C 69

Los Angeles, Stark Industries Division. Press Conference.

Eddie and Phil squeezed into the crowd, cameras held high, determined to capture the first image of Tony Stark, who had been missing for three months.

From being presumed dead to suddenly returning to civilization, the world was eager to know: 'What had Tony Stark experienced during those three months? What message did he wish to deliver at this press conference?'

It wasn't just the journalists who were curious.

News of Tony Stark's return had spread like wildfire across the internet. Millions of people, intrigued by the mysterious disappearance and return of the genius inventor, playboy, and billionaire, were desperate to know what he would say.

Outside the crowd, Anton and Betty stood watching a sleek black car pull up to the gates of Stark Industries.

"He's here," Anton said softly, his gaze fixed on the passenger seat.

Betty followed his line of sight, staring intently.

Tony Stark stepped out of the car, his right arm in a sling, greeted by a bald man who walked beside him. Despite his injuries, he still sported his signature tricky mustache, a sharp suit, and polished shoes.

At first glance, Tony Stark seemed unchanged from three months ago. But Betty, watching closely, could sense something different. There was a subtle but profound shift in his demeanor, an unspoken transformation.

"I have a feeling he's about to say something extraordinary," Anton said, crossing his arms as he watched Tony climb the steps to the podium.

At that moment, a familiar voice broke through his thoughts.

"Anton, we meet again."

Anton turned to see Agent Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D., who appeared unsurprised by Anton's presence.

Likewise, Anton didn't seem surprised to see Coulson.

"Can we talk in private?" Coulson asked, casting a glance at Betty. "There's something I need to discuss with you."

"Of course," Anton replied, nodding at Betty before following Coulson away from the crowd.

Once they were alone, Anton asked, "What's this about?"

Coulson's tone turned serious. "It's about Obadiah Stane. We haven't found solid evidence tying him to Tony Stark's attempted murder, but we've uncovered connections to an organization called the Ten Rings. They're based in Afghanistan—extremely powerful, with ties to numerous underground groups."

"And?" Anton interrupted impatiently.

Coulson fixed him with a measured look. "Do you know anything about this organization? The Ten Rings?"

Anton rubbed his chin thoughtfully before shaking his head. "The Ten Rings? Doesn't ring a bell. I'm afraid I can't help you."

He wasn't lying.

Information about the Ten Rings in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was sparse and cryptic. In the early stages of the MCU, aside from the name "Mandarin," the Ten Rings revealed almost no significant details. 

Even in Iron Man 3, the Mandarin turned out to be a fake.

If Anton had to say what he knew, it would only be based on the comics' worldview, which offered a broader perspective. But from the cinematic standpoint, it was mostly an unknown.

"Alright," Coulson replied, seemingly accepting the lack of information. "If you learn anything relevant, let us know."

Anton nodded.

As Coulson walked into the venue and approached Tony's assistant, Pepper Potts, to speak with her, the entire room erupted in chaos. Gasps and exclamations rippled through the crowd.

Reporters swarmed the podium, all eyes on Tony Stark.

Tony had made his big announcement—he was shutting down Stark Industries' weapons manufacturing division.

For a company renowned as an arms giant, this was earth-shattering news. Stark Industries stepping away from the very foundation of its success signaled a seismic shift, leaving everyone stunned.

Betty stood in the audience, replaying Anton's earlier words in her head.

"He will say something incredible next."

She exhaled sharply, murmuring, "This really is incredible."

The sound of footsteps nearby caught her attention. Turning around, she saw Anton. He was smiling, his calm gaze fixed on Tony at the podium.

"Anton, you guessed it!" Betty said, still astonished. "You'll never believe what Tony Stark just announced."

"Shut down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark Industries?" Anton replied with a knowing smile.

"You heard?" Betty blinked in surprise, then continued, "Do you realize how monumental this is? A giant in the arms industry is withdrawing! This will devastate Stark Industries. The board will never allow Tony to make such a decision. But Tony Stark is Stark Industries. His words mean—"

"It means civil unrest within Stark Industries," Anton interrupted, folding his arms. "The outside world will lose confidence in the company, and tomorrow, Stark Industries' valuation will plummet—by at least 40 percent."

"That's right."

Betty nodded, a hint of admiration in her voice. "This guy is incredibly brave. I really can't imagine what he must have gone through in Afghanistan."

"That's his story, not ours," Anton said with a smile. "Starting tomorrow, keep an eye on Stark Industries' stock price. Buy it at the lowest point possible. Use every resource I can mobilize—buy as much as you can."

"What?"

Betty stared at him in shock. "You're planning to invest in Stark Industries now? Aren't you afraid of losing everything?"

"You just said it yourself—the soul of Stark Industries is Tony Stark," Anton replied confidently. "I believe in Tony Stark."

"You're insane!"

To Betty, this was a reckless gamble. With the amount of capital Anton could deploy, a loss would be catastrophic.

"Betty, the less you understand now, the more you'll admire me in the future," Anton said, laughing.

As they spoke, Tony Stark was escorted away from the venue, leaving Obadiah Stane to take the stage and speak on his behalf.

"The main purpose of today's event was to inform everyone that Tony is back and in good health," Obadiah said with a forced smile. "As for what he just announced, we will convene an internal meeting to discuss it. We'll share our final decision with everyone in due course."

Obadiah's smile was strained, almost like a grimace, as he tried to maintain control of the situation.

Meanwhile, Tony had already left with his assistant Pepper Potts and his driver, Happy Hogan, climbing into the same car that brought him to the event.

Before Tony departed, he caught sight of Anton standing near the entrance.

Recognizing him, Tony looked slightly surprised. But he said nothing, merely nodding slightly in acknowledgment before driving off.

"This man doesn't seem as pretentious as he used to be," Anton remarked as the press conference came to an end.

As they prepared to leave, Anton thought back to the look in Tony Stark's eyes. The man who returned from Afghanistan wasn't the same playboy with countless titles. Those titles were about to be replaced by a single, defining name:

Iron Man.

On the way back, Betty interrupted Anton's thoughts.

"Anton, what's on your mind? You've been acting strange all day."

"It's nothing," Anton replied, snapping out of his reverie. "I just think today's press conference was... interesting."

Witnessing the birth of Iron Man felt like witnessing history in the making.

It really was interesting.

….

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