Chapter 218: Exhibition Farce (Part 1)_1

The headquarters of Stark Industries, also known as Stark Tower, is located on 45th Street East, Central Station, Manhattan, New York, USA. Completed in the 1990s, it stands approximately 350 meters tall, spreading across 89 floors.

Originally, the founder and owner of Stark Industries, Howard Stark, purchased a plot of land on the east side of the central station with plans to build a new headquarters for his automotive company. Later, based on Obadiah's suggestion, it was transformed into the tallest building in New York at the time, becoming one of the landmarks on New York City's skyline.

Unfortunately, Howard couldn't live to see the building's completion. After Stark grew up and took over Stark Industries, he carried out several renovations on the building. Now, it serves as a combination of high-tech laboratories, corporate headquarters, and commercial office spaces.

Many New Yorkers fondly call it the "Triangle Tower," because of its right-angle triangular shape. The eastern side of the building, which houses Stark's personal laboratory from the 79th to the 89th floor, is taller than the western side which consists of commercial office spaces where Stark Industries employees work.

While the design may appear odd, it is highly practical. The two parts of the building are interconnected without interference. Despite having faced criticism from many landscape scholars at the time of its creation, arguing that the weirdly shaped building disrupted the beauty of the New York skyline, today Stark Tower has become an indispensable part of the New York tourism guide.

The inaugural Stark Industries Expo, organized by Howard Stark, took place in 1981. Until the end of the 20th century, it was the largest industrial Expo in the world.

After Howard's death, his successor, Tony Stark, wasn't very fond of hosting the Expo. Consequently, from the late 20th century to the beginning of the 21st century, the grandeur of the Stark Industries Expo was lost. Today, Tony Stark, at a press conference in Stark Tower, steps into the spotlight and says into the microphone:

"A critical element of human industrial development has been forgotten by many for years. I regret my part in this oversight. What disappoints me even more is that after the demise of the founder of Stark Industries, I've never heard about any other industrial expos that could fill this void..."

"And now, what I want to tell you is, you will all receive what may possibly be the most important invitation of your life. You will witness firsthand the significant strides human industrial development has made. If the white space of these past decades is due to my negligence, let me correct it with the Stark Industries Expo..."

Stark looked around, and all the surrounding reporters were silently watching him.

The reporters were very familiar with Stark, but most of the time it was Pepper standing in front of the reporters, assuring them that Stark's indiscretions wouldn't significantly impact anything. Then, a drunken Tony would be hauled on stage to mutter a few words to the reporters.

But now, all the reporters could sense that the Mr. Stark standing in front of them had changed.

Stark was always proud. He often made remarks such as "ordinary people can't understand me", "you'll never know how my innovations will change the human race", or "those minor issues aren't important, I'm about to alter the course of human industrial development".

Arrogance was his trademark, reckless imprudence his nickname. But this time, Stark's tone was noticeably different, drawing the full attention of the reporters – even those hardened by countless insincere celebrity statements.

"Many rumors in this world are hard to discern as real or false, and your job is to spread them. But these rumors can never truly change the world. You can't do it, Ivan Vanko can't do it, nor can the Air Force, Army, and Navy standing behind him."

Lastly, Stark said into the microphone, ".....but I can."

Stark picked up an invitation from the table, showing it to the reporters, and said, "This is a ticket to the Noah's Ark of the new era. If you don't want to board, stay in the decaying waves and wait for death."

Countless camera flashes ignited, the sound of shutter clicks accompanied by clamorous questions echoed throughout the room. Stark's calm demeanor was captured and immortalized on the pages of numerous newspapers.

The newspaper shook slightly as it was laid down, revealing Peter's face. Taking a bite of his hot dog, he said to Gwen beside him, "I never thought you'd manage to get tickets to the Stark Industries Expo, I thought..."

Gwen shrugged and said, "Recently, the news has been flooded with reports about Stark. I'm quite interested in the expo, so I got my dad to get us a pair of tickets. Let's go together."

Speaking of this made Peter a bit upset, "I feel some of the reporters are twisting the facts..."

"I know you're a fan of Stark. You've said that he treated you well when you interned at Stark Industries," Gwen turned to look at Peter. Peter sighed and said with a gloomy expression, "Do you think he's a bad guy too? But..."

Gwen patted Peter on the shoulder and said, "Many people know a different Stark from the one you do, as presented by the media, but that's totally normal since everyone has different sides."

"You feel they are smearing your idol, while they think you are whitewashing him, but no matter what, I am more interested in finding out if Stark can indeed live up to the grand promises he made at the press conference."

Gwen took off her backpack and took out two invitations, handing one to Peter, saying, "Open it and see if the design is too ugly, we won't go."

Examining the invitation, Peter remarked, "From the outward appearance, there's nothing special..."

As he opened it, Gwen did the same. She looked a bit disappointed. "The design of the invitation is quite ordinary, the inside is just a card, saying 'Please go to the 90th floor of Stark Group's Headquarter Building at 45th Street East, Central Station in Manhattan'..."

"Wait a minute!" Peter interrupted Gwen, carefully reading the card from his invitation, he said surprised, "The 90th floor?? Since when does Stark Building have 90 floors? The building only has 89 floors!"

Gwen took another look, puzzled, "You must have miscounted, right?" Then she looked back at the invitation and continued, "Both of our cards say 90th floor, so it shouldn't be a mistake."

Peter scratched his head, somewhat uncertain, "I remember there being only 89 floors, at least the elevators definitely go up to 89."

"Could it be they're intending for us to tour the rooftop?"

"Also, I remember..." Gwen picked up the newspaper Peter had set down and pointed at a photo of Stark Building in a report, "Isn't the exhibition hall in Stark Building supposed to be on the top floor of this shorter building to the left? How could this building possibly have 90 floors?"

"Indeed, I've been to the exhibition hall. It's massive, more than enough for an industrial expo."

While Peter and Gwen were confused, others who received the invitations were expressing the same doubts. Even if one were to stand on another building rooftop and count the floors of Stark Building with a telescope, there were indeed only 89 floors, no sign of a 90th.

Many journalists seized this opportunity to attack Stark. They claimed it was a distasteful joke from the playboy, accusing him of resorting to every means to draw attention and create a sensation. Some even ridiculed him as incompetent and struggling desperately.

Indeed, after Stark's grand claims, the majority of industrial conglomerates and large corporations were enraged by his arrogant demeanor. If the earlier Stark was seen as a nouveau riche bragging, the present, earnest Stark's mockery was a hard blow to many.

Because a harsh truth stared them in the face: the scandal-ridden man had produced a revolutionary mecha technology and could even become a superhero in the middle of New York, dressed in that stunning battlesuit.

Quite a few disgruntled scientists and leaders of industrial corporations couldn't resist the fantasy: they surely wouldn't be as immature as Stark, becoming a superhero with a battlesuit, if they had developed this technology.

They imagined a collaboration with the military, increased production, controlling a mechanical army and even ruling the world.

Consequently, they ridiculated and mocked Stark all the more righteously, deeming his choice exceedingly childish.

Many accused Stark of making the wrong choices at every turn, which had led him into current troubles. If it were them, they would cooperate not only with the military, but also with colleagues, join forces, exploit this technology, seize the market and share the monopolistic profits, or participate in international political games.

But no matter what, it would definitely be more mature than donning an iron suit and playing the hero in New York.

The most ironic part is, the targets of Stark's heroics, the ordinary people he protected and saved, did not show gratitude. In fact, public opposition against Stark and Iron Man was stronger than that of Stark's peers.

In any case, whether they were colleagues, military or ordinary people, after receiving the invitation, they were still planning to attend.

Most were going there for entertainment, wanting to see how this infamous playboy planned to fulfill his extravagant claims.

Many self-proclaimed professional scientists planned to use their expertise to expose Stark's charade. Quite a few talented youth, who felt unappreciated, planned to go watch Stark make a fool of himself as a comforting thought, believing that these wealthy people were merely lucky.

People like Peter and Gwen, simply showing interest in industry and machinery and wanting to learn and observe, were actually in the minority.