Tony's eyes flickered, lost in thought.
"Tony, you shut down the weapons division because you saw that sometimes, good intentions don't survive reality. But as long as you're willing to change…"
Something in Tony clicked into place… realization.
He had been so focused on the physical shrapnel in his chest that he had ignored the deeper wound, the stain Stark Industries had left on the world.
Even if his body healed, the root cause of his trauma wouldn't disappear. Tony expression shifting from contemplation to resolution.
"Soren… thank you."
Soren merely smiled, standing patiently at his side.
The decision had already been made.
A soft hum filled the room as an intoxicating green light enveloped Tony.
It was warm, weightless, unlike any medical procedure he had ever undergone.
"…" and.
It was done.
[Congratulations to the host, healing Tony Stark, now at an Elementary Iron Man level!]
[Tony Stark]
[This world is rated C+ level.]
[Abilities: Energy Research Lv 8, Machinery Manufacturing Lv 8, Weapon Research Lv 9, Steel Armor Lv 1]
[Ability drawn immediately. Congratulations to the host for acquiring Energy Research Lv 8!]
"Alright, Tony, open your eyes." Soren's voice was calm.
Tony blinked, there was no pain. No lingering discomfort.
Only… relief.
He hesitated, then slowly placed a hand over his chest…nothing.
No sharp edges digging into his heart. No mechanical whirring.
It felt whole.
"That's it? No needles? No scalpels? No life-threatening complications?"
Soren chuckled, picking up a tray and extending it toward Tony.
"This is your 'relic'."
On the tray sat the shrapnel that had once threatened his life—jagged pieces of metal.
Next to it… his miniature Arc Reactor.
Tony stared at it for a long moment.
Then, he reached out and carefully picked it up, turning it over in his palm, the tiny, glowing piece of machinery had kept him alive.
It had also defined him, he wasn't sure if he could ever let it go completely.
But… maybe he didn't have to.
The moment Tony and Soren stepped out into the lobby, Yinsen and Pepper sprang to their feet.
Pepper rushed forward, eyes filled with worry. "Tony, the treatment's already done? How do you feel?"
Tony grinned, holding up the Arc Reactor in his hand and shaking it lightly.
"Like a brand-new man."
Pepper's eyes widened.
Tony Stark never downplayed his pain. Ever.
Which meant…
He really was healed.
Then, he turned to her, suddenly businesslike.
"Pepper, I'll be signing an equity transfer later. You'll send it over to Mr. Macaluso."
Soren raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
6% of Stark Industries.
It was a fortune, but Tony clearly felt it was a fair price.
As Tony sipped on the tea Soren handed him, he turned to Yinsen. "So… what's next for you?"
Yinsen exhaled, already knowing this conversation was coming.
"Tony, I have no family left. I was ready to die in that cave."
A small, solemn pause.
"But I suppose fate had other plans."
Tony nodded, swirling the tea in his cup.
Soren, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up.
"Yinsen, you saved Tony's life. A company like Stark Industries could surely find a place for someone like you."
Tony immediately caught on and smirked. "Exactly. I could use someone I actually trust in my company."
Yinsen hesitated.
"Tony… my talents aren't on your level."
"Please. You're a genius, and Stark Industries is short on geniuses who actually have a conscience. So how about it?" Tony waved him off.
Yinsen thought for a long moment.
"Alright. I'll stay."
Tony grinned.
Tony and Pepper didn't stay long after that.
There was too much to do.
The moment news broke that Tony Stark planned to shut down Stark Industries' Weapons Division, the market reacted viciously.
The stock price plummeted by more than 50 percent in a single day.
Investors fled, major stakeholders pulled out their capital, and financial analysts declared it a catastrophe.
The media had a field day.
Has Tony Stark Lost His Mind? – Financial Times
The Fall of Stark Industries? What Comes After Weapons – Forbes
From War Profiteer to Pacifist: Can Stark Industries Survive? – Wall Street Journal
For the first time in its long and dominant history, Stark Industries was in freefall.
At Stark Industries Headquarters, the boardroom was in chaos.
Executives sat around the massive mahogany table, all of them furious.
At the head of the table, Tony Stark leaned back in his chair.
Obadiah Stane slammed a hand down on the table, his voice dripping with frustration.
"Tony, you need to think this through. We're in the arms business. Without the Weapons Department, there's almost nothing else we can do!"
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room.
"We oppose closing the Weapons Department!"
"Seconded!"
"Seconded!"
The room was a chorus of discontent.
Tony's jaw tightened. He knew this was coming.
Most of these people didn't care about the ethics of their work, only their profits.
Still, their hostility was impossible to ignore.
Sensing the tension, Obadiah softened his tone.
"Tony, I think the stress from your recent… ordeal has taken a toll. Maybe you should take a break. Let the board handle company affairs temporarily."
A few board members nodded approvingly, clearly eager to sideline Tony.
Tony slowly sat forward, his voice cold as granite.
"I think you should remember who owns this company."
"More than half of Stark Industries' shares belong to me."
A heavy weight settled over the room.
Tony glared at them all, daring anyone to challenge him.
Many of the board members shifted uncomfortably in their seats. They knew he was right.
The board had power, but at the end of the day, Tony Stark was still in control.
Obadiah forced a chuckle, masking his irritation. "Alright, Tony. No need to escalate things. Let's be rational about this."
He leaned forward, his voice low and persuasive.
"Canceling the Weapons Division means losing billions in revenue. It means mass layoffs. It means shareholders withdrawing at an alarming rate. It means a funding crisis."
Tony exhaled slowly, knowing full well the storm he had created.
But he didn't care…. He wouldn't back down.
"I'll figure out the funding. That's my responsibility. The decision stands."
With that, Tony stood up and walked out of the conference room, the moment Tony left, the boardroom erupted.
"Stane, you can't just let him do this!"
"He's reckless! Stark Industries isn't just his personal playground!"
"Even Howard Stark respected the board's decisions!"
Obadiah raised a hand, silencing the room.
"Complaining won't solve anything." He said coolly. "Let's see how Tony plans to cover the massive funding gap he just created."
And without another word, he left the boardroom.
Obadiah strode through a restricted corridor in Stark Industries.
His polished shoes clicked against the cold, metallic floor as he entered a hidden chamber, one that few people even knew existed.
Inside, a secure communications console flickered to life.
His cold and sharp voice, filled with displeasure, echoed from the speakers.
"I provided everything you needed. The weapons, the technology, the funding! And you still failed!?"
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
Fellow Phantoms and aspiring Phantoms to be, if you seek to access advanced parts of this story procced to my shadowy realm of p@treon.
PhantomDream