony Stark that few had witnessed before.

Kyle, unfazed by Tony's bid, smirked as he glanced at the Hydra faction. Heatwell's faction had to know they were outclassed when it came to sheer financial power. Hydra could try all they wanted, but they were never going to outspend Stark.

As for Kyle, though he knew the Hydra team might try to sabotage the whole operation, he was secure in his position.

"Damn, how did he do it!?" Heatwell cursed, realizing they had lost the slate. There was no way they could compete with the Stark Group, and they were no match for Kyle's resources either.

"80 million for the first time!" the auctioneer called.

"80 million for the second time!"

"80 million for the third time!"

"Sold! Congratulations, Mr. Stark, for winning the slate for 80 million. Please visit the backstage area to collect your prize after the auction ends."

The auctioneer quickly finalized the deal, pleased with the hefty commission she'd earned from the sale.

Kyle didn't feel disappointed. In fact, he wasn't concerned at all. The slate would eventually fall into his hands, especially once Tony grew tired of it. After all, Kyle had other plans in motion.

But before anyone could relax, Tony Stark stood up from his seat and made his way to the front of the stage, straightening his suit.

"Many of you know that I was the victim of a terrorist attack three months ago," Tony began, his voice calm but firm. "I spent a full week in the hospital recovering, and during that time, Mr. Kyle Walter saved my life."

There was a moment of stunned silence in the room as Tony continued, "So, I've decided to give this… uh, stone slab? To Mr. Walter. And don't worry—I'll pay for it."

Kyle's eyes widened slightly, a smirk tugging at his lips. It seemed that this slate was going to find its way into his possession after all.