Stepping out of the Army Officers' Club, Sean pulled open the car door and slid into a black Lincoln that had been parked for quite some time...
Harry, who had been waiting for over an hour, kept yawning, looking utterly bored and drowsy.
"Finally, you're out. Any longer and I might've fallen asleep," Harry said, slapping a hand on his friend's shoulder, "I have to admire your ability to chat for so long with such a stern old man."
Sean gave a faint smile whilst loosening the slightly tight tie around his neck. That imposing Army general, majestic as a lion, was not someone to be easily fooled...
The man was experienced and sharp-eyed... most people would tremble just speaking to him. For someone like Harry Osborn to negotiate as an equal with such a figure? That was nothing short of a pipe dream.
Only by offering enough benefits to satisfy General Ross's appetite would he step in front of Oscorp, temporarily acting as a towering shelter from the storm.
"As the helmsman of Oscorp, I thought you'd accompany me inside," Sean said, leaning back in his seat as the driver started the car... The scenery outside slowly began passing by...
Harry clutched his head as if nursing a hangover and grinned, "You handle these things better. General Ross never liked dealing with spoiled rich kids like me. He prefers New York's new generation of young geniuses."
Shaking his head slightly, Sean couldn't help but chuckle. Ever since suffering that heavy emotional blow, Harry seemed to have lost all enthusiasm for work, and instead reverted to his old hedonistic lifestyle... It was almost as if he were trying to emulate Tony Stark...
Perhaps he was trying to numb himself, to dull the pain inside. But in Sean's eyes, it felt more like running from reality...
"I heard you haven't shown up at the company for a week. There's been no sign of you at the board meetings, not even your secretary knows where you are," Sean remarked casually.
"Well… haha… let's talk about General Ross instead. Did he agree to Oscorp's terms?" Harry laughed awkwardly, and clumsily changed the subject...
Lately, Harry's life had indeed been rather wild. Mary Jane, who had seemed inclined to reconcile with him, left in furious disappointment after witnessing him partying with a crowd of hot women. No doubt, the young Spider-Man was now busy comforting his dream girl.
As for the on-again, off-again drama between the three of them, Sean was content to just sit back quietly and watch.
"He had no reason to refuse," Sean said flatly.
He knew exactly what General Ross wanted and had tailored his offer accordingly, hitting the mark perfectly:
"Oscorp poured billions into the human enhancement program, and the general gets to take it all without spending a dime. All he has to do is ensure Umbrella's new drug gets approved..."
"...Whether Oscorp faces the wrath of Worthington afterward? That's none of his concern... Who wouldn't love a deal where they profit without lifting a finger?"
Harry listened to his friend's explanation while yawning incessantly. Dark circles hung under his eyes... not from lack of sleep, but from nights of excessive partying. He looked thoroughly drained.
Sean ignored the pleasure-seeking Harry and interlaced his fingers as he gazed out the window at Washington D.C.'s architectural landscape...
Unlike the bustling skyscraper-filled metropolis of New York, the U.S. capital exuded a rare sense of historical and cultural charm.
The city was home to numerous museums and historical landmarks... the famous Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and many free-entry museums displaying artifacts from World War II. Among them, the most renowned was the Captain America Memorial Museum, a top destination for school field trips...
As the car moved, classical-style buildings passed by outside. Watching the vivid, real world beyond the glass, Sean closed his eyes as a soft white glow flickered in his mind...
The world moved forward along its original trajectory... Like the unstoppable wheels of history, it remained unswayed by minor deviations...
Tony Stark was still in that Afghan cave, hammering together a crude suit of armor. Bruce Banner remained a celebrated physics genius, not yet the rage-fueled Hulk. SHIELD and Hydra continued to lurk in the shadows...
The six Infinity Stones also remained undiscovered. Far beyond the stars, the cosmic tyrant who had annihilated countless civilizations had yet to turn his gaze toward this blue planet...
Humanity lay quietly in its cradle, awaiting the dawn of a new era, one where superheroes would rise...
And what Sean had to do was bide his time, gathering strength, holding all the right cards until he stood atop the pyramid, powerful enough to remain beyond anyone's control... And finally emerge as the ultimate victor...
A faint smile played on the young man's lips. The best hunters had patience. Having conquered Hell's Kitchen, who would be next?
…..
~Stark Industries~
Pepper Potts stormed into the office of the company's CEO in her black high heels...
Seated in his chair, Obadiah Stane looked startled. As Tony's personal assistant, the woman nicknamed "Pepper" was usually the picture of poised professionalism... rarely did she appear so flustered.
"What trouble has Tony gotten into now? Wait, no– he should've been back in New York from Afghanistan by now," Obadiah said with a chuckle, though his seemingly kind eyes betrayed a cold glint.
"He… Tony's missing," Pepper stammered, "We just received word from Afghanistan. Tony's convoy was ambushed by local militants. Almost everyone was killed. Colonel Rhodes found no… body at the scene, but Tony's phone signal is gone, and JARVIS can't locate him either."
Obadiah, the acting CEO of Stark Industries, gaped in shock, his face wearing a mask of disbelief, anxiety, and panic...
After a moment, he composed himself and reassured the frantic secretary, "Those terrorists won't harm Tony. They probably want money, or Stark's advanced weapons. Either way, his mind is priceless. He has the most brilliant brain in the world!.."
"...I'll contact the Department of Defense and have them keep searching. Stark Industries will also mobilize its own resources. We have plenty of friends in Afghanistan, they'll help…"
The bald CEO offered a few more comforting words before ushering the now calm Pepper out.
As her tall figure disappeared down the hall, the smile on Obadiah's face slowly faded.
"Goodbye, Tony," he murmured...
People always said Stark Industries had seen two great eras... first flourishing under Howard, then reaching its peak under Tony. Everyone credited the father and son for its success.
As for Obadiah? Who remembered the man working tirelessly behind the scenes?
Few noticed that when Howard died unexpectedly, it was Obadiah who stabilized the teetering empire. It was he who handed the military-industrial giant over to Tony, dutifully managing the company while the playboy lived it up.
And in the end? He got nothing. All the glory and accolades belonged to Tony. Sometimes, Obadiah felt like a clown on stage, performing his heart out only to be met with mocking laughter...
"Sorry Tony... I'll give you a grand funeral," the bald CEO said.
Sitting back down and gazing out the floor-to-ceiling windows, he savored the view below.
'Perhaps Stark Industries needs a new name...' He mused...