What? Teammate lives in Arkham Asylum?

Chapter 565: Capitol Hill, Hearings, and Stark's Middle Finger

Twenty-four hours ago, Capitol Hill, Washington, DC.

"Mr. Stark, I'm glad you came to attend this hearing on the draft of the Superhero Registration Act."

"This time? It seems that similar meetings have been held more than once?" Tony Stark sat lazily at the front of the congressional meeting hall, facing the congressmen on the stage and behind him. "Then why did they invite me, an unemployed vagrant with nothing to do, to come this time?"

"You are joking, Mr. Stark. As a superhero and a former consultant to the Department of Defense, you are more qualified than anyone else to attend this hearing."

Tony Stark looked at the congressman standing on the podium and speaking eloquently, and a question suddenly popped up in his mind...

What's the name of this bald old guy?

Then he lowered his eyes and glanced at the nameplate above the podium.

"Senator Ramon, there are so many people who want to be superheroes... why did you choose me?" Tony Stark frowned, with a little dissatisfaction on his face, "And can you explain what the 'Superhero Registration Act' is?"

"That's why I invited you to attend the hearing." Congressman Ramon said, and the big screen behind him began to play a series of data. He turned around and began to explain, "Mr. Stark, from this data, we can roughly see that the superheroes in the eyes of the American people today have appeared since World War II until now."

"Well, Captain America and the like, weren't they created by you guys?" Tony Stark said frivolously, "Oh, sorry, there's no Captain America now, only Steve Rogers... You are really unique to have the superhero brand you created lose trust in you... Now you're going to come up with a Superhero Registration Act?"

"I know you have a very good personal relationship with Steve Rogers, but please listen to me." Senator Ramon puffed out his fat belly, and a few drops of sweat dripped down his face, where his chin was almost invisible. "In short, these powerful individuals called 'superheroes' exist in America in disguise, hiding their identities and frequently participating in violent conflicts that cause heavy losses of life and property."

"So, what do you want to say?" Tony Stark frowned. He was already getting impatient. "Do you think that superheroes shouldn't appear in these so-called 'violent conflicts' and watch a neighborhood being destroyed?"

"Mr. Stark, based on our statistics over the years, we have come up with the most accurate estimate. From World War II to the present, such battles have caused the entire country to suffer losses of 400 billion US dollars... The American federal government and some local agencies were forced to pay for these reconstruction costs, just because we don't know who can stand up and pay for this loss." After seeing these figures, Congressman Ramon seemed to have great confidence. He slapped his hands hard on the podium and advocated in a rhythmic and loud voice, "I repeat! It's 400 billion US dollars, Mr. Stark! What do you think of this amount?"

"So... you plan to let the superheroes save the world, and then pay out of your own pocket to subsidize the country of America? Excuse me... then what's the point of you fat-bellied pigs? Are you going to disgust us and the whole country by holding meetings?"

Tony Stark stood up and lit a cigarette.

Of course, smoking is prohibited in Congress, but no one stepped forward to stop it at this moment.

They were all a little dazed because of the blunt insults Tony Stark had just given them.

Even Councillor Ramon said nothing…

The entire Congress, filled with members of the House and Senate, waited in silence for Tony Stark to finish smoking a whole cigarette.

Tony Stark flicked his two fingers and flicked the cigarette butt onto the stage.

"You tell me a number? Very good, then I'll tell you a number... Jarvis."

"Yes, sir."

Jarvis' electronic voice rang out from the loudspeakers surrounding the Capitol.

In an instant, the electronic system in Congress was completely taken over by Jarvis.

The data on the big screen was cleared, and then a number was written on it.

Fifty-six.

"What do you mean, Mr. Stark?"

"This is my answer to your previous data."

"Fifty-six? What does fifty-six mean?"

"This means that the superheroes in America have prevented the entire North America from being vaporized, conquered, or bombed back to the Stone Age by countless nuclear weapons fifty-six times."

Tony Stark did not sit back, but stood upright among the members of the House and Senate, standing out like a crane among a group of pigs.

"As a former consultant to the Department of Defense, I know that America's military spending this year is $800 billion."

"And the loss of 400 billion was accumulated gradually over more than 80 years... In other words, on average, the American government only needs to pay about 5 billion US dollars per year for this... I'm kidding, this cost is much less than the money the American government spent on studying human ceramic armor by imitating my mecha."

"At this price, saving the entire North America means saving the entire country more than 56 times. Smaller ones, such as saving a city, are countless... I think your money is well worth it."

"so……"

"Don't be so greedy."

After saying that, Tony Stark walked out of Congress without even buttoning up his suit.

When he pushed the door open and walked out, he left a dashing back view for the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives...

And a middle finger.

……

"So, you just left like that?" Bruce Wayne's mouth twitched, "Wasn't this useless?"

"Do you think I'll be of any use if I stay there?" Tony Stark laughed bitterly. "These members of the American government didn't call me to express my opinions at all. They obviously wanted me to be the promoter and executor of this plan...commonly known as the scapegoat."

Then he came to the table, took the Superhero Registration Act in his hand and handed it to Bruce Wayne.

"You see, even without me, they still made this thing and sent it to our table."

Bruce Wayne took it and slowly opened it...

Every time he opened a new page, his expression became more ugly.

"Does Li Chengfeng know about this?"

"I probably didn't know before, but now, I probably know..."