Chapter 223: The Expo Farce (Part 1)

Stark Industries Headquarters Building, also known as Stark Tower, is located at East 45th Street, east of Manhattan's Central Station in New York City, completed in the 1990s, standing approximately 350 meters tall with 89 floors.

Originally, Howard Stark, the founder and owner of Stark Industries, purchased a plot of land east of Central Station intending to build a new headquarters for his automobile company; later, upon Obadiah's advice, it was developed into the tallest building in New York City at the time, becoming one of the most iconic landmarks on the city's skyline.

Unfortunately, Howard never lived to see the building completed, and after Tony Stark grew up and took over the company, he made multiple renovations; today, it has become a massive complex housing high-tech laboratories, the corporate headquarters, and commercial office space.

Many New Yorkers jokingly call it the "Triangle Tower," because Stark Tower's shape is a right triangle: the eastern section is taller, with floors 79 to 89 serving as Tony's personal laboratories, while the western section is shorter and functions as commercial office space—the workplace for Stark Industries employees.

Although this design makes the building's exterior appear odd, it is highly practical: the two sections are interconnected yet function independently. Though criticized by many landscape architects upon completion for ruining New York's skyline, Stark Tower has now become an indispensable part of every New York tourist guide.

The first Stark Industries Expo was organized by Howard Stark in 1981; before the 20th century, the Stark Industries Expo was the largest industrial exhibition in the world.

After Howard's death, Tony Stark, who inherited Stark Industries, was not fond of hosting industrial expos; as a result, the grandeur of the Stark Industries Expo faded from the late 1990s to the early 21st century, until today, when Tony Stark, at a press conference in Stark Tower, facing flashes and microphones, said:

"The most vital component of human industrial progress has been forgotten for years, and I bear full responsibility. I am deeply disappointed that since the death of Stark Industries' founder, I have heard of no industrial expo anywhere in the world stepping forward to fill this void…"

"And now, I tell you this: you will soon receive an invitation that may be the most important of your lives—you will witness how far human industrial progress has advanced. If these decades of emptiness were my oversight, then I will use a Stark Industries Expo to show you…"

Stark glanced around; the reporters sat in silence, watching him.

The reporters knew Tony Stark all too well, but most often, Pepper stood before them explaining that Stark's latest messes wouldn't amount to much, while a drunken Tony was dragged onstage from behind to give them half-hearted answers.

But now, every reporter could see that the Stark before them was different.

Stark had always been arrogant, often saying things like, "Ordinary people can't understand me," "You'll never know how my inventions will change humanity," or "Those petty matters don't matter—I'm about to alter the course of human industrial development."

Arrogance was his calling card, recklessness his trademark; but this time, Stark's tone was vastly different, drawing the attention of reporters who had heard every kind of celebrity excuse and evasion.

"There are countless rumors in this world, impossible to distinguish truth from falsehood, and your job is to spread them—but none of these things can ever truly change the world. You can't do it, Yin Fan Wanku can't do it, and neither can the Air Force, Army, and Navy standing behind him."

Finally, Stark spoke into the microphone: "... ut I can."

Stark picked up an invitation from the table and showed it to the reporters: "This is a ticket to Noah's Ark for the new century. If you don't want to board, stay in the decaying, rotting waves—and die."

Countless flashes erupted, the sound of cameras and chaotic questions exploded like thunder; Stark's calm expression was captured and frozen on page after page of newspapers.

The newspaper image flickered; the hand holding it lowered, revealing Peter's face behind it. He took a bite of his hot dog and said to Gwen beside him: "I never thought you actually got tickets to the Stark Industries Expo—I thought…"

Small Book Pavilion

Gwen shrugged. "There's been nonstop coverage of Stark lately, and I've been curious about industrial expos, so I asked my dad to get us two tickets. Let's go together."

Peter grew slightly angry at the mention of it. "I think some reporters are twisting the facts…"

"I know you're a Stark fan—you've said before that when you interned at Stark Industries, he treated you well." Gwen turned to Peter. Peter sighed, looking dejected. "Do you think he's a terrible person too? But…"

Gwen patted Peter's shoulder. "The Stark people know from the reports may be different from the Stark you know—but that's normal. People are multifaceted."

"You think they're smearing your idol, but they think you're whitewashing him. Still, what I care about most is whether Stark can actually deliver on the grand promises he made at that press conference."

Gwen took off her backpack and pulled out two invitations, handing one to Peter. "Open it. If the design's ugly, we won't go."

Peter turned the invitation over in his hands. "From the outside, it doesn't look special…"

He opened it. Gwen did the same, then said with mild disappointment: "The design is pretty ordinary—just a card inside saying, 'Please proceed to East 45th Street, Manhattan, 90th Floor, Stark Industries Headquarters Building.'"

"Wait!" Peter interrupted Gwen. He examined the card closely, astonished. "90th floor?? Stark Tower only has 89 floors!"

Gwen looked too, puzzled. "You must've miscounted." She returned her gaze to the card. "Both our cards say 90th floor—it's not a mistake."

Peter scratched his head, uncertain. "I'm sure it's only 89 floors… at least the elevators definitely go only to 89."

"Could he be expecting us to tour the rooftop?"

"And I remember…" Gwen picked up the newspaper Peter had set down and pointed to the illustration of Stark Tower in one article. "Wasn't the exhibition hall supposed to be on the top of the shorter building on the left? How could this building have a 90th floor?"

"True. I've been to that exhibition hall before—it's huge. Hosting an industrial expo there would be more than enough."

As Peter and Gwen were baffled, others who received invitations shared the same confusion—even those using telescopes from atop other buildings, counting floor by floor, confirmed there were only 89 floors, no 90th.

Many reporters seized on this to attack Stark, calling it a playboy's cruel joke, accusing him of pulling every stunt imaginable for attention, mocking him as a man with no tricks left, a dying man's last gasp.

Indeed, after Stark's bold declaration, nearly every major industrial corporation and conglomerate was enraged by his arrogance. Previously, Stark's words seemed like the boast of an ignorant nouveau riche; now, his serious mockery had shattered many.

Because a fact stood before them: a man so thoroughly rotten had still developed revolutionary exosuit technology—and even wore that sleek armor to act as a superhero in New York.

Many scientists and industrial leaders who struggled in their careers couldn't help imagining: if they had developed such technology, they wouldn't be as childish as Stark, dressing up in armor to play superhero.

They fantasized about partnering with the military, scaling production, controlling mechanized armies, even ruling the world.

Thus, they mocked and ridiculed Stark even more fiercely, convinced his choice was absurdly immature.

Many claimed Stark made the worst possible choices at every step, trapping himself in this mess. Had they been in his place, they would have partnered with the military, collaborated with competitors, joined forces to monopolize the market, seize profits, or engage in international political maneuvering.

But no matter what they did, it would be far more mature than putting on a metal shell and playing vigilante in New York.

The most ironic part? The ordinary people Stark protected and saved didn't appreciate him—in fact, public opposition to Stark and Iron Man was fiercer than that from his industry rivals.

In short, whether rivals, the military, or ordinary citizens, all who received the invitation still planned to attend.

Most of them came for amusement, eager to see how the disgraced playboy would try to salvage his stunt.

Many self-proclaimed scientists intended to use their expertise to expose Stark's fraud; many talented but overlooked young men came to laugh at Stark's failure, comforting themselves that these rich men were merely lucky.

People like Peter and Gwen, who simply wanted to learn and observe out of genuine interest in industry and machinery, were the minority.