Chapter 31 | The Contract of Betrayal

We find Howard facing mounting pressure and stress from his numerous business ventures and technological endeavors. The weight of his responsibilities starts to take a toll on his mental well-being. He is becoming increasingly paranoid.

Ever since, Lex assaulted his mind, Howard has become angry, erratic, and paranoid. Howard is convinced that there are conspiracies against him and that his closest allies are plotting his downfall.

Howard's once sharp mind begins to deteriorate, and he becomes withdrawn, spending hours secluded in his laboratory, obsessively working in secret projects that no one else can comprehend. His obsession with pushing the boundaries of Science and Technology.

It starts to blur the line between genius and madness. Those who were once close to Howard, such as his loyal assistant begin to notice alarming changes in his behavior. She has become increasingly concerned about Howard's mental state and tries to offer support and assistance.

However, Howard's paranoia prevents him from accepting help, as he believes that anyone who tries to intervene is secretly trying to sabotage him. As time progresses, Howard's mental instability evokes more evident to those around him.

He starts exhibiting erratic behavior, having mood swings, and displaying irrational outbursts of anger. His once brilliant mind is now clouded by delusions and hallucinations. Making it difficult for him to distinguish between reality and his own distorted perceptions.

Amidst his worsening conditions, Howard's professional and personal life begins to crumble. His business partners grow skeptical of his ability to lead, and his relationships with loved ones become strained. The once envied Howard Stark now finds himself isolated and abandon by those who once admired him.

Fast forward, you see Howard Stark in a Psychiatric Ward. A stark contrast to his once glamorous and influential life. Stripped of his wealth and power, he now finds himself in a sterile and restrictive environment. Surrounded by others battling their own mental afflictions. Most of the patients are here through traumatic experiences like War.

The disorienting atmosphere only exacerbates Howard's feelings of isolation and despair. Peggy visits Lex whenever she gets the chance to. But the war is heating up, which is keeping her away from here.

Lex walks in the Psychiatric Ward with a briefcase in his left hand. Their were a bunch of lawyers following him in tow. Lex with a calm smile on his face, nods at the doctor. Lex bribed the doctor, and the doctor lets Lex inside. Looking around the room, you see a bunch of drawings. It's like a six year old child was drawing.

Lex looks over at Howard's direction and see him totally concentrated and absolutely focused with a crayon in his hand. Lex slowly walks over to Howard and put his hands on his shoulder.

Howard turns around quickly and scurry towards the corner with a sacred look in his eyes. Lex's eyebrows rosed with a curious glance. Lex starts to think, he might've overdone the Mind Control too much.

Lex gets down on one knee, and puts his hand out, as a sign of no harm. Howard slowly takes Lex's hand and he rises up trusting the young man in front of him. He leads him to a small, round white table.

A bunch of drawings and ink were on them. Making the table nearly black, but this doesn't faze Lex, as their is business to be taken care of. Lex waves his hand. A lawyer comes towards the table and sits beside Lex.

Lex signals the lawyer to open the briefcase. Inside were complex contracts of different kinds of things. Howard, initially wary but intrigued by the possibilities, agrees to further discussions.

Lex begins to speak. "This is a contract, a contract to where you could get out of this place forever and go back home. You have a son, right? You probably don't remember, but he is currently waiting on you to come back. His name is Tony, right?" Muttered Lex.

"I have a son!" Howard barely whispered in an inaudible tone. He can barely say anything at all. He doesn't even remember why he came here. All he knows is that, he wants to go home and get far away from this place as possible.

Lex smiled and with genuine smirk on his face. "Yes you do! He looks like you, he also is a bit of a playboy himself, you know?" Said Lex.

Howard looks at Lex blankly before saying. "I want to meet him. You put out this contract. So, your saying if I sign this contract. I can meet my son." Replied Howard.

Lex smiled and gently grabs a pen from the lawyer and puts it on the paper. He swiftly but gracefully signs his name on the contract. Lex puts down the pen and pushes the contract towards Howard.

Howard grabs the pen and signs the contract. Even though, his name is a little hard to read, it would make do. Lex doesn't care, as long as he has Howard's signature. They talked for awhile more. Lex expressing that Howard is his best friend and all that.

Howard was slowly, but surely talking to Lex more and more. They had a great conversation. When the clock was about to nine o'clock. The lawyer whispered in Lex's ear it's time to go.

Lex told Howard, they will get him in the coming days. Lex exits the room walking alongside the wall hallway. A calculated smiled appeared on his face. The contract said 'Acquisition Stark Industries'.

"That took longer than expected. Now, that Stark Industries is officially absorbed into LexCorp. It's going to be an interesting first board meeting. Hopefully these employees impress me. While the snakes and rats will be weeded out." Muttered Lex.

As Alex got inside the limousine, the Mission Interface pops up in front of Lex. Lex seeing the green check mark on the side smiles.

[Mission: Acquire Stark Industries]

[Reward: Doctor Fate's Magic]

A potent and overwhelming force seeps it's way into Lex's body, completely enveloping him. The Force was like an Ancient Power and Mysticism, with an aura of both awe and danger.

Meanwhile, in an isolated community located in Tibet. On the Himalayas, a bald human wearing a robe was meditating with a green glow on her chest. She sharply open her eyes and spoke. "This Magic is strange. What kind of Cosmic Being is here on Earth?"