~Oscorp Industries~
Led by the secretary, Sean pushed open the door to the CEO's office...
Harry was lounging on the sofa, engrossed in a news broadcast, completely unaware of Sean's sudden visit.
On the television screen, Tony Stark (who had been missing for some time) sat below the podium, pulling a cheeseburger from his pocket and taking a large bite.
<...Can everyone sit down? That way you can see me, and I can... relax a little...>
The playboy billionaire maintained his signature unpredictable style.
Reporters wielding microphones and notepads, along with cameramen carrying their equipment, had no choice but to kneel and sit on the floor as requested.
The lively press conference suddenly took on a humorous tone, but the eager journalists didn't mind at all.
After all, this was the first public appearance of the famous billionaire, Tony Stark, after his months-long disappearance...
Prior to this, rumors had circulated that the celebrity genius had been kidnapped and killed by terrorists while promoting weapons on the frontlines in Afghanistan.
Of course, these unverified claims had been promptly denied by Stark Industries' leadership. The CEO, Obadiah Stane, had insisted that Tony was merely recovering from an illness and that all company affairs were being handled by him in the meantime.
Now, Tony Stark himself had called this press conference. The media, smelling blood in the water, swarmed like sharks, eager to extract sensational headlines from the man who had single-handedly kept half of New York's paparazzi in business...
Obadiah Stane, the bald CEO, had no choice but to play along. He sat on the steps with a forced smile, pretending to be overjoyed at Tony's safe return.
<...My father, the founder of Stark Industries, died in a car accident... I never got to say goodbye to him...>
Tony wiped his greasy hands with his tie, his voice growing somber:
<...I always wanted to ask him what he thought about manufacturing weapons...>
<...Did he ever struggle with it? Did he ever waver? Or was he just the cold, ruthless arms dealer the media painted him as... a merchant of death?..>
Tony's expression darkened, the usual playfulness fading from his face. Pepper, standing nearby, caught a glimpse of pain and guilt in her boss's eyes...
<...I saw young patriots dying on the battlefield, killed by the very weapons I designed to protect them. And I realized this system was perfectly fine with that. I was part of it... But now, I'm awake. I know I can contribute more to this world than just building deadly weapons...>
Tony stepped onto the podium, his voice amplified by the microphone, echoing through the venue:
<...Effective immediately, I am shutting down Stark Industries' weapons manufacturing division!..>
The room erupted...
Seasoned journalists and major media outlets surged forward, hands raised, desperate to get the first exclusive statement.
Obadiah struggled to maintain his smile, attempting to smooth over Tony's shocking announcement, but no one paid him any attention...
Everyone wanted confirmation from Tony himself... Stark Industries, America's largest arms manufacturer, was exiting the weapons business. Tomorrow's headlines would sell out in minutes!
...
"Are you from the future?" Harry's first words upon turning around made Sean's heartbeat quicken, "Stark Industries' stock is going to crash... I should've invested more!"
Trusting his friend, Harry had thrown some money into the stock market through a broker, though deep down, he hadn't truly believed that Stark Industries, which was at the peak of its success, would suddenly face a market plunge...
But now, with Tony Stark announcing the shutdown of weapons production, there was no doubt... tomorrow, Stark Industries' stock would plummet!
Sean, who had seemingly predicted this, stood to make a fortune.
"Maybe I'm a prophet." Sean sat down calmly, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.
Harry's surprise quickly faded. His remark had been a joke between friends, but Tony Stark's sudden decision was genuinely shocking. Who would've thought the playboy would make such a suicidal move?
What was a weapons giant supposed to do if it stopped selling weapons?
Besides, the direction of such a massive corporation wasn't dictated by Tony alone. Even as the head of Stark Industries, he couldn't ignore the countless manufacturers dependent on the company or the Department of Defense, which placed massive orders every year. None of them would humor this reckless stunt.
Sean glanced at the television, where Tony was being mobbed by reporters. The newly minted Iron Man was in for a rough time. Business wasn't child's play...
Stark Industries was a sprawling entity with an intricate web of interests. Countless people relied on it, and powerful figures feasted on its profits...
None of that would vanish just because Tony said so. Obadiah wouldn't allow it. The Pentagon wouldn't allow it.
Shaking off his thoughts, Sean turned to Harry who had regained his composure, "Stark Industries isn't your concern right now."
Harry grimaced. He'd seen the news... a senator publicly condemning the dangers and side effects of gene therapy, backed by a chorus of biologists. The Metis Serum's sales had hit a wall, far from the initial optimistic projections.
"The board is restless. They want me to hand over the formula and share profits with Worthington." Harry scowled. Those people had no faith in Oscorp's ability to compete with Worthington, "I'm just a figurehead to them. I have no real power."
Listening quietly to the young CEO's frustrations, Sean smiled faintly.
As Oscorp's heir, Harry wouldn't earn the board's respect without proving himself. No one would follow a leader who hadn't accomplished anything.
"The conflict with Worthington is your chance to prove yourself." Sean's tone was light, but his words carried weight. A predator aiming for the top had to establish its dominance.
And Worthington, the industry leader, was the perfect target. A new lion couldn't claim a pride without defeating the old king.
Seeing Harry's puzzled look, Sean's smile deepened. He patted his friend's shoulder confidently.
"Soon, Worthington will have bigger problems. They won't have the energy to suppress Oscorp. And that righteous senator? Well, provoking mutants never ends well..."
"...Harry, all you need to do is stay confident. When the time comes, strike the killing blow..."
Leaning back comfortably, Sean's dark eyes lingered on the repeated footage of Tony Stark on the news...
"...You'll bring greater glory to the Osborn name..."