When Dragon Balls Descend Upon Marvel

Pepper Potts still hadn't caught on and continued speaking.

"You didn't give me the full details."

Tony replied,

"I'm not telling you to try. I'm telling you to do it yourself."

"I need you to take over."

Pepper still looked confused.

"I've been trying to do that."

Seeing she still didn't get it, Tony raised his voice.

"You're not listening to what I'm saying."

"I want you to be the CEO. Why are you resisting?"

With Tony practically shouting, Pepper finally reacted, staring in surprise.

"Did you drink on the way back?"

Tony stepped closer, gripping her shoulders, and spoke with complete seriousness.

"No, not a drop."

"I'm officially appointing you as CEO of Stark Industries, effective immediately."

"That's it. Okay?"

He released her and stepped aside.

"Believe it or not, I've thought about this for a long time. I even considered other candidates, carefully weighing who would be the most suitable."

"And then I realized… it was you. It's always been you."

"There are still some formalities to go through, but I have the authority to name my successor — and that's you. Congratulations."

The sudden promotion left Pepper momentarily speechless, but a smile appeared on her face. She had been managing the company's affairs as Tony's assistant for a long time, never expecting to be suddenly elevated to CEO.

"Pepper, the company's yours now. I've got some research to do. Once you're back at the office, arrange the payment to Capsule Corporation."

"Strictly speaking, it should've been transferred yesterday."

"Alright, I understand. I'll handle it right away."

With a dazed smile, Pepper picked up her briefcase and left.

Watching her go, Tony exhaled in relief.

Turning to his workstation, he looked at the three computer screens and spoke.

"Jarvis."

"Welcome home, Mr. Stark."

"Congratulations on the grand success of both the expo's opening ceremony and the Senate hearing."

"If I may say, you looked remarkably sharp in that suit on TV."

Hearing Jarvis's compliment, Tony smiled faintly.

"Sir, your body has fully recovered. My sincere congratulations."

"As long as you refrain from using the Iron Man armor, palladium poisoning will no longer trouble you."

Looking at the body scan data and analysis on the screen, Tony smiled.

"Find me the best anti-palladium radiation material and install it in the armor's inner layer. I want to block the radiation."

"Sir, your reactor's power output is immense. In operation, the armor can only shield you partially; it can't eliminate exposure entirely."

"Prolonged use will still lead to palladium poisoning. With the thickness of the armor's shielding material, it can't fully stop the radiation's penetration during high-energy impacts."

"You would, however, only need 80 ounces of chlorophyll per week to keep the symptoms at bay."

Tony wasn't too concerned — from 2.36 liters daily down to weekly was a huge improvement. Now that he had a lifeline from Smith, dying from poisoning was no longer an immediate threat. Once he found a new element, it wouldn't be a problem at all.

"Do as I said. Until we find a palladium substitute, we'll handle it this way."

"Yes, Mr. Stark."

…

Moscow.

In the hospital, Anton Vanko watched TV footage of Tony Stark making headlines at the hearing and called his son over.

"Ivan, I've been a failure as a father. I couldn't give you the privileges he had."

"I know you've worked hard this past year — enough to get me into a hospital and improve your own life."

"But as a member of the Vanko family, I want you to return to that land and defeat him."

Anton pointed at the screen, where Tony Stark had just left the hearing.

"Defeat him with an arc reactor. Show the world — show Howard Stark and his son — that they are nothing but shameless thieves who stole our joint project for themselves."

"If he hadn't thrown me out of the company and had the government deport me, your life wouldn't be like this…"

"Cough… cough…"

Anton broke into a fit of coughing. In his mind, the arc reactor was a breakthrough technology. He had developed it with Howard, only for Howard to expel him and claim it. Now his son's name was overshadowed by Tony's fame — fame that had reached all the way to Russia.

As a co-creator of the reactor, seeing his son live in hardship while Tony thrived was something Anton could not accept.

Ivan quickly grasped his father's hand.

"Father, don't get worked up. I will fulfill your wish and restore the Vanko name."

"Focus on your treatment here."

Satisfied with his son's words, Anton nodded.

"Go, my son. I want to see you on TV."

Ivan glanced at the TV, just in time to see John Wick opening a car door for Smith Dole.

Muttering to himself, he said,

"Smith? Was it you who made the wish with the Dragon Balls last time?"

Ivan believed Smith's strength came from a Dragon Ball wish — after all, when he sold the Dragon Balls, Smith wasn't yet the revered God he was now.

Returning to his workshop, Ivan surveyed the improvements made possible by the Dragon Ball money.

He had developed a miniature arc reactor shortly after Tony became Iron Man. Now, with better finances, he had custom-forged his own armor.

Though he couldn't afford to arm it with the wide array of weapons and missiles Tony had, he opted instead for two energy whips powered by the arc reactor — still a formidable choice.

"But palladium poisoning… Tony, how will you deal with that?"

(End of Chapter)

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