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At first glance, Hope's words might have come across as a little pretentious—but they weren't. She wasn't trying to be dramatic or make herself seem noble. She was simply stating the truth.
Yes, she had her own reasons for joining this mission, and no, they weren't entirely selfless. There were practical considerations at play. But one thing was certain: money had nothing to do with it.
Hope van Dyne had never been driven by financial gain.
Her father, Hank Pym, was already an incredibly wealthy man, and Hope herself had built an impressive career as a high-ranking executive at Cross Technologies. She wasn't just well-off—she was on the same level as Pepper Potts when it came to wealth and influence. If she wanted, she could retire tomorrow and never work another day in her life.
The real reason Hope agreed to this mission had nothing to do with a paycheck and everything to do with Darren Cross.
She and Hank had already executed their plan, tearing down the foundation Cross had spent years building. For now, he was out of the picture—locked away in prison, his empire crumbling.
But Hope wasn't naïve enough to think it was over.
A man like Darren Cross wasn't the type to stay buried.
He had spent years accumulating power, making connections, and securing resources. Hope knew better than to assume prison would hold him forever. One day, he'd find a way to claw his way back, and when that day came, she needed to be ready.
While she and her father had their own skills—advanced technology, intelligence, and unique abilities—there was one thing they lacked: capital in the form of raw fighting power.
And that's where this Devil Fruit Users' chat group came in.
From the moment Hope joined, she had recognized this group for what it truly was: a game-changer. A collection of incredibly powerful individuals, each wielding abilities that defied logic and shattered the boundaries of human limitations.
If things ever spiraled out of control—if she ever found herself in Pepper's position, desperate for allies—this group could be her last resort. Her lifeline.
That was why she needed to solidify her place here. To establish real connections, build trust, and ensure that when the time came, she had people she could call on.
Rescuing Tony Stark? That was important. Earning his gratitude? A bonus.
But for Hope van Dyne, this was about something much bigger.
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As more Devil Fruit users stepped forward, agreeing to join the mission, Pepper Potts felt the tension in her chest loosened just a little.
It wasn't quite the overwhelming response she had hoped for—after all, the most powerful member of the group, the Shopkeeper, had shown no interest in participating. And then there was him—the elusive "Laser Man," Shaun Lee. Many in the group suspected he was just as formidable as the Shopkeeper, yet he remained completely silent.
Still, she couldn't afford to dwell on who wasn't joining. She already had three Devil Fruit users on board, which was more than she could have realistically expected. She felt a sliver of real hope for the first time since Tony's disappearance.
And if she included herself, that made four.
Yes, Pepper Potts was planning to be part of the mission herself.
Her mastery over her Devil Fruit abilities was still a work in progress. She hadn't yet figured out how to create protective bubbles or use them in a purely defensive manner, but she had learned how to use them offensively. Her bubbles had the power to wash away an opponent's strength, rendering them weak and defenseless.
It wasn't the most conventional combat ability, but in the right situation, it could be incredibly effective. She was determined to help in whatever way she could.
Unfortunately, not everyone can say the same thing.
Michael Morbius: "Sorry, Pepper. As much as I'd love to help, my Horm-Horm Fruit isn't exactly suited for combat."
Charles Xavier: "I must apologize as well, Miss Potts. I have many responsibilities at the school that I cannot abandon."
Of course, that was just an excuse.
The real reason Professor X refused to join was the agreement he had with the authorities. He had vowed not to interfere in ordinary human affairs that didn't directly involve mutants.
Helen Cho: "I'm afraid I won't be much help either. All I can do is wish you all the best and hope for a successful rescue."
Pepper Potts: "No worries, everyone. Just knowing you support us means a lot. Thank you!"
She meant that sincerely. While it was disappointing that not everyone could join the mission, she understood. Not every ability was suited for combat, and not everyone had the luxury of dropping everything to charge into danger.
Besides, she had more than enough reason to be optimistic.
She had Wade Wilson, Wilson Fisk, and Hope van Dyne on board. Three incredibly capable individuals, each with their own unique skill sets.
Pepper Potts: "Now then, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Fisk, Ms. Hope, time is of the essence. Shall we head out as soon as possible?"
Deadpool, Kingpin, and Hope all agreed. After all, time was of the essence when it came to rescuing someone. The sooner they moved, the better.
With the plan locked in, the team quickly settled on their rendezvous point, Stark Tower.
Pepper wasted no time making arrangements, ensuring a private jet would be ready for immediate departure. Once everyone had gathered, they would set off for Afghanistan without delay.
Everything was moving swiftly.
But just as they were about to put the plan into action, a long-absent presence finally made her return to the chat—Black Widow.
She hadn't been ignoring the conversation on purpose. Natasha Romanoff had simply been occupied, escorting Lucien on a classified mission. It was only now that she had a moment to check her messages. And the moment she skimmed through the chat logs, she felt an oncoming headache.
'Pepper Potts hired a group of Devil Fruit users for a private rescue mission in Afghanistan? Oh, for God's sake…'
It wasn't that she doubted their abilities—far from it. Devil Fruits granted their users incredible powers, and those who had mastered them were formidable in combat. But rescuing a high-value hostage from a terrorist organization?
That wasn't a job for enhanced mercenaries. That was a job for trained professionals. For specialists who knew how to infiltrate, extract, and eliminate threats with precision. This was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s jurisdiction.
Natasha Romanoff: "Wait… The Shopkeeper knows exactly where Tony Stark is? Looks like I missed quite a bit."
Natasha Romanoff: "Pepper, listen—I get that you're desperate, but this is way too risky. This is an international hostage situation. Let S.H.I.E.L.D. handle it."
Natasha Romanoff: "I'll report this to Director Fury immediately. We'll mobilize a rescue team and rescue Stark as soon as possible."
Not long ago, Black Widow had jokingly reassured the group that S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't interfere unless someone kidnapped Tony Stark.
And now, well…
That joke had aged poorly.
Wade Wilson: "Agent lady, you do your thing, and we'll do ours. No one's stopping you from doing your own rescue mission, but you're not stopping us either. Hell, you could even join in! It's not like S.H.I.E.L.D. is running low on agents."
Pepper Potts: "Natasha, I understand your concerns, but I can't just sit behind a desk and wait for updates. That would drive me insane. I've already spent seven days in agony, waiting for news that never came!"
Pepper Potts: "Now that I finally have a solid lead, now that I have the chance to do something—anything—to help Tony, I won't let it slip through my fingers."
Natasha tried reasoning with her, but it was clear—Pepper wasn't backing down. Her mind was made up. No amount of logic or professional advice was going to change that.
In the end, Natasha let out a quiet sigh and dropped the argument.
After all, at the end of the day, she was just a field agent. Even though she worked for one of the most powerful intelligence agencies in the world, she had no real authority over Pepper Potts.
A wealthy, influential woman using her own resources to hire a private rescue team for her kidnapped partner? There was nothing illegal about that. Nothing Natasha could do to stop her, even if she wanted to.
But that didn't mean she was happy about it. This had the potential to turn into a logistical nightmare.
A bunch of wild cards charging into a delicate hostage situation? That was a recipe for disaster.
It was an unpredictable variable, and if there was one thing S.H.I.E.L.D. hated, it was variables they hadn't accounted for.
After thinking it over, she made her decision. She would report the situation to Nick Fury and let him deal with the inevitable headache.
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Meanwhile, miles away, inside a classified S.H.I.E.L.D. command center, Nick Fury was reviewing mission reports when a notification came in from Black Widow.
A moment later, Natasha's voice came through the secure line.
And what she told him made him freeze in place.
"Sir, we've just received an update on Tony Stark's location."
Fury blinked.
Then, in a voice laced with shock and disbelief, he asked
"What did you just say? Tony Stark has been found?"
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Next Chapter: The Dawn of Iron Man
Next Next Chapter: The Devil Fruit Task Force Strikes!
Next Next Next Chapter: A Stunned Tony Stark
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