Chapter 88 Iron Man ll

Chapter 88 Iron Man ll

In the evening.

Leon arrived at Tony's place, which was the rooftop of the Stark Industrial Building. He was on the verge of turning this place into his permanent residence.

The reason for this decision was quite straightforward. Pepper Potts was becoming increasingly busy, leaving little time for trips to their seaside villa. As a result, Tony chose to stay here.

Frequently, Pepper Potts would become quite irritated with Tony. He would be up on the rooftop but would not offer assistance.

Undoubtedly, Pepper relished the sense of control over the company.

With the Stark Group's weapons division fully closed and a shift toward research and development of new technologies, Pepper Potts, initially designated as the CEO of that area, had become the company's top authority.

Both Leon and Tony held great trust in Pepper Potts and were content to unwind.

"You're here," Tony remarked as Leon entered. He remained seated and didn't feel the need for formality.

Leon walked in, seated himself on the sofa, propped his legs up on the coffee table, and inquired, "So, what's the plan?"

Leon had already informed Tony over the phone that the mastermind behind all their recent troubles was none other than Hammer Industries' troublemaker, Justin Hammer. As for how Leon had confirmed it – it was rather straightforward. With his superhuman vision and hearing abilities, he'd easily tracked down Ivan Vanko, currently under Hammer's care.

To verify Ivan Vanko's identity, Leon had overheard Hammer calling him by name. Crucially, Leon was well-versed in the unfolding events and didn't need to put much effort into this investigation.

Tony placed his faith in Leon's deduction. The next step was the real puzzle.

Their objective was clear: apprehend Ivan Vanko, hiding within Hammer Industries, and bring him to justice while holding Hammer accountable as well.

But how should they proceed?

"I've got insights into Hammer's plan," Tony said, contemplating the situation.

As previously established, Ivan Vanko possessed the knowledge to create an Arc reactor – a technology only he currently possessed. Given this, it wasn't hard to deduce Hammer's intentions.

He was after the Arc reactor technology, the core technology of the Iron Man suit. Even Obadiah Stane couldn't replicate it, and although the Iron Monger was built, it lacked the energy source to function, rendering it a mere pile of scrap metal.

"But Hammer isn't my primary concern. Apart from the energy source, the operating system is also a problem," Tony mused, recalling the incident at Capitol Hill where the suit built by Hammer had malfunctioned, putting the pilot's life in jeopardy.

In addition to the energy issues, the operating system was equally crucial.

Tony couldn't help but express his disdain for Hammer. "Hammer is just too inept."

"Perhaps he's placed all his bets on Ivan Vanko," Tony postulated, sitting down across from Leon and deep in thought about his own strategy.

Leon observed Tony with a sly grin. "So, you're planning to... deceive Hammer?" He hinted at Tony's ulterior motive.

Tony didn't beat around the bush, "I've encountered Ivan Vanko, and after his capture, I paid him a visit. I realized that while he may not be on par with me, he's considered a genius by many. His arrogance won't allow him to be manipulated by others. Moreover, given his grudge against me, he won't willingly assist Hammer Industries."

"His ultimate goal remains to seek revenge against me," Tony affirmed, stating the obvious. His point was clear – Ivan Vanko was only using Hammer.

In fact, Hammer's intentions for rescuing Ivan Vanko were equally straightforward. He hoped to enlist Ivan Vanko's skills for his own gain. However, their goals diverged. While Hammer bore business-related hostility toward Tony, there was no personal vendetta involved. Hammer aimed to create a weapon surpassing Tony's technology and secure a lucrative military contract.

Ivan Vanko had no intention of seeking employment or working for Hammer; his goal was to exact revenge on Tony. This misalignment in motives spelled doom for Hammer.

Hammer was incapable of replicating the Arc reactor's energy source or developing a viable system. As he became increasingly reliant on Ivan Vanko, he would inevitably fall under Ivan's control.

"Share your plan," Leon asked Tony, though he had a pretty good idea of it. Still, he offered his assistance, suggesting, "If you need my help, I can eliminate them discreetly."

Tony, however, rejected the idea with a smirk, "That's too easy for them, and there are already people who know your identity. If they vanish mysteriously, suspicions will arise."

Unfazed, Leon retorted, "Do you think I care?" His threat was no idle talk; he'd destroy any nation that dared to oppose him.

Tony continued, "Let's not make it complicated. I want them to continue as they are. Many are eyeing my battle suit technology, and even if I delay it, these incidents will persist. Spies from various nations will infiltrate."

Blocking each attempt was a hassle. Tony proposed a more permanent solution. "It's better to let them succeed. I hope Hammer Industries can produce a substantial number of Iron Legions. Ivan Vanko's ambition will force him to act. When people witness the Iron Legion spiraling out of control, they'll realize the imminent crisis and refrain from targeting me. Plus, it will lead to the capture of that Hammer guy, killing two birds with one stone."

Tony's plan was simple but impactful. He intended to send a warning to nations – even if he shared battle suit technology, if someone else controlled the system, it could turn into a deadly threat in an instant.

As for the accuracy of Tony's calculation, there was no doubt about his intelligence.

Leon, however, was left pondering his role in this scenario. "But the real question is, what's my part in all this?" He realized he had a lot of idle time on his hands.

Tony looked at Leon and stated, "I simply wanted you to analyze it for me."

Leon rolled his eyes, realizing he'd been duped and had come here for nothing.

"Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention, I went to the North Pole with Fury the other day. Care to guess what for?"

"Did you rescue Captain America?"

It turned out, Toney was already privy to the mission.

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Lao Lao Xu: Real Author

Fake Author/Translator Zatch[King]Rex

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