disc/q5KWmtQARF

  Join my Discord!

  Grinning, Tony Stark said, "I am the Iron Man," raising his arms triumphantly into the air. The press, army officials, and even his own sultaed in chaos. The bright camera fshes captured Tony’s smug expression, relishing the collective shock.

  Donald quickly muted the s as the reporters' frantic questions began to overp. He leaned back, gng at Nero, who seemed to be the only one in the room who remained calm, a small smile pying on his lips.

  Nero’s predis had been spot-on, as usual. Even though he had warhem about this twist—thanks to those otherworldly memories—the actual moment still carried a jolt of disbelief.

  "Well, that erformance," Diego remarked with a smirk, his voice rid smooth as ever. His eyes sparkled with mischief, the perfect blend of admiration and mockery.

  Nero gazed at Diego with calm iy, waiting for his report. "How are the shares?"

  Diego leaned ba his chair, a fident grin spreading across his face. "We pyed it perfectly, Nero. Just as you suggested, we bought when Stark vanished for that week. Once he returned from Afghanistan, the stocks skyrocketed, and we cashed in. When he annouhe end of on sales, they plummeted again. We swooped in and bought more."

  He paused, letting the gravity of their moves sink in. "And after today's performahey'll rise again, just as you predicted. We’re sitting on a mountain of profit. Your timing was impeccable."

  Nero nodded, satisfied. "Good. But don't get too fortable. Stark's uability be an asset, but it also be a liability. We o stay ahead of the game."

  Diego chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "With you steering the ship, Nero, I doubt we'll ever lose sight of the horizon. Besides, you always seem to have a pn for every twist and turn."

  Nero allowed a small smile to form as Maria broke the brief silence. "Well, this is definitely going to shake things up. Erwin just messaged me—Nick Fury wao see him yesterday m. It seems Erwin's tinued success has caught Fury's attention. He offered to join Real SHIELD."

  Nero chuckled softly, "Faster than I'd pnned, but not bad. I had hoped to introduce Erwin to the top of SHIELD once a god appeared, but it seems he's already outpag my timeline."

  He gnced over at Donald, who met his gaze with a questioning look. The glint in Nero's eyes hi something, but Donald couldn't quite decipher what it meant.

  From the side, Anthony spoke up, uo move as Sofia perched on his p, "I still don’t get why we ’t tap more funds from Warren. He agreed to help us, right? We could’ve grabbed even more shares."

  Nero smiled, but it was Nigel who answered instead. "Iock market, rge sums of money draw attention, especially from the wealthy. If Warren made a signifit move, others would cat to the rise of Stark Industries. They'd either lock down the market to prevent a drastic shift or make massive transas of their own to disrupt prices. With the boss's fht, we were already ahead of them. More money isn't always the solution."

  Anthony's eyes widened with uanding as Nigel finished. “Well, whatever. We made a big buck." He leaned back, satisfied, but Nero’s attention had already shifted.

  “Sofia,” Nero began, his voice taking on a softer, almost indulgent tone as he addressed her. "How are the user numbers looking for Squeak, Faote, and Instaroll?" These were ptforms inspired by his otherworldly insights, and their progress was crucial.

  Sofia, who had been fortably settled on Anthony’s p, straightened up slightly. “Well, Squeak’s been climbing steadily,” Sofia started, her tone light but carrying the weight of the information. “We’re seeing a signifit upti daily active users—close to 20% over the st quarter. Faote is also growing, but at a slower pace, around 10%. Instaroll, though... that’s where the real magic is happening. User e is through the roof, especially with the new features we rolled out. We’re talking a 30% increase, easy.”

  “You know, I had a feeling Squeak would be the frontrunner. It’s got that… addictive quality. People just ’t resist those short bursts of tent.” Nero leaned in slightly, his expression one of i, but not surprise. “And what about the petition? Are we seeing any pushback?”

  Sofia’s fingers drummed lightly on the armrest, her eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement and pride. “We’ve been trag it closely. They’ve tried to mimie of our features, but they’re gging behind. Instaroll’s user interfad the iion with Squeak are setting us apart. They ’t keep up.”

  Diego, who had been quietly , couldn’t help but interject, a sly grin tugging at his lips. “Sounds like we’re making waves, Nero. You know, I could always... ence a few key influeo start talking about our ptforms more. Nothing too obvious, just a little nudge.”

  Nero chuckled softly, appreciating Diego’s knack for subtlety. “I’ll leave that to your discretion, Diego. Just keep it uhe radar. We don’t want to raise any red fgs, not yet.”

  Sofia gave Diego a knowing look, her voice teasing. “As if you needed any encement to flex your influence.”

  Diego raised an eyebrow, feigning innoce. “Who, me? I’m just a humble man trying to spread the word.”

  Nero shook his head, a small smile pying on his lips. “Humble, indeed. Just remember, we’re pying the long game here. No sudden moves.”

  Nigel's voice cut through the room, bringing the versation back to the topic at hand. "Now that Iron Man's public, it won't be long before we see the Hulk in a too."

  Nero nodded, his expression unreadable. "Lara and Sofia have been monit General Ross closely. We have enough leverage to send Ross spiraling into oblivion."

  Sofia affirmed Nero's statement with a brief nod. Maria, perched fortably on the arm of Nero’s sofa, ed her arms around his ned leaned in. "Why wait for them to turn poor Banner into the Hulk? We aht?"

  Nero's eyes softened as he turned his gaze to Maria, the hint of a smile toug his lips. "We could, but some events are too pivotal to alter. Sure, I intervene where it bes us, but preventing the Hulk from ever ing iehat might provoke forces we're not ready to fro."

  Diego leaned ba his chair and g Nero with a knowing grin. "So, we’re biding our time, then? Waiting for the perfeent to strike. Sounds like a good strategy to me."

  Soon, the unmistakable whir of chopper bdes filled the air, the sound growing louder as it approached. Moments ter, the sleek bck helicopter desded gracefully, stirring up dust and loose leaves as it nded oate’s helipad. Warren Worthington III stepped out, exuding fiden his tailored suit, his angeligs foldily behind him. With stron strides, he made his way toward the office. As he stepped in, his gaze swept the room, quickly nding oed television s that still showed the chaos from Tony Stark’s annou.

  "So you’re already aware of it," Warren remarked as he approached the group. His tone was casual, but his eyes reflected a deeper calcution.

  Nero rose to greet him, a grin pulling at the ers of his lips. "You didn’t fly all the way from New York just to tell us to turn oV, did you?" Nero’s handshake was firm, though his words held a pyful edge.

  Diego chimed in with a mog shake of his head. "Just because you’re rich doesn’t mean you use your helicopter to deliver messages, Warren."

  Rolling his eyes, Warren took a seat with the rest of the group. "Well, when your portfolio sees a spike like mine did, you afford a little indulgence." He then owards TV, "I’m here to thank you. Your insights proved invaluable. I was able to buy up stocks just before Stark made his debut."

  Anthony, who had been silent up until now, frowned in fusion, scratg his head as he g Nigel. "Wait, didn’t you just say we couldn’t tell the rich? So how did Warren find out?"

  Donald almost spped his forehead. Anthony could be simple sometimes, missing the subtlety of the situation. Nero, ever the patient oh his inner circle, gave a small smile as if Anthony’s ent hadn’t disrupted the flow of the versation. "We did keep it from them, Anthony," he began, his tone casual, almost pyful, "but after we secured our shares, leaking the information to a select few worked to our advantage. Warren was already aware that we had this knowledge tucked away for a while. He’s a smart man—I doubt he’d mind us pying the game."

  Warren, leaning ba his chair, chuckled softly. "Not at all. In fact, I appreciate the heads-up, even if it was after the fact. Timing is everything, and you’ve got a knack for it, Nero."

  Nero offered a slight nod, the versation seemingly trivial to him now. "Exactly. The key is not in avoiding the attention of the wealthy but in knowing when to draw them in. Timing is everything."

  Sofia, who had been listening quietly, finally chimed in, her voice carrying a casual, almost teasing tone. "And here I thought I was the one who mastered timing, sidering our ptform unches." She exged a pyful gh Nero, who smirked back.

  "Your timing is impressive, Sofia. But in this game, it’s all about yering strategies. Stocks, social media, politics—they’re just different threads in the same tapestry," Nero replied, his tone as light as hers but with an underlying current of seriousness.

  Nigel leaned back, his analytical gaze sweeping the room. "A tapestry indeed. And Stark just wove himself into the se, whether he realizes it or not. The moves we make now will set the tone for the few months."

  Diego g Nigel and then back to Nero, a sly grin f on his lips. "So, what’s the step, boss? I assume you’ve got something cooking already."

  Nero nodded, his gaze steady as he replied, "Stark's moves will rattle the shareholders, and they'll react soon."

  Warren leaned back, his expression ptive. "Obadiah Stane?"

  Nero was surprised. Warren's sharpness had always been impressive, but pinpointing Obadiah Stane from just a few hints showed a keen insight. He nodded, choosing his words carefully. "Yes, Obadiah will likely challeark. His influen Stark Industries 't be uimated."

  Warren, unaware of Nero's otherworldly knowledge, wouldn't be privy to the full extent of Nero's fht. It was better to keep things subtle. Warren leaned back, processing the information, but it wasn’t long before his curiosity got the best of him. "So, is Neogenes getting involved with this one?"

  Nero shook his head, his tone calm yet firm. "No, not this time. This is something I’ll handle personally. But you will act soon enough. General Ross is stirring up trouble. Once I have the details, you'll be the first to know."

  The versation moved on quickly, no one lingering too long oopi a room like this, with minds like theirs, the gears were always turning, eyes always set on the move.

  Soon, the unmistakable sound of helicopter bdes once again filled the air, prompting the group to g the window. Two choppers in one day? That was ued. Warren, who was still standing, chuckled as he looked outside.

  "My ride's here," he announced casually, elig a fused look from Anthony.

  "Didn’t you just arrive with one?" Anthony asked, bewildered.

  Warren fshed a grin, clearly enjoying the moment. "The first one was a gift for your boss, a little token of appreciation for the insights he’s shared. This one is my ride bae."

  Nero stood up, extending his hand. "I’ll gdly accept yift, Warren."

  Warren nodded, shook Nero’s hand firmly, and then made his way out. As the door closed behind him, Maria let out a soft sigh, her gaze lingering on the closed door. "He’s sharp, that one."

  Nero houghtfully, his mind repying the earlier versation. Warren’s question about Obadiah had been more than just curiosity; it was a test. Warren was well aware of Obadiah's schemes—his reach extended far beyond what most knew. He’d been probing, seeing if Nero would divulge any more than necessary. But of course, revealing the true source of Nero's fht was out of the question.

  Nero settled bato his chair, the room falling into a ptive silehe group exged gnces, each lost ihoughts about the intricacies of the game they were pying. In this world of power pys as, trust was a luxury, and information was the most valuable currency.

  Sofia stretched zily as she slid off Anthony’s p, a mischievous yawn esg her lips. "This serious mood irritates me," she muttered, her tone light but with a hint of genuine annoyance. She knew how to break the tension, and as expected, her ent did just that.

  Anthony also got up, trying to stretch out his leg, which had fallen asleep under Sofia's weight. He hesitated at first, enjoying the warmth of her presence, relut to move her—like a cat that had cimed his p. But now that she was gone, he let out a deep sigh of relief, the pins and needles sensation spreading through his leg as he worked to shake it off.

  The room, ohick with the iy of their discussion, began to lighten up. Laughter and teasing remarks filled the air as the group allowed themselves a moment of rexation. Donald, usually the more reserved and focused one, couldn't help but chuckle at the sudden shift in energy.

  Diego leaned ba his chair, grinning at Sofia. "You sure know how to kill a mood, don’t you?" he teased, though the twinkle in his eye made it clear he was anything but upset.

  Sofia raised a finger, shaking it pyfully. "It’s called Resurre, Diego. Repeat after me—Re-sur-rec-tion. The mood was dead before I brought it back to life."

  Diego rolled his eyes with a mock sigh. "Fine, I was getting bored of it anyway."

  Nero, already on his feet, scooped Maria off hers in one smooth motion, pnting a kiss on her cheek. "Sofia’s right. Sitting rigidly, scheming and talking about dark subjects—terrible for the mood. I hate it too, but as your awesome boss, I put up with it for you guys."

  The group collectively groaned, rolling their eyes in unison, even Nigel, who usually kept his reas subtle. "Narcissist," they all muttered in perfect synization.

  Feigning a dramatic expression of hurt, Nero clutched his chest. "Et tu, Nigel?"

  Nigel chuckled, a rare sound from him. "Capo, you keep that up, and you might end up like Caesar—betrayed by everyone if you copy his narcissism."

  Nered with a grin, clearly unbothered. "Well, I doubt Caesar had a chopper. So, who’s up for a ride?"

  The group exged amused ghe earlier tension dissolving as quickly as it had e. Anthony, still stretg his leg after Sofia’s weight left it numb, cracked a grin. "Depends, are you flying, or do we actually have a ce of surviving?"

  Laughter rippled through the room, lighthearted and genuine, as they all began to rex. Nero cpped his hands together, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Well, if you’re all done doubting my fantastic flying skills, let’s make it a race. Last oo the chopper buys dinner."

  Before anyone could protest, Nero was already heading for the door, Maria still in his arms, ughing as she g to him. The rest of the group quickly scrambled after him, their petitive sides ignited.

  As they filed out, Diego lingered behind for a moment, watg the se with a fond smile. His gaze shifted to Sofia, who had paused as well, her eyes sparkling with the same mischievous energy.

  Sofia grinned, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she observed the others. "Seems like we're the only two smart ones here," she quipped, casting a sideways g Diego. He nodded in agreement, a sly smile pying on his lips as he cracked open the window.

  "I’d say we’ve earned a head start." Diego’s tone was light, and with a smooth gesture, he activated his ring, lifting off the ground. Sofia followed suit, her ast effortless, the air around her shimmering with the energy of her abilities. They glided out the window, their pace casual as they soared towards the chopper.

  As they he helipad, Sofia caught sight of Donald already standih the chopper, his figure outlined by the powerful lights. He was twirling his e idly, a knowing smile tugging at the er of his lips. "Only you two?" Donald’s voice cut through the noise of the winds, ced with amusement. He tilted his head, eyes glinting mischievously. "I doubt it."

  Sofia nded lightly beside him, brushing a stray hair from her face. "You should’ve warned us, Donald," she teased. "Or did you pn to make a grarance?"

  Donald chuckled, his gaze drifting back towards the mansion. "Something like that," he admitted, spinning his e o time before catg it smoothly. "But don’t get too fortable. You know they’re not far behind."

  As if ohe distant sound of hurried footsteps reached their ears. Sofia smirked, leaning casually against the side of the chopper. "Here they e. Let’s see who’s buying dionight."

  Diego ughed, a rich, warm sound that blended with the whir of the helicopter. "My money’s on Anthony. Others are too petitive to lose a race."

  Donald’s eyes twinkled with humor as he gave a mock salute. "Well, I guess we’ll see soon enough." He gnced back at the approag group, his smile widening. "And if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll eve a det meal out of it."

  Sofia gnced over at Nero, who was already several steps ahead of the others, leading the charge with his usual fidence. "Where's Nigel?" she asked, her tone casual but with a hint of curiosity. "I wasn’t expeg him to join in on the race, but I didn’t see him ba the office either."

  Before anyone could respond, a voice drifted down from above, smooth and calm as always. "You called, Miss Sofia?" Nigel's voice carried effortlessly through the air, causing Sofia to jerk her head upward in surprise. Perched atop the chopper, Nigel sat with a serene expression, as if he had been there all along.

  Sofia blinked, her surprise quickly turning into amusement. "Et tu, Nigel? When did you eve here?" she called up to him, her voice ced with mock disbelief.

  Donald, who had been watg the exge with a knowing grin, chuckled softly. "He beat me here. Seems like Nigel’s always oep ahead." His tone carried an air of amused aowledgment, as if Nigel's uability was something he'd long accepted.

  Nero, still holding Maria, had just arrived, a pyful smile tugging at the er of his lips. "Well, Nigel always had a way of blending in. I’m more surprised you didn’t notice sooner, Sofia."

  Sofia folded her arms, feigning a pout. "I was distracted, okay? Not all of us be as sneaky as you two."

  Nigel, now visible as he climbed down from the chopper, shrugged with an amused smirk. "I sider it a pliment, Sofia. If you didn’t notice, then I’m still doing my jht."

  Maria, still fortably in Nero’s arms, ughed softly. "Let’s just agree Nigel is the master of surprises. Now, are we getting on this thing or what?"

  Sofia nodded, a grin f on her face. "Let’s go. I’m starving, and I’m pretty sure Anthony owes us all dinner after this."

  Anthony, arriving st and panting, grumbled as he joihe group. "You all cheated! Nero was already running before he even called the race, Donald and Nigel—I have no clue how they got here so fast, and Diego and Sofia, you used ys. It’s not fair."

  Maria grinned mischievously. "And what about me?"

  Anthony shot her an exasperated look. "You didn’t do anything—you just let Nero carry you!"

  The group erupted in ughter, and Sofia, never oo let an opportunity pass, teased him mercilessly. "Lose is lose, babe. Stop whining and pay up."

  Anthony muttered under his breath, "Fine, fine," accepting his fate. They all piled into the chopper, ready to head out for a well-earned meal.

  --

  Please rate and review! Much appreciated! Leave a ent, tell me what you think!

  To Read up to 50 advance Chapters (25 for eaovel) and support me...

  patreon./thefanficgod1

  Please drop a ent and like the chapter!