Pepper Potts froze for a moment. As the secretary to Tony Stark, the head of a major weapons company, she usually didn't think much of underground organizations. But someone who controlled eighty percent of the global underworld—that was someone worth taking seriously.
And for such a power to be wiped out, not by any official government force but by an unknown party, was even more astonishing.
"Happy, are you sure about what you're saying?"
"If it's really that kind of organization, they might actually help us find Tony."
Happy nodded solemnly.
"Pepper, you know I'm Tony's bodyguard. In our line of work, it's essential to stay informed about the underground world—especially so we can react immediately if there's ever a bounty on Tony's head."
"The recent fall of the High Table and the closure and restructuring of the Continental Hotel were huge news in the underground."
"It's said that organization has been around for over a thousand years, with branches all over the world. Now, with the High Table's resources and intelligence under their control, if they agree to help, they could definitely deploy people to that area."
"They might even be able to find out exactly who attacked Tony."
"But getting their help won't be easy—and most people couldn't even afford it."
Happy knew the real issue wasn't money. It was that they simply wouldn't take the job. Someone like him, just a bodyguard, wouldn't even get a chance to meet them. His ability to leverage Stark Industries' power was limited. But Pepper Potts was different—although officially a secretary, her responsibilities went far beyond that title.
Pepper listened carefully. She trusted Happy but wasn't ready to fully believe it yet. Tony's disappearance had made her cautious; she couldn't afford to trust anyone easily.
"I understand, Happy. I'll think about it."
Happy nodded and quietly left her office.
Once he was gone, Pepper didn't hesitate. She immediately drove to Tony's residence. After passing security checks and entering the villa, she spoke into the air:
"Jarvis, pull up all the information you can find on the High Table, the Continental Hotel, and the organization that destroyed them."
"Of course, Ms. Potts. One moment."
In less than a few minutes, Jarvis' voice came back:
"The information has been uploaded to the computer on the desk in front of you."
Pepper walked over, sat down, and opened the folder. Jarvis had been thorough, scouring even the darkest corners of the web. He had found a massive trove of data, although he held back from hacking certain highly protected sources without her authorization.
Most of the files detailed the High Table and the Continental Hotel. By reading through them, Pepper confirmed that Happy had not lied—and realized just how formidable the Assassin's League that destroyed them must be. Though information about the League was sparse compared to the others, what little she found was astonishing.
---
Three days later.
After painstakingly piecing together the intel, Pepper Potts, along with Happy, finally tracked down John Wick.
At the New York Assassin Brotherhood (formerly the New York Continental Hotel):
"Mr. Wick," Pepper said, "I would like to request a meeting with the leader of the Assassin's League—Mr. Smith Doyle."
She handed him a card.
John Wick hesitated for a moment but accepted the card. Glancing at it, his demeanor shifted immediately:
Pepper Potts, Executive Assistant to the Chairman of Stark Industries
Even though he had once been an assassin, John knew exactly what Stark Industries was—and he understood the weight this woman carried.
"What is it you need from our leader, Ms. Potts?" he asked.
Pepper smiled slightly, careful not to reveal too much:
"I have something important to discuss—something that would be beneficial for him."
"Please, just let Mr. Doyle know."
"I believe, with my position at Stark Industries, I'm at least worthy of a meeting."
John Wick silently considered the possibilities. He suspected this might involve the Dragon Balls, though he dismissed the idea that Stark Industries would ever try to sell weapons to the League.
"I'll pass along your request," he said. "But I can't promise he'll agree to meet."
Pepper smiled politely.
"Thank you, Mr. Wick."
---
Meanwhile.
Smith Doyle was currently in the training grounds, working out while wearing a heavily weighted suit. The gravity chamber he longed for was still nowhere in sight.
Fox had told him just yesterday that Bulma's list of needed equipment and materials was practically impossible to find—and even the items that were available hadn't yet been delivered. A massive order like that would take time.
"Haah—hup!"
Though Smith had maximized the weights, there was a limit. He couldn't just strap tons of steel to himself. Fox had already ordered a custom suit forged from osmium—the densest metal commercially available—to increase the load.
Ring ring! Ring ring!
Smith paused as he heard his phone ringing on a nearby table. Seeing that it was John Wick calling, he picked it up.
"John, what's up?"
John's voice came through crisply:
"Boss, Ms. Pepper Potts, Executive Assistant to the Chairman of Stark Industries, is here. She wishes to meet with you."
Smith blinked.
Stark Industries.
His mind immediately jumped to Tony Stark's kidnapping. How long had he been missing now?
Smith thought for a moment, then said:
"John, please bring Ms. Potts to our headquarters."
"Understood, boss."
After hanging up, Smith sat down at his computer and quickly pulled up the latest news about Tony Stark. He discovered that Tony had been missing for almost three months—and most of the media had already assumed he was dead.
---
At the Assassin's League Headquarters.
The heavy doors of the meeting room swung open. John Wick led Pepper Potts and Happy inside.
"Boss, this is Ms. Pepper Potts, Executive Assistant to the Chairman of Stark Industries, and Mr. Happy Hogan, the Chairman's bodyguard."
"And this," John said, turning to Pepper and Happy, "is our leader—Smith Doyle."
After the introductions, John stepped outside to stand guard.
—End of chapter—
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