Marvel's Iron Lady

As a military-industrial conglomerate with total assets worth hundreds of billions and a global business reach, Stark Industries is inherently complex.

The rise of Stark Industries could not have happened without the early accumulation during World War II and Howard Stark's visionary professional insight.

The Stark Industries Group headquarters is located in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., covering a vast expanse of industrial land worth a fortune.

Before Miss Stark formally stepped into managing the company, the entire organization was firmly controlled by the board of directors.

As the interim manager before the heir took over, Obadiah Stane naturally held the position of Chairman of the Board.

But, in the end, this is business—not some childish game played by a hastily assembled board of directors.

Though the board members might be backstabbing each other behind the scenes, they still put on a façade of politeness.

When Miss Stark saw Obadiah Stane again, it was at the company's headquarters.

The headquarters also has a special rest area for employees, which was the location of their meeting.

Miss Stark arrived first, and a few minutes later, Obadiah appeared in front of her, now dressed in a navy blue suit.

Though middle-aged, years of fighting in the business world hadn't dulled Obadiah Stane's sharpness.

"I've gotten a basic understanding of your new company's concept and business philosophy, but how confident are you?"

He sat down across from her at the coffee booth in a casual, unpolished manner, like a gruff father figure.

"About seventy to eighty percent, given that I've already tied in so many business partners."

After hearing Obadiah's question, Miss Stark thought for a moment before giving a somewhat uncertain figure.

"A hybrid company between the insurance and construction industries? Alright, that market is probably at its peak."

Leaving aside the construction industry for now, the insurance sector wasn't exactly thriving—it was more or less stagnating.

Even though she had roped in companies like Oscorp onto her ship, Obadiah couldn't make any guarantees.

But if she was willing to do it, he was still willing to invest and fund her—after all, why let outsiders profit?

"It doesn't matter. Before taking over the company, I think I should at least achieve something first."

"Alright then, what do you need me to do? Help you pull some strings?"

At this, Obadiah saw Miss Stark open her right hand, palm up.

"What's the meaning of this???"

"Asking you for money, of course. If I had money, why would I come to you?"

She spoke as if she were a little child asking her parent for a few dimes to buy candy at the corner store.

Seeing his friend's daughter pull such a shameless stunt, Obadiah's mustache twitched in speechless.

Granted, he had promised to treat her like his own daughter after Howard and his wife passed away.

However, it wasn't until this moment that he realized Howard's daughter was just as shameless as her father.

"Go to the finance department and withdraw it yourself—but hold on, don't go just yet. There's something I need to ask of you."

Seeing that Miss Stark was about to get up, Obadiah quickly patted the table, urging her to stop.

"I'm going to Dubai next month to host a military expo, but it happens to coincide with my son's school break."

"I was wondering… if you have the time, maybe you could help watch over that brat for me?"

Only now did Obadiah remember the thing he had thought about before coming here.

"Zeke, is he on break already? At this time of year?"

Hearing Obadiah's words, Miss Stark raised her eyebrows, a bit unsure.

She had to dig through her memories for a while before recalling Obadiah's son, Ezekiel Stane.

Likewise, fragments of memories in her mind also contained traces of this child.

Ezekiel Stane, a boy who, from the age of nine, had been constantly involved with terrorists and supervillains.

Though he came from a wealthy family, the loss of his mother at a young age and the lack of affection from his father had completely led him astray.

In another world, after Tony Stark killed Obadiah, Ezekiel, who had lost his father, became completely unhinged.

He remained young, smart, and sharp, but he had truly lost his moral and legal compass, growing into a dangerous force.

Through his research on Extremis Virus leaked onto the black market, he created a new type of virus-based creation that retained only its mad regenerative abilities.

Perhaps driven by his hatred for Tony Stark, Ezekiel fused with his own custom-made nanovirus in a bid for revenge.

However, the nanovirus he created was far from the mindless substance like the Extremis Virus.

It gained autonomy, using this poor boy's tragic mindset to reshape him, turning him into a mere pawn.

The timelines between these two worlds were not synchronized, and many people presented themselves differently in each.

For now, the child had just started elementary school—there was still plenty of time to correct his course. Yes, correction.

"That kid spends all day tinkering with who knows what at home. If you could keep an eye on him, that would be great."

"I will. So you can relax and focus on your work, Obie. And if you want to throw in some extra nurturing funds, even better."

Hearing Miss Stark's playful remark, Obadiah rolled his eyes, seemingly unsure of how to respond.

"Girl, you're obsessed with money. Fine, I'll have the board double your monthly living expenses. How about that?"

Obadiah was always sharp when dealing with other adults, but when it came to his own family, aside from his late wife, he never knew how to express his love for his son.

It was precisely because of this emotionally absent father that his son's heart was filled with loneliness and resentment.

With a surge of motherly instinct, Miss Stark made a decision—she would personally straighten out this kid's life.

But although she had made up her mind, there were still more pressing matters at hand. Before long, she found herself in the company's finance department.

Obadiah had allocated her $4.5 million from the company's account as a startup fund. Though this wasn't an enormous amount, it was far more than what most people could ever hope for when starting a company.

Was she short on money? Not really. She just wanted to milk the company board that had excluded her from the decision-making process.

Time passed quickly, and a week later, a press conference held at the Stark Tower conference hall in Manhattan, New York, captured the attention of the world.

Centered around the heir to Stark Industries, the press conference featured several prominent figures: Norman Osborn, CEO of Oscorp Industries; Obadiah Stane, acting CEO of Stark Industries; and representing the U.S. Army, Lieutenant General Thaddeus Ross.

The presence of these influential figures from the business, political, and military worlds to support the launch of a new company was enough to cause a media frenzy not just in New York but around the globe.

This new enterprise, a joint venture combining cutting-edge technologies from various fields and companies, signified something significant.

"Department of Damage Control (D.O.D.C), with a registered capital of $100 million, backed by guarantees from multiple companies across different industries. Our mission: to serve and protect lives."

Clad in a white women's suit custom-tailored by a top fashion designer and sporting makeup that enhanced her striking features, Miss Stark stood at the podium, fielding question after question from the media.

This marked the first time that the heir to Stark Industries had actively placed herself in the public eye.

Her expression, her stride, and every gesture were composed and confident, exuding an aura of vitality and exuberance. In that moment, she captivated everyone, her charming presence leaving countless people in awe.