John Wick drove up to the scene, and as Charles Doyle got out of the car, reporters surrounded him.
"Mr. Ninja Immortal, are you here to confirm the death of your friend Tony Stark?"
"What do you think about this attack on him?"
The reporters gathered around Charles Doyle, taking flash photos and repeatedly pressing their shutter buttons.
The commotion caught Pepper Potts's attention, and seeing Charles Doyle arrive, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Facing the gathered reporters, Charles Doyle picked up a microphone and said:
"We are not afraid of any attacks!"
"The attack on Tony Stark won't bring him down."
A reporter interjected, "But he has been missing for a while now. He is most likely dead."
Charles Doyle looked at the reporter and said calmly, "He is Iron Man!"
After saying that, Charles handed the microphone back and walked towards Pepper Potts.
Seeing Charles, Pepper Potts rushed forward and hugged him, saying, "Tony, he's... missing."
Charles gave Pepper a comforting hug and said, "Don't worry, Tony will be fine."
Maya Hansen glanced at Pepper Potts and then at Charles Doyle but said nothing.
At this moment, Kankuro leaped from the sea, landing directly in front of the group. He greeted them, saying, "Lady Tsunade, Lord Jiraiya, Lord Charles."
Charles nodded, "Kankuro, you're here too."
Kankuro nodded back, handing over an Iron Man helmet to Pepper Potts and said, "I searched underwater and can confirm that Mr. Stark is not there."
"He must have already left the scene."
Hearing this, Pepper Potts breathed a sigh of relief but still asked, "Where could he have gone without leaving any trace?"
Charles then said, "At least we can be sure he's alive."
"If necessary, I will step in."
Pepper Potts looked at Charles and said, "I'll leave it to you."
At that moment, the Iron Man helmet Kankuro had given to Pepper Potts began flashing red. Seeing this, Pepper thought for a moment and then put the helmet on her head.
"Stark Security Server, identity verification successful."
The helmet then played a message from Tony. Hearing his words, a smile spread across Pepper's face, and she completely relaxed.
After listening to the message, Pepper took off the helmet and said to Charles and the others, "Tony is alive. He just left a message through the security system."
"He said he would definitely track down the mastermind."
Hearing this, Kankuro and Jiraiya also breathed a sigh of relief.
Confirming Tony's safety, Charles thought for a moment and then said, "Pepper, come with us to the base."
"We can't be sure if the Mandarin will take more drastic actions once he learns Tony is still alive. It's safer at my base."
"Stay for a while, and reunite with Tony once the threat is resolved."
Hearing Charles's suggestion, Pepper Potts nodded. She was Tony's weak spot, and if the enemy knew Tony was alive, they might capture her to threaten him.
After all, if they dared to use an armed helicopter to bomb Tony's villa in New York, there was nothing they wouldn't do.
"Okay, I'll trouble you for this period."
"Also, I think Tony might need help. He wants to investigate this matter alone, and I'm worried."
Jiraiya volunteered, "Leave it to me. I'll find Tony and help him deal with this Mandarin."
Kankuro added, "And me. I want to help Mr. Stark too."
Seeing Jiraiya and Kankuro offering to help, Pepper Potts felt relieved but still said to Kankuro, "Kankuro, you're still a kid. This isn't something you should be involved in."
Knowing that Kankuro was only 15 years old, Pepper Potts treated him like a child. Even though he had great strength and could fight Tony to a standstill with his puppets, she still didn't want him involved.
Kankuro insisted, "No, I'm strong and have completed many missions."
Seeing Pepper about to say more, Charles intervened, "Kankuro is already a ninja. Let him go."
"Jiraiya, Kankuro, I'll leave Tony's matter to you."
"Protect him and take down the mastermind."
"Yes!"
Then Charles turned to Pepper Potts, "Let's go. Let's head back to the base."
Kankuro and Jiraiya stayed behind while Charles, Tsunade, Pepper Potts, and Maya Hansen got into the car with John Wick driving them to the base.
In the car, the three women sat in the back seat, while Charles sat in the front passenger seat.
Pepper Potts looked at Maya Hansen and asked, "What's so urgent that you need to talk to Tony?"
Maya Hansen was somewhat helpless. She initially thought she'd have a chance to approach Tony and have him help solve the Extremis virus problem.
Later, she planned to use Tony's girlfriend to make him help resolve the virus's issues. But now, heading to Charles's base, she wondered if she'd have a chance to get Pepper Potts kidnapped by Killian.
After a moment of despair, Maya Hansen still said, "I suspect my boss is working for the Mandarin."
"If you still want to know more, I suggest we wait until we're somewhere safe. I'll explain everything in detail."
Pepper Potts was surprised, "Your boss works for the Mandarin? But Tony said you're a botanist."
Maya Hansen nodded, "You could say that. But actually, I'm a DNA genetic coder."
"A forty-person team, part of a private think tank."
"Of course, you could also call me a botanist."
Pepper Potts asked, "What's your boss's name?"
"Aldrich Killian."
Sitting in the front passenger seat, Charles smiled slightly.
Maya Hansen, once you reach my base, as an expert in the Extremis virus, you won't have a chance to leave.
As for Pepper Potts missing Tony's fireworks display, Charles wasn't concerned at all.
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