Chapter 65: Flexible Moral Boundaries
"Wait for me, Uchiha Akira, Uchiha Mikoto," Tony Stark called out as he chased after them, all while thinking about everything that had just happened.
There was no doubt it was a terrorist attack, but what caught his attention was the water curtain right in front of him. And also Mikoto's immense power.
The seemingly frail Uchiha Mikoto had lifted him up in an instant, and that thin layer of water shielded him from the intense explosion—everything contradicted Tony's usual understanding.
"Tony Stark, stop shouting. If you have something to say, just say it," Uchiha Akira said, a little confused by Tony's train of thought. Had he never been kidnapped to understand the pain?
In the face of a terrorist attack, why wasn't he rushing to find his bodyguards? Why come to them?
"I'm just here to say thank you. Thank you for saving my life just now," Tony Stark said "you," but his eyes were fixed on Uchiha Mikoto.
"Alright, no need to thank us. Goodbye."
"Was that a superpower just now?"
"Something like that. It's ninjutsu, but also a superpower."
"Oh."
"No more questions?"
"No, oh wait, one more thing—thanks again for saving me today."
"Alright, goodbye." After Uchiha Akira and Mikoto reached a desolate part of the road, they suddenly vanished.
Tony Stark, who had witnessed everything, stood there quietly, stunned.
"Akira, shouldn't we erase his memory?" Uchiha Mikoto wondered why this time they didn't erase the other party's memory. It was a simple illusion technique that could easily do it.
"Forget it, this person doesn't need it," Uchiha Akira shook his head.
Tony was a typical lawful good type. In most cases, his stance wouldn't conflict much with Uchiha Akira's.
The terrorist attack during the St. Patrick's Day celebration shocked all of America. But three days later, there was still no news of the culprit.
The Osborn Group suffered the most during the celebration since several shareholders died on the spot. The stock price plummeted again, but soon a mysterious force started aggressively buying Osborn Group shares.
Norman Osborn had prepared his funds long ago but didn't expect others to be buying Osborn shares in large amounts too. Fortunately, Norman still managed to stabilize his dominant position in the Osborn Group.
"Who on earth is sabotaging us?" Norman Osborn had planned to take advantage of the situation for a big move, even borrowing a large amount of cash from banks in advance. Who knew someone else would try to loot by fire?
Luckily, the result wasn't bad.
Norman admired his reflection in the mirror, wearing the Green Goblin armor, and laughed out loud.
"I told you all, you're going to die. The Osborn Group is mine, and no one can take it from me!" The madman Norman didn't realize his lucid moments were getting fewer and fewer.
Moreover, the destructive and impulsive desire inside him grew stronger.
The outcome of this terrorist attack still pleased Norman—most of the floating Osborn Group shares on the market had been acquired.
Proud Norman didn't know that Uchiha Akira was actually the mastermind behind this Osborn stock acquisition.
When Uchiha Akira saw the pumpkin bomb, he knew Norman Osborn was ultimately following the Green Goblin's old path. Today's bomb targeted several Osborn shareholders. Once the stock price plummeted, Norman would have a chance to buy at a low price.
Knowing Norman's character, next he would threaten and coerce family members of Billy Osborn and others to sell their shares cheaply.
The true target of this terrorist attack was only a few people, and Uchiha Akira even suspected he himself was one of Norman's targets. Norman didn't care about innocent casualties to achieve his goals.
In fact, that was Norman's goal: if only Osborn shareholders died, anyone could see there was a problem. Then, following the principle that whoever benefits is suspicious, suspicion would quickly fall on Norman.
But Uchiha Akira wouldn't sit idle. Racing against Norman Osborn in speed was what he planned next.
"Lord Akira, you knew Norman would take such desperate measures all along?"
After understanding the situation roughly, Uchiha Izumi found that her clan leader seemed to have long prepared for this.
"In fact, I only knew Norman Osborn wouldn't live long because his hereditary disease was already in its terminal stage. Everything that happened afterward was Norman Osborn's own choice."
"Norman chose to become a demon, solidifying his position in Osborn through killing. In modern society, once exposed, he would be ruined. That's his choice."
"The Osborn Group was already mine. I was just waiting for Norman to make a mistake. Fundamentally, I still consider myself a person who likes to follow order. If I can achieve my goals peacefully, I'd choose peace."
Uchiha Akira did not hide anything from Uchiha Izumi.
"What if Norman never made a mistake?"
"Then I'd wait a year or so. After Norman dies, the Osborn Group will still be mine," Akira replied with a smile.
"What if Norman's hereditary disease is cured? What will you do then, Lord Akira?"
"Then, I guess I'll have to use some off-the-books moves. At worst, I'll use the Mangekyo to control Norman to achieve my goal."
Uchiha Akira's honest answer surprised Uchiha Izumi.
"Won't you feel guilty then?"
"No, because I have flexible moral boundaries. Whenever something touches my moral bottom line, I find ways to lower my moral standards."
Uchiha Akira answered seriously.
"Pfft," Uchiha Izumi couldn't help but laugh at Akira's explanation.
"So, do you have a whole new understanding of me now?" Akira wasn't embarrassed at all.
"Yeah, today I feel like I really got to know the clan leader again! And your words are very interesting—I'll remember them!"
With that, Uchiha Izumi happily left. "Looks like Lord Akira is even more reliable than I thought."
The perfect strategy is self-strategy. That's exactly the kind of person Uchiha Izumi was. After Uchiha Akira fully displayed his flexible moral boundaries, Uchiha Izumi liked this real clan leader even more.
"By the way, just call me Uchiha Akira or Akira from now on. Don't call me 'Lord Clan Leader' or anything like that. It makes me feel too old!"
"I got it, Akira!"