Chapter 98

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....

It was easy for Tony to turn off his alert and defense systems. After all, he knew that the defense system he had built into the villa could handle ordinary people, or even a special operations force, without leaving him vulnerable.

But now, he was facing superhumans.

The red energy released by the girl, which had instantly destroyed all the defensive weapons in the hall, was enough proof of the huge gap between them. If they really wanted to kill him, nothing he did now would make a difference. It was better to face the situation calmly; even if he was going to die, he'd at least know why.

What Tony didn't realize, though, was that Jarvis had a built-in rule prioritizing his life above all else. So, without Tony knowing, Jarvis had already sent out distress signals.

Natasha, Wanda, and Pietro noticed Tony's calmness in the face of danger, but that wouldn't stop Wanda and Pietro from seeking revenge.

Wanda stepped forward, her delicate, sweet face now filled with rage. She gritted her teeth and spoke to Tony, "Tell me, do you remember a country called Sokovia?"

"Sokovia?" Tony frowned, repeating the name.

"It was a small country in Eastern Europe. Poor and backward. Pietro and I were just ordinary people there. We were poor, but we had a warm home. Until the war broke out when we were ten years old."

She paused, her anger intensifying. Red energy swirled around her, and her golden hair began to float as if blown by an unseen wind. A terrifying aura filled the villa, making Tony feel as though he were carrying a massive weight on his back. His chest tightened, and breathing became difficult.

But Tony kept listening.

Pietro stepped forward to stand by Wanda, his eyes full of hatred as he stared at the man responsible for destroying their family.

Wanda continued, her voice trembling with anger. "The explosion destroyed our home. The building collapsed. Our parents died that day. Pietro and I survived, but just as we were about to escape, a missile hit less than a meter away from us."

Tony remained silent, listening to Wanda's every word.

"We were trapped. We couldn't leave the collapsed apartment. All we could do was stare at the missile, unsure when it would explode. We watched it for two days..."

Her voice dropped, but her rage was palpable. "And on that missile, we saw the name: Stark Industries."

Wanda's eyes bore into Tony's, her voice sharp and cutting like steel blades. "Tell me, Tony Stark, do you think you deserve to live?"

Her words hung in the air, slicing through the room as if Tony could be torn apart at any moment. The Maximoff twins' hatred and anger were laid bare.

Tony stood still, grappling with the weight of her accusation. His mind raced, recalling moments that had once seemed insignificant. He remembered the female reporter who had confronted him, and the Jericho missile that had landed him in a terrorist's cave.

What could he say? How could he justify himself?

Since his father founded Stark Industries, the company had developed countless weapons and supplied arms to the U.S. military. How many wars had those weapons fueled? How many civilians had been killed? He had never truly considered it.

Because he had never seen the consequences with his own eyes.

Tony had always lived in his own world—the world of the upper class, of banquets and casinos, where he basked in admiration and attention, surrounded by women and accolades. He had enjoyed the life of a genius, insulated from the horrors of the outside world.

He had never seen the suffering of the poor, or the families torn apart by war.

His world had always been narrow.

It wasn't until he was kidnapped that he realized how deeply Stark Industries' weapons had scarred the world. Only then did he begin to understand the devastation his company had caused.

After he returned, Tony made the decision to shut down the arms department. But even then, he hadn't truly grasped the pain of those scorched by the flames of war—not until now, standing before these two children, staring into their hateful eyes as they recounted their harrowing experience from when they were just ten years old.

It was hard for Tony to fathom that two children, so young, had been huddled in the corner of the ruins, staring at a missile just a meter away for two days, consumed by helplessness. The panic, fear, and despair they must have felt seemed unbearable.

Tony's heart ached.

He stood in silence, gazing at the two before him. Slowly, he closed his eyes, his weary face turning calm. He offered no excuses. When he opened his eyes again, he took heavy, guilt-ridden steps toward Wanda and Pietro.

"I'm sorry," Tony said, his voice calm but filled with regret. "I know that nothing I do can ever make up for what you've been through, or for all the lives lost because of war. For all the broken families. I imagine I'll be going to hell when I die."

His tone was self-deprecating, devoid of the bravado he used to carry.

"Jarvis."

"Sir?"

"After my death, I want you to execute a will through Pepper. She's already been appointed president and CEO of Stark Industries. All my shares will be transferred to her. Ten percent of the profits each year will go to her. The rest should be used to establish a charitable foundation."

Tony paused before continuing. "And I want all my assets and funds to be dedicated to helping children and people around the world who suffer from war, illness, and homelessness."

"Sir!"

"Jarvis, write it up."

"Yes, sir. May you rest in peace."

Jarvis's voice echoed throughout the villa, leaving Wanda and Pietro visibly surprised as they looked at the man in front of them. Tony, though seemingly at peace, had a weight to his words that caught them off guard.

In the past, Tony might have worn a mischievous grin, teasing the two. But now, his demeanor was calm as he addressed them.

"I hope my death can help lift the shadow that's been hanging over you. I'd hate to laugh at you from hell."

He paused, then added, "And Jarvis will inform the authorities that my death was voluntary. You won't face any consequences. People will gloat about my death and that will be it."