Chapter Thirteen: Incomprehensible Patterns of Behavior

Tony Stark had considered the possibility. The mastermind behind his kidnapping might well be Harvey Amberlac. That would explain how Harvey Amberlac knew he had already created the Arc Reactor. Yet, according to Jarvis's collected intelligence, Harvey Amberlac led a life of indulgence—eating, drinking, and occasionally romancing women for a night of pleasure. Sometimes he would purchase lavish, expensive estates. He rarely left America; in fact, he spent ninety-five percent of his time within its borders. When he traveled, he usually drove himself, often speeding, and his driving skills seemed impressive.

From all appearances, Harvey Amberlac fit the profile of a young man who had struck it rich, believed he had endless time, and enjoyed roaming about, savoring life and food. He never appeared among the guests at Tony’s banquets or exhibitions. Thus, until today, this was their first encounter; Harvey Amberlac had neither opportunity nor reason to bear a grudge against him.

Most crucially, Tony's trip to Afghanistan had been shrouded in secrecy. It was, after all, a collaboration with the military to test his latest weapon, so only the military and his closest associates knew of his itinerary. This was why, after reviewing Harvey Amberlac’s entire history, Tony ultimately eliminated him as a suspect.

But thinking about those who knew his schedule, Tony’s eyes flickered with uncertainty. He still couldn’t figure out how Harvey Amberlac had learned of the Arc Reactor’s development. What he did know was that his most pressing task lay before him.

Tony Stark threw himself into researching a new Arc Reactor. Although he’d built one in Afghanistan, its design had been compromised by urgency and harsh conditions; it was ripe for improvement. Now, this device—like a light bulb—was a matter of life and death. Thus, Tony had no thought of sleep and began working through the night.

The following afternoon, Stark Industries’ stock price plummeted wildly overnight, losing more than thirty points—and that wasn’t the lowest point. The company’s market value evaporated by a third; countless investors suffered heavy losses. The news was awash with reports of Stark Industries’ “foolish decisions.” Many people condemned Tony Stark, demanding to know how he could be so reckless.

Once admired across New York as a playboy, Tony’s reputation collapsed in an instant, all because of one decision. Yet he paid no mind to any of it. After improving the Arc Reactor and having Pepper install it, Tony immediately headed to the Air Force base to meet Rhodey. The only people he could trust now were Pepper and Rhodey. But Tony’s hopes were dashed; Rhodey refused to cooperate. Left with no choice, Tony returned home and began secretly constructing the Mark II suit.

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Time flew by. In just eleven days, Tony succeeded in building and testing the Mark II, including a trial flight. Afterward, he had just settled on the color scheme for Mark III when Jarvis suddenly reported something unrelated to the Mark II.

“Sir, I’ve detected a significant new move by Harvey Amberlac. Would you like a report?”

For days, Tony had been focused on the Mark II, so his mind didn’t immediately register why Jarvis was bringing up Amberlac. In just a few seconds, he recalled his earlier instructions to Jarvis to keep a close watch on Harvey Amberlac.

“Go ahead—what has he done recently?” Tony asked, his euphoria from the successful test flight dampened as he became more concerned.

“During the day, Harvey Amberlac mortgaged more than half of his properties and land, raising $3.55 billion. He used it to purchase a large volume of Stark Industries shares. With his current holdings, although he doesn’t have decisive influence, Harvey Amberlac now fully qualifies to attend Stark Industries board meetings as an observer. He can listen in on the company’s future plans. He also now has free access to some of Stark Industries’ less confidential events.”

Jarvis explained. Tony listened, and though he had anticipated something like this, the reality of Harvey Amberlac’s actions shocked and perplexed him.

“What could possibly motivate him to do this?” Tony wondered. He was acutely aware that Stark Industries was still in turmoil; his decision had caused the stock to fall forty points. Many people had fled, and although Obadiah Stane and the board had managed to stabilize the stock, it would take a major move to return to its former glory.

Tony had an idea: to pivot the company toward the energy industry. If he could deploy the Arc Reactor effectively, it would rival the munitions business. But before he could execute this transformation, Harvey Amberlac had, as if foreseeing his intentions, invested massive sums in Stark Industries’ shares. It was as if Amberlac knew they would rebound.

Because the circumstances surrounding his kidnapping were still shrouded in suspicion, Tony intended to investigate further—to see if the true culprit was someone close to him. Thus, his plan to shift to energy was known only to himself; not even Pepper, his closest confidante, was aware. There was no possibility of a leak, so Tony could not comprehend Harvey Amberlac’s logic.

When Stark Industries was at its peak, admired by all, Harvey Amberlac quietly withdrew, making a fortune. Now, while the company was in decline and widely dismissed, Amberlac returned with even greater funds to buy up shares. Tony felt as if all his secrets had been laid bare to Harvey Amberlac, as though he could see right through him. The sensation left Tony restless and irritable.

At that moment, he caught sight of a news report covering Stark Industries’ annual charity gala, speculating whether he had suffered a concussion. “Did Harvey Amberlac attend the charity gala this time?” Tony asked.

“Harvey Amberlac received an invitation, but whether he actually attended is unclear, sir,” Jarvis replied apologetically after a brief pause.

“Finish the assembly for me, don’t wait up, darling,” Tony said, seeing he couldn’t get the information he wanted. After checking the time, he left immediately, driving out.