Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

The car door opened, and Tony was the first to jump out, his feet once again touching New York soil. He took a deep breath; the air, a mixture of car exhaust and the city's distinctive hustle and bustle, gave him a strange, long-lost feeling… a sense of familiarity? He tugged at his wrinkled shirt, crumpled from rolling around in the desert and still smelling of sand and gunpowder, and shouted to Happy Hogan, the building's security chief, who approached him: "Happy! Get me a new suit, the latest Armani! And immediately notify all the media; I'm holding a press conference downstairs in half an hour! Live broadcast worldwide!"

Happy, a burly, bald man, was so excited to see Tony safe and sound that his eyes welled up with tears. "Boss! You...you're really back! That's great! I'll get right on it!" He immediately turned around, pulled out his walkie-talkie, and began making arrangements in a flurry of activity.

Ethan followed behind Tony, looking somewhat uneasy at the towering, futuristic skyscraper before them. He subconsciously straightened his equally disheveled clothes.

Wang Huanbo was the last to get out of the car. He had changed into a simple black tracksuit, concealing all his sharp edges, and looked like an ordinary Asian youth. He calmly surveyed the building, a symbol of wealth and technological prowess, his gaze lingering for a moment on a few inconspicuous surveillance cameras.

"Old Wang, you..." Tony wanted to ask Wang Huanbo if he wanted to change his clothes too, but seeing his calm and indifferent expression, he swallowed his words. This guy, wearing sportswear to a globally anticipated press conference? Oh well, whatever, he's not the main character anyway.

Tony strode towards the private elevator, followed closely by Wang Huanbo and Ethan. The elevator doors closed and began a rapid descent.

"Are you really going to hold a press conference now?" Wang Huanbo suddenly spoke, his voice exceptionally clear in the quiet elevator car. "Obadiah definitely already knows you're back. Any decision you announce now will only alert him."

Tony leaned against the smooth elevator wall, hands in his pockets, his eyes sharp as an eagle's: "Stirring up trouble? I'm going to stir up trouble! I want to see how that snake moves! I want everyone to know that Tony Stark is back! And..." A cold, vengeful smile curled at the corner of his lips, "I'm going to give him a 'big gift'!"

The elevator doors opened in the lobby on the first floor.

Tony was slightly taken aback by the sight before him.

The lobby was already packed with reporters who had rushed to the scene, their cameras and microphones all pointed at the elevator entrance. A barrage of flashes illuminated the entire lobby like daytime. A torrent of excited questions poured in from the reporters:

"Mr. Stark! Have you really been kidnapped by terrorists?"

What have you experienced in these past three months?

"There are rumors that you have been murdered. How did you escape?"

"Who is this gentleman? Is he your savior?"

At the very front of the group of reporters stood three people.

On the far left is Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes, Tony's close friend. He's wearing a crisp Air Force uniform, his face a mixture of unbelievable elation and relieved excitement, his eyes even slightly moist. Upon seeing Tony, he immediately pushes through the crowd and rushes forward!

"Tony! You bastard!" Rhodes' voice was choked with sobs. He opened his arms and gave Tony a hard bear hug, so hard that Tony could hardly breathe. "I knew it! I knew you wouldn't die! You're tougher than a cockroach!" He slapped Tony's back hard.

Tony winced as the grip tightened, but a genuine smile, the first one he'd shown in three months, spread across his face. He hugged Rhodes just as tightly: "Hey! Go easy! My bones have suffered enough in Afghanistan! But you're right, killing me, Tony Stark, isn't that easy!"

Immediately afterwards, a beautiful figure, accompanied by a fragrant breeze, rushed into Tony's arms.

It's Little Chili Potts.

She was dressed in a well-fitting off-white business suit, but her carefully styled hair was somewhat disheveled, and her makeup couldn't hide the fatigue and redness in her eyes. She hugged Tony tightly, her body trembling slightly, and tears silently streamed down her face, soaking the shirt on Tony's shoulder.

"Tony...Tony..." she whispered his name over and over, her voice choked with emotion, as if trying to release all the worry, fear, and despair of the past three months. "You're finally back...Thank God..."

Tony's smile faded as he sensed the vulnerability and deep emotion in the woman in his arms. He tightened his arms around her, gently resting his chin on the top of her head, his voice unusually tender: "Pepper... I'm back. I'm sorry for making you worry."

Flashbulbs went off wildly, capturing this deeply moving reunion.

Just then, Tony made a move that made all the reporters hold their breath instantly—he lowered his head slightly and, under the spotlight of countless cameras and flashes, kissed Pepper's lips!

The kiss wasn't intense, but it carried the relief of surviving a disaster, the preciousness of something lost and found, and an unspoken promise. Pepper's body stiffened for a moment, then softened, her hands gripping Tony's clothes tightly as she passionately returned the kiss. Tears mingled with joy, sliding down her cheeks.

An eerie silence fell over the entire hall, broken only by the clicking of camera shutters.

Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes stared wide-eyed for a moment, then smiled knowingly and with blessing.

Standing slightly behind the crowd, Wang Huanbo calmly watched this scene. He noticed that as Tony kissed Pepper, his fingers unconsciously caressed the bare skin on the back of her neck—a gesture imbued with both possessiveness and a desire to soothe. Pepper's response, however, completely shattered the calm and capable professional facade she wore as a CEO's assistant, revealing her long-suppressed emotions.

When the kiss ended, Tony and Pepper's foreheads touched, their eyes fixed on each other. Tony whispered something in her ear, and Pepper's cheeks flushed instantly. She nodded gently, her eyes shining brightly. The veil that had separated them was completely pierced in that moment.

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen," Tony looked up, his signature slightly cynical smile returning to his face. He put his arm around Pepper's shoulder and faced the camera. "That's enough reminiscing. Let's get down to business."

His gaze swept across the crowd and landed on Obadiah Stanislav, who stood at the very front of the group of reporters, maintaining a polite smile throughout.

Obadiah, dressed in a well-tailored dark gray suit, his hair neatly combed, wore the look of an elder's relief and joy at seeing a younger person return safely. He opened his arms wide, beaming as he greeted him: "Tony! My son! Thank God! Seeing you safe and sound has finally put my mind at ease!" His voice was loud and clear, filled with genuine emotion.

Tony's smile remained unchanged. He opened his arms wide and warmly embraced Obadiah, even patting him on the back forcefully. "Obi! My good uncle! It's so good to see you! While I was away, thanks to you stabilizing things, Stark Industries didn't fall into chaos! Thank you for your hard work!"

The scene of the two embracing was captured by countless cameras, and it looked like a touching scene of uncle-nephew friendship.

Standing beside Wang Huanbo, Ethan watched this scene and murmured, "Tony... he's really changed. He would never have been like this before..." He couldn't find the right words to describe it.

A barely perceptible smile played on Wang Huanbo's lips, his eyes calm and unwavering, as if he were watching a meticulously rehearsed drama. His gaze was sharp as a knife, clearly capturing Obadiah's momentary stiffness as he embraced Tony, and the fleeting, venomous coldness and anger deep within his eyes. He also saw Tony's knuckles turn slightly white as he patted Obadiah's back.

'Truly brilliant,' Wang Huanbo silently remarked to himself. 'Two Oscar-caliber actors. One desperately wants to strangle the other, while the other plots to utterly destroy him, yet they manage such genuine and warm smiles on the surface.'

Soon, under Happy's arrangement, an impromptu press conference was hastily held in the press conference hall on the first floor of Stark Industries. Tony, Obadiah, and Pepper sat on the stage, Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes sat in the front row below, while Wang Huanbo and Ethan stood discreetly in the corner at the back of the press conference hall.

Obadiah, as acting chairman, spoke first. He passionately recounted the company's difficult situation after Tony's disappearance and how he had painstakingly stabilized morale and kept the company running. He emphasized Stark Industries' responsibility and mission in the defense industry.

"...Tony's safe return is the greatest blessing God has bestowed upon us!" Obadiah's voice was filled with fervor. "This strengthens our resolve! Stark Industries will continue to uphold Mr. Howard Stark's legacy, constantly innovating in the field of military technology! We will develop more advanced and powerful weapon systems to help our military completely eradicate scourges like the Ten Commandments that threaten world peace! We will ensure that the tragedy that befell Tony will never be repeated!"

His impassioned speech earned applause from many reporters and company executives in the audience. Obadiah's face radiated confidence and a sense of mission, as if he could already see Stark Industries heading towards a brighter future under his leadership.

Just then, a discordant chewing sound rang out.

Tony Stark, seated in the center of the stage, had been served a massive cheeseburger by Happy. He was devouring it, oblivious to everyone around him, with a bit of sauce even smeared on his lips. He seemed completely ignoring Obadiah's speech, as if it were just background noise.

Obadiah's speech was abruptly interrupted. His smile froze as he looked at Tony: "Tony? You..."

Tony finally swallowed the last bite of his hamburger, licked his fingers contentedly, then picked up a bottle of Coca-Cola from the table and gulped down a few mouthfuls. Only then did he slowly stand up, walk to the podium, and push Obadiah aside.

He glanced around at the silent reporters and company executives with varying expressions, his gaze finally settling on Obadiah's face, whose expression was beginning to turn ugly.

Tony cleared his throat, spoke into the microphone in a clear, calm voice that resonated like thunder in everyone's ears:

"Uncle Obi was right. Stark Industries' weapons are advanced and powerful, helping the army eliminate many enemies." He paused, his gaze sharpening. "But I saw with my own eyes that the weapons we manufacture didn't just fall into the hands of 'bad guys,' as the propaganda claimed. They fell into the hands of the Ten Commandments, into the hands of those terrorists who kidnapped me, tortured me, and wanted to use my weapons to slaughter innocent civilians!"

The audience erupted in uproar! Reporters frantically pressed their shutters, capturing this explosive moment.

Obadiah's face instantly turned ashen. He tried to step forward: "Tony! You just got back, you might not know the situation yet..."

Tony raised his hand to stop him, his voice suddenly rising, carrying an undeniable determination: "I know better than anyone! I've seen the disaster caused by the weapons we've created! Therefore, I declare—"

He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping across the entire room, and said, word by word:

"Effective today, Stark Industries will permanently close its weapons manufacturing division!"

Dead!

Absolute silence!

The entire press conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; everyone was stunned by this earth-shattering decision.

Tony's voice continued, firm and clear: "We will cease all weapons research, production, and sales! Stark Industries' future development will shift towards areas that benefit humanity, such as clean energy, medical technology, and artificial intelligence! We will use the power of technology to create, not destroy!"

"boom--!"

After a brief silence came a roar like a volcanic eruption!

The reporters went absolutely wild! Flashbulbs were practically exploding everywhere! Questions, exclamations, and skepticism swept through the press conference hall like a tsunami!

"Mr. Stark! Are you serious?"

"Shutting down the weapons division? That would cost the company over 90% of its profits!"

"Has the board approved it, Mr. Obadiah? What are your thoughts on this?"

"Would the military agree? Wouldn't this affect national security?"

Obadiah stood beside Tony, his face drained of color, his lips trembling slightly. He felt as if an icy hand had gripped his heart, making it almost impossible to breathe! Anger, shock, and disbelief surged through him like poison, instantly overwhelming his reason! He stared intently at Tony's profile, his eyes filled with a murderous intent! This arrogant brat! Did he know what he was doing?! Did he know this would plunge Stark Industries into utter ruin?! Did he know this would destroy his meticulously crafted plans of many years?!

Standing in the corner, Ethan looked at the towering, resolute figure on stage under the flashing lights, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief and emotion. He whispered to Wang Huanbo, "Mr. Wang, did you see that? Tony... he's really changed. That playboy who only cared about parties and beautiful women is gone."

Wang Huanbo's gaze, however, bypassed the chaotic crowd and landed on Obadiah's bloodshot eyes, which were filled with suppressed rage. He could clearly feel the murderous intent emanating from that eyes, almost solidified. He nodded slightly: "The price has been heavy, but the change is real. But..." He paused, "the storm has only just begun."

Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes was hopping mad in the audience. He rushed to the edge of the stage and yelled at Tony, "Tony! Are you crazy?! Do you know what you're saying?! Take it back! This is insane!"

Tony ignored the chaos in the audience and Rhodey's shouts. He seemed to have accomplished something important, and his whole body relaxed. He turned around, ignoring Obadiah, whose face was ashen and who was about to explode, and directly embraced Pepper, who was still excited about the kiss.

"Pepper, let's go." Tony's voice was weary, but unusually firm.

Pepper Potts, still reeling from the shock and the impact of Tony's declaration, nodded instinctively. Tony put his arm around her, parted the chaotic crowd, and walked straight out of the press conference hall.

Ethan and Wang Huanbo naturally followed closely behind.

Tony didn't even glance at Obadiah as he passed by.

Obadiah stood rooted to the spot, his body trembling slightly. Facing the boiling crowd of reporters below, he forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, attempting to explain and cover up Tony's "madness": "Ladies and gentlemen! Please calm down! Tony... he has just gone through a terrible ordeal, and his mental and emotional state may still be unstable! His decision does not represent the company's final decision! Stark Industries' weapons division..."

However, his voice was quickly drowned out by the greater clamor. The reporters were more concerned with Tony's earth-shattering declaration.

Watching Tony and Pepper disappear through the door, Obadiah's last vestige of feigned gentleness vanished, leaving only icy resentment and murderous intent! His nails dug deeply into his palms as he placed his hands at his sides.

"Tony Stark..." he roared in his mind, "You must die! You must die now!"

At that moment, as Tony walked into the private elevator with Pepper in his arms, the ease on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold weariness and resolute determination. He leaned against the elevator wall and closed his eyes.

Pepper looked at him worriedly: "Tony... are you alright? Just now...?"

Tony opened his eyes, looked at her, his gaze complex: "Pepper, do me a favor."

"What?"

"Immediately contact all R&D directors and core engineers in all non-weapons divisions of the company," Tony's voice carried an undeniable force. "Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, I want to see them all in the underground lab. The future of Stark Industries will be completely changed starting today."

The elevator doors opened, and Tony strode out, leaving Pepper standing there, watching his straight back, her heart filled with shock and an indescribable flutter. She took a deep breath and immediately took out her phone to make a call.

Wang Huanbo and Ethan followed behind. Wang Huanbo's gaze fell on Tony's chest, on the faint blue light shining through his shirt—the Arc Reactor. It was the source of Tony's life, the symbol of his rebirth, and, in the eyes of some, a treasure that must be seized.

The cold touch of the Decade Driver emanated from Wang Huanbo's fingertips. He gazed out the window at the bustling city of New York, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

Obadiah obtained the technical blueprints for the Mark I... Project Iron Monger has likely already begun. And Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. will certainly not ignore the storm that has struck today.

The peace of New York has been utterly shattered. The path to Iron Man's creation is destined to be fraught with thorns and fire. And this "time-traveling adventurer" will be drawn even deeper into this vortex.