Capítulo 26: Chapter 26
As Coulson stepped forward, he naturally reached out for the jar containing the pink origami crane in Eren's hands.
However, before he could grab it, Pepper swiftly took the jar from Eren.
"As Tony Stark's personal assistant, since this item can locate Tony, I'll keep it safe. I'll also accompany you to Afghanistan," Pepper said decisively.
Coulson froze, his outstretched hands awkwardly hanging mid-air.
After a brief pause, Coulson tried to reason with her. "Ms. Pepper, Afghanistan is not New York. It's chaotic and extremely dangerous."
Pepper countered, "Are you saying you can't ensure my safety? If you can't protect me, how can I trust you have the ability to rescue Tony?"
"Of course, that's not the case…" Coulson began to explain hastily.
But before he could finish, Eren frowned and interjected, "Aunt Pepper, maybe it's better if you stay in New York and wait for news. Leave the rescue to professionals like Coulson."
Coulson wasn't exaggerating; Afghanistan at this time was synonymous with chaos. Armed groups ran rampant, and even the locals lacked basic security.
Eren didn't want Pepper to put herself in harm's way and tried to persuade her.
Pepper, however, remained resolute.
Shaking her head, she said, "I've never heard of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division, so I don't know what they're capable of. If they can't even protect me, I'd rather rely on the military. Their strength is well-documented."
"If that's the case, let's involve the military—"
Eren didn't want Pepper to take unnecessary risks. If she insisted, he was more than willing to hand the task over to the military, even if it meant forfeiting Coulson's favor.
Realizing his opportunity was slipping away, Coulson panicked. "No, S.H.I.E.L.D. can guarantee Ms. Pepper's safety. We've worked with Eren before, and we're familiar with his unique talents. That's why we trust him and are willing to deploy our best agents to rescue Tony Stark."
"As for the military, do you think they'd believe in divination or a pink origami crane? Even if they did, assigning the wrong personnel might put Tony in even greater danger. With S.H.I.E.L.D., you don't have to worry about that."
Coulson's arguments were logical and persuasive. Even Pepper couldn't help but agree and abandoned the idea of involving the military.
She compromised slightly, saying, "Alright, I won't contact the military, but I'm still going to Afghanistan. Don't worry, I'll only guide you and won't be a burden."
In the end, unable to change her mind, both Eren and Coulson reluctantly agreed to her request.
After everything was settled, Coulson immediately called Nick Fury.
Briefing Fury on the situation, Coulson requested, "Director, I don't know how many people this terrorist group has, so I'd like to request additional manpower for this mission."
On the other end of the line, Fury didn't immediately agree. Instead, he asked, "Coulson, do you really believe that high school kid is some kind of Seer? Do you trust that crane to lead us to Tony Stark?"
Coulson replied confidently, "Director, I trust my judgment. The Morningstar Bar incident shattered my worldview and made me realize this world isn't as simple as it seems."
"Besides, if we don't find Tony Stark, all we'll lose is a bit of time. But if we do rescue him, the benefits will be immeasurable…"
There was a long silence on the other end of the line, as Fury seemed to weigh the pros and cons.
Finally, Fury's voice came through. "Alright, I approve this mission. I'll assign you five tactical teams, along with Hawkeye and Iron Rider, to assist you." (TL: I think the author meant The Cavalry)
Hawkeye and Iron Rider.
Hearing those names, Coulson's eyes lit up. These two were among S.H.I.E.L.D.'s elite agents, and their involvement greatly increased the chances of success.
"Thank you, Director. I won't let you down."
After expressing his gratitude, Coulson hung up and prepared to leave with Pepper. They headed for the nearest S.H.I.E.L.D. base, where a helicopter was ready to fly them directly to Afghanistan.
Hawkeye and Iron Rider would rendezvous with them en route.
"Ah…"
After Coulson and Pepper left, Eren sighed deeply.
For a brief moment earlier, he had clearly felt the Seer potion within him digest further. More people were beginning to believe in his role as a Seer.
But the frustration of being unable to change Pepper's mind left him feeling restless. Even the progress in digesting the potion couldn't lift his spirits.
What Eren didn't realize was that Pepper's insistence on keeping the jar and joining the mission wasn't solely out of concern for Tony Stark.
As someone who had fought her way up to become Tony's personal assistant and managed half of Stark Industries, Pepper had seen her fair share of darkness.
She didn't trust agents like Coulson completely.
Pepper worried that S.H.I.E.L.D. might become curious about the crane's secrets, take it for research, and accidentally break the enchantment Eren had placed on it.
If that happened, not only would they lose their chance to find Tony, but they might also turn the blame on Eren, accusing him of fraud.
(End of Chapter)
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