Chapter 71

"Tony, you may have won, but don't get cocky. I'm not going to die—I'll go to jail at most. Just wait—I'll be back!" Obadiah spat, defiant even in defeat.

Thor sneered, "What an idiot. No wonder he's been playing second fiddle all these years." He shot Stark a look.

Tony looked at the old man who'd worked for his family company for over 30 years, his face conflicted. Hesitantly, he said, "He's powerless to resist now. We should hand him over to the law…"

Before he could finish, Thor interrupted. "You're as naive as ever. Think with that high IQ of yours. With his connections, the odds of a death sentence are practically zero. This guy holds too many secrets about Stark Industries—there'll be plenty of people willing to pull strings to get him out, even if he's sentenced to life."

Tony's face went pale. He knew Thor was right, but accepting the reality was harder than he thought.

Thor added, "But sure, let him go. Maybe he can sell a few more weapons to warlords in the Middle East—perhaps even create a few more Dr.Yinsen."

The memory of Dr. Yinsen's sacrifice twisted painfully in Tony's heart. Gritting his teeth, he nodded slowly, his resolve hardening.

…

Finally, Tony pulled out a pistol and, after a moment's hesitation, gave Obadiah the final blow, knocking him out permanently.

Seeing Tony's somber expression, Thor left him to process alone.

When Obadiah's death was eventually reported, the official story was that he'd died in a plane crash. The truth couldn't be revealed—if the public learned that Stark Industries' second-in-command had been dealing with terrorists and supplying them with weapons, the scandal would ruin not only Stark Industries' reputation but also damage the government's standing on the world stage.

At the press conference, Tony began reading the script Rhodes had handed him, but a sharp question from a reporter threw him off.

"I'm no hero," he replied, "I have too many flaws, I've made too many mistakes… and I know I've had a bad influence."

Rhodes leaned over, whispering, "Stick to the script."

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

Rhodes covered his face in exasperation as the press erupted with questions.

After the conference, Tony headed backstage, where Thor was waiting, grinning. "So, should I call you nephew now, or Iron Man?"

Tony's mood soured instantly. The energy he'd just had drained away. He'd rather face the reporters than deal with this "uncle" who enjoyed reminding him of their age difference.

"What are you doing here?" Tony asked, scowling.

"Oh, not much. I saved your life last night, but you didn't even bother to thank me or call me 'uncle.' Go on, let's hear it…"

Tony's face darkened further. "I don't think you're here just to mess with me. What do you want?" He steered the conversation back to business.

Thor's smile faded, and his tone turned serious. "Your armor—it's essentially a weapon. If it were to spread, it could cause even more harm than guns or missiles. You need to be careful with it. Don't repeat past mistakes."

Tony's expression grew somber. "Don't worry. I'm committed to changing Stark Industries. We'll move away from weapons manufacturing. The Iron Man suit is just a personal project—I'm not commercializing it."

"Good. Remember what you said."

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