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26.73% With Ope Ope no Mi in Hunter x Hunter / Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Anton Vanko (Part 4)

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.

___________________

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Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Mjolnir (Part 1)

"Sure enough, ordinary steel armor is just cannon fodder." When Daniel Davis appeared at the Stark Expo, the battle was already over, with the military wrapping things up. The police, disheartened, had left as soon as the military showed up.

Although Anton Vanko's steel suits were much weaker than Stark's, they still provided the military with significant gains. The arc reactors alone were a considerable prize.

"Daniel, you're here. Can you help fix this?" Stark pointed to a building damaged during their fight as soon as he saw Daniel.

"Do you want to put those construction workers out of a job?" Daniel understood Stark's intention—he wanted Daniel to use his magic to restore the building. However, Daniel shook his head and declined.

"You're right. Forget it." Stark dropped the idea immediately. Previously, he wouldn't have cared about such considerations, but his time in the cave with Yinsen had changed his perspective, allowing him to see the struggles of those less fortunate.

Dr. Yinsen was a genuinely kind doctor. Despite his qualifications and expertise, which could have afforded him a luxurious life in any major city, he chose to return to his homeland to help. Unfortunately, before he could make a significant difference, his homeland was destroyed by terrorists.

"Revitalize." After James left, Daniel cast a healing spell on Stark. Although they had won against Vanko's army of suits, Stark wasn't unscathed. His armor was strong, but Stark was still just a human, and every impact took a toll on him.

Thanks to Daniel's manipulation, Vanko's suits didn't target civilians and instead focused solely on Stark and James. Controlled by computers, Vanko's suits couldn't make flexible moves but could still be directed to crash into targets.

Knowing Vanko's plans in advance, Daniel ensured he couldn't harm civilians.

"You're pretty banged up. Take some time to rest. After that, I should be able to address the issue in your body." Daniel referred to removing the shrapnel in Stark's body and later strengthening him with the Extremis virus.

"Director, this place is a wreck." While Stark was being taken to the hospital, Natasha arrived at the Hammer Industries lab. With Vanko's large-scale actions, SHIELD had to be involved. They might not interfere in the armor battles but could certainly investigate Hammer Industries.

"Come back for now."

At SHIELD's Triskelion headquarters, Fury stared sternly at intercepted emails. Though their content was garbled, the destination addresses provided significant clues.

These were emails Daniel had made Vanko send, filled with meaningless content but triggering a self-destruction mechanism to thwart SHIELD's investigation. This move was meant to paint Vanko as a scapegoat while hinting at a greater mastermind behind him.

Fury quickly moved past this incident because it implicated Justin Hammer, who had collaborated with Vanko under military approval. With Hammer dead, much of Hammer Industries' funds vanished, and their lab was destroyed, meaning some military figures would likely be held accountable. Given the public spectacle of the event, scapegoats were necessary to placate the masses.

"The US military has been in turmoil lately, ever since the Raccoon City incident."

"Melinda, bring Daniel here." After staring at a picture on the big screen for a while, Fury pressed a button to issue the command.

"I should find time to head East. But what kind of business should I start there? Drones? A gaming company?"

After roughly sorting through the equipment from Hammer Industries, Daniel contemplated his future plans. His priority was to enhance his own power, but he also needed to ensure his company's growth.

For now, Daniel needed a qualified CEO. Pepper could manage his company for now, but with the expansion of Stark Industries and his own business, she would eventually be overwhelmed.

Even if Pepper thought she could handle it, Stark wouldn't want her to be so busy that she had no time for him.

"It's a shame that Ada prefers an adventurous life; otherwise, she'd make a perfect CEO." Top agents like Ada and Natasha were versatile and could easily manage large corporations.

"That's illegal trespassing." At his beachside villa, Daniel frowned at the Quinjet materializing out of stealth, watching as Melinda stepped out of the aircraft.

"The Director requests your presence." Melinda's face remained expressionless.

"If he wants to see me, he should come himself. I'm not at his beck and call."

"It's urgent, and the Director is currently occupied."

"Fine, since you asked, I'll go." Seeing Melinda's serious demeanor, Daniel reluctantly boarded the plane.

He agreed so readily because he was curious about what Fury wanted at this moment.

At SHIELD's Triskelion headquarters, in Fury's office:

"This thing, does it look familiar to you?" Fury wasted no time, immediately displaying an image on the big screen.

"Well, this is interesting." The image made Daniel smile. He recognized it instantly—Mjolnir, Thor's hammer, lying alone in a crater.

"So, you know what it is." Fury's eyes brightened at Daniel's reaction.

"I need to verify. Do you have closer photos?"

"Here."

Maria Hill handed Daniel a tablet with numerous detailed images of Mjolnir from various angles, along with extensive scientific analyses.

"I need to confirm something." Daniel began searching through his own tablet, quickly finding the data he needed and transmitting it to the big screen.

"No doubt about it; it's this." The screen now displayed information about Mjolnir.

"Thor's hammer? You can't be serious." Norse mythology is quite popular in the West, and even those unfamiliar with it knew some characters. Fury and his colleagues were stunned.

"So you're saying the gods of Norse mythology actually exist?" Fury, a staunch atheist, found this hard to swallow.

"In a way, yes." Daniel brought his hands together, conjuring a golden magic circle that transformed into a massive golden tree.

"You've heard of Yggdrasil, right?" As he spoke, nine spheres appeared on the golden tree. "Yggdrasil divides the Nine Realms. The gods of Norse mythology reside in Asgard, ruling over the Nine Realms. Our planet, Earth, is known as Midgard among the Nine Realms."

As Daniel explained, the nine spheres displayed their names.

Before Fury could ask further, Daniel continued, "The reason we have Norse myths on Earth is that Asgardians and Jotuns fought here long ago. Though the Asgardians left after the battle, humans recorded the events, giving rise to our Norse mythology."

"So, these so-called Norse gods are just powerful aliens?" Fury pondered after a long pause.

"You could say that. The average lifespan of an Asgardian is over 5,000 years, with the strongest living tens of thousands of years. So, calling themselves gods isn't far-fetched."

"What were the Asgardians and Jotuns fighting over on Earth?" Fury asked.

"Asgard rules the Nine Realms, and many oppose them. The Jotuns came to Earth intending to turn it into an icy world, another Jotunheim. Asgard couldn't allow that." Daniel paused, then added, "Jotunheim is the realm of the Frost Giants. They wanted to transform Earth into a glacial planet. Asgard stopped them."

Though Daniel didn't elaborate further, Fury and his team could infer the rest.

"You mentioned Asgard rules the Nine Realms, including us. So why haven't we heard of them for so long? Did something happen to them?" Fury quickly grasped the implication.

"Asgard is still one of the universe's most powerful forces, respected even by the Kree Empire and the Nova Empire. The other realms regularly interact with Asgard and must pay tribute. We don't know about them and don't need to pay tribute because we have someone watching over us." Daniel pointed upward as he spoke.

Asgard's Bifrost allows them to traverse the Nine Realms freely, but they rarely appear on Earth, thanks to our mysterious guardian.

"Someone watching over us?" Fury stood up abruptly.

"Yes. In a sense, Earth has a protector. Because of them, Asgardians can't interfere freely here." Daniel nodded.

"Then why are they appearing now?"

"Think of it as a vacation. While ordinary Asgardians can't come and go as they please, Thor, as Odin's son, has more leeway. As long as he doesn't destroy Earth, our protector doesn't mind." Daniel grinned at Fury, adding, "He's the guardian of Earth, not humanity. As long as Earth isn't destroyed, he won't intervene in our affairs."

"So, even if aliens invade, he won't help."

"Exactly." Daniel nodded firmly.

In the Battle of New York, the Ancient One only intervened to protect the New York Sanctum from the Chitauri. Otherwise, the Chitauri would have never had a chance to rampage.

"Where did you find this? Take me there." Daniel stood up, ready to go.

"You want to go?" Fury asked, puzzled.

"With Mjolnir on Earth, Thor must be here too. I should introduce myself, unless you want to handle it yourself."

"Melinda, take him." After a moment's thought, Fury agreed.

"Nine realms, a guardian." After Daniel and Melinda left, Fury sat back, taking a deep breath. Daniel's revelations were overwhelming and raised many questions.

New Mexico.

Daniel and Melinda quickly arrived at the site where Mjolnir had landed. Unable to move the hammer, SHIELD had set up a perimeter around it, even bringing in Hawkeye for security.

At the site, Daniel met with Coulson and Agent Sitwell.

"Seems like I lack Captain America's righteousness." Ign

oring pleasantries, Daniel approached Mjolnir, curious if he could lift it.

In the movie, Captain America could have lifted Mjolnir but chose not to, to spare Thor's pride and avoid embarrassment.

Mjolnir's enchantment is peculiar. Normally, only the worthy can lift it, yet Thor can hang it on walls without it crashing down.

"Room." Daniel activated his Ope-Ope Fruit powers to analyze the runes on Mjolnir. But he quickly staggered back, shaking his head to clear the dizziness.

The hammer's runes were intricate and filled with a strange energy, making him momentarily lightheaded.

"Am I that outmatched?" This was the first time Daniel had encountered something he couldn't analyze. With Mjolnir's secrets beyond his reach, he decided it was time to meet Thor.

___________________

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