Chapter 52: The West Coast

**

Arriving at the SHIELD division, Coulson mysteriously brought out a piece of equipment, resembling a waist pouch, but it was a sleek black box. Inside were the same leaf-shaped throwing knives that Link had used before. Positioned at his lower back, the box came with a special pair of fingerless gloves equipped with controls. By pressing a button, knives would eject from both sides of the box. It could store up to a hundred knives.

Link was pleased with the setup. After testing it out, he found it far more convenient than his old waist pouch, though it could hold fewer knives.

There were a total of four such boxes, all custom-made by SHIELD's tech department. Of course, they couldn't compare to Hawkeye's equipment; SHIELD's perspective was that throwing knives had limited range. They didn't know that Link could throw them much farther, but he didn't care. He could also carry a significant amount of firearms; the throwing knives would be reserved for close combat.

After stowing the gear aside, Link asked, "Coulson, if I want to access someone's computer and copy their files, what do I need?"

"That's simple!" Coulson quickly fetched a USB drive, noticeably larger than the standard ones sold on the market. "Just plug it in, and it will automatically hack and download the files. Take it with you."

"Anything else?"

"A car, preferably a fast one—a black sports car for night operations." Link considered his next request carefully. This would make it easier to follow Obadiah Stane if he tried to steal the arc reactor. That would give Link the perfect opportunity to catch him in the act.

"I also need a sniper rifle."

"Got it. I'll arrange that." Coulson efficiently prepared everything. After placing all the gear in the car, Link waved goodbye and drove back to the hotel.

Jessica was already back when he arrived, and upon seeing Link, she immediately said, "Honey, there's a reception tonight for all the shareholders."

"No problem, I'll join you." Link then added, "Looks like we need to buy a house here. We'll probably be coming to the West Coast more often."

"Sure, whatever you decide." Jessica had no strong feelings about it but still asked, "Another apartment?"

"An apartment?" Link thought about it before shaking his head. "No, this time, let's go for a villa."

"Things are different here than in New York. A villa would suit us better. We wouldn't have to worry about the floors or the bed anymore," Link teased.

Jessica blushed. In critical moments, she could hardly control her strength, which is why they often had to use the gym for their activities.

"If we buy a villa, we can also set up a gym, which would make it more convenient for training."

…

At the evening reception, Tony Stark didn't show up. This was one of Stane's tactics. On one hand, he was rallying the shareholders in response to Stark's announcement to shut down the weapons division. On the other hand, it was part of his long-term plan.

Link and Jessica were new faces, and with their 10% share of Stark Industries, it was clear that, although under the guise of a charitable foundation, everyone knew it was essentially Link's private asset.

Stane greeted them warmly, and Link responded politely. Link also expressed his interest in touring Stark Industries' headquarters and factory the next day.

Stane readily agreed and promised to send someone to pick them up from the hotel and guide their visit.

After the reception, the two of them went out for a late-night snack before returning to the hotel to rest.

…

The following day, as expected, someone from Stark Industries arrived to pick them up. They first visited the factory. Link, genuinely curious, used his X-ray vision to inspect the facility and discovered that the Iron Monger suit was being built.

With this confirmation, Link felt more prepared. Afterward, they headed to the headquarters of Stark Industries.

In New York, Stark Industries owns an expo hall, constructed during World War II, though it is now closed. Stark rarely visited New York in recent times.

Link and Jessica toured the facility, though they weren't shown everything—just the main highlights. One of the focus points was the R&D department.

Link was particularly interested in this, but a challenge presented itself: how to gain access to Stane's office.

Only there would he find the evidence of Stane's illegal weapons dealings. With that evidence, SHIELD could take action, potentially even helping Stark regain control of more shares. Though Nick Fury might not necessarily return the shares to Stark, SHIELD could easily assign someone else to oversee them instead.

Link pondered how much profit Nick Fury had already made from the intel he had provided.

"This is impressive. It's my first time visiting the headquarters of a major corporation, but I think we'd like to rest for a bit now," Link suddenly suggested.

"Of course. We have a VIP lounge for that. Please follow me," said the secretary guiding them. She led them to the lounge.

Link inspected the room and was pleased. "This will do. We'll rest for a while."

"I'll be right outside. Call me if you need anything," the secretary said before closing the door behind her. Link lit a cigar, and Jessica poured two glasses of his favorite plum-flavored bourbon.

As Link smoked his cigar, he used his X-ray vision to scan the building. His gaze pierced through floor after floor until he located Stane's office. Listening in, he overheard Stane speaking with military personnel. Stark's decision to shut down the weapons division affected not only the company but also the military.

Stane had to respond to their inquiries and make certain assurances. Indeed, Stark Industries owed much of its success to Stane. While Howard and Tony Stark were both geniuses, neither had Stane's business acumen.

…

After some time, the secretary knocked on the door and entered. She informed them that Stane wished to see them. Link figured this was perfect timing, so he and Jessica followed her to Stane's office.

Although Tony Stark was the CEO, Stane served as COO, handling everything except the R&D.

"Welcome to Stark Industries' headquarters. Are you enjoying your visit?" Stane greeted them with a smile.

Link shook his hand and replied, "It's impressive. It's my first time at a corporate headquarters this large. The conditions here are remarkable, though I don't have a knack for business."

"You're too modest, Mr. Link. You've built your success from the ground up," Stane said as he offered Link a cigar, knowing his preferences, and poured him a glass of bourbon.

Link accepted the drink and said, "I'm lucky, that's all. And I know a bit about psychology."

"I've been fortunate enough to meet Tony Stark twice, and I studied him closely. You could say that I took a gamble with my investments, but I guess I'm a good judge of character."

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(End of Chapter)