Chapter 180: Donkey Takes The Bait
Chapter 180: Donkey Takes The Bait
[Alternate title - Oba-Die-Ah]
[You can read 60 chapters in advance and GOT fic on /misterimmortal.]
Mount Vernon,
"So you became a superhero?" Hector talked with the pretty lady in her battle suit. He loved it but also hated it because it revealed too much leg, and it was hard to keep looking at her face.
Diana chuckled and noticed clearly what was happening. She, in fact, loved teasing him and sat cross-legged, "Well, I was doing nothing, so I decided to do what I am good at,"
"Bow woof?" Moony walked into the office and ran to Diana to put his head on her lap and receive some kisses and pats.
"Aww... I missed you. You should come with me next time I go to work." She fawned over the soft boy, who melted in her arms. He didn't waste a moment and nodded.
She glanced at Hector, "You should come as well. I need someone to translate what Moony says,"
"Sure, I will join," he blurted almost instantly and silently regretted it later.
"Great, so where should we go first?" she inquired.
He stood up and walked to the wall with a map of the world. He picked the magnetic dart and put it on China's Hunan province, "Here. We are going to decimate an ancient terrorist organisation whose boss is using ten artefacts called Ten Rings."
"Rings as in finger rings?" She asked back.
"I don't know that bit. It could be anything, finger, arm, neck or something like that. Anyway, we are going to raid their headquarters in China and kill their boss. They are behind many wars around the world currently. Go get your supplies; we will leave in two days. I need to interrogate another guy until then,"
"Got it, mister president," Diana comically saluted him with a broad, teasing smile.
Hector felt his heart pierce by a cupid's arrow. ~I should start making my moves,~
Thankfully, he was going to have enough alone time on this mission.
...
When Tony announced stopping the weapons division of the Stark Industries, it sent a chill down the whole military-industrial complex. All weapons companies panicked as this would make the market too volatile.
Many politicians at the capitol went into a frenzy trying to get Stark Industries to reverse its decision. But the real mess was on Wall Street. Worse than Tony expected, the company lost 50% of its value as people started to panic selling the stocks.
Not just Stark Industries but other weapons companies also got caught in the momentum and lost something. However, just then, major news came.
...
At Tony's office, he played billiards merely, not worried about the company. Just then, Obadiah Stane entered with Pepper Potts.
"It's a bloodbath, Tony. If this goes on, the company won't survive. Weapons are its largest source of revenue. All your father's work will be in ruins." Obadiah cried the same song.
Tony was unfazed, "Dad wouldn't have wanted his son to die from the same weapons his company makes. My decision is final, that's it. At max, we will go down 40 points."
"We've gone down 56 points, Tony,"
"Damn, I expected more."
*Cough*
Pepper Potts coughed and spoke, "I don't think you need to worry anymore, mister Stark. Look at this,"
She walked to the television and switched to a news channel. She also briefed, "Ever since the bloodbath started yesterday, KingTech industries have been buying every stock available. Not only that, this morning, just before the market opened, they announced their position to the public and said they are highly optimistic about Stark Industry's future. Since then, we have already recovered 40% and will most likely go beyond the previous valuation,"
Tony blankly gazed at the television, "Isn't that the company of-"
"The late President Washington," Pepper completed.
Tony sighed in relief, "See, there is nothing to worry about. Everything is under control. Pepper, let's play a game of billiards."
Though he did wonder how the KingTech Industry would handle the SEC? Won't they be accused of stock manipulation? ~After all, I have not yet announced what I will do to uplift the company again.~
...
Afghanistan,
A dumbass American man in a suit reached the same site from where Tony escaped. He looked around to find the remnants of the suit Tony Stark made first.
As soon as he picked it up, a few photographs were clicked from a distance. The man who took them quickly used his communicator, "Agent Coulson reporting, the donkey took the bait,"
...
And bait he did take, a fat one at that. Hector was not dumb enough to destroy the superhero business before it even started. Knowing Stane would cause so much mass destruction, he had to stop it. Not every new superhero needs a supervillain as a rival. Sometimes, these villains should be stomped in their nascent stage.
Obadiah barged into Tony's house and used the paralysing machine. His aim was precise, to steal the arc reactor for his own suit. "Breathe. Easy, easy. When I ordered the hit on you, Tony, I worried that I was killing the golden goose. But, you see, it was just fate that you survived that."
He proceeded to pull the arc reactor, "You had one last golden egg to give. Do you really think that just because you have an idea, it belongs to you? Your father, he helped give us the atomic bomb. Now, what kind of world would it be today if he was as selfish as you?"
*WOOSH*
He stared at dying Tony and the shining arc reactor, "Oh, it's beautiful. Tony, this is your Ninth Symphony. What a masterpiece. This is your legacy. A new generation of weapons with this at its heart. Weapons that will help steer the world back on course and put the balance of power in our hands. The right hands. I wish you could've seen my prototype. It's not as... Well, not as conservative as yours. Too bad you had to involve Pepper in this. I would have preferred that she lived."
He put the arc reactor in his case and decided to leave, "It was nice knowing you, Tony,"
*CLAP CLAP CLAP*
Out of nowhere, the sound of claps started to resound on the speakers all around the house. Then a howling voice came. "Wowowowowow..."
Obadiah looked around in shock and fear. Then he heard footsteps coming his way. He had no time to hide either. *WOOSH* The door slid open, and there he saw a man who should be dead, a ghost.
Hector waved at him, "How are you, leech? I knew the day I saw you for the first time that you would betray the Starks. I should have killed you then, but at last, here we are."
He didn't stop and lifted Obadiah in the air by his throat, "Such a puny weak human with such ability to inflict destruction. Tony may be a dumb warmonger. You are a true warmonger with no ideals. Oh, I will take that back,"
He snatched the arc reactor and slammed it into Tony's chest socket again, energising his heart. Tony felt revived and took a long calming breath, "FUCK! I'm never doing that again! And Obadiah, fuck you too,"
"W-What?"
"Yup, I knew it. The old man here revealed everything to me on the flight from Afghanistan. To think my father considered you his best friend." Tony spat on the side and quickly poured a glass of water.
Obadiah tried to kick his legs in fear, "I-I'm sorry, Tony!"
Hector threw him to the ground, "Well, it ain't going to save you. I have everything needed to ensure your name is recorded in history as the biggest traitor." He took out a folder and threw some photos on the man's face, "See this? Is that you picking the leftover suit in Afghanistan? And all the things you said today, you even confessed to ordering a hit on Tony.
"Not to mention, your computer was full of evidence that you sell weapons to terrorists. Talk about digging your own grave. As long as I wish, I can take every single penny you own,"
"What do you want?" Obadiah barked.
*BAM*
Hector threw a paper on his face, "Sign it. Sign that all your stocks will go to Tony Stark on your demise, and your property will go to the charity of Tony's choosing."
Obadiah watched Hector's face. He couldn't see if this was the real deal, but that didn't matter anymore. "You will just kill me after that,"
"Haha, I will kill you anyway. I have enough folks in Congress to ensure all your property returns to Stark Industries. Signing is just an incentive for you,"
"What incentive?" he asked.
"A painless death,"
Tony jumped, "You're going to kill him?"
*Sigh* "Don't give me all your ideals crap now. This man is responsible for various wars and the death of millions. Death is the least he can get. Understand this, Tony, if you think I should treat Obadiah like any common criminal, should I not treat you like a criminal too?" he asked.
Tony had nothing to refute here. Hector continued to force Obadiah, "Your choice, painless death or a painful death that lasts hours. I will slowly skin you layer by layer; it takes time. Or maybe I can throw you in some village in Afghanistan,"
"I will not sign,"
"Fine, Moony. Come here,"
"Grrr..."
Moony showed all his fangs, not looking cute fluffy boy at all. He knew what he needed to do. He put Obadiah's whole bald head into his jaws and started pressing it. He increased the force slowly to maximise terror.
Blood started flowing down Obadiah's face. Soon the pain also increased. *CRACK* The first crack on his skull sounded. "AAAAARGH!"
"I'LL SIGN IT!"
Moony didn't him go until he had signed the papers. But his misery was not over. "My death will be investigated. The board won't be happy,"
Hector smirked, "Bwahaha... fool, accidents do happen. After all, you're not a businessman anymore. You're a terrorist who sells weapons to enemy factions. And you tried to create an armoured suit, which malfunctioned at the test and killed you inside it."
Obadiah had forgotten one thing. Hector was not just a soldier; he was one hell of a politician. A politician with a mighty fist of justice and freedom.
"Moony, drag him by his leg," he ordered.
Tony remained silent the whole time. He knew he'd earn Hector's fury if he now meddled. After all, it was due to his lack of foresight on the company that this situation arose. He had to eat the deadly pill he had cultivated now instead of expecting to be given a rose of appreciation.
MY THIRST FOR STONES IS ETERNAL!
[See Tony and Obadiah on Discord at https://discord.gg/DgHkrAn OR see them on Instagram - /mister_immortal_novel]
Check out my new original book if you have not: "I Became The Pope, Now What?"
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Special thanks to *DougErNuts* *Oluwatimileyin Olayemi* *BirdRant* *Franklin Walley* *Brennan Tubbs* *Qul* *phong thanh nguyen* *Dillon Tyler* *andy cohen* *Martin Bosley*
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