"That's right. If Bruce were here, things would be a lot easier. Any idea where he went?"
Tony looked at Natasha as he spoke.
"No clue. He never said where he was going before he left. Besides, with Bruce's personality and everything he's been through, do you really think he'd stand on our side?"
Natasha raised the key issue directly. Even if Bruce were here, would he willingly accept government oversight? Half his life had been spent fleeing from authorities. Would someone like him really agree to sign an agreement that put him under official control?
"Fair point. Forget it. Actually, I already have someone in mind."
"So do I."
"Who's your pick?"
Tony looked at Natasha.
"On the rooftop. What about yours?"
Natasha glanced back at him.
"If all goes well, probably in a lab or swinging between skyscrapers."
Everyone present immediately understood who they meant.
Strictly speaking, Peter was basically one of Karl's people. After all, his photo was hanging on the wall inside Devil May Cry, and he also possessed a crystal that granted access to the Chocobo Space.
Still, Peter understood boundaries. Unless it was an absolute emergency, he would never casually enter the space.
Now that Karl had simply patted his butt and left, and hadn't said anything about forbidding them from recruiting Peter as outside help, Tony naturally thought of the young powerhouse.
And it was practically a buy-one-get-one deal.
If Peter showed up, would Felicia really just stand by and do nothing as his girlfriend?
Besides, Felicia herself was no weakling. Recently, her combat skills had rapidly improved, nearly catching up to Natasha's. Tony had also upgraded her suit, allowing it to cling to walls using bioelectricity just like Peter's. Her jumping capability had also been enhanced, letting her leap effortlessly across city buildings.
With two powerful reinforcements like that, there was no way Tony would pass them up.
---
Queens, New York.
The moment Peter opened the door, he saw Aunt May chatting with someone on the couch. Without paying much attention, he instinctively headed toward his room.
"Why didn't your little girlfriend come back with you?"
May turned around and asked. Usually, Peter and Felicia came home together.
"She went to see Gwen and the others. By the way, there's a luxury car parked outside…"
Peter turned his head and immediately spotted Tony sitting on the couch eating cookies.
"Hey, Peter~~"
Tony waved a cookie at him in greeting.
May already knew Peter was Spider-Man. The Sokovia Accords fiasco had become such a massive issue that Peter got dragged into it as well. In the end, Peter had chosen to tell her himself.
"Well, now that you're back, you two can talk. I'll go make dinner."
May got up and headed into the kitchen while Peter sat down on the couch.
"Want one? They're actually pretty good~~"
Tony offered him a cookie. To be fair, they really did taste good.
"Uh… I'll pass. I've been watching the news lately. The Avengers situation's become a complete mess."
Peter looked at Tony worriedly. He was terrified his identity would be exposed and drag Aunt May into danger. She was the only family he had left. He didn't want to lose her too.
"It's manageable. Anyway, down to business—I need your help. The Avengers are seriously understaffed right now, so…"
"I'm in!!"
Peter practically jumped out of his seat.
"Who's on our side?"
Tony blinked. He hadn't even started explaining before Peter had already agreed. Honestly, he might as well have just called him directly.
"You agreed that fast? Aren't you going to think about the consequences?"
Tony asked suspiciously.
"Uh… of course I'll think about consequences. As long as Aunt May and Felicia don't get dragged into this."
Peter's thinking was pretty simple. As long as his family and girlfriend stayed safe, he was willing to help.
Lately, he hadn't been operating as Spider-Man much at all, and the Sokovia Accords were the reason. Every time Spider-Man appeared these days, people swarmed him with questions, and reporters chased him nonstop. It seriously interfered with his crime-fighting.
"Don't worry. I just need your help with something. Your family won't be involved."
Tony reassured him.
"Then I'm in. I saw the news. You guys have been having a rough time because of Captain Rogers and Barnes. So you need me to help capture Captain Rogers?"
Peter asked curiously. As an endlessly curious teenager, he followed this kind of news obsessively.
Even though he personally leaned toward the anti-Accords side, getting to help his idol still sounded pretty awesome.
"That's right. I need your help bringing Steve and the others back. And honestly… there's something off about this whole thing."
Tony's expression gradually turned serious.
As one of the smartest people in the world, he could already sense the scent of conspiracy behind everything—from Steve's actions, to Wanda accidentally blowing up the hospital, all the way to Steve becoming a fugitive. None of it felt right.
He just hadn't connected all the dots yet.
He wanted to bring Steve back not because of Ross's orders, but because he wanted to sit down and actually talk things through. Tony knew Steve's character. Steve Rogers would never betray people without a reason.
"When do we leave? I need to tell Aunt May, and I should probably call Felicia too."
If they were really going into action, Peter needed to let May know so she could avoid going out for the next few days. And of course, he had to report in to his girlfriend.
That's right—the current Spider-Man was officially henpecked.
"As soon as possible. We've only got seventy-two hours."
Tony shrugged. After all, he'd already promised Ross.
"No problem."
Peter immediately got up and headed toward the kitchen.
---
Devil May Cry Office.
Felicia sat at the bar eating cake while Gwen and the others sat nearby.
"The news has been nonstop about the Avengers lately. Things are getting more and more out of hand. Peter and I haven't really gone out much these past few weeks~~"
Felicia complained to the girls. Anytime Spider-Man or Black Cat appeared, hordes of reporters would instantly swarm them like flies.
"Karl said this whole thing isn't simple. There's apparently a mastermind behind everything—a guy named Zemo. And get this: the Barnes guy is actually fake."
Skye spoke while scrolling through information.
Although nothing useful about Bucky could be found online, they trusted Karl completely.
"A fake? How do you know that? And who's Zemo?"
Like most women, Felicia's mood immediately shifted the moment juicy gossip appeared. Her curiosity instantly replaced her frustration.
"Karl said the real Barnes died a long time ago. The current one's an impostor, probably planted beside Captain America to gain his trust. As for Zemo, no idea. Karl only knows the name."
Skye had been trying to track down information and movements related to Zemo lately, but "Zemo" was far too ordinary a name.
Finding him was like searching for a needle in the ocean.
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