Tony Stark had considered the possibility that Harvey Amberlock might be the mastermind behind his kidnapping. It was one of the reasons Harvey knew about the creation of the arc reactor.
However, according to the intelligence collected by JARVIS, Harvey Amberlock's daily activities seemed to involve eating, drinking, and sometimes pursuing romantic interests. He would occasionally purchase luxurious and expensive estates. Harvey rarely left the United States, spending about 95% of his time there. His travel was mostly by car, and he seemed to be a skilled driver who occasionally raced.
From what Tony could see, Harvey Amberlock appeared to be a young man who had become wealthy and was enjoying life, indulging in pleasures and gourmet food. Harvey never invited anyone to his parties or exhibitions, so this was their first encounter before today. Harvey had no apparent reason or opportunity to hold a grudge against Tony.
Most importantly, Tony's trip to Afghanistan was highly secretive. It was a military collaboration to test his latest weapon, and only the military and his closest associates knew about it. This detail led Tony to rule out Harvey as the mastermind behind his kidnapping.
Tony's gaze flickered as he considered who might have known his itinerary. Though he didn't know how Harvey had learned about the arc reactor, his focus now was on what he needed to do.
Tony immersed himself in improving the arc reactor. Despite successfully creating it in Afghanistan, the urgent circumstances and harsh environment meant there was room for improvement. The arc reactor was crucial for his survival, so Tony worked tirelessly through the night.
The next afternoon, Stark Industries' stock price plummeted over 30 points overnight, and this was not even the lowest point. The market value of Stark Industries had evaporated by a third, causing significant losses for shareholders. News outlets were filled with reports about Stark Industries' poor decisions, and many people were criticizing Tony Stark for his foolishness. Once admired as a playboy in New York, Tony's reputation had suffered drastically due to this one decision.
Tony paid no attention to these developments. After improving the arc reactor and having Pepper help install it, he immediately headed to a U.S. Air Force base to meet with Rhodey. At this point, he only trusted Pepper and Rhodey.
However, Tony was met with disappointment as Rhodey refused to collaborate with him. Tony was forced to return home and begin the secret development of the Mark II.
In just eleven days, Tony successfully built and tested the Mark II and conducted test flights. As he was finalizing the color scheme for the Mark III, JARVIS reported a new development regarding Harvey Amberlock.
"Sir, there has been a significant development concerning Harvey Amberlock. Should I report it?"
Tony's mind, preoccupied with the Mark II, took a moment to remember his instructions to JARVIS to keep a close watch on Harvey.
"Report it. What has he been up to recently?"
Tony's initial elation from the test flight was now tempered by concern.
"Harvey Amberlock has mortgaged over half of his properties and land, raising $3.55 billion, which he has used to purchase a large amount of Stark Industries' stock."
"With the shares he now holds, although he does not yet have decision-making power, Harvey Amberlock qualifies to attend Stark Industries' board meetings as an observer. He can now listen to the company's plans."
"He also has unrestricted access to non-secret areas of Stark Industries."
JARVIS reported.
Although Tony had anticipated such a move, hearing that Harvey had actually done it left him both shocked and puzzled.
"What could his reasoning be for this?"
Tony knew that Stark Industries was still in a turbulent period. His decision had caused the stock to drop by 40 points. Many people were scrambling to sell, and although Obadiah Stane and the board managed to stabilize the situation temporarily, it was necessary for Stark Industries to make significant moves to recover its peak value.
Tony was considering shifting the company's focus to the energy sector. If he could successfully utilize the arc reactor, it would be a lucrative industry comparable to weapons manufacturing. Yet, before he could make this transition, Harvey Amberlock seemed to have anticipated this move and invested heavily, betting that Stark Industries' stock would rise again.
Since the kidnapping had some lingering doubts, Tony decided to investigate whether the culprit might be someone close to him. His plans for the energy sector remained a secret, even from Pepper, so there was no possibility of information leakage. Thus, Tony couldn't understand Harvey Amberlock's logic.
At a time when Stark Industries was thriving and highly regarded, Harvey had quietly cashed out and made a fortune. Now, as the company faced a downturn and was viewed unfavorably, Harvey had invested even more heavily. Tony felt as if all his secrets were being laid bare by Harvey.
Feeling inexplicably irritable, Tony saw a news report about Stark Industries' annual charity gala, mentioning his concussion.
"Did Harvey Amberlock attend the charity gala?"
Tony asked.
"Harvey Amberlock was invited, but it's unclear whether he attended the event, sir," JARVIS replied apologetically.
"Finish assembling the suit without me. I'll be out," Tony said, glancing at the time before heading out.