Norman had t his end, and with his downfall, the last bit of instability within LexCorp was finally gone.
The company, now firmly under Luthor’s control, wasted no ti in accelerating its expansion. Eventually, this led to a clash with another fast-growing tech giant—Von Doom Industries.
Luthor was far bolder than Reid had anticipated.
If it were up to Reid, LexCorp wouldn’t have touched the space industry for at least a few more years. Establishing dominance in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and military advancents should have co first, before diverting resources into space exploration.
But Luthor had no patience for slow, steady progress. Instead, he imdiately launched plans to send satellites into space and begin constructing a space station.
This, of course, required governnt approval, which inevitably led to a direct confrontation with Doom Industries.
Victor’s company had the sa goal—starting with communication satellites and gradually establishing a presence in outer space. However, only one company would receive the governnt’s authorization.
At a high-level governnt eting, Victor made his stance clear.
"It’s obvious that in both financial strength and technological capability, Von Doom Industries is superior," he declared with absolute confidence. "No matter how you analyze this, we are the better choice for this project.”
He smirked and turned to Luthor. "Besides, as far as I know, Mr. Luthor, you only recently took control of LexCorp. Didn’t you just get rid of your rival? Don’t be too hasty. It’s best to take things one step at a ti."
It was a deliberate taunt, ant to imply that LexCorp was still too unstable to handle a project of this magnitude.
Luthor wasn’t immune to irritation, but at the very least, he wouldn’t let his anger show so easily. Instead, he t Victor’s gaze and countered,
“At least I control LexCorp entirely. Every decision is mine to make and enforce. But you, Mr. von Doom—how much influence do you truly wield in your own company? This is a project that will cent Arica’s supremacy in space. Can such a monuntal endeavor really be entrusted to an organization whose leadership isn’t even unified?”
Victor’s smirk faded slightly.
Luthor struck directly at his biggest weakness—his shares.
Due to the influx of outside investors, Victor had long since lost absolute control of his company. If anything went wrong with the project, disagreents among the shareholders would make it impossible for him to push forward with full authority.
And a project of this scale was bound to face challenges. Internal conflicts at Doom Industries were inevitable.
Still, Victor wasn’t about to admit defeat. He adjusted his approach, shifting to polished corporate rhetoric, attempting to win over the governnt officials in attendance.
But to both Luthor and Reid, the outco was already set in stone.
LexCorp had made a na for itself with super soldier serum and advanced materials, securing a foothold in the industry while rapidly expanding into pharmaceuticals.
While Doom Industries had greater financial resources, LexCorp had an undeniable edge when it ca to governnt relations.
Whether under Reid’s direct control or Luthor’s leadership, LexCorp had never neglected its ties with the governnt.
With both companies possessing the technology needed for a space program, the final choice was obvious.
Reid, waiting outside the conference room, shook his head and walked away.
The decision was already made.
Now, the priority was to launch radar and signal satellites—to ensure that when Captain Marvel’s story unfolded, they wouldn’t be left in the dark.
…….
Ti passed slowly.
However, before 1995 arrived, another significant event took place.
Howard Stark, whose life had been artificially prolonged due to Reid’s interference, had finally reached his breaking point. Three years after Maria’s death, grief and age had worn him down. His body was failing.
Tony’s decision ca as no surprise to anyone familiar with the situation.
He chose to forgo further treatnt and took his father ho.
Tony understood better than anyone—after losing his wife and stepping away from Stark Industries, Howard no longer had the will to live.
There was no point in trying to prolong the inevitable.
Besides, Howard Stark, that old man, seed more eager to reunite with Maria in the afterlife than to stay in this world for his son’s sake.
As Tony’s friends, Gotham’s Alfred and New York’s Lex Luthor, along with Reid, who served as Luthor’s assistant, all visited Tony’s ho to bid farewell to one of the greatest scientists since World War II.
December 16, 1994.
Exactly three years after the Winter Soldier’s attack, Howard Stark took his final breath.
Tony spared no expense in arranging a grand funeral. The event was packed with influential figures from the scientific, political, and corporate worlds.
When the speaker began listing Howard’s achievents, he had to pause several tis, his throat dry from the sheer length of the list.
Only at the mont of Howard’s death did people finally realize just how much this famous playboy had accomplished.
It was only then that they rembered—the shield wielded by Captain Arica, the hero who defeated HYDRA, was crafted by this very man.
Nick Fury and Phil Coulson also attended the funeral under false identities.
At one point, they found an opportunity to approach Reid.
"Mr. Pennyworth, do you have a mont?"
"Gentlen, how can I help you?"
The mont Reid turned to them, he had already read their thoughts with telepathy.
‘So they finally couldn’t hold back anymore. They want to recruit into S.H.I.E.L.D.’
It was a trivial matter. He could brush them off without much effort.
His real attention was focused on Luthor and Tony’s conversation.
Tony, acting not on behalf of Stark Industries but as an individual, expressed his desire to join LexCorp’s space program.
‘Looks like with Howard’s death, the last chain binding Tony has been broken. That guy can’t wait even a second. All he’s thinking about is hunting down HYDRA and wiping them out.’
Reid silently took note of Tony’s shift in mindset.
‘If he’s already investigating HYDRA now, the tiline is bound to change.’
Things were accelerating faster than expected. Reid needed to keep a close watch—no matter how events unfolded, he had to ensure that he remained in control.
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