Good Deeds to the End

Old Wang knew very well that he was a good person, learning from good role models and doing good deeds without leaving his name behind.

A top domestic arms company like Hammer Industries, which somehow had little public recognition despite its low profile, had done a terribly inadequate job of publicity. It was nowhere near as well known as those phone, computer, and e-commerce companies.

How could that do?

Everyone knew how important the military was to a country. Why couldn’t people pay more attention to military affairs and contribute a little of their saliva to humanity’s military development?

One person’s saliva might not amount to much, but there were too many people.

As long as everyone contributed a little saliva, Hammer Industries would be drowned in a flood and Justin Hammer would definitely be fed full.

"Unity is strength, this strength is iron, this strength is steel…"

Humming the tune, Old Wang found Skye and told her about his public welfare plan.

"I want to give all humanity a military security education."

Old Wang spoke with righteous fervor. "Everyone must know what arms manufacturing is really like, how insanely profitable this industry is, how many filthy dealings are hidden inside it, and exactly how much taxpayer money arms companies led by Hammer Industries have swallowed!"

Skye nodded. "Mm, people’s security awareness really should be improved. People these days live too peacefully. They have no idea how terrifying and brutal war can be."

The two played off each other and decided to build their happiness on Justin Hammer’s suffering.

Skye was naturally the best publicity officer.

Once she understood what Old Wang meant, it took her less than five minutes to breach Hammer Industries’ firewall and upload all the information unfavorable to Hammer Industries onto the internet.

In less than an hour, every internet-connected phone and computer across the United States, even all the major television stations, simultaneously broadcast Skye’s carefully selected and flawlessly edited compilation videos, accompanied by deliberately provocative commentary.

Justin Hammer became famous!

In an instant, he achieved the greatest dream of his life. His fame surpassed Tony Stark’s, and he became everyone’s favorite topic of conversation.

"God! A steel model that costs twenty million being sold for one hundred and thirty million—just how much shady business is involved?"

"Give me a wrench and a hammer, and I could build one by hand!"

"This thing can compare to Iron Man? Iron Man could beat a hundred of them!"

"…"

The overwhelming pressure of public opinion forced everyone connected to this matter to take action.

Justin Hammer, the Department of Defense, and even S.H.I.E.L.D. had no choice but to deploy large numbers of hackers to clean up the internet. But it was useless. Many people had already recorded and downloaded everything. There was never any shortage of people who loved watching a spectacle.

Especially when someone was fanning the flames behind the scenes.

Those concubines who had failed to become Queen after Stark Industries stepped down, driven by the belief that no drama was too big, exaggerated just how terrible Hammer Industries was and how cunning Justin was, while desperately promoting their own integrity and trying to preserve the image of the entire industry—

They all ate from the same pot. It was fine to drive away the person with the biggest appetite, but if they smashed the whole pot, wouldn’t everyone be finished?

Hammer Industries.

"Mr. Hammer, those are the Department of Defense’s demands. You only have one month."

Colonel Rhodes delivered his superiors’ orders with a dark expression. "The exhibition must be held ahead of schedule and livestreamed to the entire public online. If you cannot do it, I think you know what awaits you."

Justin wiped away his sweat, knowing there was no room for negotiation.

This was no longer just Justin’s problem. It was also a problem for the Department of Defense and the entire military. Everyone was questioning them, and those doubts had to be crushed with ironclad facts. The Hammer Steel Soldiers had to demonstrate combat strength sufficient to rival Iron Man—

At least, they had to look comparable.

Otherwise, not only would the Department of Defense refuse to let him off, but the big shots behind Hammer Industries would not accept it either.

The problem was that even Ivan Vanko was gone. Without an Arc Reactor, the Hammer Steel Soldiers were nothing more than oversized electric toys that charged for two hours and ran for five minutes. They could not even fly!

"Mr. Hammer, good luck." Rhodey turned and left.

He did not like this arms dealer who reeked of money in the slightest. Even saying one extra word to him made Rhodey feel sick. He could not understand why the Department of Defense had not demanded a new contract. It probably involved the interests of too many powerful figures.

That was not something he could concern himself with.

A single Hammer Steel Soldier cost more than one hundred and twenty million. He could not afford one even if he worked for a hundred years.

He sighed inwardly. Following his superiors’ instructions, he still had to contact Tony Stark and persuade him, if possible, to cooperate with the Department of Defense, accept its orders, and use the Iron Legion to protect the safety of the American people.

Thinking of the instructions from those big shots, Rhodey felt exhausted.

If persuasion did not work, they would use force. If open methods did not work, they would use covert ones. If that still failed, they would simply take it by force. This was their final ultimatum. If Tony could not be persuaded, the Department of Defense would use national security as an excuse to break into his home and seize the Iron Man armor.

It was not as though they had never done such a thing before.

Watching Rhodey leave, Justin leaned against his desk with a dejected expression, not knowing what to do.

In just a few days, Hammer Industries’ market value had shrunk by half. If this continued, it would probably be completely finished very soon.

In a sea of people, finding the vanished Ivan Vanko was simply impossible. Besides, Justin suspected that the matter was connected to certain government agencies. He did not know whether S.H.I.E.L.D. or some other force had it in for him and was determined to destroy him.

The major shareholders were selling off their stock one after another, trying to pull their capital out. But as the man in charge, he could not escape even if he wanted to. The Department of Defense was watching him like a hawk, leaving him no choice but to grit his teeth and push forward.

Whoever can save me now, I’ll call him Dad! Justin silently made up his mind.

Azeroth Physical Engineering Laboratory.

After lunch, Old Wang came over for his usual inspection. Seeing Fitz’s delighted expression, he smiled and asked, "How’s it going?"

The moment Fitz saw Old Wang, he hurriedly stopped working, rubbed his hands together, and said excitedly:

"Uh, Boss, Ivan Vanko is one of the world’s foremost physicists, and he’s also highly skilled with his hands. I’ve now completely mastered the manufacturing methods for the Arc Reactor and the Whiplash Armor, but there are still some issues. The Arc Reactor’s rotational speed is too slow, and the energy it provides is far inferior to Mr. Stark’s. It also still uses old-fashioned palladium. The whips are too simplistic as well. I think their performance can be improved…"

I hate technical jargon… Old Wang quickly interrupted him. "Tony definitely won’t reveal the Tesseract Isotope. Palladium’s radiation isn’t severe, and as long as it isn’t embedded in the body like Tony’s, it won’t cause poisoning. The Whiplash Armor has little value. What you need to do now is integrate Ivan Vanko’s entire body of knowledge."

Fitz nodded. "That won’t be difficult. Ninety-five percent of his knowledge system overlaps with mine, and the remaining five percent merely supplements and expands my own knowledge system…"

"Good." Old Wang pressed his temples and rubbed around his eye sockets, falling into thought.

Virtual technology was certainly profitable, but arms dealing was no less lucrative.

These were troubled times, and war was approaching. Stark Industries had shut down its weapons division, Hammer Industries was in trouble, and the other arms companies were unable to hold the field. This was the best opportunity.

He quickly made a decision and found Skye. "Help me investigate every major shareholder of Hammer Industries. I need detailed information on them, especially their weak points, such as evidence of criminal activity."

Few rich people were clean, especially those involved with weapons.

Old Wang had people, money, and fists. Dealing with them would be ridiculously easy.

"Huh?"

Skye froze. "Wang, what are you planning?"

As she spoke, her fingers clattered across the keyboard. She entered Hammer Industries’ official website to gather information, preparing to uncover even the color of those shareholders’ underwear.

"Nothing."

Old Wang smiled. "Hammer Industries is on the verge of collapse, and capital is fleeing. Justin Hammer must be like an ant on a hot pan right now… I’ll see my good deed through to the end and help him find relief."