He laughed so hard he almost fell over, pointing at William.
"Kid, you've got guts, I admire your courage, but don't you think this joke is a bit too much?"
Pepper couldn't help but smile, but a hint of wariness entered her eyes: "Mr. Rodriguez, I think you might be mistaken.
Stark Industries has the World's top risk management department and legal team, we don't need—"
"Excuse me,"
William calmly interrupted her.
"Did anyone in your top risk management department foresee that Mr. Stark would be kidnapped by Terrorists in Afghanistan and nearly lose his life?"
Pepper's smile instantly froze on her face.
William's gaze shifted to Tony, continuing to press.
"Did anyone foresee that he would have a miniature nuclear reactor installed in his chest to sustain his life?
Did anyone foresee that he would so resolutely, so suddenly announce the closure of the entire weapons division today, shocking the entire World?"
Tony stopped smiling, his eyes becoming as sharp as an eagle's:
"How do you know about the Arc Reactor?"
His voice grew cold, carrying a subtle hint of wariness.
"My job is to assess all potential risks, Mr. Stark, especially those that others cannot see."
William said with an air of nonchalance.
As if stating a fact.
"The unnatural bulge beneath your clothing on your chest, the subtle shift in your center of gravity when you walk.
And your actions at the press conference.
And just now.
The subtle, subconscious gesture of pressing your hand to your chest… all of these point to one conclusion.
You are relying on a powerful energy source to sustain your life.
But this energy source itself.
Also exposes you to immense, unique risks at all times."
Seven parts of these words were based on his familiarity with the plot from before his transmigration—a cheat from his "golden finger."
Only three parts were from the so-called observational deduction he had learned in a hurry.
But the effect was clearly surprisingly good.
Tony's expression became completely serious, a hint of astonishment flashing in his eyes.
"What do you want?"
Tony asked in a deep voice, leaning slightly forward like a beast poised to strike.
"I want to offer you, and some of your future 'special creations,' a unique insurance service."
William took a deep breath and solemnly pulled a document from his briefcase.
"This is not insurance in the traditional sense, Mr. Stark."
William handed the document to Pepper.
"I call it—a comprehensive risk management and protection plan tailored for your unique situation."
Pepper took the contract, looked suspiciously at the cover, and then handed it to her boss.
Tony quickly flipped through it, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter, finally stopping on a page and letting out a scoff:
"'Superhero Special Protection Plan'?
What the hell is this?
Read too many comic books?"
"You see, ordinary people buy insurance to cover conventional risks like accidental injury, illness, and property loss."
William began to unleash his professional spiel, which he had memorized perfectly, combining it with his current "inspiration."
"But for someone like you, who is at the forefront of the era, and may even soon 'lead' a whole new era.
The risks faced are completely different.
And they are not covered by the existing insurance system.
For example… what if the Arc Reactor malfunctions, or the problem of palladium poisoning cannot be resolved?
What if this revolutionary technology attracts countless covetous eyes, and someone wants to steal it at all costs?
What if certain forces, in the name of national security, want to forcibly requisition your core technology, or even place you under their control.
What then?"
With each question, Tony's face grew a shade darker.
His eyes also became increasingly profound.
These were precisely the hidden worries he had pondered repeatedly in the dead of night since returning from Afghanistan, yet found no answers to.
"More importantly,"
William lowered his voice, like the whisper of a devil, yet with a fatal allure.
"If you decide to use this technology, and your genius mind, to create some… well, unconventional, 'special equipment' capable of upholding justice,
For example, a personal armor that allows you to soar through the sky… have you considered the immeasurable risks involved?
Technological malfunction, identity exposure, legal disputes, and the furious backlash from dark forces?"
Tony's pupils suddenly constricted, his knuckles gripping the contract turning slightly White: "Who… exactly are you?"
He practically squeezed the words through his teeth, feeling completely seen through for the first time.
"I am William Rodriguez, a professional insurance planner, Mr. Stark."
William shrugged, revealing a profound smile.
"My job is to foresee risks that ordinary people cannot foresee, and to provide unique protection for them.
I don't sell insurance, I sell the future."
Pepper listened, dumbfounded, her face full of confusion: "Tony, what is he talking about? This is absurd!"
Tony didn't answer Pepper; he just stared intently at William.
His gaze was complex and unreadable.
A few seconds later, he suddenly pulled out his phone.
"Jarvis,"
"Search all background information on this William Rodriguez for me, immediately, everything!"
William's heart instantly felt as if it had been clutched by an invisible hand.
Then it violently skipped a beat!
Damn it!
He had only been thinking about how to bluff.
How to showcase his "precognitive" abilities.
But he had forgotten that Tony Stark, this tech fanatic, always had an omnipotent AI butler by his side!
This was going to go horribly wrong!
Cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.
"Retrieving data, sir."
Jarvis's distinctive British accent clearly emanated from the phone.
"William Rodriguez, 25 years old, a local resident of Queens, New York."
William felt his cheeks start to burn.
"Began working in insurance sales three years ago after earning an associate's degree in marketing through remote courses from a community college.
Performance record… quite mediocre."
"Current address is a single-room apartment in Hollis, Queens, with a monthly rent of U.S. 160 dollars.
Credit score is D-.
Multiple small loan delinquencies.
Total debt approximately U.S. 15,872 dollars."
"No record of a fixed office location."
Jarvis continued to report mercilessly.
"Primarily conducts business by making cold calls from public phone booths and through door-to-door sales.
In the past three months, the number of successful contracts signed is… Zero.
Current balance in personal bank account is U.S. 442 dollars and 37 cents."
The conference room fell into suffocating silence.
William felt his face was hot enough to fry an egg.
Every hair on his body stood on end, wishing the ground would split open immediately and swallow him whole.
This was a real-life public execution.
A scene of social death.
Without a shred of mercy.
Tony put down his phone, a playful, deeply sarcastic smirk playing on his lips, and leisurely scrutinized William up and down, as if looking at a clown:
"So,
An insurance salesman who can't even pay his rent next month.
With Zero sales.
And heavily in debt.
Wants to provide unique risk management services for Tony Stark, who is worth tens of billions?"