While Steve led the New Howling Commandos in an attack on the fortress, Oaks received a message from Hati.
He stealthily made his way to Hati's location, which was where Pietro and Wanda were.
Since he had swallowed Baron Strucker, Hati couldn't speak properly anymore—
Normally, without explicit orders, Hati and his brother, Skoll, wouldn't eat humans.
For Baron Strucker, an important head of Hydra, to die so easily was too convenient for him.
With Baron Strucker out of the picture, the battle of the Howling Commandos would be much easier without his command and coordination.
Oaks' task was to deal with these two kids with superpowers.
He instructed Hati to find Carter and hand over the Baron to her, then assist them in taking down this base.
While outside, he had noticed that although the conventional forces seemed severely undermanned, there were still numerous combat robots here.
These fellows were created by the research team led by Baron Strucker, using the remnants of the Chitauri army.
Although their numbers were not large and their energy was insufficient, they still posed a significant threat.
Following his orders, Hati departed, and Oaks appeared before the siblings.
The stunning Starry Panther slowly materialized before them, leaving Pietro and Wanda, the orphans, enthralled.
But soon, they realized that the person before them was the most formidable among the Avengers!
"Druid!"
Pietro assumed a combat stance, sneering coldly. "You sure know how to appear out of thin air... Heard you have a good relationship with Stark?"
"Well, we get along quite well. I've saved him several times."
Oaks transformed back into his human form, appearing calm in his forest-themed black, gold, and blue battle robe.
"I know some information about you brother and sister. No matter what you want to do to Tony, cooperating with Hydra is definitely a wrong choice."
"We have no other choice."
Wanda's eyes glowed red. Baron Strucker had given them information about the Avengers, so she was well aware of Oaks' background.
"Someone like you, who contributes to the world in this way, probably wouldn't understand our fear."
"Stark Industries' weapons division was shut down by Tony himself, and..."
"That's enough!"
Pietro coldly interrupted Oaks. "Back then, we were just ten years old, having dinner as a family when the first bomb hit, penetrating two floors below us. The floor... had a massive hole."
He looked at Wanda with sadness, and Wanda looked back at him.
"Our parents fell, and the entire building started to collapse."
Oaks remained silent, not saying a word. Pietro gave a self-deprecating laugh.
"What could I do? I could only grab Wanda and hide under the bed—
But then came the second bomb, an unexploded bomb."
He shook his head gently and cast a mocking gaze at Oaks.
"It was just there, quietly waiting, with the word 'Stark' printed on it."
"It was only three feet away from us."
Wanda pursed her lips and took over her brother's account.
"We were trapped there for two days. Every time someone tried to rescue us, even if it was just moving a brick, we would think—"
"Would it set off the bomb?"
She tilted her head slightly. Her gaze, which had been somewhat lost before, now pierced Oaks like a sword.
"We waited for your good friend, Tony Stark, to kill us. We waited for two days."
"...So, that's why you two are the only survivors of Strucker's experiment."
Oaks heaved a sigh and waved his hand, raising a magical barrier to temporarily separate the ongoing battles and explosions from the three of them.
"Your obsession allowed the Mind Stone to unlock the abilities that were already within you."
"The Mind Stone?"
Wanda looked warily at the magical barrier created by Oaks.
"No matter what it is, are you planning to attack us directly now?"
"No, you are innocent, and Tony is redeeming his sins—
I don't want to see you kill him, which would force me to kill you, nor do I want to see him harm you again, leading to your revenge—
You both have other things you should be doing."
"That does sound like something you would say, Mr. Druid."
Pietro remained silent for a moment, shaking his head. "This matter originally had nothing to do with you, and we are aware of what you've done—
This is a personal grudge between us and Stark."
"Tony is not only my friend, but he also sent the nuclear missile into the wormhole, ending the Chitauri invasion, saving countless lives, and he will continue to save more people."
Oaks gently shook his head. "You see, the Council launched the nuclear missile. If it had landed in Manhattan, it would have been a murderous weapon.
But it destroyed the Chitauri mothership, making it a weapon that defended our home.
The only difference is who let it fall where."
He looked deeply at the silent Wanda and Pietro. "The Council let it fall on Manhattan, Tony let it pass through the wormhole. So, do you think humanity should create such a nuclear missile?"
"...Are you trying to say that those who launched the bomb are the real culprits?"
Pietro sneered and shook his head. "That's correct, but if Tony Stark hadn't created it..."
"Then there would still be Justin Hammer and other military industrial companies producing weapons. Maybe not as advanced as Stark Industries, but they would still serve in wars."
Oaks pointed outside. "Do you know what kind of organization Hydra is?"
"They? Just a group of mad scientists."
Wanda's face was full of disdain. "They deserve to die, conducting so many human experiments... Not everyone is like the two of us, willingly participating in experiments. And Strucker is a hypocrite, he was about to surrender!"
"Well, that's true. Strucker wouldn't voluntarily tell you what Hydra has done to this world."
Oaks placed his right hand over his chest, and a dense yellow light shot out from between his fingers.
"Let me tell you what Hydra has done over the years!"
He directly activated the power of the Mind Stone, but it wasn't an attack. Therefore, Pietro and Wanda, who were inexperienced, were affected by the Stone's power before they could react.
Oaks directly transmitted the knowledge he possessed, the 70-year history of Hydra, using the power of the Mind Stone, into their consciousness!
As the light dissipated, the bewildered siblings regained their senses after a long while.
"Hydra... they... actually..."
"Do you understand what kind of organization you are cooperating with?"
Oaks shook his head, sighing lightly. "Hydra has exacerbated countless crises, fueled conflicts, and instigated wars—
How do you know that the war that brought you misfortune wasn't orchestrated by Hydra?
Just remember, it was in this base, under the guise of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s peacekeeping force, that numerous agents were sent to Sokovia!"
"...If you truly want to fully understand the truth, then come with me. You can witness the decrypted files of Hydra and everything Tony has done to protect the world.
If you still believe that your enemy should be Tony at that time, then I won't stop you from finding him."
Pietro and Wanda looked at this friend, who was once their enemy, in shock.
"You won't stop us?"
"Well, but if you kill him, I'll just resurrect him."
"..."
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⭐MCU: Druid's Adventures (MCUDA) - 133 advance chapters
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