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*****
"I'm going to shut down Stark Industries' weapons division."
"Huh! Huh?"
Maria froze for a moment, then instinctively grabbed Tony's face and almost twisted it out of shape, shouting, "Are you crazy? That's your father's lifelong work!"
Tony grimaced in pain and said, "Weren't you just saying you'd support me?"
"I thought you were going to bring home an illegitimate child, or tell me you'd caught some ridiculous disease..."
An illegitimate child? Some ridiculous disease?
What the hell was she talking about?
Was he that kind of reckless person?
Tony was speechless, while Mike couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Mom!"
Tony grabbed Maria's flailing arms and said seriously, "Do you know? Stark's weapons are not being used to maintain peace, as Dad believed, or as I believed. They're hurting ordinary people—innocent, defenseless people."
Maria gradually calmed down, her eyes flickering.
"And the terrorists who attacked me... they were using our weapons too."
Tony's eyes lost focus, as if reliving the moment of the explosion, a bitter smile forming on his lips.
After a few seconds of silence, Maria sighed deeply and said, "Do you understand what a decision like this means?"
"I do. But please believe me—Stark Industries will only grow stronger."
Tony held up the miniature arc reactor in his hand, his eyes shining with excitement. "As long as I have this."
Maria looked at Tony and smiled. "I believe in you. Go for it."
Her trust didn't mean the shareholders would trust him too.
The moment Tony announced the shutdown of the weapons division, those people would stand against him.
But if they tried to pull anything...
A flash of cold light appeared in Maria's eyes.
Tony, moved by Maria's understanding and support, hugged her tightly.
Being understood by his mother gave him immense strength.
"Let's go!"
At that moment, Tony felt a surge of energy all over his body.
With Maria's support, the last bits of hesitation and worry vanished from his heart.
Maria nodded, then suddenly said, "Are you planning to leave just like this?"
"Hmm?"
"That useless fat bodyguard of yours is still waiting outside," Maria said disdainfully. "I came to Mike's place, and you just showed up. It's going to cause trouble for Mike."
Tony said helplessly, "Happy is trustworthy. And he's not useless."
"His only use is standing outside the door reminding people not to disturb you when you're fooling around with women," Maria said, her disgust practically tangible.
Mike smirked, a hint of coldness flashing across his expression. "If he says anything that causes me trouble... heh."
Tony shivered, while Maria gave Mike a thumbs up. The two elders exchanged a glance—
And burst into laughter.
Tony pressed his throbbing forehead, looking at the two of them speechlessly.
"Mike!"
Maria said seriously, "You should open a portal and send Tony straight to his shabby house. Even if that useless fat man won't talk, there are a lot of eyes on me. It would cause you trouble."
Mike had helped their family a lot.
If he got dragged into this, they would feel guilty.
Tony nodded. "She's right."
Mike had been thinking the same thing.
So, the moment Maria finished speaking, a portal appeared in front of them.
Tony stepped in, nodded to his mother, and said, "See you in a bit."
"Wait!"
Mike suddenly called out, "Take the junk you left here."
The stuff Tony had brought back from the cave...
"I almost forgot," Tony said.
Mike strode over, and together they went to the basement lab under the villa.
They returned just before the portal closed.
A few minutes later, Maria bid farewell to Mike and walked toward the door.
As she reached it, she raised both hands and patted her cheeks, adjusting her expression to look both sorrowful and angry. Then she turned to Mike and asked, "How do I look?"
"Perfect."
Maria nodded in satisfaction, opened the door, and walked out.
Happy, who was leaning against the car door, immediately straightened up. After cautiously glancing at Maria, he opened the car door for her, gave Mike a polite nod, and then drove away.
Mike returned home, unable to suppress a small smile.
Stark Industries was about to experience a major upheaval.
However, with Maria involved, things probably wouldn't unfold like the original storyline.
If Obadiah, that bald old fox, still wanted to push Tony out...
Heh.
Never underestimate Maria.
To be able to tame Howard Stark, she was definitely no mere pretty face.
As for the rest, it had nothing to do with Mike anymore.
They could handle it themselves.
Now...
Mike glanced at the time. It wasn't even midnight yet.
He wanted to find something to do, but after a moment's thought, he realized he had nothing at all to keep him busy...
Patting his forehead, Mike muttered, "I'm way too idle."
He figured he needed to find something to occupy himself with—otherwise, at this rate, he'd probably end up with dementia.
...
At the same time, back at his own house, Tony walked out of his lab and shouted, "Jarvis, call my assistant."
"Do you mean Miss Potts?"
"Who else could it be?"
Tony said as he headed toward the bathroom. "Was there anything at the company that needed my attention while I was away?"
"Nothing urgent, sir."
Tony's face darkened slightly. "Saying it like that makes me sound pretty useless."
"Due to Mr. Stark's disappearance, the company's stock price has fallen—a very significant amount, sir. Would you like to know the exact figure?"
Raising an eyebrow, Tony said, "Doesn't matter."
It was going to drop even further anyway.
At that moment, the call connected, and an excited female voice came through.
"Tony—no, I mean boss! Yes, Mr. Stark!"
Pepper's voice trembled with emotion. "Is it really you, boss?"
"Oh God, please don't let this be a prank!"
Hearing his assistant talking to herself like that, Tony couldn't help but smile.
During those days trapped in the cave, he realized that, aside from thinking about his mother, the person he thought about the most was actually his assistant.
"It's me, Pepper. You sound excited."
"Yes—I mean, no—I mean, I'm excited because it means I don't have to find another job."
Pepper stammered, then, her voice choked with emotion, said, "Mr. Stark, I'm just so happy you're safe."
Tony smiled again and said, "If you have time, come over to my house."
"You're home already?"
"Yeah," Tony said, pushing open the bathroom door. "I need to talk to you about something. And bring me two cheeseburgers when you come."
"Do you want to announce your return publicly?"
Tony thought for a moment and said, "Hold a press conference at four o'clock this afternoon. I have something important to announce."
(End of Chapter)