December 16, 2022
Monaco, Hotel de Paris!
The most luxurious hotel in all of Monaco, without a doubt. (I'm not sure if it's actually the most luxurious, but it's definitely the right hotel—I double-checked in *Iron Man 2*, and this is the one.)
The Monaco royal family had the entire hotel cleared out specifically for this race, to accommodate the team owners and wealthy elites coming to watch the event!
Not only did they have hotel rooms specially prepared for them and their entourages, but there was also a high-level bar with views of most of the race track, serving as a prime viewing spot.
When Tony Stark arrived, Blake was already at the bar, having an animated conversation with Justin Hammer.
Meanwhile, Daisy and Jane were enjoying a feast of top-tier cuisine at a window-side table with the big guy.
"Hey, Tony! You finally made it! We've been talking about you for half the night!"
Justin Hammer was very skilled at spotting Tony in a crowd. The moment Tony and Pepper walked in, he immediately noticed them.
"Oh, how could I forget about you, dear Ms. Potts? Congratulations on becoming the CEO of Stark Industries!"
Justin Hammer swiftly stepped forward, first giving Pepper a kiss on the back of her hand, then enthusiastically putting an arm around Tony Stark's shoulders.
While Pepper managed to give Justin a polite smile and the bare minimum of social courtesy, Tony looked like he wanted to write "I hate you" across his forehead.
With an expression of utter disdain, Tony shrugged off Justin Hammer's arm, not even bothering to glance at him, and walked straight over to Blake.
"I remember you once told me you weren't interested in racing. So what are you doing here with this guy? I have to say, your taste in friends is getting worse and worse. Wanna chat for a bit?"
"Sure!"
Blake picked up two freshly made drinks from the bar and walked over to a quiet spot by the window.
"We still have unfinished business!"
As Tony was about to leave, Justin Hammer called out from behind.
"I'll return Blake to you in a bit. Meanwhile, why don't you sit here, have a drink, and check out the beautiful ladies around?"
Tony patted Justin Hammer on the shoulder in a mockingly childish tone.
Then he walked straight over to Blake's table.
"Fine, I've got an interview scheduled with a lady journalist anyway."
Justin Hammer muttered weakly from behind.
He reached out to grab the cocktail he had just ordered from the table, only to find it gone.
"Hey! That was my drink!"
"Why are you hanging out with that guy? I hate that annoying clown. Every time I see his face, I'm reminded of when I dropped my apple pie in the gorilla cage at the zoo as a kid and got it stomped on by a big ape!"
"Hahaha!"
Blake imagined the scene and burst out laughing.
"Damn it, I swear I'll never eat apple pie again! That guy wants me to endorse their upcoming battle armor! He wants me to get defeated by his armor in front of everyone at your expo! Three hundred and fifty million dollars—haha! He must really hate you to offer such a huge amount!"
Tony, having dealt with government people for most of his life, was well aware of the dirty tricks they play to manipulate public perception for political gain.
"They want to defeat me, but they don't dare confront me directly, and they can't create anything decent themselves. So, they think they can just throw money at you to take you down? Damn it! It sounds like your job is as glamorous as a blonde girl in Amsterdam's Red Light District! You didn't agree to it, did you?"
"I haven't signed the contract yet. When they send it over, have your company's legal team look it over for me. After I complete the performance in the contract, does accidentally crushing a few of their armors count as a breach?"
Tony's eyes lit up. "I suddenly have a lot of more fun ideas!"
The two of them leaned in closer, whispering and occasionally breaking into grins that would make anyone nearby feel a little uneasy.
In the movies, Iron Man's reckless behavior due to palladium poisoning led him to act self-destructively.
Later, people thought his series of actions were because of the poisoning—like appointing Pepper as the CEO of Stark Industries and personally driving in the Monaco race.
But when Blake came into the picture, like a butterfly effect, Tony upgraded the arc reactor in advance, eliminating the threat of palladium poisoning.
However, Tony Stark still buried himself in the lab, focused on researching new armor, and continued to delegate all the company's affairs to Pepper.
That's just his character—if he calmly managed the company, he wouldn't be Tony Stark.
He always does the unexpected.
Like now.
"I have to go; it's my turn to get on the track. Our team's driver hasn't won a single championship in five years, hasn't even made the top three. I'm going down there to show him what real racing is! Oh, and make sure not to tell Pepper before I switch places with the driver!"
Tony stood up, nervously glancing around to see if Pepper was watching him, then quickly prepared to leave.
"Tony! Be careful!"
Blake flashed a mysterious smile.
Thor was still chatting with the two girls while eating, so Blake went over to say hello and mentioned that he was stepping out for a bit.
He then made his way up to the hotel rooftop via the fire escape.
He needed a spot with a clear view to properly enjoy the show that was about to unfold.
...
In a team's staff lounge, Ivan Vanko sat in the break room, absentmindedly chewing on a matchstick.
He had spent nearly six months preparing for this day, not only successfully developing an arc reactor but also getting ready for today's race!
All to get a chance to get close to Tony Stark.
He had studied Tony Stark's behavior for a long time and found that there was hardly any pattern, except for this race—Tony attended it every year, and afterward, he would come down to take a group photo with his team.
This was his chance!
He was going to get justice for his father, who died in Siberia, in the cold, in illness, and in resentment.
He was going to get justice for the decades of unfair treatment he had endured.
The Stark family's wealth, the title of Iron Man—these were things the Stark family stole from his father.
While reminiscing about his father's unwilling look before his death, the TV screen suddenly switched to show the Stark team.
It turned out Tony Stark had personally put on a racing suit and climbed into the car.
The screen showed Tony Stark waving from the car, while the angry driver threw down his helmet.
"A show-off, huh? Then I'll deal with you directly on the track—Iron Man? Ha!"
Ivan Vanko looked at the confident Tony on the screen.
With a defiant expression, he pulled down the collar of his shirt, and under the eerie blue glow of the reactor, Ivan Vanko let out a maniacal laugh!
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