Marvel: A Lazy-Ass Superman Chapter 691: People with Their Own Agendas

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Whether intentionally seeking attention or not, Tony Stark had long since learned how to ignore reporters.

When your mere presence automatically became a news story, tuning out journalists was practically a survival skill.

So when Commissioner George Stacy subtly suggested that perhaps Tony shouldn't be there, Tony replied without the slightest politeness:

"The equipment Stark Industries brought hasn't even been fully integrated yet. Quite a bit of it still has issues that need to be worked out.

"I have to solve those problems personally.

"If I don't show up, by the time the people you're counting on finish calibrating everything, those two skyscrapers will probably have been rebuilt already.

"So do I really have a choice?"

As far as Tony Stark was concerned, that much courtesy toward a mere city police commissioner was already generous.

He walked over to the disheveled, heavily bearded man nearby and asked:

"You've been talking nonstop about air contamination. Why aren't you wearing a respirator? Were you bullshitting me?"

Henry glanced at the custom-made respirator covering half of Tony's face.

While chewing food, he answered vaguely:

"Too much beard. The seal doesn't fit properly.

"So I gave mine to someone else.

"I've been wearing a mask. Just not while I'm eating."

"How's the situation?"

"What are you doing here?"

Both men asked questions.

Neither answered the other's.

Henry, however, was simultaneously issuing orders over the radio and stuffing food into his mouth.

His schedule was clearly fuller.

So Tony answered first.

"You don't actually think those devices next door can be used effectively by just anyone, do you?

"I'm here because somebody has to make sure they work."

"Mhm."

After swallowing his food, Henry finally spoke more clearly.

"There are still a lot of people trapped under the rubble.

"According to preliminary police estimates, more than a dozen police officers and firefighters from nearby jurisdictions are still unaccounted for.

"Their districts were right here.

"There's a good chance they entered the buildings before the collapse to rescue civilians and didn't make it back out in time."

He paused briefly.

"Or maybe they're somewhere else entirely.

"Not at home. Not at work.

"No cell signal means nobody can contact them.

"Let's hope they're not buried under the ruins."

He continued:

"There are also a large number of office workers still unaccounted for.

"Beyond the confirmed injured and dead, roughly three to four thousand people are currently listed as missing."

Henry had warned everyone beforehand that the towers might collapse.

George Stacy had cooperated by ordering police and firefighters to withdraw early.

Even so, some personnel remained missing.

Compared to Henry's memories from before his reincarnation, however, the situation was dramatically better.

In the original timeline, more than three hundred firefighters and police officers had died after entering the towers and failing to escape before collapse.

The current numbers were far lower.

---

After hearing the situation, Tony said:

"No wonder you requested so many high-end acoustic and thermal-imaging sensors.

"You're planning to build a model of the debris field?"

Before Henry could answer, a commotion erupted outside.

The roar of engines announced the arrival of another convoy carrying relief supplies and equipment.

This convoy, however, was exceptionally noisy.

It almost seemed determined to ensure that everyone noticed its arrival.

Engines roared.

Horns blasted.

Together they practically formed a musical performance.

George Stacy, Henry, and several others had no choice but to step outside and investigate.

If nothing else, someone needed to tell them to quiet down before they disrupted radio communications.

The moment they pulled back the tent flap, they saw a man standing atop a large truck, waving enthusiastically as though he were leading a military parade.

Tony Stark clicked his tongue in disdain.

Henry simply stared in disbelief.

It was Justin Hammer.

A businessman capable of murdering countless rolls of film simply by making an entrance.

If not for the engineering equipment being unloaded behind him—excavators, multifunction bulldozers, and other urgently needed machinery—Henry would have been tempted to march over and slap him twice.

Still, those machines were desperately needed.

So Justin was spared.

Besides, stacked beside the truck were crate after crate of respirators.

Nobody knew where he'd managed to gather so many.

But they were exactly what the rescue effort needed.

Many volunteers, responders, and journalists still had nothing more than cloth wrapped around their faces.

There weren't nearly enough respirators to go around.

The moment Justin Hammer arrived, he began distributing respirators directly to reporters.

His intentions couldn't have been more obvious.

---

Justin spotted Tony Stark immediately.

In Justin's mind, Tony was his greatest rival.

Never mind that Tony himself barely acknowledged Justin's existence.

Even with the custom respirator obscuring much of Tony's face, Justin recognized him instantly.

"Tony! You're already here!"

Justin grinned broadly.

"I never expected you'd personally come to a place like this for publicity.

"Is Stark Industries doing that badly these days?

"And what's with the mask? Doing something you don't want people to recognize you for?"

To be fair, respirators made arguing less satisfying.

Justin wore no mask at all because he wanted reporters to see his handsome face.

The moment Tony realized that was the reason, he lost all interest in fighting.

It was basically the same logic as women insisting on showing off their legs during winter.

Looking attractive took priority over common sense.

Tony Stark had no intention of risking lung damage for style points.

---

When he tried to ignore Justin by speaking with someone else, he discovered that Henry had already vanished.

The Kryptonian had taken several police officers carrying map boards and hurried off.

He was assigning locations for the engineering equipment Hammer Industries had delivered.

The disaster area had already been divided into dozens of sectors for logistical purposes.

New arrivals naturally had no idea where anything belonged.

Someone had to tell them.

Since Henry didn't have time to personally explain every assignment, the police officers with maps handled the job.

After Henry designated an area, they would relay the information and continue explaining until the support crews understood.

Henry had absolutely no interest in whatever bizarre love-hate relationship existed between Stark and Hammer.

Making sure supplies and equipment were actually used—that was his job.

...

Henry suddenly paused.

When had that become his job?

The thought crossed his mind.

The complaint surfaced briefly.

But the work couldn't stop.

If the entire rescue operation was going to function efficiently, everyone needed to keep moving.

---

Tony Stark, lacking telepathy, naturally had no idea what Henry was thinking.

But with his convenient excuse gone, he no longer bothered pretending.

He simply ignored Justin Hammer outright and headed directly toward the Stark Industries tent.

There was still plenty of work to do if he wanted his equipment to make a difference.

Tony's attitude, naturally, infuriated Justin Hammer.

However, with reporters and cameras focused on him, he couldn't afford to look angry.

The businessman, highly experienced at performing for an audience, smiled as though he hadn't noticed the slight at all.

He took a deep breath, preparing to deliver a speech to the assembled reporters.

Unfortunately, that breath filled his lungs with contaminated air.

He immediately doubled over coughing.

For a terrifying moment, he nearly fell off the truck.

Only with assistance from his employees did he safely climb down.

After putting on a respirator, the burning sensation and horrible smell finally eased.

Justin turned toward the reporters and flashed an awkward smile.

Unfortunately, the respirator now covered his mouth.

Nobody saw it.

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