Lord of Cinder in American Comics

Upon hearing Ash's words, Stark's hand tightened involuntarily, and Pepper, who was holding Stark's hand, gripped it so tightly it hurt.

"It's alright, Pepper. We've had enough time to say goodbye."

Stark comforted Pepper in a gentle tone, then found paper and pen and began to write and draw. Ash leaned over and discovered that Stark was making a will.

Ashe reached out and took Stark's will, tearing it up without hesitation. Under Stark's astonished gaze, Ashe said, "How much do you look down on me? The time I spoke of was for a great being like the Lord of Cinder, not for an ordinary person who dies from blood loss due to a knife wound."

Pepper quickly leaned out from behind Stark and asked Ash, "So Tony's alright?"

"Of course, he might be weak for a while due to blood loss, it depends on Tony's own physical condition."

Finally relieved, Pepper hugged Stark tightly, crying, "Oh my god, Tony, you're alright, that's so good, you're alright..."

This moment belonged to Pepper and Stark, but someone always has to ruin the mood.

Constantine, standing on the other side of the portal, called out, "Are you all ready? If you want to stay over there, I'm leaving!"

Peeking out from Pepper's embrace, Stark then noticed a flickering portal in the corner of the studio. Constantine was impatiently asking him this question from outside, and judging by the cigarette butt at his feet, he had been standing there for quite some time.

"That was someone Ash summoned; he opened the portal here..."

Pepper explained Constantine to Stark. As someone who had been through the same battle, Stark knew Constantine, but whether Constantine knew him or not was another matter.

Constantine's interruption reminded Stark of his current situation, and Stark swayed as he stood up from his chair, requiring Pepper to help him move.

"Ash, I need your help with something."

"Go ahead."

“I know you have the means to store things, so I’ll have Jarvis help you pack up everything in my studio.”

Looking at Stark's massive workshop, Ash compared the remaining space in her backpack and readily agreed.

Next, Ash moved almost everything movable in Stark's workshop, leaving only fixed, immovable items and the dozen or so cars that served as decorations.

Back at the portal, seeing the familiar Firelink Shrine in the distance, Stark finally confirmed that he had indeed instantly traveled from the West Coast to Long Island.

Just as Pepper was about to thank Constantine for his help, she only saw Constantine turn and walk into the portal, leaving only a few sparks to dissipate in the air.

Ash continued to refine Constantine's character, saying, "That's just how these mages are. Unless something really big happens, they're always like this..."

Next, after placing Stark's things in the former location of the blacksmith Andrei as requested, Ash returned to the Fire Keeper's side.

As for how Stark should deal with Obadiah Stan, that's Stark's own business.

Chapter 161: Press Conference

After a night, Ash stood up from beside the Fire Keeper, feeling refreshed.

Although it was just like any other time, sitting by the campfire with the Fire Keeper for one night, the Fire Keeper's ability to soothe the soul made one feel refreshed.

When Ash found Stark again, he saw Stark still fiddling with his armor, constantly adjusting the wiring on his mask.

Pepper, meanwhile, was next to Stark, constantly making and receiving phone calls.

Judging from their exhausted appearance, it was obvious that they hadn't slept all night.

Forcing herself to open her eyes, Pepper yawned as she hung up the phone. After greeting Ash, she briefed Stark on the current situation.

"Stan must have received the news that we were still alive. After he first called for a new shareholders' meeting, he disappeared without a trace. Nobody knows where he went, and the other directors are asking what happened."

I've temporarily calmed them down and will have the shareholders' meeting convened by you, Tony. We don't have much time; we need to stabilize Stark Industries' stock price as soon as possible.

Stark, a screwdriver dangling from his mouth, was engrossed in his work. Only after repositioning the armor's visor and observing the glowing eyes on it did Stark turn to reply to Pepper.

“Ignore everyone else. Together with Stan, our shareholding is 52.8 percent of the entire Stark Industries. I personally own 47 percent. No one can take Stark Industries without my permission.”

"But what if Stan manages to win over the rest of the people? Then you'll lose absolute control."

Pepper continued to persuade Stark, trying to make him understand the true meaning. However, Stark, holding Pepper's hands, had a brilliant idea.

"I hereby appoint you as the new CEO of Stark Industries!"

"Wait, Tony...I..."

Pepper was speechless upon hearing the news. To go from being Stark's personal assistant to becoming the CEO of Stark Industries was an incredible surprise for Pepper at this point in his career.

Stark held Pepper's arms with both hands, looked at her, and then embraced her, saying, "You deserve this. Now you need to gather the reporters; I'm going to hold a press conference."

Pepper was still in a daze, and went to gather the reporters as Stark had asked.

Ash sat nearby, eating her breakfast while watching Stark and Pepper. It's worth mentioning that since Iris became the steward of the Firelink Shrine, the daily meals have been arranged very meticulously.

Stark also came over and unceremoniously picked out his favorite foods from Ash's plate and ate them.

"Ash, I need some money."

"You will need money?"

Stark's words left Ash completely baffled. The Stark Industries had a total wealth in the hundreds of billions, and Tony Stark himself was worth tens of billions. How could he say something like that?

"My press conference later will cause Stark Industries' stock price to plummet. I will force Stark's stock price to crash, and then I will acquire shares privately, at least to achieve absolute control."

Stark's explanation made Ash understand why: Stark's net worth was based on the overall stock price of Stark Industries, with his own liquid assets making up only a small portion.

If you want to artificially adjust the stock price, you need to sell your shares, forcing the group's wealth to shrink, and then quietly recoup your investment.

In this process, Stark Industries' credit system was damaged by Stark itself, and with cash flow used for hedging and stabilization, it was almost impossible to sustain the acquisition.

"How much do you want? Just to clarify, I only have precious metals on hand."

Stark wiped the grease off his hands on the blueprints on his workbench without any ceremony, wrote down a number, and said, "I know that Stark Industries' banks can borrow money from financial groups like Morgan through precious metals. Without your financial support, I would have to borrow from these vampires using Stark Industries' real assets."

Ash glanced at the numbers in her hand, thought about the inexhaustible money in the City of Sin, and nodded.

When do you need it?

"Before the press conference, I need to make sure the funds are ready to prevent these bloodsuckers from raising prices on the spot."

“Give me a location, and a group of Lothric Knights will escort the funds to the place you specify.”

Having received Ash's reply, Stark wanted to hug her, but because of his habit of never touching others, he stopped in mid-air with his outstretched hand.

Seeing Stark's awkward movements, Ash laughed and said, "Alright, I know your habits, and I don't want to hug other men either."

After saying that, Ash turned around and went to arrange the precious metals that Stark needed, leaving Stark alone in the same spot.

"Thanks……"

Stark watched Ashe's retreating figure and whispered two words, though it was unclear whether Ashe heard them.

Pepper acted swiftly and efficiently, arranging everything needed in no time; in fact, a stage for a press conference had already been set up outside the walls of the sacrificial site.

As Stark held the phone and heard his bank manager report that the emptied vault was suddenly overflowing with gold, he became even more determined.

On the grass outside the sacrificial site wall, rows of chairs were arranged around the main stage. Reporters gradually rushed over to sit down, trying to grab a better spot.

There was no parking provided, and because of the parking issue, several media outlets had already begun engaging in friendly physical exchanges. They were stopped by Leslie, who had also rushed over.

Within minutes, representatives from various media outlets were seated; those who couldn't make it could only be attributed to their lack of expertise.

Pepper first warmed up the crowd as Stark's personal secretary, followed by Tony Stark's entrance.

The crowd applauded to welcome the Stark Group chairman, who had mostly appeared in tabloids, to see what he had to say.

"Everyone, please sit down so you can see me and I can see you all..."

Stark braced himself on the podium, but then realized it wasn't appropriate, so he turned around and pulled a chair over to sit down.

"Gentlemen, it's good to see you all. I have two important announcements to make today. First, on behalf of Stark, I appoint Pepper Potts as the new CEO of Stark Industries."

This statement triggered a flurry of questions from the reporters below. Everyone knew that the current CEO was Obadiah Stein, who had worked for Stark Industries for over thirty years but had been replaced by Stark's personal assistant.

Every reporter stretched out their hand, trying to hand the microphone forward, but due to the limitations of the venue, they could only stretch out their hand, hoping to get their chance to ask questions. Some even started asking questions loudly.

'Mr. Stark, what exactly prompted you to make this decision?'

'Mr. Stark, was it Pepper Potts who attracted you with her beauty? According to the data, she's spent more time with you than all the cover girls combined.'

'Mr. Stark…'

The endless stream of questions from reporters and the constant flashing of camera flashes made it hard for Stark to keep his eyes open.

With one hand covering his eyes and the other gesturing for the reporters to quiet down, Stark gestured for them to do so.

Stark spotted a familiar reporter and gestured for him to ask a question: "Ben, what are you trying to say?"

At the front of the room, Ben, dressed in a black suit and red tie, asked, "Sir, what is the second decision?"

As Stark spoke, he walked back to the podium and said, "I've had an eye-opening experience. I've realized that I can show the world a better version of myself, do more for the world and for other people, and not just create explosions."

Therefore, this is effective immediately; I will shut down Stark Industries' weapons production division. This will continue until I have decided on the company's future and its direction.

Such a statement shocked everyone present, leaving even the assassins, who were originally acting as security guards to maintain order, speechless.

The reporters were equally excited, disregarding the order of the venue and scrambling forward to hand microphones to Stark.

John Smith punched a disobedient man to the ground, knelt on his neck, locked his arm, and pinned him to the ground.

Hatch maintained his usual style, preferring action to words, and three or five men around him were already lying down.

Wick, on the other hand, escorted Pepper to the podium to replace Stark, who had already finished speaking.

With the help of the microphone, Pepper's voice dominated the entire venue.

"We will conduct internal discussions to ensure the smooth completion of the Stark Group's subsequent transformation, and then inform everyone..."

Only after Stark slipped back inside the walls did things finally quiet down, while Ash watched from afar the farce that Stark had caused.

"What are we going to do now?"

Stark took out his phone and showed Ash his plan.

“I have written an algorithm. Jarvis controls all the traffic cameras, ATM cameras, and even some private cameras. As long as Stan dares to show his face, I can find him.”

Stark didn't say anything more, and Ash understood without asking. What could they do after finding Stan? Naturally, they would settle scores and avenge their grievances. True nature is about seeking revenge and getting justice.

However, the two waited for a long time, until Pepper announced the end of the press conference, and they did not see any reporters leave.

Some of the bolder reporters even dared to climb over the walls of the sacrificial site in an attempt to find new information.

However, these bold guys were held at gunpoint by Jane Smith, and then Bob's three little boys rushed over, tied them up with cable ties, and put them aside, while Bob took the opportunity to teach the little boys how to deal with the prisoners.

These disobedient guys will naturally be dealt with by the police. As for what kind of punishment they will receive, let them whine to Stark's legal department.

The crowd outside didn't disperse until noon after the morning press conference; in fact, it grew larger and larger, with some even setting up tents outside in preparation for a protracted event.