The television screens across New York exploded with urgent headlines.
Bright red banners flashed across news channels.
"BREAKING NEWS!!! Tony Stark kidnapping linked to Stark Industries executive Obadiah Stane!"
The reporter's voice rang sharply through the broadcast.
"Sources confirm that Tony Stark has submitted video evidence showing that Obadiah Stane allegedly conspired with terrorist organizations to orchestrate the kidnapping attempt!"
The screen switched to footage of Stark Industries headquarters.
"Is the evidence genuine? Will Obadiah Stane respond to these accusations?"
"Our reporters are following the story closely!"
The next news segment appeared almost immediately.
"Another major development!"
"After Tony Stark's decision to shut down Stark Industries' weapons division, the company is once again at the center of a massive scandal."
"Executive Obadiah Stane has been placed under house arrest, suspected of hiring assassins to eliminate Tony Stark after the failed kidnapping attempt!"
"Following this revelation, Stark Industries' market value has collapsed again, losing nearly ninety percent of its peak valuation."
The news anchor continued speaking.
But the report suddenly stopped—
BOOM!
A chair smashed into the television.
The screen cracked violently.
The annoying sound of the broadcast died instantly.
Inside the dark living room, Obadiah Stane stood breathing heavily, his face twisted with rage.
His fists trembled.
Without thinking, he slammed his hand against the thick wooden coffee table.
The result—
Nothing.
The table didn't even move.
Obadiah slowly pulled his hand back, pain flashing across his face.
His expression twisted even further.
He couldn't understand.
He truly couldn't understand.
The plan had been perfect.
Every step carefully arranged.
Tony Stark would disappear in the desert.
The company would quietly remain under Obadiah's control.
Everything had been flawless.
So how did it collapse?
How did everything unravel so completely?
Obadiah's breathing grew heavier.
Then a cold shiver crawled down his spine.
He suddenly realized something terrifying.
Tony Stark had been rescued by the United States Military.
And the terrorists who attacked him had also targeted the military convoy.
If the military decided to investigate fully—
Obadiah would be finished.
Completely finished.
His eyes hardened.
No.
He wouldn't allow that to happen.
If he could prove his value, the military might still protect him.
Or at least spare him.
A cruel light flashed across his eyes.
Obadiah leaned over the coffee table.
His hand slid beneath the edge and pressed a hidden button.
Then he whispered into a concealed communicator.
"Capture Ethan."
"At any cost."
---
Tony Stark's Mansion
Deadpool strolled casually into the living room, holding a paper bag.
He placed it on the coffee table.
"My restaurant's chef made these," he announced proudly.
"Mexican burritos."
"You two should try them."
Pepper Potts sat gracefully on the sofa, reading a newspaper.
She lowered the paper slightly and examined the burrito suspiciously before taking a small bite.
"…It's actually good."
Then she looked up.
"What made you suddenly bring us burritos?"
Deadpool crossed his arms and spoke seriously.
"I had a brilliant business idea."
Pepper already looked concerned.
Deadpool continued proudly.
"After watching the recent news, I decided to raise the price of burritos to two hundred dollars each."
Pepper blinked.
"…What?"
"Then," Deadpool continued, "I sold them at a 0.5% discount for four dollars each."
Pepper stared at him.
"…And?"
Deadpool shrugged.
"They didn't sell."
Pepper burst out laughing despite herself.
"That promotion makes absolutely no sense."
"What news inspired that idea?"
Deadpool pointed at the newspaper.
"That one."
"Stark Industries' stock collapsed twice. The company's current value is less than one-tenth of its peak."
Pepper's smile froze instantly.
Her expression slowly turned flat.
(ー`´ー)
"…You're reopening old wounds."
Deadpool shook his head.
"No, I just noticed a lot of people are trying to short the stock."
Pepper's eyes widened.
"Are you deliberately trying to annoy me?"
Deadpool immediately raised his hands.
"No."
"Tony sent me."
Pepper rubbed her temples.
"He's downstairs."
She waved toward the basement.
"Please go annoy him instead."
"I already have enough headaches."
She sighed softly.
Deadpool really was wonderful in many ways.
As long as he didn't speak.
Deadpool nodded.
"Alright."
---
Stark Laboratory
Tony Stark stood proudly beside a glass display chamber.
Inside stood a sleek metallic suit.
The Mark III armor.
The moment Tony saw Deadpool enter, he dragged him over excitedly.
"Look at this!"
Tony gestured toward the suit like a proud inventor unveiling a masterpiece.
"I added a high-power burst function to the palm flight stabilizers."
He pointed to the shoulders.
"There are micro-missile launchers hidden here and here."
Then he tapped the chest.
"I reinforced the alloy plating to improve defense."
Tony spoke rapidly, explaining every improvement he had made over the past few days.
"The structure is completely finished."
"Now the only thing left is the paint."
Tony turned toward Deadpool eagerly.
"What color do you think we should use?"
Deadpool answered instantly.
"Yellow."
Tony nodded enthusiastically.
"Gold, right?"
"Great minds think alike!"
Deadpool blinked.
"No, I said yellow."
Tony waved dismissively.
"Oh, red as the main color? Excellent idea!"
"I'll adopt it."
Deadpool stared at him.
So why exactly did Tony call him here?
Tony turned toward the computer.
"Jarvis."
"Apply the preset paint design."
Deadpool's eyes widened.
Alright.
Alright.
You're not even pretending to listen anymore, are you?
The suit inside the chamber slowly rotated as mechanical arms began preparing the paint process.
Tony finally turned serious again.
"Obadiah has been removed from the board."
"But Stark Industries weapons are still being sold secretly."
Tony's expression darkened.
"At the corporate level… I can't stop it."
Deadpool immediately replied.
"Is it that you can't stop it?"
"Or that Pepper's efforts are failing?"
Tony winced slightly.
Pepper had been complaining nonstop while he hid in the lab.
"…Same thing," Tony muttered.
Deadpool leaned against the desk.
"So you're abandoning the company solution?"
Tony nodded.
"Yes."
Then his eyes lit up.
"I'll wear the Mark III armor and destroy the weapons shipments."
"Every shipment they sell—I destroy."
"I'll keep doing it until no one dares to buy Stark Industries weapons."
Deadpool nodded approvingly.
"Pulling the rug out from under them."
"Brilliant."
Tony smiled bitterly.
"Funny."
"You're the only person who supports this plan."
Deadpool shrugged.
"The sins committed in youth must eventually be repaid in old age."
At that moment, Jarvis spoke calmly.
"Sir, Dr. Ethan is calling."
Tony raised an eyebrow.
"Well."
"That's surprising."
"That old man usually never calls first."
"Connect it."
The call connected.
But instead of Ethan's voice—
BOOM!!!
A thunderous explosion echoed through the speaker.
Tony and Deadpool both froze.
Their expressions instantly turned serious.
Tony grabbed the phone.
"Ethan?!"
"What's happening?!"
Ethan's voice came through urgently.
"Comilla is under attack!"
Then—
Beep.
The signal died.
---
Comilla Village
"Damn it!"
Inside a small house, Dr. Ethan slammed the phone down.
Even his calm personality couldn't hide the frustration now.
The village communication tower had been destroyed.
The terrorists had cut off the signal.
At least the call went through once.
Even if Tony didn't hear everything, he would understand that something was wrong when he tried to call back.
But could Tony actually send help?
Ethan's mind briefly pictured a familiar figure.
A red and black suit.
Two swords in hand.
Standing calmly in the desert chaos.
Deadpool.
Ethan smiled faintly.
Deadpool was strong.
But this time was different.
Before, they were escaping.
Now it would be direct combat.
And the terrorists this time weren't just carrying rifles.
They had tanks.
Rocket launchers.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
Then he began setting traps around the house.
He wasn't the kind of man who waited quietly for death.
Footsteps sounded outside.
"Check this house!"
"Move! He might be hiding inside!"
Ethan's face changed.
He ran quickly into the next room.
Outside, the terrorists heard the noise and immediately became excited.
"There!"
"He's running!"
They kicked the door open violently.
The moment the door burst open—
WHOOSH!
Sharp objects sliced through the air.
Hidden traps triggered instantly.
Metal spikes and wires shot outward, pinning several terrorists to the wall like insects.
"DAMN IT!"
The surviving soldiers roared with rage.
They raised their rifles and fired wildly into the house.
Bullets tore through the empty rooms.
"Find him!"
One terrorist snarled.
"I'm going to skin that bastard and hang him on the wall!"
They rushed inside.
Meanwhile, Ethan quietly cracked open the door to a small storage room.
Using a mirror placed carefully on the floor, he watched their movements in the reflection.
Two enemies remained.
Ethan breathed slowly.
Then—
THUD.
He deliberately knocked something over in the next room.
The sound echoed through the house.
The two terrorists reacted instantly like hunting wolves.
"Did you hear that?!"
"Over there!"
Without hesitation, they rushed toward the sound.
And straight into Ethan's trap.
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