14

'.....'= Thoughts 

"....."= Conversations 

______________________________________________

After the chip was removed, John stayed with Tony and Pepper, chatting about a few things.

Spending some time with Tony and experiencing the things he had done for him, John began to trust Tony a little more.

After contemplating for a while, John decided to inform Tony about his Devil Fruit ability, which Tony referred to as "Mutant Abilities". John did not bother correcting Tony's misconception.

Curious as he was, Tony asked numerous questions about the mutant abilities once John revealed them to him.

John patiently answered all of Tony's doubts, as Tony had been a significant help to him. John was intelligent enough to know what information to share and what to keep to himself while addressing Tony's inquiries.

"Hey, how about we go eat outside," Tony suggested after the round of questions to John. "You know, I heard that the Shawarma at a restaurant in Upper Manhattan is quite good. I've never tried it before," he continued.

"I don't mind," John shrugged and Pepper also agreed.

"Sounds good to me," Pepper said with a smile. "I'll just make a few calls and let everyone know we'll be out for a bit."

Tony nodded and pulled out his phone, texting Happy to bring the car around. Once everything was sorted, they headed out of Stark Tower and made their way to the restaurant.

As they walked into the Shawarma joint, the smell of delicious spices filled the air. The restaurant was cozy and filled with people enjoying their meals. Tony led them to a corner booth and they all settled in. 

"I hope it lives up to the hype," John said, looking over the menu.

"Trust me, it's worth it," Tony assured him. "This place comes highly recommended."

They placed their orders and soon enough, their food arrived. The aroma of grilled meat and fresh vegetables was irresistible. They dug in with enthusiasm, savoring every bite.

"This is amazing," John exclaimed after taking a mouthful.

"By the way, these past months I have been thinking about doing something. Do you wanna know?" Tony asked.

"No," John replied and continued eating.

Tony ignored John's pretense of lack of enthusiasm and said," I was thinking, what to do with all the money I have earned. No matter how hard I try, I find trouble spending it."

John and Pepper rolled their eyes at Tony's flaunting.

Tony continued, "So I thought it would be better to invest in the mutants. Well, actually the mutant organisations. Both Professor Xavier's School and Brotherhood of Mutants."

John paused for a moment, a piece of grilled chicken halfway to his mouth. He looked at Tony, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Mutant organizations? Are you serious, Tony?" John asked, his tone filled with skepticism.

Tony nodded, his mouth full of food. He quickly finished chewing and swallowed before responding. "Absolutely. Think about it, John. Mutants have unique abilities, and they're becoming more prevalent. It's only a matter of time before they become an integral part of our society. Investing in these organizations could not only bring in financial returns but also give us a front-row seat to witness history in the making."

Pepper chimed in, her voice filled with concern. "Tony, I understand your desire for investments with potential, but aligning ourselves with these organizations could be risky. The mutant world is filled with conflict and differing ideologies. Supporting one side could potentially alienate the other."

Tony held up a hand, cutting off Pepper's objections. "I've thought about that, Pepper. That's why I want to invest in both Professor Xavier's School and the Brotherhood of Mutants. It's a way to hedge our bets and ensure we're not taking sides. We can support and monitor the development of mutants as a neutral entity, helping them navigate through the challenges that lie ahead."

Pepper sighed, her worried expression softening. "Alright, Tony. If you've really thought this through and believe it's the right move, then I'll support you. But please be careful. We don't want to get caught in the crossfire or create unnecessary enemies."

"Yeah, I know. That's the reason I am going to invest in both of them. Moreover, they are not enemies of each other. The only difference lies in some of their ideals and aims," Tony answered.

"You do understand what Magneto's goal is, right? You told me yourself. Magneto doesn't care about humans. He wouldn't think twice about sacrificing them for the sake of mutants," John commented.

"That's too extreme. I never said that. It's just that he has been through a lot and doesn't feel much empathy towards humans," Tony complained. "Moreover, his policy is more like 'Don't mess with me and I won't mess with you'," he continued.

"Well, it's your decision. Don't come crying back to me if it fails. Magneto controls metal, and your Iron Man suit won't stand a chance against it. I think it's better for you to develop your own suits first," John suggested.

"I am going to invest money in them, not actually start a war against them," Tony retorted. "Also, even if they were to fight against each other, it wouldn't matter to me. I have already taken everything into consideration."

"I understand the motive behind such an investment. Having a sense of security is good, but do you really want to rely on others for protection? Why don't you start your own organization, if that's what you want?" John asked.

"Of course, I have thought about it. Do you think it is that easy? Even.....," Tony was interrupted by John.

"Shit!" John quickly got up from the table and stood in front of Tony, Pepper, and Happy.

John rushed forward with his hand, which started turning pitch black.

Tony and the group were stunned by John's sudden movements, and before they could ask him anything, a bus shot into the restaurant at great speed. It destroyed the walls on one end, heavily injuring and killing people sitting close to the wall. These people didn't have any time to react as they were ruthlessly crushed by the bus. It looked as if someone had thrown the bus into the restaurant with immense force.

The momentum of the bus decreased significantly after it crashed into the wall of the restaurant.

John, who had already reached the bus, threw a punch with his arm infused with Haki towards the vehicle.

The force behind John's punch was immensely powerful, bringing the bus to a complete halt and pushing John back slightly. This caused the shattered pieces of glass and debris to scatter in all directions. The impact left a noticeable dent on the bus.

Furthermore, the force generated from the attack created a shockwave that knocked down anyone off their feet within its vicinity.

As the dust settled, John looked at the injured and terrified customers in the restaurant. His hand, previously blackened, returned to its normal state.

______________________________________________________________________________________________ 

For 5+ advance chapters visit my patreon. 

patreon.com/StoryTeller229