The Hidden Manipulator

"I quit!"

Pepper back conveyed her stance to Tony. She couldn't do it, she truly couldn't.

"You've been supporting me for the past ten years, even when I was profiting from destruction..." Tony said, looking at Pepper retreating figure.

Pepper stopped in her tracks but didn't turn around.

Tony continued, "I still remember when you first joined Stark Industries. You were so young then, just a Ph.D. student brimming with ideas... Do you remember what we used to say?" Tony paused, and Pepper turned to face him.

"We said we would use our hands to shape Stark Industries into what we envisioned, the best version of itself... But now, it has betrayed our original intent. It's using war and destruction to amass wealth!"

Tony stepped forward, placing his hands on Pepper' shoulders. Their eyes met as Tony spoke seriously.

"Stark's weapons were meant to eliminate war, but now, they're causing it. Once, Stark Industries was about destruction, but now, I want to protect!"

At this, Tony released Pepper and took a few steps back.

"Now that I want to protect, to save those who have suffered because of me, you want to leave?" Tony said, his face turned slightly away.

"You'll get yourself killed, Tony. I don't want to be an accomplice. I can't be the one who causes your death" Pepper said firmly, looking at Tony back.

"I shouldn't be alive. I should have died in that cave... unless there's a special reason, a reason for me to keep living... I'm serious, Pepper. I finally know what I need to do!" Tony sat down on a chair, his eyes slightly red as he looked at Pepper, his voice choked with emotion.

"I truly believe I should do this. Maybe it's not about saving others, but about saving myself... My life was pulled back from death by Yinsen and Raiden, but there are so many others living in death and despair. They need someone to pull them out."

Pepper watched Tony quietly, took a deep breath, and then stepped forward.

"That person shouldn't be you..."

"That person should be me!" Tony pointed to the three Iron Man suits behind him.

Pepper placed her hand on the arc reactor in Tony chest.

"You'll get yourself killed. That suit won't protect you. It won't change anything."

"That's why I have three suits. I have three chances" Tony said, grasping Pepper hand.

Pepper gazed at Tony and slowly said.

"What you're doing might even get Yinsen and Raiden killed!"

"No, it won't. They're far stronger and more incredible than you think!" Tony said with certainty.

Pepper shook her head and turned to leave, but before she did, she picked up the decryption chip she had thrown on the table earlier. As she reached the door of the workshop, she stopped and, without turning around, said.

"You know, Tony... you're all I have left."

With that, Pepper walked away without looking back.

...

At Stark Industries headquarters, Pepper took the elevator straight to the top floor, heading to the CEO office. Along the way, the number of security personnel and employees was surprisingly low. Even outside the chairman's office, there wasn't a single secretary in sight.

However, Pepper, who was feeling somewhat "guilty as a thief," didn't care about that at the moment.

She glanced around, pushed the door open, and walked in.

Inside the CEO office, there was no one either. Pepper quickly closed the door, walked over to the desk, and sat down, then turned on the computer. The computer required a password to log in. Pepper took out the unlock chip Tony had given her from her bag and inserted it into the computer.

As soon as the chip was inserted, a warning pop-up immediately appeared on the screen, causing Pepper heart to tighten. Fortunately, Tony device was reliable, and within just a few seconds, the computer was easily unlocked by the chip.

The desktop displayed Tony favorite wallpaper.

Pepper began searching through the computer desktop, but it seemed all the files were laid out openly, not hidden, which made her task much easier. On the desktop, Pepper found blueprints for missiles and weapons.

To her surprise, she also discovered a blueprint for a... massive suit of armor. This armor bore a striking resemblance to Tony, with the only difference being that it was much larger.

In a nearby file, Pepper found a report about this suit of armor. As she read through the report, she couldn't help but ask herself.

"Sector 16? Obadiah, what exactly are you planning?"

But when Pepper opened the next file, something truly shocking and terrifying appeared—a video, a short video, showing terrorists kidnapping someone.

Except... the person in the video was Tony, Tony Stark!

Listening to the terrorists speaking in an incomprehensible language, Pepper opened the translation feature on the computer. The translated words sent a deep chill down her spine.

"You never told us the person you wanted us to kill was the great Tony Stark. As you can see, Obadiah Stane, you'll pay a high price for your lies. The cost of killing Tony Stark has gone up!"

Hearing this, Pepper panicked and quickly exited the desktop, hurriedly copying the files into the unlock chip.

"So... what are you doing here now?" Suddenly, a voice broke the tense atmosphere startling Pepper.

Pepper took a sharp breath and looked toward the door.

It was Obadiah, smiling as he slowly walked in. A cold sweat trickled down Pepper back. In her eyes, that smile was the grin of a demon, the smile of a hypocrite. Pepper was frozen in fear, staring blankly at Obadiah.

Obadiah picked up an empty glass, walked over to the table, poured himself a drink, and then slammed the glass down on the table. The sharp, heavy sound finally snapped Pepper out of her daze.

Obadiah smiled at Pepper, and she forced a smile in return. But her smile was so fake that it could easily be seen through. As she smiled, Pepper subtly glanced at the desktop—the file transfer was only at 50%.

"I know you're conflicted too, Pepper," Obadiah said.

Upon hearing this, Pepper turned her head to look at Obadiah. The smile on Obadiah face gradually faded, replaced by a serious expression. He picked up the glass of wine on the table, brought it to his nose, and said.

"Tony always buys the best, doesn't he?"

As he spoke, the smile returned to Obadiah face. Pepper could only respond with an even more forced smile, while subtly using a newspaper on the table to cover the decryption chip.

Obadiah walked over to Pepper with two glasses of wine in hand. Pepper quickly shifted her gaze to the computer screen—100%! She gently moved her hand, managing to close the folder and return to the desktop just before Obadiah arrived.

Obadiah approached the desk, placed the wine on the table, and looked at the computer screen.

"I'm relieved he made it back alive. It's like we snatched him from the jaws of death. But now I realize that Tony hasn't truly returned. He's still trapped in that cave, isn't he?" As he spoke, Obadiah turned his gaze to Pepper.

Pepper, however, was in no mood to engage with him. After all, wasn't he the one behind all this? All she wanted was to escape. Her mind was blank as she nodded.

"I'm heartbroken" Obadiah said, looking at Pepper as he took a sip from his glass.

Under Obadiah gaze, Pepper tried to calm her inner fear and forced herself to appear composed.

"Tony is a hard person to understand. I believe he'll be fine."

A more genuine smile reappeared on Pepper face, much more convincing than before. Obadiah watched her intently and slowly said.

"You're a good woman, and you'll make a great wife. I'd love to have the chance to hold you and Tony child someday. It would be such a lovely child."

"It will" Pepper nodded, though she had no idea what Obadiah was talking about. All she wanted was to leave.

"I should get going" Pepper said, pushing herself up from the table. As she stood, she discreetly pulled the decryption chip from the computer, grabbed the newspaper from the table, and headed for the door.

Obadiah, meanwhile, simply gazed out the window at the bustling, beautiful city of New York. It was a splendid day, and the sun was shining brightly.

Even as the office door slammed shut with a loud "Bang" Obadiah never turned around.

After a long while, Obadiah sighed and made a phone call.

"Hey, Raiden."

"What's up, Obie?"

"Come over to my place tonight for a drink. I might be going away for a while, and if I don't drink now, I might not get the chance."

"Sure, what are we drinking? Don't give me any of that cheap stuff you usually serve."

"Of course not. This is the best whiskey in the world, the finest drink you'll ever have. And it has a beautiful name—Rebirth!"

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