"Our little brother taking a liking to her is her good fortune. She's just the daughter of a restaurant owner, and an Indian at that. If her family hears this good news, wouldn't they celebrate together? Don't worry, brother, I'll go talk to the lady boss later and make sure this marriage is arranged for you."
Her voice was so loud that Tony Stark could hear her clearly. Hearing this, Hill couldn't help but show a look of disdain. She wasn't prejudiced, but judging from this family's behavior since they arrived, they wanted to marry someone else's daughter? Only if the girl's parents were blind would they agree to such a thing.
Still, love was a matter of personal freedom. The man was unmarried, the woman was single, and normal courtship wasn't something outsiders had the right to interfere in.
Hill was already on her third bottle, her face tinged with a flush. Seeing her, Tony's heart stirred. With such beauty before him, the more he drank, the more spirited he became. The old saying proved true: beauty is indeed a feast for the eyes.
"Mr. Stark, our director mentioned before about appointing you as chair of the Women's Federation. Do you really have no thoughts on that?" Hill asked.
Tony put down his glass and looked at Hill, her words carrying the scent of beer.
"Then can you tell me why I should take on that position? What benefit would it bring me?"
Hill frowned, trying hard to organize her words.
"I don't think it can be explained in terms of benefits. The organization was founded to better prevent certain supernatural events. For example, with the Destroyer this time, regular police and armed forces were powerless. If it weren't for you stepping in at the critical moment, the consequences would have been unimaginable. So, forming a special operations team is absolutely necessary."
Tony nodded.
"I am a businessman, and businessmen value profit above all else. As the saying goes, when doing business, one must talk business. No one wakes up early without gain. If something doesn't bring me any benefit but instead consumes a huge amount of my time and energy, then what am I getting out of it? Am I supposed to value the danger of the job? Am I supposed to value working overtime? Am I supposed to value letting the U.S. government use my patents openly and freely? Am I supposed to value letting them point fingers at my company and enterprises?"
Hill fell silent. She hadn't reached such a high position herself, so she hadn't considered these problems. But yes, everything Tony said was true, and they were issues that would inevitably arise in the future.
If Iron Man were to join the Avengers, even if he were the nominal leader, the actual controller of the organization would still be S.H.I.E.L.D. And although S.H.I.E.L.D. always claimed to be independent of the World Council, everyone lived on the same Earth. They were like grasshoppers tied to the same rope. Their funding and personnel were provided by the World Council, so how could they really be independent?
If that day truly came, and the World Council, under the authority of being the higher body, demanded Iron Man contribute money, manpower, and technology, and use the patents for his suits, would Iron Man comply or not?
Right now, Tony was the true controller of Stark Industries, the absolute CEO with supreme authority.
But if Tony joined S.H.I.E.L.D., he would become part of the system and subject to restrictions. Of course, he could refuse to obey orders, but then the World Council would have both the name and the justification to hinder Stark Industries, using all sorts of legal means to restrain him. Unless Tony rebelled outright, becoming an enemy of the world, he would be powerless.
But when that time came, would Tony really dare to do so?
He wasn't alone. Stark Industries employed tens of thousands of people, with businesses spanning countless industries. Who could predict what might happen then?
People's hearts were unpredictable, and the members of the World Council were politicians. And in this world, the most ruthless, unscrupulous beings were politicians a group of devils wearing human skin, willing to sacrifice and trade anything to achieve their goals, under the lofty excuse of national interest. But behind closed doors, who knew what shady deals were being made?
Thinking of this, Hill sighed helplessly. Indeed, words clarify things, and reasoning sharpens thought. She was still too naïve, too immature. Compared to the man in front of her, her depth of thought was like that of a kindergartner.
Tony smiled faintly, not continuing the discussion. Some things were better touched on lightly, without going too deep. He had lived through the information explosion of the East and endured waves of conspiracy theories. Back then, it had all been theory without practice. Now that he had the chance to be a player in the game, naturally he had to think further ahead.
In truth, he had no desire to get involved in the petty power struggles of Earth. But as long as he still lived here, as long as there were people he loved and cared for, he had no choice but to deal with such matters. He was no longer a lone man fending only for himself. He had a lover, a secretary, a nanny, a driver, mistresses, girlfriends, and countless friends.
For example, even the Native American uncle who owned this Northeastern barbecue restaurant. They had shared drinks together many times. That still counted as friendship, didn't it?
"Don't think too much. Even Cyclops isn't worried, so why are you? As the saying goes, too much complaint harms the body, and one should always keep a long-term perspective. In life, you must stay cheerful. Otherwise, be careful, or you'll end up like Cyclops, losing all your hair early."
Seeing Hill downcast, Tony lifted his glass and waved it in front of her.
Hill chuckled. Cyclops was her direct superior, but the nickname really did fit him.
She glanced at Tony with a touch of charm. The man before her didn't seem so annoying anymore. He truly had a clever tongue. No wonder he was called a playboy—he knew exactly how to tease women. She raised her glass as well.
"Well said. Cheers!"
Clink!
A small plastic bottle filled with chili powder suddenly dropped from above and landed straight into Hill's raised beer glass. The splash soaked the front of her blouse.
No one reacted in time. Tony still had his glass in hand, and the wide table placed some distance between them. Hill never expected a bottle to fall from above. This wasn't an outdoor stall, and the place only had one floor.
Tony quickly pulled a napkin from the table and handed it to her. Hill thanked him and began wiping her beer-soaked clothes and face.
Anyone who's drunk beer knows it contains alcohol, hops, and additives, and when it spills on your skin or clothes, it leaves a sticky feeling. Though Hill wiped herself clean with the napkin, the meal was ruined.
Behind them, the chubby kid noticed the seasoning bottle he had tossed into the air was missing. He immediately stood up to look for it.
(End of Chapter)
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