The meeting lasted three full days. High-tech biopharmaceutical companies from various states, as well as dignitaries, enthusiastically engaged in various explorations and collaborations with the vampires. Every day, someone beamed with joy over a successful collaboration, while just as often, others nearly came to blows over quota allocations.
The only ones who can sit back and relax are Heberon and Stark Industries.
The former, as the leader in vampire factor technology, naturally holds a strong advantage and a secure position. After all, only Hebolun can currently produce a mature product. No matter how others compete, Hebolun's share of the profits will not be lost! Those powerful individuals coveting the longevity potion will inevitably prioritize Hebolun's interests over anything else, given the lack of alternatives.
The latter is to simply watch the show without participating. Tony Stark isn't worried about aging in the next few decades; he's simply been invited to participate in this meeting, which he finds very interesting. Now Stark Industries needs to re-establish a new, stable relationship with the authorities.
The connections Obadiah and Stark Industries had cultivated over decades had largely dissipated with Obadiah's downfall and Stark's exit from the arms industry. Tony had tried to salvage these connections when he first took over Stark Industries, but he found that there were always things in this world he couldn't handle immediately. For example, interpersonal relationships!
His clever mind and the experiences he'd gained throughout his life made it easy for him to understand the correct course of action. At the very least, he could find a template to follow and imitate. But knowing is one thing, and being able to execute it is another. At least, Tony didn't think he could be as adept and flexible as Justin Hammer. Nor could he handle official interpersonal relationships with the ease of Obadiah.
It's impossible to make Tony Stark stop being rebellious.
The biggest change in Tony now is that he's no longer as headstrong as before, ignoring official recognition and personal connections to go out and find girls for fun. He's matured and more responsible, but that doesn't mean he's less sharp-tongued or more likable.
As for Pepper Potts? Tony didn't deny that Pepper was a capable person, but she'd previously been known more as his assistant. She was too inexperienced to play mind games with those political veterans. Speaking of which, Tony had once expressed a rare envy for Luke.
Luke's CEO, Ina, might be younger than Pepper, but her family background is there. She's been influenced by the political world since she was a child, and she has a father who's a senior councilman and can always ask for advice. She can easily identify the key points of those political tricks and language, and then take targeted measures.
Sometimes Tony even missed the time when Obadiah was in charge of Stark Industries. At least at that time, he only needed to carry out his research, and all other ups and downs related to the outside world would be blocked by that man to help him.
Now, he has to face the storm alone.
Therefore, Tony will now give some face to some official meetings and cooperation requests that he didn't like to participate in before.
…
Some time later, Nick, Tony, and Luke were gathered in Heybollen's meeting room. The lights were dim, and the interior of the meeting room was even a little dark.
"There are no more obstacles to new energy." Luke was the first to break the silence.
"Yeah." Tony responded dryly. It was obvious that this was the official top showing friendship to Luke, and had little to do with him, Tony Stark.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.'s funding has increased by two levels, and the number of tasks it is responsible for has increased significantly. We are short of staff." Nick Fury sighed softly, but his dark face showed a look of satisfaction no matter how you looked at it.
"Hybern has obtained a weapons security permit," Luke continued, feeling quite satisfied. After all, with this, even if he fully armed the entire city of Hybern with all sorts of weapons, it would be legal and reasonable. Even if Luke came up with something good in the future, with this permit, he wouldn't have to deal with the same unfortunate situation as Tony Stark, who had to hold a hearing over a suit.
Of course, there were still limitations, but Luke was content with that for now.
"Stark has received an order to improve California's state-run power grid." Tony continued dryly.
Luke and Nick looked at Tony, whose expression was not right, and looked at each other. They tacitly agreed not to provoke him anymore, but turned the topic to the vampire factor.
"You businessmen really find a blue ocean and then turn it into a red ocean." Nick sighed as he thought of the various companies that have sprung up like mushrooms after rain in recent times to try to take advantage of the vampire factor.
These days, the media has been flooding with reports about the past and present of the vampires, jumping from threats to benefits, and then to practical value. In the end, inexplicably, after reading the reports for a few days, people were surprised to find that in their minds, the vampires have completely changed from their initial terrifying image, and have inexplicably become synonymous with treasures all over their bodies!
What? You're saying they're intelligent creatures like humans?
Nonsense! They're clearly a species of animal similar to monkeys and gorillas! They're a special variant of bats. Numerous scientists have stated in major media outlets that these vampires possess extremely high research and medicinal value, capable of resolving numerous difficult and complicated illnesses and effectively improving human lifespan and health.
Many, including giants like Osborne Industries, have even publicly acquired the vampires.
The public's perception of vampires had shifted from the fear they felt a few days ago to a current eagerness to try them out. Some of the more proactive ones even crafted their own silver weapons and, armed with garlic, wandered around places rumored to be haunted by vampires. It was simply that the prices offered by those companies were too tempting.
There were even some ridiculous incidents where quite a few members of the Hagui tribe and vampire enthusiasts were caught by the public and sent to these companies for sale.
Even more active and aggressive than the masses was the underground world! The Battle of Brooklyn had shaken the entire underworld, and similarly, they had developed a keen interest in the vampires. After all, the vampires had once been deeply entrenched in the underworld, even using money to build a profit chain for themselves. But now, the vampires' profit chain had long since collapsed, and their influence had been greatly reduced. Other organizations in the underground world were not particularly moved by the grieving.
They just keenly realized that the old blood clan interest chain collapsed, but a new blood clan interest chain reappeared!