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Rosh's words hit Pepper like a tidal wave, equal parts shock and overwhelming relief.
She had been drowning in uncertainty for days, grasping at straws while government agencies, military forces, and intelligence operatives scrambled to find even the slightest lead on Tony Stark's whereabouts.
Yet, despite their best efforts, they had nothing. No clues, no ransom demands, no evidence. Just a terrifying void of silence.
And now, here was the Shopkeeper, calmly declaring that Tony was alive and unharmed.
She wouldn't have believed them if anyone else had made such a claim. Not for a second.
But this was him.
A man as mysterious as the goods he sold. A figure shrouded in secrets and power, one who dealt in miracles like they were mere commodities.
If the Shopkeeper said something, it wasn't speculation. It wasn't a guess. It was a fact.
The official investigative agencies might as well have been stumbling around in the dark compared to him.
And just like that, the crushing weight on Pepper's chest seemed to ease. She exhaled deeply, the tension in her shoulders finally loosening.
Pepper Potts: "Tony isn't in danger? That's… that's such a relief! Thank you, Shopkeeper. Just hearing that from you makes me feel so much better."
Rosh hadn't explicitly promised to rescue Stark, nor had he offered any additional details. But it didn't matter.
To Pepper, simply knowing Tony was alive was already more than she could have hoped for.
Hope van Dyne: "Well, if Stark is safe, then at least that's one piece of good news."
Then, unsurprisingly, the next response came from Deadpool—because of course it did.
Wade Wilson: "Boss, you sound way too confident about this. Which means… you know more than you're letting on, don't you? Classic Shopkeeper move!"
Wade Wilson: "C'mon, spill. If you know Stark isn't dead, then that means you also know who took him. And where he is. Right?"
The moment he said it, the entire group chat went still. No one typed. No one even so much as reacted.
Because, like it or not, Wade had a point.
If the Shopkeeper was certain Tony was alive…
Then, that could only mean one thing.
He already knew everything.
Helen Cho: "Shopkeeper, I know it might be asking a lot, but if you truly have this information, would you be willing to share it?"
Helen Cho: "Even if Stark isn't in immediate danger, that doesn't mean we should sit back and do nothing. The longer he stays in enemy hands, the more unpredictable things become. The sooner we rescue him, the better."
Pepper Potts: "Please, Shopkeeper… I'm begging you. If you know where Tony is, please tell me!"
Pepper's message carried a raw, unfiltered desperation. She wasn't just asking—she was pleading.
And that made all the difference.
For Rosh, Tony Stark wasn't someone worth going out of his way for. The billionaire inventor held no personal significance to him, and he had no reason to intervene.
But Pepper was different. She wasn't just another customer—she was someone who had put her faith in him.
Besides, it would take almost no effort on his part to find Stark. He could locate the man in less than a second if he wanted to.
And perhaps more importantly…
This situation presented an opportunity.
So far, Rosh had sold several Devil Fruits, but their influence wasn't widespread enough yet to justify holding an auction. Not yet.
But now? With the entire world watching Stark's disappearance? This was the perfect moment to make a statement.
Right now, governments, intelligence agencies, and corporations are all scrambling for answers. If Devil Fruit users were the ones to rescue Tony Stark, the world would definitely take notice.
This was exactly the kind of spectacle he needed.
'Yes… this could work.' Decision made, Rosh didn't hesitate. He closed his eyes, extended his Observation Haki, and in an instant..
And there he was.
Shopkeeper: "Tony Stark is currently being held by a terrorist faction in a cave somewhere in the Afghan desert. I'll send you the exact coordinates now."
Without wasting time, Rosh pulled up an online map, pinpointed the precise location, and sent a screenshot to the chat.
Pepper Potts: "Thank you, Shopkeeper! I don't even know how to express how grateful I am!"
Meanwhile, one person was already getting hyped.
Wade Wilson: "Alright, now that we have the location, this just got a hell of a lot easier. All we have to do is roll up and bust him out!"
Wade Wilson: "Man, it's been ages since I've had a real mercenary gig. And then, just like that, boom! A high-profile mission lands right in my lap!"
Wade Wilson: "And not just any mission—this is TONY FREAKING STARK we're talking about! If I pull this off, I won't just be a top-tier mercenary… I'll be a legend. A mercenary god!"
Just the thought of storming in and rescuing Stark reignited something in Wade—a thrill he hadn't felt in years.
Wade Wilson: "@Pepper, just so we're on the same page, you're covering the private jet, right? No way I'm flying coach for this kind of mission. Shouldn't be a big deal for someone like you. Oh, and let's talk business; friendship is nice and all, but I do expect a paycheck."
Vanessa: "Wade, you promised me you were done with this mercenary life."
Wade Wilson: "Babe, I know what I said. But this is different! Pepper needs help; we can't just leave her hanging!"
Wade Wilson: "And besides, I'm not the only one going, right? We can form a Devil Fruit Task Force! Holy hell, that's an amazing name!"
Pepper had initially reached out to the group with one goal in mind: finding Tony. She hadn't even considered the possibility of mounting a full-scale rescue mission. But now that they had a confirmed location, why not take things a step further?
Sure, she could hand the intel over to Rhodey or the FBI, but in a high-stakes operation like this, there was no such thing as too much help. And this wasn't just any group—these were individuals empowered by Devil Fruits. Each of them possessed abilities far beyond what normal operatives could hope to match.
This wasn't just an option. This was the best option.
Pepper Potts: "Alright, Wade. Money won't be an issue if you bring Tony back safely. And neither will transport—I'll have a private jet ready to go immediately."
Pepper Potts: "@Everyone, just like I hired Wade, I'm hiring all of you. Who else is in?"
Wade Wilson: "@Wilson Fisk, what about you? Your Steel-Steel Fruit powers could be very useful. And come on, people—this is a once-in-a-lifetime gig. You get paid, you rescue Tony Stark, and you earn a favor from one of the most powerful men in the world. What's not to love?"
Wilson Fisk: ''I'm in.''
Fisk wasn't about to pass up an opportunity like this. Gaining leverage over Tony Stark? That was the kind of advantage that money couldn't buy.
Hope van Dyne: "I'll go, too. But just so we're clear, Pepper—I'm not doing this for the money. I'm doing it because you asked."
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Next Chapter: S.H.I.E.L.D. Has No Authority in the Face of Devil Fruit Users
Next Next Chapter: The Dawn of Iron Man
Next Next Next Chapter: The Devil Fruit Task Force Strikes!
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