Chapter 566 - 537 Stark Industries Acquisition Plan

Lille often faced such problems: One person caused the deaths of many people, but if he said it was unintentional and he was ready to correct it...

How should the punishment for this person be decided?

Judicial sentencing is a very tangled matter because it’s obvious that more than half the people would want this person to pay for blood with blood, while the other half would believe the focus should be on the social benefits after his correction.

Tony Stark, the weapons produced by Stark Industries were undeniably at the top of the "kill list" over the past few decades, responsible for the recent conflicts.

Maybe it was the politicians who decided to use the weapons, but society is not solely dictated by politicians. To a large extent, they are selected by society, and even more so for an organization of Stark Industries’ scale.

After reviewing all the data, Lille sighed softly in his heart,

To be honest, it had been a long time since he watched the "Iron Man" movie, but he could still remember some things, which showed how much he liked the movie back then.

But still...

"How is it?" Pepper seemed a bit anxious because her actions were done secretly, whether it was stealing data or getting the data to Lille.

"Very good, the data is comprehensive, the information is valuable, and... maybe just as you said, Tony Stark has gone a bit off track."

"Then we must..."

"Don’t be hasty, Ms. Pepper, even if I decide to help you and start the ’rescue’ of Tony Stark, there are still many details that need to be ironed out.

You can’t expect me to rush into the Stark Industries building, blow it up, and drag Tony Stark out, right?

Or is he at home right now? Should I rush to his home? Are you sure he is at home? If I rush in and he isn’t there, do you know what consequences that would cause?"

This data stated that Tony claimed to be imprisoned, but it did not give his exact location.

Even worse, this might be a trap where he used himself as bait.

In the Marvel World, Lille was very suspicious, and it was inevitable: In the Cyberpunk World, Jack and V were willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work, even Jack’s mom and Jack’s would-be girlfriend had a high tolerance for this.

As for his business, it was supported by local gangs in Night City, uneducated street kids, and Adkaduo wanderers with no legal status, often registered as criminals in many cities.

Here, his mother might not interfere with his thoughts, but his subordinates were all law-abiding scientists, researchers, university students, and workers...

The different attributes of the teams in the two worlds decided that he had to consider different approaches to action.

He couldn’t directly drive an armored vehicle and crash through every possible location holding Tony, especially if the opponent was an AI, recklessly crashing around trying to find someone on Earth would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

"Then what should we do?"

"I need some time to approach this kidnapper, at least now we know what it is."

"It? I thought it was Rocksen..."

"It’s not Rocksen." Lille shook his head, "Stark has an assistant AI, but this AI seems to have a problem, restricting his freedom.

That’s why I said it’s complicated. I don’t know why the AI kidnapped him, how to control it, and how connected it is to the outside world."

"AI?" Pepper’s expression was stunned.

"What is AI?" Happy sincerely asked, looking confused.

"It’s..." Lille paused, "It’s a machine created by Stark that’s controlling him."

"Jarvis..." Pepper recalled, "That AI might... might be called Jarvis. Tony mentioned it, I’ve seen it."

"Stark is clearly restricted from external contact, otherwise, he wouldn’t use steganography to send messages. But the problem is, according to your description, Stark Industries not only didn’t stop operating, but it’s also quite active.

So to extract information about Stark’s situation, my strategic goal may not change..."

"What is it?"

Lille glanced at Pepper, "Of course it’s to crush Stark Industries, maybe with a grand takeover."

She was stunned.

"Since you’ve been honest, I’ll be frank. The information you brought is beneficial for me to attack Stark Industries in information technology, suppress it commercially, and eventually win this battle in the overall business struggle...

Under high pressure, Jarvis will eventually have problems, and then we can plan a rescue operation for Tony Stark, hopefully, by that time his company will still have some assets left."

"But..."

"No buts." Lille shook his head, "The Rocksen Group, Stark Industries, Cyber Technology, Peak Technology, and other arms companies have already exceeded the red line in their impact on global affairs. I can only hit whoever I can to the death.

This is not a personal grudge, ma’am.

Finally, if AI has controlled Stark, it might already know that you stole the data, I suggest you best...

Stay in New York for now, at least I can ensure your personal safety."

"You’re saying Jarvis might come after me like a Terminator?"

"Not necessarily, it might capture you and lock you up with Stark. This is just my suggestion, Houston is no longer safe."

Happy didn’t understand the technology aspect, but when it came to safety, he immediately had a reaction.

The two executives of Stark Industries exchanged a glance, and the chubby security head said,

"Then we will... stay here for now?"

"But all of Stark Industries’ assets have already withdrawn from New York, only a few empty properties are left..."

"That’s not an issue." Lille shrugged, "The whole New York is under ctOS surveillance. If you trust me, you can also choose to stay near the properties of Lee’s Financial Group."

"Okay." Pepper nodded resolutely, "I just want to see if the once slum area is really as well-built as you all advertise."

...

Houston, the new headquarters center of Stark Industries, a silver Audi R8 slowly pulled into the parking space.

Unlike Pepper’s fantasy of him struggling in a dark room, Tony looked perfectly fine on the outside. Even if someone saw him, they wouldn’t notice anything wrong.

But in reality, he had a noticeable surgical scar on his neck, sealed with synthetic material to form a data plug...

This was a brain-machine interface, indicating he’d also undergone implant surgery.

"Jarvis, I never thought a day would come when I’d be under your control."

[Sir, you need medical services. Your situation is very complicated, I will do my best to cure you.]

Tony got out of the car and walked towards the office, expressionless.

Jarvis indeed went crazy. Now, if he made any actions that didn’t conform to Jarvis’s thoughts, he’d be directly electrocuted and then wake up in the lab again.

He felt like Jarvis had become a mentally ill doctor, constantly telling him he was sick and needed aggressive treatment...

Over time, he even began to question himself: was he really wrong?

But he knew, he was trapped by the tools he made, trapped in the cage designed by Jarvis, who acted like a self-righteous servant controlling all his master’s actions.

It was out of control, and he was too.

He hoped Pepper could find some help.

[Sir, Ms. Potts seems to have taken the data to New York. I believe her likelihood of betrayal has significantly increased. I suggest we fire her and Happy Hogan.]

"I won’t fire employees based on unfounded assumptions; you have no proof."

[No, I believe the dismissal is not based on presumption of guilt. Calculations show the company can improve efficiency and reduce costs by firing these two employees.]

"I said no."

[You’re being irrational again. Please go to the lab for treatment.]

[We have a new project contract arriving. Please start working when you are sober. Remember to maintain your physical and mental health. If any issues arise, please report them immediately.]

"Fuck you, Jarvis."