Chapter 31: Value Exchange
The video Justina showed could only prove Lance Ryder's identity at most.
Even if it were uploaded to the internet, Lance wouldn't need to act personally. Official agencies would quickly erase it.
And even if it couldn't be removed immediately—or if Justina had other ways of spreading it—Lance didn't really care.
Things were different now than in the past.
Ever since Tony Stark publicly revealed himself as Iron Man, public attitudes toward superpowered individuals had changed significantly.
And Lance was affiliated with the U.S. military.
Very few people could touch him.
"I didn't mean to threaten you," Justina said calmly.
"This video is simply a gesture of sincerity."
"The person who recorded it is a friend of mine. I promise there are no backups."
She pushed the phone back toward Lance.
"As long as you help me get through this crisis, then in the future—anything you need, Hammer Industries will do everything possible to obtain it for you."
"Help me get it?" Lance repeated, laughing softly.
After a moment, he looked at her with interest.
"You've managed to get my attention."
"You're right about one thing. People like us care most about our own strength."
"Personal effort alone isn't enough. We also need outside resources."
"But tell me—how can you guarantee that you can provide those resources?"
"And don't forget…"
"Your father is definitely not getting out of prison."
Lance went straight to the heart of the issue.
Saving Hammer Industries wasn't the only challenge.
Justina would also need to run the company successfully in the future and generate massive profits.
And she would have to accomplish all of that on her own.
Justin Hammer would not be there to help.
So many people had died during the Stark Expo incident that someone had to take responsibility.
Ivan Vanko was already dead.
Which meant the blame would fall entirely on Justin Hammer.
That was the brutal reality.
Justina had secretly hoped Lance might help her father escape the situation.
But Lance's firm words made it clear—
There was no turning back.
Her father was finished.
But Hammer Industries might still survive.
Justina took a deep breath.
"I investigated everything before coming here," she said.
"The government says all our accounts are frozen."
"But before the incident, Hammer Industries had already purchased huge amounts of raw materials."
"We upgraded our production lines to prepare for large-scale manufacturing of steel soldiers."
"All the workers are already trained."
"If we receive enough capital, we can immediately begin mass production."
"And once those machines are sold and the funds return, the company will start operating again."
"The government will never allow you to manufacture steel soldiers again," Lance interrupted coldly.
"Not even one."
"Every Arc Reactor and every piece of related technology will be confiscated."
"They'll either seal it or destroy it."
"You won't be allowed to produce anything."
Justina hesitated for a moment.
Then she spoke quietly.
"As long as I can see my father… I can get everything."
Lance immediately understood.
Justin Hammer had clearly left backups.
Perhaps additional reactor designs.
Perhaps hidden blueprints.
Perhaps even secret funds overseas.
"Still not enough," Lance said, shaking his head.
"Things aren't that simple."
"If you produce steel soldiers, the government will intervene immediately."
"And even if you manage to build them—who will buy them?"
Those machines had already proven to be dangerous.
Ivan Vanko had demonstrated that clearly.
Few buyers would risk purchasing weapons that could be hijacked or controlled remotely.
Even if Hammer Industries solved the technical problem, the company's credibility was gone.
No one would trust them.
Justina grew uneasy.
Her hesitation revealed something.
Lance realized she might already have a buyer lined up.
Someone who had arranged to purchase the machines quietly.
Someone who couldn't appear publicly.
Seeing her reluctance, Lance continued calmly.
"Perhaps you can generate profits."
"Perhaps you can run the company well."
"But there's still one thing missing."
"Why should I help you?"
"With the same money and connections, I could achieve the same goal elsewhere."
"Probably with fewer complications."
"So why should I choose you—when you're surrounded by trouble?"
Justina had thought she was close to convincing him.
But after a single moment of hesitation, Lance's attitude shifted completely.
When she tried to speak again, Lance raised his hand to stop her.
"You probably don't realize how much trouble your father caused," he said.
"It's not just Stark Industries or the victims' families who want revenge."
"The military is furious."
"And S.H.I.E.L.D. has secretly intervened."
He paused briefly.
"You probably don't know what S.H.I.E.L.D. is."
"It originated from the Strategic Scientific Reserve during World War II."
"You can think of it as a combination of the FBI and the CIA."
"And right now, the FBI, CIA, and counterterrorism agencies are all investigating your family."
"Not to mention the White House and Congress."
"So while your proposal sounds promising…"
"I'm not interested."
"The benefits simply aren't worth the price I'd have to pay."
With each name Lance mentioned, Justina's face grew paler.
When he finished explaining what S.H.I.E.L.D. was, she collapsed back into the sofa.
"So you only have two options," Lance said calmly.
"Go back and declare bankruptcy."
"Or find someone else who's willing to deal with this mess."
After saying that, he stood up and headed upstairs.
At the staircase, he paused briefly and spoke without turning around.
"You can rest here tonight."
"But when I wake up…"
"I hope you're gone."
Lance entered the bedroom on the second floor.
The previous night had drained him significantly.
Casting that large-scale magic had consumed nearly ninety percent of his magical power.
If he had been forced to cast it again immediately afterward, he might have placed himself in serious danger.
Recovering his magic was now the top priority.
Unfortunately, Earth's magical energy was weak.
Restoring his full strength would take time.
The best way to recover his mental power—
Was sleep.
When Lance woke up again, it was already evening.
He had slept for nearly twelve hours.
When he went downstairs, Justina was gone.
Lance sneered slightly.
That woman had appeared desperate.
But she had only wanted to use him.
Once the crisis passed, she would discard him without hesitation.
That was how capital worked.
No one cared about loyalty.
After eating dinner at a nearby fast-food restaurant, Lance checked the messages on his phone.
Sunil Bakshi had already begun executing their financial plan.
When the market opened earlier that day, Hammer Industries' stock had collapsed immediately, hitting the limit down almost instantly.
Within a few days, the company's stock would likely be worthless.
Lance had already earned a large profit through short selling.
Soon, when the company approached delisting, he would begin buying large amounts of its remaining assets.
Once bankruptcy proceedings began, those assets could be reorganized.
Worthless divisions would be discarded.
Valuable resources would be placed into a new company.
A corporate rebirth.
Whether the new company remained in the arms industry or shifted into the high-tech sector would depend on the market.
Carrying a paper bag filled with milk, fruit, and bread, Lance walked home.
Along the way, he greeted several neighbors returning from work.
But when he reached his front door, he froze.
Two people were standing there.
One of them was Justina Hammer.
The other was a man in his forties wearing a neatly pressed suit.
His temples were slightly gray.
He carried a briefcase.
Anyone familiar with New York could recognize the type immediately.
A lawyer.
Justina looked completely different from earlier that morning.
She had clearly not slept.
But she had changed her appearance.
Her gray-blue hair was now golden.
Her hair was neatly tied back.
She wore a professional business suit.
The rebellious girl with the nose ring was gone.
Now she looked like a sharp corporate executive.
"Did you go to court today?" Lance asked calmly, holding the food bag.
He had already guessed what happened.
"The prosecution is moving very quickly," Justina said.
"Jury selection begins next Monday."
Although she still looked nervous, there was a new confidence in her voice.
"Mr. Ryder," she said.
"Let's talk inside."
"Alright," Lance replied casually.
He unlocked the door and walked in.
Justina glanced at the lawyer beside her.
The man shook his head slightly, indicating he hadn't noticed anything unusual.
She followed Lance inside.
Lance placed the food bag on the dining table.
Without turning around, he said calmly:
"So…"
"What conditions did your father offer?"
Justina's expression changed immediately.
Lance had guessed correctly.
She had gone to see Justin Hammer.
Despite everything, Justin Hammer had spent decades in the arms industry.
He had connections everywhere.
Even after leaving Stark Industries, he had managed to become the military's largest contractor.
That kind of success required countless secret dealings.
Which meant—
He possessed countless secrets about powerful people.
Secrets that could become extremely dangerous if revealed.
Trusting anyone else would be impossible.
Not even lawyers.
The only person Justin Hammer truly trusted now was his daughter.
And the only possible ally left—
Was someone like Lance.
Justina nodded slowly.
She gestured toward the lawyer.
The lawyer placed a document on the table.
"This is my father's 20 percent share of Hammer Industries," Justina said quietly.
"I can transfer it to you immediately."
Justin Hammer personally owned 50 percent of the company.
Giving away 20 percent meant surrendering nearly all control.
The lawyer pushed the documents forward.
Lance glanced at them.
Then he smiled.
Justina felt a brief surge of hope.
But the next moment—
Lance calmly pushed the documents back across the table.
"I'm sorry," he said lightly.
"I have no interest in a pile of worthless paper."
✨Enjoying the story? You can support me on Patreon —
Patreon.com/MizuSan
✨ Patreon members get early chapter access, bonus content! 🥰
🎉 Plus, I'll release 1 for every 50 Power Stones you send my way! 🥳
🌊 Let's reach 80 Patreon members to unlock 5 extra chapters together
Join Patreon ,there is ongoing discount that will last for 3 days❤️