[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman":3,"chapter-marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-267":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Marvel: A Lazy-Ass Superman",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1721873,2198,"Chapter 267 - 267 — The Metamorphosis of Stark Industries","marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-267",267,"\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For 20 advanced chapters, visit my Patreon:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patreon - Twilight_scribe1\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since Howard Stark's unexpected death, the Stark conglomerate had undergone an earth-shaking transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the direction of Howard's former right-hand man, Obadiah Stane, the company rapidly completed restructuring, reorganization, public listing, and share redistribution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And all this happened without mass layoffs or fire sales of assets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Employee benefits were preserved as much as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through this, Obadiah not only raised the astronomical inheritance tax Tony Stark owed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he also reshaped the bloated, chaotic Stark conglomerate into something else entirely:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A streamlined, laser-focused military–industrial complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It happened to be perfect timing—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the collapse of the Red Empire diverted every major power's attention eastward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stark Industries, a piece of meat on the chopping block, slipped past the wolves and achieved results no one expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Obadiah even made Time Magazine's cover, praised as a textbook-level case study in corporate transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone could see how much value the newly slimmed-down Stark Industries contained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one thought the cut-down version was a loser.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plenty of Wall Street titans regretted missing the opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had bought shares of the companies Stane floated during restructuring—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and some had even become majority shareholders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those were merely the discarded limbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The true military core, the essence of the empire, never ended up in Wall Street's hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since these stocks were now public, investors could check who the major shareholders were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when all they saw were generals—active duty, retired—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>not a single fool dared to reach out greedily again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the collapse of the Red Empire had already fattened many pockets, greed has no limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the once juicy Stark conglomerate was no longer food they could touch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, amid this great restructuring was a detail that couldn't be ignored:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From old Stark Group to present-day Stark Industries, countless unrelated divisions were amputated, spun off, sold, or forcibly compressed into tiny internal departments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The general belief was:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anything not tied to military R&D got dumped by the prodigal Young Master Stark!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even some \"free money\" industries—mines, oil fields—were sold off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many of these divested businesses were swallowed outright by the buyers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some were renamed and reintroduced to the market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some kept the \"Stark\" name temporarily for 5–10 years under legal agreements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They looked like they were still Stark—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but they had nothing to do with the Starks anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were mostly the companies Wall Street vultures bought up in bulk after IPO.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They became the unwilling owners—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>all thanks to Obadiah Stane's deliberate setup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They thought they were investing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They ended up owning entire companies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To make the bitter pill easier to swallow, Stark Industries allowed them to use the \"Stark\" branding temporarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with that name came strict restrictions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step out of line, and Stark's army of lawyers—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>backed by a military-industrial titan—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>would crush them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was why Henry had assumed Stark Pictures, being non-military, must've been sold off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tony, hearing the misunderstanding, gave a half-explanation, half-complaint:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dad left behind a lot of weird junk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stuff so useless that even if I gave it away, people would still refuse it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So yeah, I'm basically running a charity for a ton of deadweight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'll shut those divisions down someday once the old staff retire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, it's like funding a private nursing home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But Stark Pictures is different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man poured too much of himself into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It still generates revenue, and the assets are valuable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I have... other plans for it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're keeping the studio because it helps you pick up girls, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tony froze—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then facepalmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You think I'm gonna say, 'Hey ladies, grab drinks with me and I'll give you a 20% discount on camera rentals'?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do I need that much effort to pick up women?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on what you said, shouldn't my face alone be enough?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry didn't answer the joke, instead replying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you really intend to rebuild Stark Pictures, you should helm it yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tossing it at me—what does that even mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you're trying to buy my loyalty with that, I've gotta say:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's pretty dumb, not the kind of decision a genius like you should be making.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tony scowled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's wrong with Stark Pictures?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some of the old connections may be gone, but the framework is still there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Put a team together and it's still a real Hollywood studio.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To enter a circle and enjoy its benefits, you must follow the circle's rules—sometimes even protect it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Likewise, if I became your employee, I'd have to protect your reputation, your profits, your company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Which means I'd have to speak and act on your behalf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honestly? That sounds miserable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've said it before—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I can't work under you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Instead of taking your bowl of rice and smashing it afterward, I choose not to touch the bowl at all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tony narrowed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You hate me that much? You can't even work for me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry replied matter-of-factly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I treat everyone like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only exception was Audrey Hepburn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that's because friends and family are the hardest to work for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never mix relationships into business.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Katharine, who had been quietly listening, suddenly spoke with mock-wounded jealousy:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, little Henry—you're saying I wouldn't be a good boss either?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Henry immediately turned to butter:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could you say that, Katharine?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's just that you don't need anything from me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you ever do, just say the word—I'll walk through fire for you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talking about pay would cheapen our friendship.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good boy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old lady patted Henry's head in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tony Stark, CEO of a multi-billion-dollar corporation, stood by grinding his teeth in jealousy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>🎉 Power Stone Goal Announcement! 🎉\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'll release one bonus chapter for every 500 Power Stones we hit!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let me know what should I do\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your support means everything—let's crush these goals together! Keep voting, and let the stones pile up! 🚀\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\u003C\u002Fp>",984,"2026-06-06T15:31:22.542Z",1,"novelbin.me","91665e2e9a1fa740fc1f81e048d1f07142a8228759dcff6c93646488b31651b3","marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-268","marvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-chapter-266",556,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmarvel-a-lazy-ass-superman-cover.jpg"]