"Yes, the progress is encouraging." Justin Hammer had a high-spirited smile on his face.
"Is there any possibility of success?" the general asked with interest.
"Of course, you have to believe in the research and development capabilities of Hammer Industries! Although some of Stark Industries' weapons are ahead of us, it doesn't mean that we don't have the ability to catch up, right? I can reveal some top-secret research and development information. We have solved most of the technical problems of the Iron Man suit and will be able to conduct relevant overall tests soon." Justin Hammer revealed the news confidently.
"Congratulations." The chubby congressman was the first to congratulate.
"It's a shame Tony isn't willing to share his technology right now. Otherwise, we'd soon be able to outfit every soldier with an Iron Man suit," Justin Hammer shrugged. Everyone present knew he was just talking big. Even with all the money the military had, it wouldn't be possible to truly equip every soldier with an Iron Man suit. But in this situation, no one would point it out or refute it, but simply nod in agreement.
"I remember Tony's Iron Man suit technology, but it doesn't seem to be unique to him. I heard that three people with Iron Man suits were fighting that night," Justin Hammer asked tentatively. Those who knew something about the situation exchanged glances, then fell silent.
"Tony doesn't want to sell his Iron Man suit, so what about the others?" Justin Hammer looked at the silent crowd and asked without giving up.
"This is classified, Hammer. I can tell you that the only person we can identify is Tony Stark," the general said. "The one responsible for handling the cleanup is not one of ours."
Justin Hammer nodded thoughtfully.
…
Hammer Military Industries' manufacturing plant.
"How's the progress of the Iron Man suit?" Looking at the Iron Man suit skeleton in front of him, Justin Hammer anxiously asked the researcher next to him.
"There are still many problems to be solved." The researcher in question helplessly threw his hands to his boss. "Materials, structure, system procedures, balance and other systems are easy to solve. The most troublesome thing now is the energy system. We don't have the micro-arc reactor technology like Tony Stark. So we have to carry several large batteries on our backs or use wires for testing."
"Let's ignore the energy technology for now. You need to solve the other technical problems as quickly as possible! I have to give them something to win their favor!" Justin Hammer waved his hand, looking at his own Iron Man suit developer. "The General wants to see a real-world test, so we must solve the relevant technology within the next ten days. Don't let anything go wrong during the test. Understood?"
"That's impossible, the time is too short," the researcher retorted.
"Of course I know the timeline is short, but we don't need to manufacture them in the first place, or use the most advanced technology. I just want them to move and perform some test maneuvers! I don't think that's too much trouble for you." Justin Hammer patted the other man's shoulder and gave him a firm, unquestionable look. Under the pressure of his gaze, the researcher could only grit his teeth and nod.
…
Luke was shoving food into his mouth in a corner of a social venue. Lately, he'd been overworking his brain, and his appetite had increased significantly. While he was concentrating on eating, a familiar voice rang out from the side.
"So you're here." Tony Stark put his hand on Luke's shoulder and half-hugged him.
Looking at the familiar Tony Stark, Luke picked up the napkin on the table and wiped his mouth. He had a thoughtful look on his face and a helpless tone: "If I remember correctly, this is a cocktail party hosted by Heberon Industries. I remember that Ina didn't send invitations to you and Miss Potts."
"Invitations? I never use those." Tony Stark patted Luke's shoulder and plopped down on the stool next to him. He unceremoniously shoved all the untouched food on the table onto the clean new plate next to him. He stabbed his fork and stuffed a bite into his mouth, chewing as he said, "My face is the best pass. With it, I can get into any cocktail party I want."
"What can I do for you?" Luke asked bluntly. He knew that Tony Stark was following his whereabouts and had come to him in person, so it was definitely not just a greeting or an acquaintance.
"I've always wanted to meet you. After all, some media outlets always compare us. Of course, they compare you to me when I was little." Tony fiddled with the food on his plate with the fork in his right hand. He looked at Luke, who had a calm face. After a pause, he said directly, "Okay, okay, let's put aside these boring small talk. This way of greeting is not for me. Let's get straight to the point and say what we want to say.
Listen, I know who you are, I know what kind of technology you have, and I know you helped me..."
"So you came to thank me?" Luke interrupted.
"So you admit it was you that night?" Tony leaned back, narrowed his eyes, and stared at Luke.
"I have a complete alibi that night." Luke shrugged. "In fact, I wasn't there."
"I don't mean to expose you. In the past, I might have laughed at you for being so conservative, and then dragged you to experience the colorful world, but now I have turned over a new leaf. My purpose in coming to you is very simple. First, to say thank you for saving my life. Second, I want to buy some better materials. Yes, the materials you are thinking of." Tony finished his words and gave Luke a look that said "you know".
"For business matters, you should go to Ina." Luke pointed at Ina in the center of the party.
"Miss Sandra? Yeah, Pepper asked me to thank her too. If it weren't for her reminder, it might have taken me another day or two to discover Stanny's true identity." Tony's eyes flickered in the direction Luke's finger pointed, then quickly retracted. In the past, he wouldn't have minded a second glance at a beauty like Ina Sandra, even taking the opportunity to strike up a conversation. But now, when it came to something important, women, with the exception of Pepper, all retreated!
"Give me a price." Tony failed to win over Luke with just a few words, so he finally used the method he was best at, which was a money offensive.
"Not for sale." Luke refused directly.
"Don't be like this, how about we have some mutually beneficial exchanges? Do you want to enter the new energy industry? We can start a company together, you use the technology to occupy a part of the shares, and then everything else, the outside world's turmoil and malicious prying, I can help you deal with it. Anyway, I have too many lice on my body, so you just need to disclose to me all the material purchasing rights of Haibolun, and then I can reap the benefits of the whole process." Tony Stark made a condition.