Pfft!"
"Pfft!"
Wanda and her brother spat in unison, expressing their disgust at Tony's "slander" of their mother.
The young girl, Wanda, even cursed, "Don't insult my mother! A scumbag like you isn't worthy of mentioning her!"
Tony pursed his lips tightly, his gaze at Wanda and her brother complex.
Victor, on the other hand, twitched the corner of his mouth.
Wanda, saying that will only make Tony misunderstand!
It's better to end this farce quickly.
Under Happy's watchful eye, Victor strode with his long legs to the middle of the two parties and said, "Now, when I speak, neither of you is allowed to interrupt. Anyone who interrupts me will suffer this consequence."
As he spoke.
Victor summoned Happy's handgun from the corner, then with a wave of his hand, the handgun instantly disassembled into individual parts, a truly chilling sight—please imagine the scene with an adult.
Even Tony, who was usually disobedient, didn't retort to Victor this time.
He was too curious about the story behind all of this.
Victor was very satisfied with the quiet scene.
First, he faced Tony, pointed at Wanda and her brother, and explained, "Pietro Maximoff, Wanda Maximoff, from Sokovia in Eastern Europe. Their parents died in a terrorist attack. The weapons used by the attackers bore the 'Stark Industries' logo. Is that clear enough?"
Tony first let out a sigh of relief, then his brows furrowed tightly.
He looked directly into Wanda's resentful eyes for the first time and said, "Stark Industries' weapons are only supplied to the US military for national defense. They couldn't possibly end up in the hands of terrorists, and besides..."
Halfway through his sentence, Tony himself got stuck.
Couldn't possibly end up in the hands of terrorists?
The Ten Rings gang that attacked him a few months ago, the shell of the bomb that exploded in front of him, bearing "Stark Industries" on its casing, was still vivid in his memory, and the shrapnel was still in his bloodstream.
So, he fell silent.
He was silent, but Wanda was not.
The usually shy young girl was now screaming hysterically, "It wasn't you? I saw a bomb lying right in front of us, only 3 meters away!
We were on the brink of death for six hours!
I can never forget the words printed on it!
S, T, A, R, K, I, N, D, U, S, T, R, I, E, S, isn't that your Stark Industries logo?
You damned demon! Bastard! Executioner! Why are you still alive? You should go to hell!"
Facing Wanda's furious questioning, Tony's brows furrowed completely.
He could understand the feeling of hovering on the brink of death, because he was currently experiencing it.
It had to be said, that feeling was absolutely terrible!
Even someone as strong as him was gradually breaking down.
But his pride prevented him from staying silent.
"You said there was a bomb lying in front of you for six hours?" Tony tried to keep his tone as calm as possible: "Then how did you know they could explode at any moment?"
"Do you think you're the only smart person in the world?" Pietro retorted bluntly: "The green indicator light flashed every 3 seconds, which means the bomb was activated and could detonate at any time. Can't we ordinary people understand such common sense, huh?"
Facing Pietro's sarcasm, Tony not only didn't get angry but instead relaxed his tightly furrowed brow.
He said, with a slight ease, "The ignition system of every Stark Industries bomb is designed by me.
They all have a built-in self-destruct system. If they're not detonated within one hour of launch, the ignition device automatically shuts off to prevent accidental injuries during subsequent battlefield cleanup.
So.
If it really was a weapon from Stark Industries, there's no way it could still be active 12 hours after activation. It must be a counterfeit using the Stark Industries name, which is not uncommon abroad."
Seeing Wanda and Pietro's faces full of doubt, Tony added, "Out of respect for Victor, you can come to Stark Industries with me to check. Whether it's documents or the weapon manufacturing facility, I have no reason to lie about this."
Victor also stepped forward at this time.
He looked at Wanda and said softly, "Although Tony Stark is arrogant, sharp-tongued, and a playboy, it cannot be denied that, personally, he would not sell any weapons to terrorists.
Stark Industries' weapons are openly supplied only to the US military. Its civilian business projects include other things like nursing homes, orphanages, charities, high-tech furniture products, and so on."
Tony pouted unhappily at Victor's assessment but didn't refute it.
Because these all seemed to be facts.
With Victor's corroboration, Wanda and Pietro exchanged glances, their eyes filled with hesitation and disbelief.
Could it be that the great enemy they had hated for years, turned out to be... the wrong target?
Just as the siblings were questioning everything, Victor added another sentence.
"Of course, this matter can't be said to be completely unrelated to Tony. This guy also concealed something he might not have mentioned."
Victor gestured to Tony with his chin.
If you don't confess yourself, I'm going to expose your secrets.
Tony coughed, then said helplessly, "Where do you get all your intelligence from?"
"Do you want me to tell you?" Victor raised an eyebrow.
"I was going to wait until I had all the facts," Tony sighed, looking up at the ceiling, "Normally, I focus on designing products. The company's operations are mainly handled by Obadiah.
If those weapons really came from Stark Industries, and their self-destruct system was removed, there's only one possibility, and that is... Obadiah secretly contacted terrorists and sold them weapons privately.
However!
These are all just my guesses. He's very rich, there's no need for him to..."
Victor impatiently waved his hand, interrupting Tony's subsequent explanation.
"Heh, is self-deception useful?" Victor scoffed, "When you were attacked in Afghanistan, you were several hours late. How was your itinerary leaked? Besides your 'good uncle,' who else could it be?"
Tony was left speechless, his veins throbbing on his forehead from frustration.
What was wrong with this kid? Why did he know so much about his situation?
Tony was silenced and withdrawn.
Wanda and her brother, on the other hand, also entered a state of withdrawal amidst the overwhelming evidence.
To say they forgave Tony?
That was impossible, after hating him for so many years, countless nights dreaming of torturing and killing him.
But with the evidence laid out before them, they couldn't help but believe it.
After all.
The siblings still trusted Victor.
They were very bewildered now.
They didn't understand what all those years of hatred were for.
Seeing the two in a daze, no longer harboring an undying hatred for Tony, Victor also released his telekinetic hold and lowered them.
Just that short period of exertion had almost depleted his telekinetic energy; if he didn't let go, he would be the first to collapse.
Wanda and her brother were lowered, instinctively wanting to rush towards Tony, but then froze in their tracks as they started to move.
They stared at Tony, caught between advancing and retreating.
Tony, however, ignored them, looking at Victor with an unfriendly gaze, his eyes flickering, lost in thought.
Victor likewise ignored him and called out loudly, "Hardy, you can come out now. Take Wanda and them back to their room to cool down."
Felicia, who usually responded to commands immediately, was silent this time.
Instead, Alice's voice responded, "Chen, Ms. Felicia was knocked unconscious by Mr. Hogan hitting her in the back of the neck. It will likely be difficult to wake her up for a while."
Victor looked at Happy expressionlessly, who obviously realized what he had done and smiled apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Victor, your assistant was knocked out by me. I can compensate you," Happy said sincerely.
"Of course, you'll compensate," Victor glanced at Tony. "But you'll be the one to compensate. Medical expenses, emotional distress, lost wages, and convalescence fees, totaling 500,000 US dollars."
Happy immediately jumped up.
It was just a chop to the hand, not a real cut, and he was being asked to pay 500,000 US dollars?
But Tony stopped Happy and said disdainfully to Victor, "2 million US dollars. 500,000 for your assistant, 1 million for this brother and sister, and 500,000 to compensate for your furniture."
"No need!" Wanda blurted out almost instantly.
"Even if you're not our direct enemy, you still bear indirect responsibility. Your money is stained with the blood of my parents and innocent people. We disdain to take it!" Pietro added fiercely.
Tony's lips moved, then he rubbed his nose and pouted, not refuting.
Forget it.
After all, he was in the wrong and caused their family to be destroyed, so letting them vent a bit was no big deal.
My own doing, I'll endure it!