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Chapter 292: Military Probe
🕑 Added 2023-12-31 06:48:34 +0000 UTCAs the senator spoke, Tony turned to look behind him and shouted, "Rhodey, what?"
Colonel James Rhodes, in full view of everyone, walked in slowly from behind.
Charles also turned to look back, observing the colonel in front of him. Surprisingly, there is no change.
Tony stood up, walked a few steps towards Rhodes, and shook his hand. "Bro, didn't expect you to come."
"It's me. I'm here. Accept the reality."
"Continue."
Rhodes then walked to the far end and sat down in the audience.
The senator continued, "This is Colonel Rhodes' complete report on the Iron Man weapons."
"Colonel, please read paragraph 4 on page 57."
Rhodes, looking somewhat surprised at the microphone in front of him, said, "You want me to read a specific paragraph from the report?"
"Yes."
Rhodes glanced at Tony beside him and then said, somewhat displeased, "I thought I was here to present a complete and detailed report."
"I understand, but there are many variables today."
Rhodes, holding the report in his hand, said with some dissatisfaction, "If you've read it, you should know that reading that specific paragraph doesn't represent the integrity of my report."
"I know, please read it, Colonel. Thank you."
Rhodes took a deep breath. "Alright!"
Then he flipped the report to the specific page and said, "Iron Man is not affiliated with any government unit, thus posing a threat to national security and interests."
"But my conclusion is that the benefits of Iron Man far outweigh the drawbacks..."
Before Rhodes could finish his sentence, the senator interrupted, saying, "That's enough."
Ignoring the senator's words, Rhodes continued, "That's why we're interested in having Mr. Stark join the military command system."
"I said, that's enough!"
Tony spoke at this point, "I don't like joining any system, but I could consider being the Secretary of Defense, with fewer working hours."
Tony's words once again caused laughter in the audience. Rhodes picked up a cup and took a sip to demonstrate his embarrassment.
The senator continued, "I want to play the videos from your report."
Rhodes refused, "I don't think it's time to make these videos public yet."
"I can understand, Colonel."
"But if you can explain these videos, we would be very grateful."
Hearing the senator's words, Rhodes reluctantly said, "Bring up the videos."
Soon, the electronic screen on the side began to play the footage.
"The intelligence shows that the devices in these videos are actually counterfeit versions of Mr. Stark's Iron Man armor."
"This has been confirmed by our allied countries and ground intelligence units."
"These Iron Man armors are currently likely to be operational."
Watching the video playback, Tony took out his phone and, after some operations, interrupted, saying:
"Wait a minute, let me take a look."
As he spoke, Tony aimed his phone at the electronic screen in front of him. Soon, code appeared on the screen, updating rapidly.
"I've taken control of your screens; I need them."
"Let's make everything transparent."
"Let's see what's really going on."
The senator on the stage, witnessing the scene, asked, "What is he doing?"
Tony, manipulating his phone, spoke, "Please look at the screens. I believe that's North Korea."
Soon, the screen played a video of a malfunctioning Iron Man suit being experimented on, unable to walk properly and suddenly firing, injuring some testing personnel.
The senator on stage turned to Justin Hammer below, asking hurriedly, "Can you turn it off, quickly!"
Justin Hammer also sensed trouble and quickly stood up, walking towards the electronic screen.
Tony, on the other hand, wouldn't miss the chance to embarrass him further. He immediately updated another video.
"This is Iran."
"No imminent serious danger. Is that Justin Hammer?"
"Why is he dealing with knockoffs too?"
"Justin, you're on TV, pay attention."
In the video, Justin Hammer was inspecting an anti-Iron Man armor, and the robot suddenly twisted its waist after a turn.
Laughter erupted in the audience, and Justin hurriedly came to the electronic screen, shouting, "Where's the plug, where's the plug."
Soon, Justin found the plug and completely turned off the electronic screen.
The whole scene became chaotic, and the hearing lost its seriousness.
At this point, Tony spoke, "Most countries would take 5 to 10 years, but Hammer Industries would need at least 20 years."
Justin Hammer quickly ran back to his seat and said, "Let me point out, the pilot didn't die."
The senator, grateful for the save, said, "I think we've seen enough. He proved his point."
"I don't think this can explain..."
Tony interrupted, "I guess I can only say it straightforwardly."
"What do you mean?"
"I can deter nuclear war, and Iron Man is useful. We're safe, and America is safe."
"If you want my products, forget it."
"But I've done you a big favor. I alone can maintain world peace."
As Tony spoke, he stood up and turned to the audience behind him.
The audience also stood up, applauding Tony.
"What else do you want me to do? This is how it is now."
Then Tony turned around and pointed to the senator on stage, "I tried to cooperate with those jokers."
Seeing Tony calling them jokers, the senator burst into profanity, "F*** you, Mr. Stark."
Tony picked up the sunglasses on the table, smiling, "Well, you're a real comedian."
"Listen, everything I do is for the people. I serve the country for my own happiness."
"If I've proven anything to the world, it's that you can absolutely trust me to make yourself happy."
"Now, is there anything else? Then, this hearing is adjourned."
Watching Tony's performance, Charles and Rhodes both smiled, but Justin Hammer's face didn't look too good.
At this moment, the senator on stage picked up a small hammer and banged it on the table.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
The huge noise silenced the scene.
"OK, the matter regarding Mr. Tony Stark and whether Iron Man is a weapon will be temporarily concluded."
"But there is still content for the second hearing today."
"Now please be quiet."
Hearing there was a second hearing, Tony paused. He was about to leave but decided to sit back down. He wanted to see what these clowns were up to.
The doors of the military committee hearing were opened, and a group of soldiers walked in. They stood on both sides of the venue, armed, instructing the media present to stop the live broadcast.
After all live broadcasts were turned off, General Ross walked in and sat in the front row of the hearing.
"Now, for the second hearing, it's about Mr. Charles Doyle."
Hearing his name being called, Charles was surprised. He thought he was just there to watch the show or perhaps testify himself. He didn't even look at the content of the court summons, and now he was unexpectedly the main character.
Tony also looked at Charles in surprise but seemed to recall something when he saw General Ross entering.
"Mr. Charles Doyle, may I ask if Stark Industries is conducting research on the Super Soldier Serum."
Charles looked at the senator on the stage, frowned slightly, glanced at General Ross sitting on the side, and then spoke, "I haven't seen any research experiments or related financial expenditures on the Super Soldier Serum in the company's financial reports."
"Of course, I'm just a personal shareholder in the company. This kind of thing should be confirmed with the Chairman of Stark Industries, Mr. Stark, or the CEO, Pepper Potts."
Tony picked up the microphone in front of him and said, "Stark Industries Group is not conducting research on the Super Soldier Serum."
The senator did not pay attention to the words of the two. He then said, "General Ross, the military has several video clips. Could you please reveal them."
At this point, the staff below had already connected the power supply to the electronic screen. General Ross nodded and then asked his subordinates to play the video.
General Ross appeared at this hearing because SHIELD had not handed over the body of the Abomination to him for the past few days. To cover up the losses caused by himself, he shifted the Pentagon's attention to Charles.
After all, this was a more powerful individual than the Abomination, and unlike the previous Hulk and Abomination, this one was not uncontrollable or behaved like a headless fool.
This was a powerful individual with an unaltered mindset. Moreover, it wasn't just Charles who had undergone such changes.
If the military could control such power, it might not even need to be extended to the entire army. Even a small combat team could make other countries submit to the feet of the U.S. Army.
As the video played, the footage of Charles defeating the Abomination in battle was displayed. Unlike previous media releases, this video had undergone post-processing, making it clearer and more certain that the person in the fight was Charles Doyle.
The audience watched the video of Charles Doyle on the screen, comparing it with the person sitting in the hearing seat, finding it hard to believe the physical strength displayed because it was so strong.
"Mr. Charles Doyle, can you tell us if your extraordinary strength is the result of participating in secret experiments conducted by Stark Industries Group?"
"After all, Mr. Howard Stark, who played a part in creating Captain America with the enhanced serum, was involved."
"If your strength doesn't come from the serum researched by Stark Industries, could you tell us where it comes from?"
The senator's two questions struck at the core of the issue. Either your strength comes from the serum researched by Stark Industries, and if you admit to that, the military will try to get what they want from Stark Industries.
If not, then you have to clarify where your strength comes from.
"Please answer my question, Mr. Charles Doyle."
Charles wore a mocking smile on his face. "I am a shareholder of Stark Industries and do not represent Stark Industries."
"Stark Industries has not researched the Super Soldier Serum. On the contrary, other personnel's research on the Super Soldier Serum has caused quite a bit of trouble."
"Am I right, General Ross?"
Hearing Charles's words, the people present were in an uproar. Their eyes were shifting between Charles and General Ross.
General Ross's expression remained unchanged at this point, sitting on the hearing seat without uttering a word.
The senator on the stage spoke again, "Mr. Charles, you have not answered how you obtained such powerful strength."
At this point, Charles stood up and looked at the senator on the stage, saying, "I am not obliged to tell you how I gained this strength."
"But since you are so interested, I can tell you frankly."
"I have not undergone any serum injections. This strength is entirely obtained through my own cultivation."
The senator said, "I don't believe that so-called cultivation can achieve such power. I suspect you gained this strength through illegal experiments, injecting unapproved serums."
"If it is proven that you did not gain it this way, we need to give you a full-body test to determine that you have not undergone any experiments."
Hearing the senator's words, Charles understood. These people were waiting for him to submit to their tests. They wanted to draw blood and conduct experiments, and that could lead to serious problems like creating clones or duplicates.
"There is no law in any state that requires citizens to undergo your tests."
"Your suspicion cannot be the necessary factor for me to undergo an examination."
"Mr. Senator, I have reason to suspect that you are an alien with genetic mutations. Can you come to Charles Agency for a physical examination?"
Charles's words caused laughter in the audience.
"A citizen's property is sacred and inviolable."
"My strength, my body, are all my property. How can you violate my property?"
At this point, Tony, sitting on the side, also spoke, "This is just a joke."
"We at Stark Industries have not developed any serums. Even if we had, it's not something you can pry into."
"You don't have the right to demand that anyone undergo your body checks for no reason."
"Damn it, I participated in a meeting organized by a group of clowns. It's a waste of my time."
After finishing his words, Tony stood up and signaled Pepper Potts and others behind him to leave.
Seeing Tony getting up, Charles also stood up and said, "If you think I've violated any laws, you can bring the police and arrest warrant to find me."
"But don't use this kind of behavior that tests other people's intelligence. It makes me doubt whether the taxpayers' money has been wasted on idiots like you."
Having said that, Charles didn't stay any longer and left the scene of the hearing.
