5

Tony wasn't mad. Apart from not wanting to share the profits with the fat cats on the Council, which was what the share buy-back was for, he also wanted to find out who the rat was. She would definitely show herself after his announcement. After all, what does she trade with terrorists for? For the profit, which can be put in his pocket and not shared with anyone. And it's likely the same rat decided to kill him. But it underestimated the greed of the terrorists, who were unsatisfied with the weapon and wanted to squeeze more out of Stark. So the next day, he took his ready-made wand and reactor and changed into a white business suit, which at the moment almost fit him. Looking at himself in the mirror this morning, he was surprised. Before the kidnapping, he was not an athlete and could not impress the ladies with his abs, taking them with his money and charisma. Yes, he worked out at his personal gym, but not to get fat. After the kidnapping, he'd been extremely thin, and all his clothes were hanging off a hanger. After sleeping with the Advanced Reactor, he gained muscle mass. He was still too thin, but now he looked like a long-distance runner. That is, wiry and bulging with muscle. If this continued, and it should, judging by the information he'd received when he merged with the spirit, he'd reach the shape of a fitness model or even a bodybuilder. So the whole wardrobe would have to change. But even this could not reconcile Stark with the fact that now he could not smoke or drink! No, physically, he could, but it would be pointless because it wouldn't give him any pleasure!

Descending frustrated into the garage, he chose a snow-white Koenigsegg CCXR among the cars. Taking to the motorway, Tony put on Black Sabbath's Iron Man and gave himself speed and freedom. One of the remaining delights of this world that he lived for. And that's alcohol, girls, technology and speed. The car was very sensitive to any press on the accelerator, any slightest turn of the wheel. It didn't forgive mistakes, and what car forgives them at 200 miles an hour? But at the same time, whoever could feel and drive it got an unparalleled feeling. As if the car were an extension of you. The only thing better than that was flying, except that Stark needed more hours of flight time to qualify for a jet licence. He had to slow down before the mountain serpentine and, further on the way, passed through more populated areas, so, with regret, the speed had to be slowed down. Tony is an extreme man, not a suicide or a murderer... Although, stop. He's killed before. Well, at least Stark didn't feel sorry for these people. One Ho Yinsen, his doctor, friend, and Nobel Prize winner in physics, was more valuable to humanity than a hundred monkeys with machine guns, no matter what the humanists said about all lives being equally important. And that's not racism; it's a statement of fact. What good did the Ten Rings bring to the world? Only pain, suffering and sacrifice. Well, he's no better. Developed weapons, then spent the profits on parties and entertainment. Fortunately, he realised this not in old age on his deathbed, but now, when there is time to change everything, if not to fix it.

Driving up to the office of Stark Industries in Los Angeles, he met dozens of photographers who reluctantly dispersed in front of his car and immediately pointed all the cameras at him. Journalists think they are sharks of correspondence, but they are sticking fish because they can't live without sensations and celebrities. Opening the car door, Tony stepped out onto the pavement in all white. Classic move to show you're clean, kind and fluffy.

- Mr Stark, Daily Bugle, can you tell me who kidnapped you? - pulled the microphone forward, a pretty, long-haired, bouffant-breasted blonde with a deep cleavage.

The reporters knew Stark had a thing for women, especially young and beautiful ones, so they were no strangers to sending such reporters. At best, if Tony was flattered and got the girl into bed, which he selected from among those who did not mind such an outcome, you could get some "hot" news.

- Mr Stark, L.A. Chronicles, how did you get out? - asked a brunette with a bob and long, naked legs.

- Mr Stark, may I interview you for our weekly magazine? - With a lustful bite of her lower lip, the redheaded girl with her hair tied back in a ponytail asked.

- All questions are inside only! - Stark sieged everyone, looking at the girls with regret. He wouldn't have minded blowing off steam with one or even two girls in the past - he couldn't get enough of three, but he'd tried. But now, it was fraught with injury to the girls themselves. - Follow me, I'll tell you all about it.

As he moved at the head of the journalists, he saw Obadiah standing in front of the conference room. He looked displeased and immediately asked:

- Tony, what's the joke?

- What kind of jokes are there? I am more serious than ever. You should stop doubting me; I'm not the little boy who has to report Stein - the disgruntled Stark switched to the surname. - I can brush my own teeth and wipe my own arse. So let me pass.

Disgruntled Obadiah grimaced but did not escalate the conflict in front of journalists. All the more reason for him to know that once Stark had made up his mind about something, there was no changing his mind. Inside the hall, there were already about a hundred journalists; all the seats were occupied, so those who entered had to stand. However, they were not the only ones and were not used to it. And standing in a cool room under the roof was better than standing in the heat, cold or rain. Tony went straight to the podium, which stood on an elevated platform. He had never suffered from stage fright. On the contrary, he loved the attention. For the same reason, breaking all canons and etiquettes, he took the wireless microphone from the podium and sat on the dais. Why? Because it was more comfortable for him, and he didn't have to look down on everyone.

- You're all probably wondering why I've gathered you all together. I didn't interview some lush-breasted blonde," Tony winked at a girl he'd met on the street, making her embarrassed, "or, as usual, ask my assistant to send letters. I'm going to disappoint you all. I won't tell you how I was kidnapped by the Ten Rings or escaped. I'll tell you the story of a doll...

Pulling a rag doll from his jacket, he sat it beside him and slowly began to tell the story of the girl he had rescued who had marks on her face from his Stark's weapon. It was easy to be on the other side of the world and not see the effects of it. Now he understood Oppenheimer, Sakharov, and his father, who regretted building atomic and hydrogen bombs. They were scientists to their bones, and working on such projects must have been a joy. But when they saw how their brainchild was used, they were horrified. Stark was horrified, too. He summed up his story by taking the doll and standing up, and saying only one phrase before leaving:

- Therefore, from this day forward, no item will be released from Stark's factories designed solely to kill and harm human beings. Good day, everyone.

The reporters didn't immediately come to their senses, starting to pelt Tony with questions. Still, he silently walked through them without answering a single one, like an icebreaker through the Arctic Ocean. When he reached the end, he saw Pepper at the entrance, who, wiping away tears, stood beside him. Asking nothing and certainly not judging. Obadiah was not around.

The result was overwhelming. The headlines were one more scandalous than the other: "Gun Baron turned Gandhi?", "Tony Stark gone mad?", "Gun company not making guns, Stark Industries will go bankrupt in how many weeks?". The stock began to plummet, and because owners were dumping it, brokers wanted to play it down, and Jarvis was further fuelling the process. The company was really on the verge of bankruptcy. Stark, at this time, did not answer the phone and did not comment on his statement, which further fuelled the panic of the owners of the shares. How could they know he was preparing a breakthrough? Compared to what he wanted to do, the money from guns would be a drop in the ocean? But before that could happen, Tony called Obadiah to his house two days after the announcement.

- 'Obadiah, how good to see you,' Stark greeted the man in a peace symbol T-shirt and blue shorts.

Stein was surprised to note Tony's excellent physical condition. Where did he get his fitness? In the caves?

- Drink?

- I'm not happy about it, Tony," the man grimaced as he walked inside and saw the piles of pizza boxes, Chinese noodles, hamburgers and other fast food. How could a billionaire live in such a pigsty and eat such crap? - What are you doing? I'm getting my wires cut by government people, journalists and shareholders. What's got into you?

- Have a seat, have a seat," Stark offered, throwing something into his mouth as he cleared the couch of boxes, wrappers and empty bottles. - Oh, there's a piece of burger!

- I'll stand here until you explain that.

- Or you could explain how the Ten Rings knew the convoy's route. Or you could tell me why they had my weapons. Or you'll tell me why we have huge gaps in our bases. - Tony interrupted him, grabbing an unfinished milkshake from the table and taking a nasty slurp.

- What kind of idiotic questions are these? How am I supposed to know? That's not what this is about!

- I think it is. Answer me honestly. Did you have anything to do with my kidnapping?

- No!" Obadiah exclaimed, offended. - I would never do such a thing; you are like my son!

- And you had nothing to do with the arms trade with terrorists?

- Of course not!

Tony turned away, at which point Steyn continued:

- You've always been a fool, not like your father.

A tranquilliser shot hit Stark in the back, and he turned around and waved his hand, asking:

- Why?

- For what, you ask? - laughed Stein. - Because I foolishly gave the headmaster's job to a naive young man! I thought you'd be smarter than your father! I didn't give up most of my life for this company so that a womaniser and an alcoholic could lord it over me, spending the money I earn on bullshit!

- So you'd spend it on the poor and sick?! - Tony asked sarcastically. - And what are you even going to do now? It's not like I'm going to die from a tranquilliser.

- I've got a horse dose of cocaine for that. It's no surprise to anyone that a mad Stark got high and died in his own vomit. I wish you'd died sooner, but the terrorists I hired were stupid and incompetent. Well, what do you expect from those monkeys?

- All right, Jarvis, you got it all down? - Tony stood up from the floor and said, adjusting the ring on his finger.

Pierce's interchangeable ring is where the stones are in expanded space and change as needed. Stark couldn't use non-verbal charms yet, but he could send the non-verbal Suggestos charms, which are between Confundus and chattering tongue charms, that way. Jarvis had been following all the suspects these days and had identified three people, Obadiah among them. Stark hadn't believed to the last that the man could be involved, but here he'd come forward himself. And true sight shows fluctuations in the aura that can tell if a person is lying.

- Yes, Mr Stark.

- What are you going to do now? - Stein asked, pulling his gun from behind his back. - I've got nothing to lose now!

- Shoot, - Tony took a seemingly ordinary biro from the table and began to walk calmly towards the bearded man.

- Are you out of your fucking mind? I'll kill you now! Just give me a billion, and I'll walk away!

- No, you shoot, shoot!

When Tony got close, Stein shot him, staring at the unbroken skin with widened eyes.

- There you go, ruining my favourite T-shirt! Obliviate! Imperio! You will now voluntarily give me all of your Stark Industries stock. Afterwards, you will go to the nearest police station, tell me your crimes, and write a clean confession, providing all evidence and proof. After which, you will waive legal representation. Is that clear?

- Yes," Obadiah replied with a blank stare.

- Do it," Stark ordered.

Until the last moment, Tony could not use such charms on the man he considered his friend, his uncle, who had somewhat replaced his father. But the shots had severed all ties between them. They didn't hit his body but left wounds in his heart.