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26.37% With Ope Ope no Mi in Hunter x Hunter / Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Anton Vanko (Part 3)

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Anton Vanko (Part 3)

"Stark family, always pushing the boundaries of what's possible," Daniel Davis couldn't help but marvel as he watched Tony Stark successfully synthesize the new element. Both Howard and Tony were technological prodigies. If Hydra hadn't assassinated Howard, perhaps the miniaturization of the Arc Reactor would have been accomplished long ago.

"This new element could easily win a Nobel Prize," Daniel mused. But Tony had no interest in such accolades. Daniel used to hold the Nobel Prize in high esteem, but since his journey to this world, he realized that the prize wasn't as prestigious as it seemed. No wonder Stark was indifferent to it.

The Nobel Prize's selection process was far from fair. True scientific achievement was often overshadowed by politics and public relations. Every year, many groundbreaking discoveries go unrecognized. It often boiled down to a matter of connections and lobbying.

It's akin to the Oscars, where any criticism is met with the assertion that the critic simply doesn't understand the deeper meaning of the work.

Daniel's disillusionment with the Nobel Prize stemmed from two main reasons. First, Alexander Pierce, the head of Hydra, had won the Nobel Peace Prize. The irony of the world's most notorious terrorist leader receiving such an honor was not lost on Daniel. He could only imagine the faces of the Nobel committee members when Pierce's true identity was revealed.

The second reason was more personal. Despite his significant medical breakthroughs facilitated by the Ope Ope no Mi, Daniel had only received a nomination for the Nobel Prize, not the award itself. To his past self, the Nobel Prize was an unattainable dream, but now, not receiving it seemed profoundly unfair. He had published numerous important research findings, and while they weren't as monumental as curing late-stage cancer or HIV, they were still worthy of recognition.

Winning the Nobel Prize wasn't out of reach for Daniel. If he chose to publish a cure for HIV, the committee would have no choice but to award him the prize, regardless of their biases.

With the powers of the Ope Ope no Mi, Daniel could make substantial contributions to medical science, even without revealing his abilities.

"It worked!" Stark's successful synthesis of the new element brought him immense joy. It meant he was no longer doomed to die from palladium poisoning.

"Congratulations."

"Tony!" Daniel's congratulatory words were cut short by Pepper Potts, who burst into the lab, her eyes brimming with concern. Only she and Stark knew the lab's access code.

"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Pepper immediately hugged Tony, her voice trembling with sadness.

"What happened? Who upset you? Where's Happy? What is he doing?" These days, Happy Hogan acted more like Pepper's personal bodyguard.

"I know everything. How long were you planning to keep this from me?"

"Uh, I'll just step out for a bit." Daniel excused himself from the lab, sensing it was best to give them privacy.

"Long time no see." Stepping into the lounge, Daniel encountered a familiar face: Natasha Romanoff, the infamous Black Widow, still sporting her signature fiery red hair.

"Long time no see," she replied. Officially, Natasha was Stark's secretary, but in reality, she served Pepper after Pepper became CEO of Stark Industries.

"Tony's palladium poisoning is resolved. You can all relax now."

"That's good news. By the way, what was that serum you used to treat Coulson's gunshot wound? It was incredibly effective, leaving no scars. Do you have any more?" Natasha seemed more interested in the serum than Stark's recovery. She sat beside Daniel, smiling.

"That was made from Dittany. Hold on a second." Smelling Natasha's familiar perfume, Daniel stood up and retrieved a large bottle of Dittany from his bag.

"Here, take it." For someone willing to sacrifice herself for the Soul Stone, a mere bottle of Dittany was nothing. Female agents like Natasha dreaded scars. She might appear flawless, but that didn't mean her body was scar-free.

"Thanks, I won't refuse." Natasha accepted the Dittany without hesitation.

"Don't bother trying to analyze and replicate it. The ingredients come from the magical world. Even if you determine the components, you can't recreate it."

"Understood. Do you have more to sell? In our line of work, this stuff is as valuable as life itself."

"I do have some, but not for free."

"Of course, we'd pay for it."

"I don't have much, and it's quite expensive."

"Name your price." Natasha spoke confidently. As part of S.H.I.E.L.D., money was rarely an issue. Even if funds were tight, they could always secure new budgets for something as valuable as this.

"One million dollars per bottle." Daniel named what he considered a sky-high price after some thought.

"One million?" Natasha's smile faded instantly. It wasn't that S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't afford it, but they had hoped to make Dittany standard issue for their field agents. At this price, only a select few could be equipped with it.

That was precisely Daniel's intention. While he had plenty of Dittany, it was essentially a cheap commodity in the Harry Potter world, overshadowed by powerful healing spells. Selling it to S.H.I.E.L.D. for a million dollars per bottle was practically daylight robbery.

"Order ten bottles for now." Before Natasha could respond, Tony, who had followed Pepper upstairs, chimed in.

"Why do you need so many? I can give you a few bottles for free," Daniel quickly declined Tony's purchase request. Ripping off S.H.I.E.L.D. was one thing, but Stark was different.

Tony didn't seem surprised by Natasha's real identity. As Stark or Pepper's secretary, it was unthinkable that Tony hadn't thoroughly vetted her. Despite Natasha's secretive nature, her true identity was no challenge for Stark to uncover.

"I'll need to consult with the director," Natasha said, standing up to make a call to Fury.

"No problem. Even in the magical world, this stuff is highly sought after. Let him know so he can plan accordingly."

"Out of curiosity, what's the price in the magical world?" Natasha asked, holding up the bottle of Dittany.

"That's a trade secret," Daniel replied with a smile. Revealing the real price would likely make her furious.

"I'll be right back." Natasha excused herself to make her call.

"Do you want to expand the space in your bag?" After Natasha left, Daniel noticed Pepper's expensive handbag and made an offer.

"Expand?" Pepper looked puzzled.

"Yes, increase the space, like my bag here." Daniel demonstrated by picking up a cup from the table and casting an Extension Charm on it.

"This cup now has about a cubic meter of internal space," Daniel explained, placing the cup back on the table.

"Let me try," Tony said, taking the cup to the water cooler and filling it up.

"Amazing," Tony remarked, returning with the cup.

"How about expanding this lounge?" Daniel suggested.

"You can do that? Hold on." Tony led Daniel to the lab. "Expand this area."

"Which direction?"

"Here."

"Watch closely." Daniel raised his wand, and the lab space doubled in size.

"Incredible," Tony immediately dashed outside to see if the exterior had changed, which of course, it hadn't.

"This expansion is temporary. Let me stabilize it." Daniel cast another spell to make the space permanent.

"I've applied a spell to stabilize the space. It should last a century without issues. When the time comes, the space might start to shrink, and you'll need to move things out. But people inside will be safe," Daniel explained. Modern Extension Charms had been refined over years to ensure they didn't harm living beings. Even if the space collapsed, it would eject any living creatures safely.

"Fantastic! Now, how about creating a space for my armor?" Tony, ever since his kidnapping, had become obsessed with security and had built various armors, including the portable suitcase armor.

"Even if I make the space, how will you put the armor on?" Daniel's question halted Tony in his tracks. The armor was too heavy to don without machinery.

In the future, Tony would develop self-assembling armor pieces that flew to him. This innovation came much later, around the time of the Battle of New York, when Tony had advanced his technology considerably.

"If the expanded space doesn't add weight, that would be great for my bag," Pepper mused. As a woman, she wanted her bag to hold more without becoming heavier.

"It won't. The weight remains as if the items are only on the surface. That's why Tony could lift the cup filled with water," Daniel explained.

"Wait a moment." Pepper left and returned after a while, her handbag emptied. Daniel then enlarged the bag as she requested.

"By the way, can you expand the space inside my armor?" Tony asked after Pepper's bag was done.

"Finally, you asked." Daniel had been waiting for this. Demonstrating the Extension Charm in front of Tony was a deliberate move to encourage him to ask for the armor expansion. He couldn't offer without Tony's request, as the armor was a weapon.

Expanding the armor's space meant enhancing Tony's combat capabilities.

"They didn't purchase immediately. I thought I'd make a big sale," Daniel sighed in disappointment as Natasha and Pepper left without discussing the Dittany purchase further. He had hoped to cash in on it.

"Dimensional space, mirror dimension... Your explanations aren't scientific," Tony remarked.

"It's not about science. It's magic."

For the next few days, Tony dragged Daniel into various magical research projects whenever he had free time. Without the threat of palladium poisoning, Tony had reverted to his inquisitive scientist mode.

"Maybe nanotechnology operates similarly, storing excess material in a mirror dimension," Tony speculated, possibly inspired by the Extension

 Charm.

"Could he invent nanotechnology before Dr. Helen Cho?" Daniel wondered. In the Marvel universe, Helen Cho pioneered nanotechnology with her Cradle of Life.

But for now, Tony was still some way off from developing nanotechnology. As with the new element, certain breakthroughs required overall technological advancements.

"Tony, there's trouble!" Pepper's urgent call interrupted their lab session, followed by a video clip.

"That's Whiplash. He's got guts to cause trouble outside Stark Tower." The video showed a man wielding electric whips, and Daniel immediately recognized him as Anton Vanko, known as Whiplash.

In the movies, Whiplash attacked Stark during a car race. But that was when Stark was despondent from palladium poisoning and sought thrill in racing. Now, with that issue resolved, Stark had no reason to race. Flying in his Iron Man suit was far more exhilarating.

"Good. This saves me the trouble of finding you." Vanko's appearance was actually a boon for Daniel. It meant he could now build his own Arc Reactors.

While selling in the Marvel universe wasn't feasible, the reactors would be valuable in other worlds. Energy was a universal currency.

"Damn it." Tony suited up in his Iron Man armor and flew towards Stark Tower. Daniel and Tony were currently in Tony's New York penthouse, not his beachfront mansion. It was a short trip to Stark Tower.

They chose to stay in New York to avoid the hassle of long-distance travel, even if it was by private jet. Though Apparating was faster, Daniel had told Tony that it couldn't cover such long distances. It was a plausible explanation for Tony and indirectly for Fury.

As Tony rocketed towards the confrontation, Daniel prepared for his own role in the coming battle.

___________________

Read Ahead

P@treon.com/Mutter


Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Anton Vanko (Part 4)

"Such a hassle." After Tony Stark flew off in his Iron Man suit, Daniel Davis quickly got into Stark's sports car and headed towards Stark Tower. Since he couldn't use Apparition for long distances without blowing his cover, driving was his best option. Luckily, Stark's mansion wasn't too far from the tower, and with Daniel's driving skills, he arrived just in time to witness Tony blast Whiplash away with a repulsor blast.

As Whiplash, aka Anton Vanko, got back on his feet, he swung his electrified whip at Stark. Powered by his own Arc Reactor, Vanko's whip had tremendous destructive force, tearing through several cars in its path. However, those were ordinary vehicles, not Stark's titanium-alloy Iron Man suit. Stark effortlessly caught the whip with his armored hand, showing no signs of damage.

With the advantage of ranged attacks from his repulsors, Tony could have ended the fight swiftly. Whiplash's makeshift armor was no match for the sophisticated Iron Man suit, and Vanko's exposed vulnerabilities made him an easy target. But instead of finishing Vanko off quickly, Stark decided to engage in close combat, showcasing his suit's enhanced combat capabilities.

"Showboating, are we?" Daniel thought, watching Tony perform various martial arts moves. Since Tony's transformation into Iron Man, he had devoted considerable time to physical training, improving his fitness to the point where even Happy Hogan, his former bodyguard, couldn't keep up with him. With the resources at his disposal, Tony had hired top-tier martial artists to train him.

After a sufficient display, Tony finally deactivated Vanko's Arc Reactor, causing him to collapse. Both Tony and Vanko relied on the Arc Reactor to power their respective suits. Without it, Vanko was immobilized and quickly apprehended by the police, who stripped him of his armor and escorted him to a waiting police car.

Tony, showing little interest in the aftermath, took off into the sky, leaving Happy to handle the cleanup.

---

At Stark Tower

Back at Stark Tower's top floor, Tony, now out of his suit, began examining the Arc Reactor he had confiscated from Vanko. Tony had stashed his suits in three main locations: the Malibu mansion, his New York penthouse, and Stark Tower's top floor. Among them, the most suits were kept at his Malibu mansion. Over the years, Tony had built multiple Mark 3 suits, including one he had gifted to his friend James Rhodes, now known as War Machine. This gesture, though made during a period of despair, had significantly improved relations between Stark and the military.

Tony was eager to study Vanko's Arc Reactor, spurred by Vanko's claim that Howard Stark had stolen the technology rather than inventing it. For Tony, who held his father in the highest regard, such accusations were intolerable, and he was determined to clear Howard's name.

"Looks like I shouldn't disturb him for a while." Seeing Tony engrossed in his research, Daniel decided to leave. He had other tasks to attend to.

---

At the Prison

"Justin Hammer moves fast." Daniel arrived at the prison where Anton Vanko was held, expecting to be the first to act. To his surprise, Justin Hammer had already beaten him to it and was in negotiations with Vanko. The two quickly struck a deal to collaborate against Stark.

Hammer soon facilitated Vanko's escape, staging a prison riot and fire to cover their tracks. In the chaos, numerous inmates, including Vanko, were declared dead, perfectly concealing their escape.

"Hammer Industries, huh?" Daniel decided not to intervene immediately. He waited until Hammer secured Vanko in a secluded warehouse before making his move. Using the Red Queen to control the surveillance cameras, Daniel then cast the Imperius Curse on Vanko, compelling him to reveal the process for building an Arc Reactor.

The Imperius Curse, one of the three Unforgivable Curses from the wizarding world, was Daniel's go-to for such situations. With Gellert Grindelwald as his mentor, it was impossible for Daniel not to master these spells. Though the curse was highly effective, Daniel used it sparingly, reserving it for critical moments like this.

"Finally, I've got it." After extracting the knowledge he needed, Daniel let Vanko go and allowed him to continue his alliance with Justin Hammer. He had plans for Hammer Industries and needed them to continue their activities for a while.

If Hammer didn't make a move, Daniel wouldn't have the chance to acquire some of their advanced equipment. Although Stark dismissed Hammer Industries as inferior, they were still a billion-dollar enterprise with technology that Daniel coveted. Some devices were unattainable through legal means, and any attempt to purchase them would likely attract unwanted attention from the FBI.

---

Back at Stark Tower

"What do you mean, he's dead?" Days later, Tony, having completed his examination of the Arc Reactor, sought to meet with Anton Vanko. To his disappointment, he learned that Vanko had perished in the supposed prison riot. This news deeply disheartened Tony, who had hoped to clear his father's name by confronting Vanko directly.

Ultimately, Tony decided to put the matter behind him, choosing to trust in his father's legacy rather than the words of a vengeful attacker.

"This must be what they mean by 'simple for the skilled, impossible for the inept,'" Daniel mused. Having obtained the Arc Reactor's blueprint, Daniel quickly replicated it. Not only did he build a functional reactor, but he also managed to synthesize the new element.

---

Time for Upgrades

"With some spare time, might as well make some modifications." Daniel decided to retrofit the luxury car Tony had gifted him. The primary upgrade was to replace the gasoline engine with an Arc Reactor. Given Stark's plans to collaborate with leading car manufacturers to produce next-gen energy vehicles, Daniel figured his car should be ahead of the curve.

Pepper had mentioned that major automotive and aerospace companies were already approaching them to develop new energy solutions. Stark's private jet was undergoing similar modifications. However, Daniel's modifications were much more straightforward thanks to the capabilities of the Ope Ope no Mi.

---

Evening Plans

"I've got the intel on the Blood Orchid." That evening, Daniel held a video call with Ada Wong. Ada had confirmed the existence of the Blood Orchid and was tracking several parties who were searching for it. Her plan was simple: outbid them and secure the orchids.

"Great job, Ada. I'll wire you the money. Are you free in the coming days?" While Daniel had initially planned to search for the Blood Orchid himself, he saw no reason to if it could be bought. The fate of those seeking it was not his concern.

"What's up?"

"I need you to head to China and arrange for the construction of four satellites." To establish a communication network in the Harry Potter world, Daniel needed satellites. Despite his advanced technology, he couldn't build them alone. Even with a 3D printer, constructing satellites was beyond a one-man job.

Among the countries and companies capable of building satellites, China's aerospace industry was less influenced by S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra, making it a safer choice for a discreet operation.

Daniel had considered going himself but decided against it due to his lack of connections. Ada, however, had the necessary contacts.

"No problem. I could use a break, too. Anything else?"

"If you have time, could you track down Peggy Carter for me?" Daniel requested after a moment's thought.

"Peggy Carter? What's your interest in her?" As a fellow spy, Ada was well aware of Carter's legendary status.

"You might not know this, but Captain America was found alive. He hasn't aged a day. For Peggy, learning this would be too painful. I want to reunite them and help them find some closure." Daniel explained Captain America's situation and his intentions.

"I see. I'll handle it." Ada agreed and ended the call.

"It sounds lively on her end." Although Daniel couldn't see what was happening, he heard the sound of gunfire.

He wasn't worried about Ada's safety. Her enhanced body could withstand considerable damage, and as long as she wasn't overwhelmed by sheer numbers, she could escape any sticky situation.

---

Planning for Entertainment

"Now for some games." The wizarding world of Harry Potter had a dire lack of games, with only Wizard Chess offering any real amusement. Daniel decided to introduce some games from his world. Initially unsure of what would be suitable given the lower technological level in the wizarding world, he eventually settled on tabletop games.

Yu-Gi-Oh! and similar games, which could use holographic projection systems here, would work perfectly with magic in Hogwarts. The Great Hall's enchanted ceiling simulated the night sky, suggesting that creating magical projections wouldn't be a stretch.

Daniel also planned to introduce some basic technology, such as early mobile phones, to bring modern communication into the wizarding world.

---

Hammer's Impatience

"Hammer's moving quickly." Justin Hammer wasted no time. After producing a few suits of powered armor, he eagerly approached the military, hoping to sell his cheaper, albeit less sophisticated, versions of the Iron Man suit. These suits were far inferior to Stark's, but their lower cost and Hammer's persuasive sales pitch made them appealing.

Unfortunately, Hammer was oblivious to the fact that Vanko had installed a backdoor in every suit. With the flip of a switch, Vanko could take control of the entire fleet. Though lacking an advanced AI like J.A.R.V.I.S., Vanko could still use the suits as stationary turrets or kamikaze attackers.

---

Stark Expo

To undermine Stark, Hammer planned to showcase his new suits at the Stark Expo. If successful, this demonstration would significantly damage Stark's reputation. The moniker "Iron Man" lost its luster if it wasn't

 unique.

Vanko wasn't naive. He knew Hammer was exploiting him, but he was also using Hammer. Without Hammer Industries' resources, Vanko couldn't have produced so many Arc Reactors and suits.

"Is it time for action? I won't stop you from fighting Stark, but I have other plans." Knowing Vanko's intentions, Daniel also prepared to make his move.

"Sorry, Justin." Daniel first used the Imperius Curse on Justin Hammer, compelling him to transfer all of Hammer Industries' funds into an offshore account. Then he instructed Hammer to leave, with a final order to grab a rocket launcher and confront Vanko directly.

Hammer, as a puppet, was expendable. Hammer Industries wasn't his personal empire; he was merely a figurehead. Pushing the blame for everything onto Vanko, with his Russian background, would ensure the trail led away from Daniel.

"This is a two-against-many scenario." Watching the chaotic battle above Stark Expo via his phone, Daniel continued to loot Hammer Industries of all its equipment and stockpile of weapons. Once he had what he needed, he planted explosives around the site.

The government couldn't ignore such a large-scale conflict, prompting War Machine to join the fray.

Despite Vanko's numerous suits, their inferior design and materials left them no match for Stark and Rhodey.

"Vanko, you bastard!" Just as the showdown reached its peak, Hammer burst onto the scene, firing a rocket directly at Vanko.

Simultaneously, Vanko unleashed his shoulder-mounted minigun on Hammer.

In an explosive clash, both men were destroyed. The rocket Hammer fired was armor-piercing, capable of breaching the likes of Stark's suit but deadly against Vanko's makeshift armor.

___________________

Read Ahead

P@treon.com/Mutter


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