Happy's Happy Future

"Are there really vampires in this world?"

Pepper looked incredulous. Maverick is actually a vampire? He doesn't look like it at all—his face isn't pale, his demeanor isn't gloomy, but he is quite handsome.

Tony frowned and said, "It seems to be true. No wonder that guy has superpowers, and no wonder he asked me to help design something with UV protection."

Obadiah was stunned. "Who are you talking about?"

Tony replied casually, "The Blood God you mentioned. I met him; we even went to the casino together."

"Then it seems he's been targeting you from the start. The vampires might want to take over Stark Industries."

Obadiah said unhappily. He had long considered Stark Industries as something in his pocket, and now someone else was trying to snatch it?

Tony scoffed, "Just that kid?"

Obadiah warned, "Don't underestimate the vampires. The wealth they've accumulated over hundreds of years definitely surpasses ours."

"That guy is just a nouveau riche."

Tony snorted. He thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "However, it shouldn't be him plotting against me. He knows Aunt Carter, and she wouldn't scheme against me."

"Peggy Carter?"

Obadiah hesitated for a moment and said, "There's a recent rumor that Ms. Carter has allied with the vampires in exchange for eternal life and youth. She's the president of the Council of Blood."

"Impossible, Aunt Carter isn't that kind of person."

Tony shook his head repeatedly. How could the woman who couldn't even get close to my father become a vampire for immortality?

Pepper had a different thought. She asked in surprise, "Can you really live forever?"

"It's just a rumor; I'm not sure."

Obadiah stood up and said, "Tony, no matter what the Council of Blood's purpose is, we're all in danger now. I need you to give the board something to boost their confidence in you, so they don't kick you out."

"Stark Industries is mine; who can kick me out? Ignore them."

Tony said stubbornly. Obadiah tried to persuade him a few more times but failed, so he left angrily. He decided he would initiate a motion on the board to remove Tony.

Stark Industries would only belong to him, Obadiah.

After Obadiah left, Pepper suggested, "Tony, you're friends with Maverick. Why don't you call him and ask what's going on?"

"Who's his friend?"

Tony denied immediately. He thought about it and said, "However, I can invite him and Aunt Carter over. I want to see Aunt Carter and ask about her situation."

Pepper said, "Okay, I'll call him."

"Alright, Ms. Carter and I will be there on time."

Maverick put down the phone and said to Carter, "Tony invited us to his place. It seems our actions have been noticed by him."

"It's your actions."

Carter said, "A lot of people have called me, asking what our Council of Blood is planning."

Maverick shrugged and said, "Didn't I already reach an agreement with S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

"Thanks to that agreement; otherwise, we wouldn't be so comfortable now."

Carter said, "However, some people have issued warnings, letting us vampires know our place."

"Don't worry; I won't buy Stark Industries' stock on the market again."

Maverick smiled and said, "Although I'm looking forward to Tony working for me, it's obviously impossible. He won't work for anyone."

"Tony is prouder than anyone."

Carter said, "Maverick, you should be able to tell me now which company is your target?"

"That company."

Maverick gestured for Carter to look at the TV. She turned and saw news about Oscorp: "Since Tony Stark closed the weapons division, all military-related stocks have soared, with Oscorp leading the way.

Norman Osborn, chairman of Oscorp, said recently that the high-tech weapons developed by Oscorp have been initially recognized by the Department of Defense..."

"You want to buy Oscorp?"

Carter was very surprised. Oscorp is a large conglomerate focusing on military industry, genetic engineering, and energy, with a market value over $20 billion. Although it's not as big as Stark Industries, it's also a top company in the United States.

"Yes, Oscorp."

Maverick nodded. Oscorp has many valuable assets, and I wouldn't miss it. Moreover, the military and genetics departments of Oscorp are exactly what I need."

Carter shook her head and said, "That's unrealistic. Oscorp's stock price has been rising recently, and shareholders won't sell."

Maverick smiled and said, "Just because it's rising now doesn't mean it will continue to rise. Looking at Norman Osborn, he's about to go downhill."

"Not this again?"

Carter was exasperated. "You, the esteemed vampire patriarch, always talking about mystical stuff. It's not scientific at all. Well, then again, vampires aren't exactly scientific."

Maverick said, "Let's not get into that. Oscorp's main business is energy. Once Tony's Arc Reactor hits the market, their stock price will definitely drop significantly."

"That's true."

Carter was still a bit hesitant. "But Oscorp is too big. Humans may have concerns."

"Just offer them enough benefits to appease them. In this country, there's nothing money can't solve."

Maverick said, "Oscorp focuses on high-end weapons, which is different from Stark Industries' comprehensive range, so it's not as sensitive."

Carter said, "The problem is that high-end weapons are basically purchased by the Department of Defense. Once we control Oscorp, the Department of Defense will definitely avoid dealing with us."

"Don't worry; they'll beg us to sell them weapons."

Maverick said confidently. "Once Ivan's armor research succeeds, those in the Department of Defense might even kneel down and call us 'boss'."

Seeing Maverick so confident, Carter couldn't say much more. She said, "Then I'll get ready to go to Stark's place with you tonight."

"Sure, the bill for the dress can be reimbursed."

"Don't worry; I won't be shy about spending your money, rich guy."

That night, at the coastal villa in Malibu, Tony looked at the radiant Peggy Carter and said incredulously, "Are you really my Aunt Carter? Are you Sharon in disguise?"

Carter smiled and said, "Do I need to remind you about when you were three and tried to fix a tractor but ended up falling into an oil drum?"

"Aunt Carter, you're really teasing me."

Tony, looking embarrassed, invited Carter in. As for Maverick, he didn't pay much attention. How many times had this guy tricked him?

Pepper and Ethan greeted the guests on Tony's behalf. Ethan couldn't help but ask, "Maverick, are you really a vampire?"

Maverick placed the bottle of wine he brought as a gift aside, then opened his palm. His hand transformed into blood, forming a 'YES' in the air. Pepper and Ethan both exclaimed, and Tony turned around to see this and shouted, "That's impossible."

Maverick smiled and said, "Don't worry; vampires aren't as scary as you think. I've been cracking down lately. Any vampire who dares to suck human blood will be arrested by the vampire police."

Tony couldn't help but ask, "Vampire police? Who authorized that? The NYPD?"

"From S.H.I.E.L.D."

"S.H.I.E.L.D. again. Wait, you actually have a license?"

Tony complained. Maverick gave him a pitiful look. Tony was irritated; that look again. Do I, Tony Stark, billionaire and dream lover of countless women, need your pity?

Maverick ignored Tony's glare and said to Pepper, "Miss Potts, my offer still stands. If you're willing to join our Council of Blood, I can give you a youth and immortality package for free."

"Really?"

Pepper's eyes lit up. Tony was startled and hurriedly stood between them, saying, "He must be lying. Well, Aunt Carter, I've prepared your favorite Wellington steak; you'll love it."

"You're so thoughtful."

Carter said with a smile. Pepper rolled her eyes but felt a bit happy. Since Tony was in danger, he seemed to care more about her.

After that, everyone took their seats, and the chef they hired brought out the prepared meal. Everyone chatted and laughed, and the atmosphere was pleasant.

After dinner, Pepper gave Tony a meaningful look, and Tony said, "Maverick, it was wise of you to buy my stock at a low price. Stark Industries' stock price will soon soar."

Maverick said, "Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bought it."

"Good foresight."

Tony laughed, and Pepper asked, "Mr. Maverick, are you buying Stark Industries stock just to make money?"

Maverick said frankly, "Yes, including shorting Stark Industries before. Tony, rest assured, I won't buy your company, although I have the means."

"Who's worried? No one can buy my Stark Industries."

Tony snorted but secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then felt annoyed that this guy might have more money than him.

Pepper couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Maverick, how did you know Stark Industries' stock price would plummet?"

The others also looked at Maverick intently. Maverick said, "Because I can read fortunes. When I saw Tony that day, I noticed his face was dark, indicating impending trouble, so I chose to short Stark Industries."

"Dark face? Impending trouble?"

Tony, Pepper, and Ethan all looked puzzled. They knew all the words, but together they made no sense.

Tony said unhappily, "I think you're making fun of me."

Maverick ignored Tony and said to Pepper, "Miss Potts, would you mind if I read your fortune?"

Pepper asked curiously, "Is that okay? Let's see; is it like tarot cards?"

"Something like that."

Maverick looked at Pepper and said, "Miss Potts, you're a fortunate person. Your long-held dream will come true. That man will marry you, and he'll be as devoted to you as his father was to his wife."

Pepper said in surprise, "Really?"

"Wait, what dream? Pepper, who is that man? You have someone you want to marry? Why didn't I know? No, I won't allow it."

Tony got excited and shouted, somewhat losing his composure. In fact, he had always liked Pepper, but with so many women around him, he hadn't realized his true feelings.

It wasn't until he was imprisoned in the cave that Tony thought about Pepper day and night. From then on, he knew how important she was to him.

That's why he was so agitated now; he even wanted to challenge Pepper's dream lover.

"What are you talking about?"

Pepper said shyly. Carter sighed and said, "Tony, you're slower than your father in these matters. The first time he saw Maria, he dropped all other women and focused on pursuing her."

"What?"

Tony was bewildered. Even Ethan couldn't stand it anymore. He said, "Tony, who has Pepper been by the side of all these years?"

Tony suddenly realized, "By my side? Of course, it's me. Wait, that man is me?"

"Yes, that scoundrel is you."

Maverick laughed, and everyone joined in. Only Pepper blushed, but being Pepper, she said to Tony, "If you want to pursue me, you can't have other women around anymore."

Compared to Pepper, Tony, the playboy, was a bit overexcited. He nodded repeatedly. "No problem, there will be no other women around me from now on. Jarvis, don't answer calls from other women in the future."

"Recording."

The voice of the advanced AI, Jarvis, sounded. Tony was momentarily stunned, a bit regretful, but when he saw Pepper's happy face, he felt it was worth it.

Pepper remembered something and continued to ask Maverick, "Mr. Maverick, what happens after that?"

Maverick said, "After that, you'll become the CEO of Stark Industries."

"Impossible. I don't have that ability, and the CEO of Stark Industries is either Tony or Mr. Stane; no one else."

Pepper shook her head, not believing it at all. Maverick said, "Tony will have a great undertaking in the future; he won't have time to manage Stark Industries. Only you can do it.

"However, this isn't necessarily a good thing because you'll have to be with him while also making money for him to spend, which is a bit unfair."

Tony said indignantly, "Maverick, who do you think I am? How could I let a woman make money for me to spend? You're obviously slandering me."

Maverick ignored Tony. He continued to Pepper, "And then, you'll have conflicts with him because of his great mission. At that point, your fate will have two branches."

Tony complained, "Fate has branches? Wait, how can you even see branches? Are you using drones to spy on the future?"

Pepper asked curiously, "What branches?"

Maverick said, "The first branch: You really can't stand his profession, so you run off with his driver."

"His driver? Happy?"

Pepper was stunned, and Tony was shocked. He shouted, "That guy Happy dares to seduce you? I'm going to fire him."

Pepper was speechless. "Tony."

Carter asked, "What's the second branch?"

Maverick said, "In the second branch, you accept his mission, marry him, and have a daughter—a very cute daughter who tells him 'I love you three thousand' times a day."

"Wow."

Tony and Pepper's eyes lit up. Before they could celebrate, Maverick continued, "Then Tony will sacrifice himself because of that mission. You'll raise your daughter and eventually marry his driver.

"In other words, his driver seems very happy, spending Tony's money while raising his daughter."

"What? I'll sacrifice myself?"

"What? I'll end up with the driver again?"

Tony and Pepper were both stunned, but for different reasons. Tony shouted, "Happy better not touch my daughter. Jarvis, call Happy; I'm going to fire him."

"Tony, this is just a joke."

"Why are you so worked up? Unless..."

"Tony, I'm getting angry."

Tony immediately shut up, and Carter said, "Maverick, that joke was a bit much."

"If you don't believe it, it's just a joke; if you do, it's fate."

Maverick smiled lightly. "These insights might be useful in the future." He stood up and said, "Tony, Miss Potts, I had a great time tonight. I'll be going now. You can rest assured about Stark Industries; I won't buy it, although I have the means."

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