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"Wait, Pepper...do you understand how serious that accusation is?"
Tony Stark was genuinely shaken. Despite himself, his voice jumped several octaves. "Are you absolutely sure about this?"
Earlier that morning, Tony had given Pepper a particular task. He'd asked her to go to his office in Stark Tower and use his personal computer to break into Obadiah Stane's system and to dig out every last weapons transaction Stane had ever made.
Tony had already made his decision. Every terrorist who had purchased weapons through Obadiah Stane would be dealt with personally. No mercy. No exceptions.
From that day forward, Tony Stark would never allow Stark Industries' technology to be used to arm terrorists again.
What Pepper had never anticipated, however, was that she wouldn't just uncover a list of illegal weapons deals. She would uncover something far worse.
Videos.
Clear, damning, and impossible to deny video footage.
The footage proved that Tony Stark's kidnapping in Afghanistan had never been an unfortunate accident. It hadn't been bad luck or circumstance.
It had been orchestrated, personally by Obadiah Stane.
And unlike the original chain of events that should have unfolded, this time, Pepper hadn't been discovered.
Recently, Stane had been wholly consumed with researching and developing the power of the Munch-Munch Fruit. Unless absolutely necessary, he barely set foot inside Stark Industries anymore, let alone wandered into Tony's private office.
Because of that, Pepper had avoided the terrifying confrontation she should have faced.
"Tony," Pepper said softly, her voice steady despite the weight of the truth, "you should see it yourself."
She knew words wouldn't be enough. Not for something like this.
Evidence was everything.
Reaching into her pocket, she took out the USB drive Tony had given her earlier and placed it back into his hand.
Tony didn't say a word.
He immediately plugged the drive into the computer and began reviewing its contents.
It didn't take long.
His expression darkened rapidly, disbelief giving way to raw fury.
'What the fuck…? What the absolute fucking fuck?!'
Obadiah had already betrayed him by forcing him out of the board, but until now, Tony had only seen him as a ruthless, profit-hungry capitalist, and Tony had dealt with plenty of those in his life.
Stane had disappointed him, yes.
Angered him, sure.
But Tony had never thought much beyond that. All he wanted was to clean up Stark Industries' messes with his own hands. To fix what he could.
Nothing more.
But this? This crossed a line that could never be forgiven.
Obadiah Stane hadn't just betrayed him. He had wanted Tony Stark dead.
And that was something Tony could never, ever, accept.
"Tony… there's one more thing," Pepper said, breaking the heavy silence that had settled over the room.
Tony looked up.
"Do you remember Agent Coulson from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division?" she continued. "He's upstairs right now. I brought him with me."
"Coulson?" Tony raised an eyebrow, genuine confusion flashing across his face. "Why would you bring him here?"
"He's been trying to get a briefing from you for a while now," Pepper replied patiently. "He came to me more than once, so I scheduled it for today. Don't tell me you forgot...I did mention it to you."
She paused, then let out a quiet sigh.
"Honestly, without me, you wouldn't even remember your own ID number. Anyway… I ran into Coulson right after I found all this." She hesitated for half a second before continuing. "And I did ask you earlier if today was okay for the briefing. You said yes."
Tony opened his mouth, then closed it again.
"But now," Pepper added, her tone calm and practical, "I'm thinking that instead of just giving him a briefing… handing this over to Coulson might be the better move."
She didn't push. She didn't dramatize it. She simply laid out the facts and her judgment.
Tony fell silent.
He stared at the screen for a long moment, then exhaled slowly.
"…You're right," he said at last. "I did agree."
He straightened, resolve settling into his expression, "Let's go meet him."
With the decision made, Tony gestured for Pepper to follow and headed out of the basement.
As expected, a man in a neat, well-tailored suit was seated quietly on the sofa in the first-floor living room, posture straight, hands folded calmly. The moment he stood up, his identity was unmistakable.
"Stark," Coulson said politely. "Thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I'll keep this brief."
"No," Tony replied, his tone suddenly sharp with meaning. "I don't think you will."
"JARVIS."
"Understood, sir."
Without another word, the footage began to play.
The room filled with the unmistakable image of Obadiah Stane speaking calmly, or rather coldly, ordering Raza to assassinate Tony Stark.
Coulson froze. He had arrived expecting a standard debrief, maybe a few additional details regarding Afghanistan. Instead, he'd just been hit with a full-scale bombshell.
Even someone as composed as Coulson was caught entirely off guard.
"All the evidence is on that drive," Tony said, extending the USB Pepper had recovered.
At that moment, Tony had already made his choice.
Pepper was right. Turning Stane over to S.H.I.E.L.D. and letting the law deal with him was the only path left.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Stark," Coulson said gravely as he accepted the drive. "If you'll excuse me."
After receiving the drive, Coulson didn't waste another second. He nodded to both of them and hurried out.
This matter was far too serious to delay.
After all, Obadiah Stane wasn't just the man currently controlling Stark Industries; he was also a Devil Fruit ability user.
And that was something Director Fury needed to know immediately.
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Director Fury's Office
Nick Fury was just as shaken when he reviewed the evidence Coulson had brought back. Even with everything he'd seen over the years, he hadn't expected Obadiah Stane's schemes, or his ambition, to run this deep.
For a brief moment, Fury said nothing.
Then, a sharp, knowing glint flashed through his single eye.
If Stane had handed them a weakness this glaring… then the situation wouldn't have been entirely bad news. On the contrary, it created opportunities. Very dangerous ones, but opportunities all the same.
"Arrest Stane immediately," Fury said at last, his voice calm but absolute.
He paused for half a second, then added, "He's a Devil Fruit user. Send Barton and Natasha with you."
"Yes, sir," Coulson replied without hesitation.
He turned crisply on his heel and exited the office at once, already moving to put the order into action.
Before long, the strike team was assembled.
There were no speeches. No unnecessary questions. Everyone involved understood the gravity of the situation.
Coulson took command with practiced ease, his movements decisive as he led the team straight toward their target, Obadiah Stane.
One thing worth noting was that, thanks to the power of the Glare-Glare Fruit, Nick Fury already knew exactly who within S.H.I.E.L.D. was loyal and who was secretly working for Hydra.
But despite that advantage, Fury made no attempt to alter the team's composition.
Because doing so would be reckless.
If an operation just happened to exclude every Hydra agent with perfect precision, it would immediately raise red flags. Hydra wasn't stupid, and suspicion alone could blow years of careful infiltration wide open.
Which was why, hidden among Coulson's team as they moved to arrest Obadiah Stane…
Hydra's infiltrators were still very much present.
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Next Chapter: He Has to Kill Tony Stark with His Own Hands!
Next Next Chapter: The Munch-Munch Fruit vs. S.H.I.E.L.D.
Next Next Next Chapter: S.H.I.E.L.D. Is Powerless
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