Chapter 42: Return
In early August, Antonio, who had completed his first semester of studies, gave up his original plan to go home for summer vacation.
On one hand, the development of the Benevolence Society had entered a crucial phase, and many specialized matters required his professional knowledge to coordinate.
On the other hand, Antonio had truly fallen in love with this job—it was an incredible fit with his field of expertise.
Even Antonio's advisor intended to have graduate students come for internships and planned to conduct research on a new environmental organization model based on the Benevolence Society in the next semester.
If the project could proceed smoothly, it would not only provide firsthand real data to the laboratory but also allow the Benevolence Society to quickly improve its shortcomings and receive complete academic support.
Environmental science is a comprehensive field of study that involves geography, physics, chemistry, biology, economics, law, and social sciences, among others.
For example, Antonio himself focused more on the direction of sustainable development. He not only pursued academic research but also took elective courses in management, economics, and even policy analysis and formulation.
However, when Oaks returned this time, he received another wave of admiration from the true academic genius Antonio—since when Oaks sold off his Stark Industries stocks before leaving, they were basically at their peak.
Since Tony was kidnapped, the stocks had been declining all the way until May when he returned and announced the closure of the weapons division. They began to plummet significantly and had been fluctuating for more than three months now.
As soon as Oaks returned and learned about the situation, he had Antonio start preparing to raise funds because this winter, Stark Industries stocks were about to make a comeback.
The Benevolence Society had monopolized the market during the past six months, and the miraculous Oaks' Acorns had taken over the entire market in New York.
Their public welfare efforts had accelerated the city's greening plan by more than 30%, gaining immense attention and praise from numerous media outlets and the public.
Stark Industries noticed this phenomenon and, in order to divert attention from the negative impact of Tony's decisions, increased their publicity for the environmental foundation's investment and the Benevolence Society's public welfare activities.
With S.H.I.E.L.D.'s tacit approval, various departments quickly produced inspection reports, and Oak Beverage acorn was recognized as a "truly green food," a perfect combination of biotechnology and environmental concepts.
The entire product was made up of organic materials, and the Benevolence Society even had a business of collecting fruit shells, which were then brought back to the little rainforest and processed into fertilizer using Oaks' highly efficient decomposing moss, causing no environmental pollution.
So, although they were engaged in public welfare, they were not lacking in funds and even made a considerable profit from it.
After Oaks returned, within a month, he used the returned funds to buy all the Stark Industries stocks that were at their historical low. Although compared to the challenges faced by Stark Industries, this move was insignificant, his support undoubtedly earned him great appreciation and increased support from the Stark Industries board of directors.
Melinda also seemed to have adjusted her mood well with the work of the Benevolence Society. As a liaison officer, she was now truly an employee of the Benevolence Society...
As for Oaks himself, after finalizing the Benevolence Society's next development plan, he was approached directly by a haggard-looking Tony.
Because he was engrossed in researching the armor, Tony only now learned about Oaks' return and his investment in Stark Industries after completing a critical model and being reminded by J.A.R.V.I.S.
"Hey, buddy, this matter is extremely important, and you must help me!"
As soon as he entered the door, Tony threw himself onto the sofa, rubbed his face with both hands, and then laughed unabashedly:
"Hey! The so-called best hospitals couldn't cure him, how ridiculous! I had to let those idiot doctors study my savior like a specimen in a display case, but they couldn't bring him back to consciousness!
Oaks, I can't crack your technology, and those idiots certainly can't either. Yinsen was almost dying at that time, and I had to crush the acorn's bracelet to save him, but it was still too late.
I wandered in the desert with him for two days before we were rescued, and Yinsen's condition has worsened again!"
He looked up, his eyes bloodshot, like a desperate beast:
"Buddy, without him, I would have been dead... You must save him!"
"...How long have you been sleepless?"
Oaks furrowed his brow and threw another string of acorn bracelet at Tony:
"In your current state, I'm afraid that by the time your savior wakes up, you'll already be mentally unstable.
Put it on, go sleep for a while, and when you wake up, personally drive me to see him."
"...Thank you."
Tony sighed with relief, took the bracelet, put it on, and instantly relaxed. He fell asleep directly on the sofa.
"This guy..."
Oaks shrugged helplessly, had someone bring a blanket to cover Tony, and then closed the door.
When Tony arrived, he didn't bring anyone with him. Now, he was the target of criticism at Stark Industries, and even Pepper didn't quite understand his actions, although she still trusted him as always.
The acorn bracelet was a small attempt by Oaks to intervene in fate, and now it seemed to have achieved results close to what he had anticipated. Dr. Yinsen had survived, but although he was no longer in danger, he still hadn't regained consciousness.
Therefore, after half a year of effort, he finally had his first test subject.
Tony probably hadn't finished the Mark II armor yet, but he had already told Obadiah about the miniaturized arc reactor. In other words...
"Aside from Tony, the only person who could potentially know about the miniaturized arc reactor technology, even if only partially, is Dr. Yinsen, and he has become a highly sought-after asset."
The U.S. military was still unaware of the existence of the miniaturized arc reactor, but they were already unhappy with Tony's decision to close the weapons division, including Colonel Rhodes.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was also in the dark about the details of Tony's escape. Although Agent Coulson had tried to approach Tony, he hadn't found an opportunity yet, although he seemed to have approached Melinda at the Benevolence Society.
But Obadiah should be well aware of everything.
In other words, if Dr. Yinsen woke up and Tony demonstrated the power of the armor, one of the core technologies of the armor—the miniaturized arc reactor—would inevitably attract the attention of these three parties.
This was something Tony hadn't considered at all.
"It seems that we need to handle Dr. Yinsen's situation before Tony reveals too much."
When Tony woke up, feeling fully refreshed, he saw Agent Coulson from S.H.I.E.L.D., who had hurried over upon hearing of Tony's presence at the Benevolence Society.
"Mr. Stark, I'm Coulson, a colleague of Melinda's from S.H.I.E.L.D."
As an outstanding field agent, Coulson didn't seem to have any reservations about his relationship as he worked with Melinda to complete his mission.
"Colleague? S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
Tony's mind was now very clear. He touched the bracelet on his wrist and sized up Coulson.
"I don't want to talk much about how I escaped."
"But I can offer some help regarding what you need to do now."
Coulson glanced at Oaks beside him, who nodded slightly. Tony then spread his hands.
"Well, lead the way."
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