Despite Obadiah Stane's best efforts to uncover Tony Stark's whereabouts, he had little success. Zod hadn't handed Tony over to the Ten Rings, as he worried they might return him once Stark completed a suit of armor. Instead, Zod had his own animalized soldiers pose as terrorists, holding Tony captive and showing him the horrific consequences of Stark Industries' weapons in the hands of extremists.
At first, Tony was angry and defiant. As the days passed, his frustration turned into anxiety, self-doubt, and eventually guilt. The more he witnessed the terror his weapons unleashed, the more the weight of responsibility pressed on him. He had always believed his creations were used to fight terrorism, not fuel it. The realization that his life's work had caused so much pain began to gnaw at his conscience.
Zod, watching from afar, knew this was exactly what would push Tony Stark to become Iron Man. "But let him suffer a little more," Zod mused, wanting to see Tony fully grasp the gravity of the situation before his inevitable transformation.
Meanwhile, Zod was summoned to court on suspicion of being involved in Tony Stark's disappearance. Given that Blade Technology Industry was rising as a major competitor to Stark Industries, many speculated that Zod had something to do with it. However, Zod's defense was airtight. With his legal team highlighting that Blade Technology was merely a legitimate tech company, unaffiliated with terrorism, and with Zod himself having no financial motive, the case fell apart. To further solidify his defense, Zod's legal team overwhelmed the opposition, and Blade Technology Industry walked away victorious.
Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. were keeping a close eye on Zod, tracking his every move. However, what Fury didn't realize was that Zod's AI, the Black Queen, was feeding S.H.I.E.L.D. false signals, leading them astray.
As the days turned into weeks, with no sign of Tony Stark, the world began to believe the worst — that Tony was dead. The kidnappers hadn't made any demands for ransom, and Stark Industries' stock plummeted as a result. The military, once a close ally of Stark Industries, began distancing itself, doubting the company's ability to produce the revolutionary Iron Man suit. This shift in alliances allowed Blade Technology Industry to swoop in, winning an $800 million settlement in a lawsuit against Stark Industries.
Obadiah Stane was furious. He had smashed nearly everything in his office in rage. He was now watching helplessly as Stark Industries' stock fell further each day. Despite his efforts, the military had started siding with Blade Technology, seeing it as the more reliable partner. Zod's company had originally only sought $50 million in damages, but through shrewd legal maneuvering, they secured $800 million instead. Stark Industries chose not to appeal, as the military's support had already shifted.
Zod, for his part, wasn't overly concerned with the lawsuit's outcome. His primary focus remained on his own projects, and any conflicts with Stark Industries were secondary.
However, Blade Technology Industry's ambitions didn't stop there. Rumors began to circulate that the company intended to open a branch in China, which sent the U.S. government into a panic. Although it was just a branch, the possibility that Zod himself might relocate sparked concerns. Zod had no such intentions, as he was well aware of the presence of the Spear Bureau in China, a group known for tightly controlling superhumans and technology. Even Iron Man's nemesis, the Mandarin, had been forced out of the country due to their influence.
The Chinese government, on the other hand, was eager to welcome Blade Technology Industry and offered prime real estate in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The U.S., desperate to keep Zod's operations domestic, countered with a half-price land offer in New York, along with advanced instruments and facilities.
Zod found the idea of setting up shop in New York amusing. "New York? That place is cursed," he muttered to himself, aware of the city's constant battles with supervillains and the destruction that came with it. Even with Blade Technology Industry's rapid expansion, Zod had wisely chosen to keep his headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The race to woo Zod and his company wasn't just limited to the U.S. and China. Several other countries began offering free land, some with ownership rights for up to 70 years. Yet, Zod remained uninterested, focusing instead on his own work while sending Uuld to handle negotiations with China.
In this delicate global chess game, Blade Technology Industry was slowly overtaking Stark Industries as the U.S.'s most important industrial player. As Zod settled into his newfound dominance, he received an unexpected invitation from A.I.M., the Advanced Idea Mechanics.
A.I.M.'s representative, Aldrich Killian, requested a meeting to discuss collaboration on a groundbreaking DNA-enhancement project. Zod recognized the name immediately. Aldrich Killian was in the early stages of developing the Extremis Virus, a bio-engineering project that could potentially rewrite human DNA. While Killian's talents had taken him far, he was still far from achieving his ultimate goal — and he knew he needed help.
Zod read Killian's proposal with interest. "The Extremis Virus, huh?" he muttered. This would be a project worth exploring, though he knew it was still years from completion.