Chapter 65: Charitable Endeavors

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At this time, Fisk was only developing one office building, located on the outskirts of Hell's Kitchen. Now, an additional luxury apartment and another office building could be added to the project. They also planned to reorganize and expand the hospital they had acquired, ensuring adequate healthcare resources. Moreover, the second nursing home construction was to commence, aimed at accommodating more elderly people without family.

The board agreed with these plans, recognizing that this approach balanced charity and broader development. After all, none of the investors were focused on short-term profits.

Both Rand Enterprises and Stark Industries would carry out their own independent developments, though neither was for commercial purposes. Rand Enterprises intended to construct a pharmaceutical research lab, while Stark Industries would establish a fully automated super-factory to produce electromagnetic reactors.

...

Half a month later, major news hit the headlines. Tony Stark participated in a race in Morocco, taking the wheel himself. However, things went awry when he was attacked by a man wielding electric whips. Upon hearing the news, Link suspected that events were beginning to unfold as expected.

Sure enough, a few days later, Link received a call.

"Link, move out immediately!" Coulson's voice was urgent. "I'll meet you at the airport."

Without hesitation, Link left, while Jessica stayed behind to handle her own matters—after all, investing isn't just about handing over money.

Link drove to the military airport, parked his car, and boarded a small business jet. Coulson was already waiting for him, and after greeting him, Coulson began explaining.

"Yesterday, Mr. Stark hosted a party. He donned his suit and indulged in some wild behavior. Colonel Rhodes intervened to stop him, ultimately wearing one of Stark's suits himself."

The corner of Link's mouth lifted in a slight smile. "Is Tony preparing his will?"

"He handed over a suit to the military, though it's more of a gift to Rhodes."

"It seems his poisoning is getting worse."

Coulson nodded. "Your thoughts match our analysts' assessments. The Director will personally step in this time, and we'll need your help to persuade Stark."

"Even if he refuses surgery, he can't keep using the suit."

Link thought for a moment before responding. "His mental state is deeply troubled. His arrogance and pride, while strengths, are also his weaknesses."

"Changing that won't be easy, but we can approach it from another angle. I'll need Pepper's help too."

"Understood. You're the expert on the psychological side, so you'll take the lead on this." Coulson then mentioned the Iron Monger suit. "My suit has been modified. It's impressive, but a bit too bulky."

"The Director thinks that's a good thing, though. If we ever need heavy firepower, we can rely on it."

"After all, Stark's Iron Man suits are highly agile, as is Colonel Rhodes'. So mine can focus on heavy weaponry."

Link found this amusing. Events were slowly unfolding, with his influence as the proverbial butterfly finally making its mark.

Of course, Link wasn't just a small butterfly. If he revealed his true strength, he would be more like a hurricane.

Unfortunately, Link wasn't eager to reveal his hand. His interest in joining S.H.I.E.L.D. lay in obtaining the Infinity Stones, not in becoming a superhero.

"This is good," Link said. "At least you now have some high-end combat power. There may come a time when you'll need it."

The two continued chatting, moving to more personal topics. Phil Coulson had recently met a cello teacher, but his demanding job left little room for love. Link offered some advice, reminding him that work wasn't everything, and that he should make an effort in his personal life.

...

Once the plane landed, a car was waiting to take them directly to Stark's mansion. The place was in complete disarray when they arrived. Though Nick Fury hadn't yet brought Stark back, S.H.I.E.L.D. had already taken control of the premises. Coulson and Link waited for Stark to return.

Rummaging through the debris at the bar, Link found a bottle of plum-flavored bourbon. Without a glass in sight, he simply drank from the bottle, then made himself comfortable and called Pepper Potts.

"Hey, Pepper!" Link greeted casually.

"Link, do you have another great project for me?" Pepper asked, laughing. She was pleased with the last project Link had introduced her to, despite the complexities surrounding Wilson Fisk's past. The collaboration had gone well.

Pepper had even personally visited the site, bringing donations from Stark Industries. She was particularly impressed with the nursing home. The facility wasn't just a token gesture; it was well-constructed, covering a large area.

The home had medical rooms, therapy rooms, activity centers, reading rooms, and more. In addition, it was staffed with doctors, nurses, and therapists, thanks to the hospital they had purchased nearby. The rest of the staff, such as caretakers and janitors, were hired from low-income families in Hell's Kitchen.

The elderly residents there had no assets, turning over everything they owned to the nursing home in exchange for lifelong care. The nursing home would handle all their needs, up until the end of their lives.

Currently, the home only accepted residents from Hell's Kitchen, but there were plans to expand. In the future, the facility could potentially form part of an ongoing real estate development project.

If some residents had property, it would be acquired by the United Construction Company and, depending on the situation, could be rented, sold, or redeveloped. These were future plans, of course.

The best part was that all the residents were treated equally, regardless of their financial contributions.

Pepper was thrilled with how everything was being managed, but had one question: Was there proper oversight?

Indeed, there was. Jessica's charitable foundation had a law firm that provided pro bono legal assistance to the residents. They conducted regular inspections to ensure everything was above board. Pepper was pleased, knowing that the Stark Foundation would eventually join this oversight effort, ensuring everything was run flawlessly.

Next, Pepper toured the hospital. The facility was too small and inadequately equipped, so there were plans to expand it, bringing in better equipment and personnel. The goal was to transform it into a large-scale hospital.

With future developments in the West Side expected to attract wealthy residents, the hospital would cater to both the rich and the poor by dividing the facility into two sections.

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(Chapter End)