Chapter 308: Flirting with Scarlett Johansson at the Cinema: A Different Kind of Shock in

The opening of "Iron Man 2" is the same as the original.

Tony Stark performs a series of dazzling aerial maneuvers in the sky.

Currently, Spydercam cinematography technology has undergone multiple upgrades, delivering VR-like visual impact!

Paired with the stirring melody of AC/DC's classic track "Shoot to Thrill",

the film ignites the adrenaline of the live audience from the very start!

After leaping over aerial fireworks, Tony Stark lands like a superhero, arriving at the World's Fair, established years ago during the Howard Stark era.

Tony Stark is like a rock star, radiating brilliance.

According to the general narrative rules of sequel films,

having concluded the hero's origin stage, the character faces dual internal and external pressures to complete a second transformation, preparing to confront a more powerful enemy.

For example, in "Spider-Man 2", the internal pressure is the conflict between the superhero's life and that of an ordinary person.

How to balance both relationships, how to choose between saving the world and saving a loved one—this is the problem Peter Parker faces.

The external pressure is the crisis created by villains like Doctor Octopus.

As for Iron Man, it remains the same as the original.

Tony's internal pressure is severe palladium poisoning; he must quickly find a new element to replace the Arc Reactor in his chest.

His emotional journey shifts from the arrogance and hubris of just becoming Iron Man,

to now beginning to doubt himself, questioning whether this path of being a superhero is correct.

As for external pressure, Xu Can deleted the villain Whiplash; the apparent villain remains Hammer Industries, Stark Industries' arch-rival.

Hammer Industries colluded with external forces, attempting to suppress Stark and secure military contracts.

And the one Justin Hammer colluded with was none other than Iron Man's arch-enemy, the Shijie Gang!

Since the Mandarin obtained the Ten Rings from a crashed alien spacecraft, gaining extraordinary power, along with alien technology and magical knowledge.

The Shijie Gang's technology is equivalent to being ahead of the globe, comparable to Wakanda.

Hammer Industries accidentally learned of the Shijie Gang's strength and went to seek cooperation.

The Mandarin indeed needed a puppet to help him deal with the military.

This way, his weapons would be spread across the globe, yet he could maintain complete control over his own weapons.

Wouldn't that mean conquering the world without drawing blood?

Both sides hit it off immediately, completing their cooperation in secret.

At this moment, the unaware Tony was still at the military hearing, arguing with Congress over whether his Iron Man armor constituted a dangerous weapon requiring national control.

"Mr. Stark, this is a weapon!"

"No, no, no, this is high-tech prosthetics, not a weapon, gentlemen."

"You must surrender it immediately!"

"I am Iron Man. Surrendering the suit is surrendering myself; that constitutes selling oneself, and selling oneself is illegal... according to most state laws."

Tony Stark used his silver tongue to wrangle with the congressmen.

Everyone knew his weapons were dangerous, but truly, no one could argue with him.

Justin Hammer was originally set to testify against Tony Stark, but Tony hacked Hammer Industries' database in return.

proving that Hammer Industries was also researching mechs and even maintaining contacts with certain enemy nations.

In this hearing, Tony Stark emerged victorious, retaining his Iron Man armor.

But the price was handing over an older version of the armor for Air Force use, to serve as a check on Iron Man.

Meanwhile, S. H. I. E. L. D. had already dispatched an agent to infiltrate.

Just as Tony Stark was researching the new element, Pepper, promoted to CEO, recruited a female assistant.