Press Conference

In a military airport, Tony's secretary and personal assistant, Pepper Potts, was waiting. She had received the news that the military had found Tony Stark and would be here soon. Behind her was Tony's bodyguard and driver, Happy, and several paramedics were pushing stretchers and waiting to treat the patient at any time.

The back door of the plane opened and Rhode slowly walked down with Tony and Dr. Yinsen close behind.

Looking at Tony's safe return, a smile finally appeared on Pepper's face.

'Why are you crying over your boss?'

Looking at Pepper, whose eyes were red, Tony couldn't help but ask this question. After being kidnapped, Tony understood that he had feelings for Pepper. Of the three people close to him, the person he thought the most was Pepper, his PA.

'I'm just happy that I don't have to change jobs.'

However, Pepper replied defensively that she still didn't dare express her feelings for Tony.

After that, Tony introduced him to Pepper and Dr. Yinsen and had them send Dr. Yinsen to his villa. Then, he rejected Pepper's offer to take him to the hospital for a checkup, and had her inform the media to prepare for a press conference.

At that time, all the forces had received news of Tony Stark's return and were about to hold a press conference. All the media reporters hurried to the venue, afraid that they would miss the important news if they were late.

Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. got the news as soon as possible and sent Agent Coulson, who had just returned from Afghanistan, to learn about Tony Stark's escape.

Coulson, who had a hard life, had just come back from Afghanistan. He had been searching for news of Tony Stark, hoping to rescue him from the hands of the terrorists. Unexpectedly, the kidnapped tycoon came back on his own. He thought that he could rest for two days after the mission was over, but unexpectedly, he received an order from the director as soon as he returned to America.

He was bummed but there was nothing he could do except following the order and came to the press conference, hoping to find an opportunity to learn everything about Tony Stark's escape.

Tony's uncle was the most depressed one right now. Obadiah was one of the founding members of Stark Industries, and had long planned to replace Tony. He contacted terrorists to take advantage of Tony's trip to Afghanistan to get rid of him.

But they didn't negotiate with the terrorists, who should be called Ten Rings. After discovering that the person they were going to kill was the famous arms dealer Tony Stark, they didn't kill Tony, but let him build missiles for them, which disrupted Obadiah's plan.

It would have been nice if Tony had disappeared, but he didn't expect the idiots to be so useless as to let Tony Stark escape. What he didn't expect was that Tony would hold a press conference after he escaped, which gave him no time to prepare.

He had a hunch that Tony would make an astonishing move at the press conference, but he couldn't stop him. He could only rush to the press conference and wait for Tony.

Accompanied by Pepper, Tony arrived at the press conference in a car. After exchanging greetings with Obadiah, he was about to go on stage to give a speech.

At that moment, in Uncle John's house, John noticed that Leo was different from usual. In the past, he always went out early or stayed in the house for the whole day. He didn't know what he was doing. This time, he didn't go out or stay in the house. Instead, he sat on the couch and watched TV together him, which surprised him.

'Leo, why are you watching TV with me today? This isn't like you.'

John couldn't help but ask Leo curiously.

'Well, I heard that Tony Stark came back from Afghanistan and is holding a press conference the moment he got back. I wanted to see what he had to say.'

Leo pretended to answer John's question indifferently. Of course, he knew what Tony would say at the conference. He just didn't want to miss this decision that would change Tony's life.

'I see, but I don't think there's anything to be surprised about. He's been missing for three months in Afghanistan, and Stark Industries shares have plunged a lot. Maybe he's just holding a press conference to tell others that he's back so that he can redeem the market value of Stark Industries shares. Then, he can complain to the media about how much he's suffered outside to win sympathy.'

John had never liked Tony.

'No matter what he went through, it can't change his arrogance as a playboy.'

Feeling that it wasn't enough, John added.

"I think everyone can change, including Tony Stark!"

Listening to John's words, Leo couldn't help but wonder how biased he was toward Tony Stark.

"I have a hunch that he's going to hold this conference to announce a major decision that will change not only himself and Stark Industries, but also the world."

Leo was confident that Uncle John would be shocked by Tony's decision later.

"Then let's wait and see."

John didn't say anything. He didn't think that Tony, a playboy, could make any astonishing decision.

"I didn't get to see my father one last time. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to him. I wanted to ask him what he thought about the company, whether he had conflicted or doubted it. Maybe he wasn't what I used to see in the news. I saw with my own eyes the young soldiers killed, killed by the weapons I invented to protect them."

Tony leaned against the conference table and spoke his mind without a care in the world.

'See? Like I said, he held the press conference just to win people's sympathy.'

Uncle John turned to Leo, who was staring at the screen.

At that moment, Tony suddenly stood up on TV and walked behind the desk to announce, 'It opened my eyes to many things and realize that I have to contribute more to the world than just building weapons that can explode, so I've decided to shut down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark Industries. It'll take effect immediately. I'll be looking for a direction that I believe is in line with the country's highest interest.'

Everyone at the scene was shocked by Tony's words. Everyone looked at Tony on the stage in shock and disbelief.

Coulson had been asking Pepper about Tony, and was shocked by the news, and was about to report the situation to Nick Fury.

John turned around in disbelief and saw the crazy reporters on TV. He wondered if he had heard wrong. How could an arms company win without weapons? Had Tony Stark gone crazy from brain damage?

It wasn't just John. Almost everybody who heard the news couldn't believe it. Who would have thought that Tony Stark would announce such a big decision right after he returned?

Leo was secretly relieved when he saw that Tony had made the same decision as in the movie. He was really afraid that his appearance would cause things to go in a bad direction, but fortunately, nothing changed.

'Everybody can change, including Tony Stark.'

Looking at John, whose mouth was still wide open and his eyes staring at the TV in disbelief, Leo said in a low voice before he got up and returned to his room.

Looking at the man with a mustache on the TV, John found it hard to believe that what he had just came out of his mouth. He couldn't imagine what had happened in three months to make him change so much.