71

Chapter Seventy-One

"Tony, you may have won, but don't get too complacent. I'm not going to die; I'll just end up in jail. But mark my words, I'll definitely come back!" Obadiah roared with fierce determination.

Thor sneered, "What an idiot. No wonder he's only been a second-rate player all these years." He cast a glance at Stark.

Stark looked at the man who had been with the company for over thirty years with a conflicted expression and hesitated. "He's powerless to resist now. We should turn him over to the authorities..."

Thor interrupted him. "You're the idiot here. No wonder you've been stuck in a rut for so long. Use your brain—if you can manage it. Given his identity, the chance of a death penalty is almost zero. This guy holds numerous secrets about Stark Industries. Even if he's sentenced to life imprisonment, many will try to get him out."

Tony's face turned pale. He knew this was true, but it was hard for him to accept the reality of it.

Thor added, "It's fine to let him go. Let him sell more weapons to the warlords in the Middle East. Maybe he'll end up with a few more enemies."

Thinking of Ethan's sacrifice, Stark felt uneasy again. He nodded slowly, resolute in his decision.

…

Tony finally pulled out his pistol and gave Obadiah a hit.

Seeing Stark's despondence, Thor decided to leave him alone and walked away.

When the cause of Obadiah's death was finally announced, it was reported as a plane crash.

The real truth was kept secret.

If the public learned that Obadiah, the second-in-command at Stark Industries, had secretly colluded with terrorists and provided them with numerous weapons, it wouldn't just damage Stark Industries' reputation—it would severely impact the government's international standing.

Although their reputation was already questionable.

At the press conference, Tony read from a prepared statement handed to him by Rhodes. However, a reporter interrupted him with questions. When pressed, Tony responded, "I'm not a hero. Clearly, I have many flaws and have made numerous mistakes, and the impact of my actions has been negative..."

Rhodes leaned in and reminded him, "Just stick to the script."

Tony nodded, glanced at the manuscript, then looked up and said slowly, "Actually, I am Iron Man."

Rhodes, seeing Tony's change of mind, could only shake his head in resignation.

After dealing with the swarm of reporters, Tony returned to the backstage, where Thor greeted him with a smile and teased, "Should I call you nephew now, or Iron Man?"

Stark's mood darkened. The satisfaction he had felt earlier had vanished. He would rather deal with the reporters than face this elder who enjoyed asserting his seniority...

"What are you doing here?" Tony asked, his expression darkening.

"It's not a big deal. I saved your life last night and didn't get a thank you? Come on, hurry up..."

Tony's frown deepened. "I didn't think you'd be this petty. Tell me what you want." He forced the conversation back on track.

Thor's expression grew serious. "The armor, in a way, is also a weapon. If it gets out, the consequences could be worse than those of guns and missiles. So, be aware of that, and avoid repeating the same mistakes."

Tony replied firmly, "Don't worry. I will refuse any commercialization of the armor. Stark Industries will focus on other industries, and Iron Armor will remain a personal project."

"Remember what you've said."

…