"Could it be that Ivan Vanko and Hammer Industries are cooperating?"
Nick Fury, the head of intelligence, thought of some crucial things.
Anton Vanko was destitute, and his son, Ivan Vanko, probably wasn't doing very well either. Even if Ivan Vanko wanted to kill Iron Man, he was probably more than willing but lacking the ability.
But if there was a powerful backer supporting him, then it wouldn't be a problem.
Hammer Industries perfectly fit this hypothesis in every aspect: they had money, and they were old rivals of Iron Man. It was perfectly reasonable for them to support Ivan Vanko in targeting Iron Man.
"Ladies and gentlemen, for too long, our country has sent brave men and women to risk their lives in battle."
"Then, Iron Man appeared, and we thought we wouldn't lose any more lives, but Stark refused to make this advanced technology public."
"This is unfair, more than wrong, and a great pity! But it's still an amazing invention!"
...On the high stage.
Justin Hammer, after his awkward dance, gave a lengthy speech, undoubtedly, routinely criticizing Stark.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today I will introduce to you the new face of the American military, the Hammer Industries Iron Soldier!"
After criticizing Stark, Justin Hammer concluded with an enthusiastic announcement.
"Hammer Industries Iron Soldier?"
Iron Man was stunned for a moment, then showed a look of disdain.
Full of contempt, "Justin Hammer must be bluffing. If Hammer Industries can make Iron Soldiers, then pigs can fly!"
Although Nick Fury wasn't as certain as Iron Man, he was actually highly skeptical.
After all, the Iron Man suit was indeed technology far ahead of its time. Given Iron Man's refusal to share the technology, the possibility of others developing it was indeed small.
Especially Hammer Industries, Nick Fury also had some understanding. Without saying anything else, their S.H.I.E.L.D. never used weapons produced by Hammer Industries.
This alone was enough to explain the problem.
However, very quickly, both Iron Man and Nick Fury were proven wrong. Under Justin Hammer's announcement, Iron Man suits actually appeared on the exhibition stage.
And it wasn't just one or two; they appeared in rows!
A row of Iron Man suits for the Army, a row for the Air Force, a row for the Navy, a row of amphibious Iron Man suits... Iron Man and Nick Fury were both stunned.
"These Iron Man suits must be useless toys that only look good! Justin Hammer is using them to trick people!" Iron Man said with great certainty.
"Stark, don't forget Ivan Vanko!" Nick Fury reminded him from the side.
"Are you saying that Ivan Vanko helped this man create these suits?" Captain America's mind was very sharp, and he instantly grasped the key point Nick Fury wanted to convey.
Ivan Vanko's father was Howard Stark's partner and together they invented the Arc Reactor. He was clearly an outstanding scientist.
He was also a scientist very familiar with the Arc Reactor.
It was logically plausible that his son could create Iron Man suits.
"Could it be that Ivan Vanko created some kind of unscrupulous suit?" Iron Man suddenly muttered.
Through the questions, they knew that Ivan Vanko must have mastered a very terrifying power, so much so that even Iron Man couldn't deal with it.
They had been very curious about that power before, but now it seemed that power was probably also an Iron Man suit.
"Ladies and gentlemen, next I have the honor to introduce the first prototype, the Comprehensive Threat Response Combat Armor, and its first pilot, Air Force Colonel James Rhodes."
Justin Hammer's voice continued to ring out.
Following his grand introduction, another Iron Man suit, clearly of a different style, slowly appeared on the stage.
"Oh! Who modified my suit into this monstrosity?" Iron Man couldn't help but rub his forehead.
He naturally recognized at a glance that the Iron Man suit on Rhodes was essentially his own suit with some weapons crudely installed, nothing more.
The suit Rhodes was wearing was currently safely stored in Stark Tower.
It seemed Iron Man's earlier guess was correct; he did indeed give Rhodes a suit in the future.
"Hammer Industries!"
Following that, Iron Man had an exasperated expression. Such clumsy methods could only be done by Hammer Industries.
Moreover, Hammer Industries had always maintained close cooperation with the military; it couldn't be anyone else.
"Hammer Industries, reporting to America and its allies…"
On stage, Justin Hammer was in high spirits, but suddenly, an unexpected change occurred.
As he spoke, Iron Man suddenly flew onto the stage wearing his Iron Man suit.
From the looks of it, he seemed to be there to disrupt the event.
And the moment Iron Man appeared, the exhibition hall erupted in a clamor of cheers, like gongs and drums, and countless people stood up to applaud.
This showed how popular Iron Man was.
"Is this what weapons are like in this era?"
Captain America watched, dumbfounded. He hadn't felt anything when he saw Hammer Industries' suits; they were just clunky iron lumps.
They were equivalent to humanoid tanks.
But now, Iron Man suits could even fly?
And the Iron Man suit was immeasurably smaller than a fighter jet, and immeasurably more flexible, capable of doing many things that fighter jets could not.
This kind of weapon was too terrifying.
As someone who had just woken up, with his memories still in the World War II era, Captain America's worldview almost shattered.
"First, this is not a weapon! Second, it is not technology of this era, but something I alone possess!"
Iron Man said with a smug look.
"We've got trouble!"
On the screen, Iron Man walked directly towards Rhodes.
"Tony, there are civilians here, and I'm just following orders, we shouldn't fight here!" Rhodes said anxiously to Iron Man.
He was Iron Man's good friend, and he was standing with Hammer Industries even though he knew Iron Man and Hammer Industries were at odds.
Iron Man had every right to be angry.
"Everyone is in danger, we have to save them!" Iron Man, however, didn't have time to explain much to Rhodes, but stated directly, "You have to trust me now."
"I tried, but you beat me badly at your house."
"Listen, I think he's working with Vanko!" Iron Man said again.
This could be considered confirmation. All their previous guesses were correct: Hammer Industries had indeed cooperated with Ivan Vanko to create these Iron Man suits.
And from Iron Man's words on the screen, it was not difficult to deduce that Ivan Vanko must be brewing some kind of conspiracy.
Iron Man had precisely detected that conspiracy and had come to prevent it from happening.