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The person who arrived was Obadiah Stane, who had been cleaning up Tony Stark's messes recently.
"I arrived a while ago, but you weren't at the Villa then. I was just about to leave when I heard a commotion, so I came to check it out."
Obadiah Stane looked at the Iron Man Suit being disassembled on Tony Stark's body, a strange light flickering in his eyes. He put the small, lighter-like box in his right hand back into his pocket.
"There are some things about the company's development strategy that I need to discuss with you. Do you have time now?"
Obadiah Stane pointed at the Iron Man Suit that was continuously being removed from Tony Stark's body.
"You've come at just the right time. Jarvis is too clumsy. Obi, come help me take off the Iron Man Suit."
"Alright, let's take off this metal contraption first, then we can talk." Obadiah Stane picked up tools from a nearby workbench and approached Tony Stark on the mechanical platform.
After being bombed multiple times by Harry Osborn's pumpkin bombs and then slammed into the wall by Kuro, the Iron Man Suit was severely deformed. It took them over half an hour of tinkering, accompanied by Tony Stark's pained cries, to fully remove the Iron Man Suit.
Tony Stark temporarily fixed his injured right arm with several mechanical devices.
Obadiah Stane asked with concern, "Are you alright?"
"I'll just have my private Doctor take care of it later. This is nothing compared to what I went through in Afghanistan." Tony said, not caring at all.
"You really have changed a lot." Obadiah Stane showed an expression of emotion.
"People change. Tell me, what strategic matters are so urgent that you had to come find me?"
Picking up a bottle of whiskey from an ice bucket, Tony Stark poured a glass for himself, and then one for Obadiah Stane.
"It's about the company's products."
Taking a sip of the drink, placing the glass on the table, and looking at the Iron Man Suit next to the mechanical platform, Obadiah Stane continued:
"That's your latest weapon design, isn't it? What stage is it at? Testing? When can it be launched?"
Tony Stark was startled and looked at the mark iii, shaking his head:
"No, that's not a weapon, and I've already shut down the company's weapons division. We won't be selling weapons now or in the future!"
His tone was firm, allowing no room for questioning.
Obadiah's gaze turned fierce, but it only lasted for a moment before he hid it deep within his heart again.
He spoke in the tone he usually used to advise Tony Stark:
"Tony, you need to mature a bit. Don't be so naive. Weapons have always existed in this World. Before Stark Industries rose, there were already many arms dealers in the World, and they won't disappear afterwards. If you don't do the arms business, plenty of others will. The number of weapons won't decrease. This isn't something you or I can decide. And have you forgotten how Stark Industries rose? It was through the arms business! You can't cut off your own arm!"
Tony Stark drank the liquor in his glass and retorted:
"I don't agree with your view. Stark Industries never rose because of the arms business. It rose because of this—a genius brain!"
Tony Stark pointed to his head.
"As long as I, Tony Stark, am here, Stark Industries will be number one in the World, no matter what industry we enter!"
Tony Stark spoke with great confidence, but Obadiah's expression grew increasingly grim.
"Then what about the Iron Man Suit on you? I can tell that's a groundbreaking technology. With it, Stark Industries can instantly return to its peak!"
"I don't need to sell the Mark series Iron Man Suits to bring Stark Industries back to its peak."
After saying that, Tony Stark picked up the wine bottle and poured himself another glass.
"You and your father are both arrogant idiots! I cannot let Stark Industries be ruined in your hands. This is the result of my lifelong efforts!" Obadiah Stane shouted directly.
"Huh? What did you say?"
Tony Stark was very surprised. How did the conversation turn into shouting? He had talked with Obi like this before, and he had never seen him lose his composure like this.
Obadiah Stane reined in his excited emotions, took out a pair of custom earplugs from his pocket, and inserted them into his ears.
"How did you..."
Tony Stark hadn't even finished his question when a strong sense of dizziness, starting from his ears, swept through his brain, causing him to momentarily lose his ability to think and control his body.
Obadiah Stane toyed with the lighter-like neural paralyzer device in his hand.
"What a practical little thing. Tony, do you remember? This is a neural paralyzer device you invented a long time ago. At the time, it couldn't be officially launched for many reasons, but I've always carried one with me. It's really useful!"
Obadiah Stane revealed a chilling smile, put the neural paralyzer device back in his pocket, and removed the custom earplugs from his ears.
"Tony, I actually didn't want to do this. If your answer just now had satisfied me, I could still be your uncle. But you're still too arrogant, just like your father, Howard. You both want to suppress me your whole lives!"
Obadiah Stane picked up a pair of gloves from the table, put them on, and continued:
"You should have noticed something by now. I really hope your secretary, Pepper Potts, hasn't discovered my secret. She's a very capable woman. It would be great if she could stay and help me."
The immobilized Tony Stark glared fiercely at Obadiah Stane.
"Your gaze is truly fierce. Don't be like that, Tony. I've given my life to Stark Industries. It's time for me to become its Master. This should have happened months ago, but those damn Ten Rings actually broke their agreement, leaving your dog's life, and were so useless as to let you escape, forcing me to personally clean up their mess."
"But it doesn't matter. I found the weapon you left there. What a groundbreaking invention! You geniuses are always so brilliant, easily obtaining things that we strive for our whole lives to achieve. But you are still too arrogant. When a hen lays a sufficiently large golden egg, all that awaits it is slaughter. And you, Tony, this hen laying golden eggs, have finally produced a golden egg large enough for me to use for a lifetime."
After saying this, Obadiah Stane grabbed the miniature Arc Reactor on Tony Stark's chest, twisted it counter-clockwise, and then pulled it out. The Arc Reactor, along with several wires, was removed from Tony Stark's chest by Obadiah Stane.
Tony Stark's eyes widened, and his body began to twitch slightly.
"What a beautiful heart. It will become the new heart of Stark Industries—my Stark Industries, of course."
After wrapping up the miniature Arc Reactor, Obadiah Stane said to Tony Stark, who was twitching on the sofa:
"Enjoy the last moments of your life!"
With that, he left Tony Stark's laboratory, shutting off the Villa's power before he departed.