"This is the Arc Reactor—the most cutting-edge piece of technology Stark Industries has to offer."
After a full morning of touring the facility, even with a mobility scooter, Obadiah Stane was starting to feel the strain. He was regretting the decision to handle this personally. He could have easily sent an assistant. Instead, here he was, dragging himself around the facility and feeling utterly drained.
"So," he asked, raising a tired eyebrow, "do you want to touch it?"
Over the course of the morning, Obadiah had picked up on a particular habit of Ethan Chen's: whenever he saw an advanced piece of technology, he just had to touch it. He didn't necessarily inspect it in detail or try to take anything apart—he simply had to make physical contact. Like it was an obsession.
Obadiah found it odd and, frankly, a little annoying. He couldn't help but wonder: Did I choose the wrong guy for this job? Maybe someone more polished would've been a better fit to promote Jarvis in China.
Truth be told, picking Ethan had been mostly circumstantial. Ethan happened to approach him right as Obadiah was forming this new plan, and he had also butted heads with Justin Hammer just the day before, which earned him points in Obadiah's book. Plus, Ethan seemed to have legitimate connections back home, and his background was solid enough to trust.
"Of course!" Ethan replied eagerly.
His eyes sparkled with excitement as he gazed at the towering Arc Reactor.
Now this is what I came for!
This wasn't just any power source—it was essentially a miniature nuclear reactor, the very same kind Tony Stark had embedded in his chest. It could generate a massive amount of energy and was essential for powering Stark's Iron Man suits.
The version in front of them, however, was the large-scale prototype. Way too big to fit inside any kind of armor, but still immensely valuable in its own right. With the right knowledge, Ethan knew it could revolutionize clean energy or power entire cities.
Mastering this tech wouldn't just elevate him—it would put him in a position to dominate the global energy sector.
"Ugh, whatever…"
Obadiah rolled his eyes and gestured dismissively. He felt like a babysitter. This guy's like a kid in a candy store, he thought.
Scanning... 98%, 99%, 100%!
As Ethan subtly used his secret tech to analyze the reactor's design and mechanics, he could barely contain his excitement. From Obadiah's perspective, it looked like Ethan had completely zoned out the moment he touched it.
Seriously? Is Chinese tech really so far behind that this guy can't keep it together in front of anything high-tech?
It was embarrassing—at least from Obadiah's limited point of view.
What he didn't realize was that Ethan's excitement wasn't born from ignorance—it was pure triumph. Obadiah had just unknowingly handed over one of the most advanced technologies in the world. Anyone would be thrilled to get their hands on that level of innovation.
"Well, that's pretty much the whole tour," Obadiah said, glancing at his watch. "I just got word that Tony's back in the States. His plane landed not long ago, and he'll be at the industrial park shortly. Come with me—I'll introduce you. You can discuss the next steps with him directly."
What Obadiah didn't know yet was that Tony's first move upon returning would be to shut down Stark Industries' weapons division—its biggest revenue stream.
"I'd be honored," Ethan replied, snapping out of his trance. He had just finished analyzing the Arc Reactor and wasn't as interested in seeing the physical machine anymore.
"Tony Stark has been my idol for years. He's practically a legend back in China."
Obadiah forced a laugh. "Oh, is that so?"
His expression tightened. That "idol" comment hit a nerve.
Tony had been a thorn in his side for a long time. Obadiah had even tried to have him killed by the Ten Rings terrorist group, but the plan failed spectacularly. Hearing Ethan sing Tony's praises only fueled his frustration.
"Well, let's get going. For some reason, Tony decided he wants to hold a press conference. The second the reporters caught wind of it, they swarmed the front gates."
Obadiah's tone was clearly bitter. Tony always had a flair for the dramatic. Survives a kidnapping and comes back with a press conference? Please.
"Maybe he has something important to announce," Ethan offered with a shrug.
He already knew exactly what Tony was planning. After realizing that Stark Industries' weapons were being used by terrorists to kill innocent people, Tony had been shaken to the core. The press conference would be his way of announcing the shutdown of the weapons program.
"Maybe," Obadiah said coldly, not bothering to hide his contempt. He wheeled off in his scooter, and Ethan walked alongside him, eager to finally meet the iconic Iron Man in person.
The scooter zipped along at a decent pace. Soon, they arrived at the main gate of Stark Industries, where a crowd of reporters was already camped out. The moment Obadiah appeared, cameras began flashing in a frenzy.
"Mr. Stane, can you confirm whether Tony Stark was kidnapped?"
"Was he rescued by the U.S. military, or did Stark Industries pay a ransom?"
"Who's the gentleman standing next to you? Is he your new business partner?"
As reporters fired off questions left and right, Ethan found himself shrinking behind Obadiah, feeling slightly awkward.
If this is what it's like to be famous, count me out, he thought. What a nightmare.
"Everyone, I appreciate your concern for Tony," Obadiah said, trying to maintain composure. "He'll be here shortly, and I'm sure he'll answer all your questions himself. As for me, I don't know many details about what happened during his abduction."
Of course, Ethan knew the truth. You orchestrated the whole thing, he thought silently.
"And this gentleman here is Mr. Ethan Chen, from China…" Obadiah began, but he was cut off.
"There he is—Tony's back!"
A caravan of sleek black cars pulled into view. All the reporters instantly forgot about Obadiah and rushed toward the approaching vehicles, their attention fully diverted. Cameras flashed, microphones were raised, and Obadiah was left standing alone, visibly annoyed.
In that moment, Ethan saw the jealousy written all over Obadiah's face.
It was crystal clear now why Obadiah wanted Tony out of the picture. Tony was a spotlight magnet—no matter where he went, he stole the show. And standing next to him, everyone else faded into the background.
That kind of resentment doesn't just build overnight. For a proud, calculating man like Obadiah Stane, it was intolerable.
No wonder he wanted Tony dead.