Tony took a folder from Happy's hands and held it out to Lin Feng. With a look of total sincerity, he said, "You've helped me so much in the past. These shares are merely my way of saying thank you. They are your rightful spoils of war!"
Tony whispered that last sentence quite softly, but Lin Feng immediately grasped the deeper meaning.
Spoils of war? So, these shares had belonged to Obadiah Stane?
In that sense, they really were his trophies. Lin Feng had initially thought Tony was just putting on a show to bail him out of the confrontation with Flash, but it turned out the offer was genuine. It seemed this entire gala had been a calculated move by Tony to repay him for saving his life.
And this was no small "thank you" gift.
"...Then I'll take them!" After a moment of deliberation, Lin Feng smiled and signed his name.
There was no reason to refuse a free windfall. Besides, he needed a formal public identity to operate in New York, and being a major shareholder of Stark Industries fit the bill perfectly. If he received system rewards in the future that he couldn't use himself, he could collaborate with Tony through this connection.
For instance, he had the Shadow Ninjas retrieve Howard Stark's legacy items, which contained the secret to creating a brand-new element. The value of that knowledge was immeasurable. More importantly, Tony Stark's genius was arguably as valuable as a seventh Infinity Stone. Having Tony in his debt could lead to some very profitable surprises down the line.
"Everyone, I am very happy today," Tony announced loudly as he shook Lin Feng's hand. "From this day forward, Lin is a new shareholder of Stark Industries!"
Thunderous applause erupted from the crowd. At this moment, Lin Feng's image became increasingly mysterious in their eyes. Everyone knew that after tonight, the name "Lin Feng" would echo through New York, becoming the primary topic of conversation for the city's elite.
"My god... I must be dreaming..." In the crowd, Gwen blinked rapidly, her heart fluttering.
The experience was simply surreal. Just a few days ago, Lin Feng had seemed like an ordinary person—maybe even an unemployed drifter. Yet in the blink of an eye, he had become a titan of Stark Industries. The sheer magnitude of the transformation was inconceivable. She couldn't help but become even more curious about the truth behind the man.
As Lin Feng's status shifted, so did the attitude of the guests. One after another, people began to approach him, offering their congratulations and trying to make an impression. Among them was even Reed Richards, the future Mr. Fantastic, who was still looking for investment for his research.
Lin Feng handled the interactions with a calm smile. Tony, noticing that Lin Feng wasn't one for small talk, eventually pulled him away toward the VIP inner sanctum—an area reserved for only the most prestigious guests. Gwen, naturally, was invited along as well.
"Lin, who are you exactly? And Jessica... does she know the truth about you?" Gwen's expression was complex, her heart torn. She wasn't sure if she should tell her best friend about what happened tonight, fearing that Jessica might end up getting hurt.
Tony watched the exchange silently, a look of someone enjoying a juicy drama on his face. He hadn't expected the mysterious Mr. Lin to have such a history with the Police Captain's daughter. It would be very interesting to see Captain George Stacy's reaction to this—though Tony had no intention of being a snitch.
"I am exactly who I said I am: Lin Feng," Lin Feng replied calmly as he met Gwen's gaze.
Gwen didn't know how to respond. After a brief silence, she shook her head. "Regardless of your identity, Lin, I just hope you won't hurt Jessica."
"Of course," Lin Feng nodded, though he didn't make any grand promises. He didn't feel the need to defend himself. Regarding Jessica, he would protect her as he saw fit—and for the system rewards. Since it was something he could do with a flick of his wrist, why not?
Gwen eventually excused herself. Being as smart as she was, she could tell Tony and Lin Feng had business to discuss, and she didn't want to play the third wheel. After everything that had happened tonight, she also needed some time to process things.
"Mr. Lin is quite impressive!" Once Gwen had left, Tony poured two glasses of wine. He handed one to Lin Feng and teased, "I didn't expect you to have a little girlfriend at home and a beauty like that on the outside. No wonder you weren't interested in the supermodels."
"You're a real piece of work," Lin Feng rolled his eyes, not bothering to argue. He cut straight to the chase. "Tell me the truth. Giving me this many shares wasn't just about saying thanks, was it?"
"Hehe, I knew I couldn't hide anything from you." Tony downed his drink and shrugged. "You know as well as I do that Stark Industries isn't exactly a united front. There are plenty of old fossils who have been eyeing my chair for a long time. Even if I didn't give those shares to you, I might not have been able to keep a firm grip on them myself."
"But don't worry about anyone giving you trouble. I can't speak for the whole world, but in this corner of New York, no one dares to disrespect Tony Stark!"
Tony spoke with supreme confidence. Lin Feng wasn't surprised. Given the Stark family's influence, if anyone actually tried to move against Tony, the consequences would be catastrophic.
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