*40

Tony looked at Pepper in surprise.

"Tony, I can't do everything," Pepper said seriously. "The Iron Man suit is amazing, but you're not invincible. You can make mistakes, and if something like the Obadiah incident happens again, it might be too late to save you."

Pepper hoped he would find a group to rely on, rather than going it alone.

This would not only make him safer but also alleviate his loneliness.

Tony fell silent.

He had come to understand something the previous night.

Iron Man suits could easily overpower ordinary threats like terrorists. But when facing supernatural or similar forces, the suits would be far less effective.

Take the Iron Monger, for example.

"Miss Potts is correct," Fury added. "The world is much larger than you realize. Many unknown entities lurk beneath the surface. We must unite."

"Take Miss Wizard here as an example. Without her, we wouldn't know magic still exists, let alone the mysteries of the wizarding world. I sense something significant awaits us in the future, making the Avengers Initiative essential."

Hearing this, Hermione couldn't help but admire Fury's intuition and strategic foresight.

Whether it was forming the Avengers, uncovering issues within Project Insight and S.H.I.E.L.D., or secretly salvaging an aircraft carrier, Fury had a knack for navigating crises.

"I need to think about it," Tony finally said, his resistance waning.

Fury nodded.

He didn't expect immediate acceptance; today was just the beginning.

"There's something else," Fury continued. "S.H.I.E.L.D. would like to invite you to be a science and technology advisor."

Tony scoffed, "You can't afford my salary."

But he quickly added, "But considering your protection of Pepper last night and your efforts in the rescue, I might help out of goodwill."

Despite his insistence on this reason, it sounded somewhat arrogant.

With Tony on board, Fury turned to Hermione.

"Miss Wizard, regarding the Avengers..."

Before he could finish, Tony became alert, his tone sharp.

"What, S.H.I.E.L.D. wants to involve a child now? We adults can't protect the world, so you expect a kid to risk her life?"

Fury thought, "I'd love to, but with you so protective of Hermione, how could I?"

In truth, he'd only mentioned it to avoid appearing reliant on a child. Even if they considered it, Natasha and Coulson wouldn't agree.

No matter how powerful Hermione was, she was still a twelve-year-old girl. Sending her into battle would be unthinkable for many.

Conscience exists, albeit in small doses.

"You misunderstand, Mr. Stark," Fury clarified. "I only want to invite Miss Wizard to be an advisor for S.H.I.E.L.D., but not in a technical capacity—an occult consultant."

"Huh? Me?"

Hermione pointed to herself, surprised.

"Yes, Miss Wizard," Fury confirmed. "Your knowledge of the wizarding world and the mystical side is critical to global security. With your help, S.H.I.E.L.D. can better protect people, combat evil, and uphold justice."

The flattery was laid on thick.

"Just a consultant?" Tony questioned.

"I assure you, Miss Wizard will have considerable freedom, focusing solely on teaching knowledge," Fury promised.

Hermione perked up, "So I can teach others, like a professor at Hogwarts?"

Her eyes gleamed with excitement.

Fury nodded, "Of course."

"And if I encounter a particularly dense student, can I use corporal punishment?" Hermione asked with a mischievous grin.

Fury: "..."

He suddenly worried if recruiting Hermione was wise.

"As long as you don't injure our agents," Fury hesitated, his voice uncertain.

He ventured, "It would be ideal if you could teach them some magic."

His intentions were clear.

Hermione shook her head, "It's not that I don't want to teach, but very few possess magical abilities. The Ministry of Magic monitors the world for potential students, enrolling them in magical schools."

Though he suspected this, Fury felt a twinge of disappointment.

"Is there no way to grant magic to others?"

"No," Hermione replied bluntly. "While Muggles can be made to cast spells, it's complex and ineffective."

Fury's eyes lit up, "Can you do it?"

"No, and I wouldn't," Hermione said, glaring. "Do you want Ministry Aurors storming S.H.I.E.L.D. to arrest your agents?"

Fury fell silent.

Tony interjected, "Do you really want to be their mysterious consultant?"

Hermione looked at Tony with her large eyes, "Yes, I think it's quite interesting."

She genuinely believed this.

In her view, the existence of wizards should be known to the world, and this was an opportunity to reveal some aspects.

Tony nodded, turning to Fury, "How much are you paying her?"

Fury: "?"

Tony narrowed his eyes, "You're not planning to hire a minor without pay, are you?"

Fury's face darkened, as that was his plan.

But Tony's bluntness made it hard to argue for "justice and duty."

"How much do you think Hermione should earn?" Tony pressed.

"One million?" Fury guessed tentatively.

Tony scoffed.

"How about I pay her ten million a month to consult for Stark Industries?"

Fury's face fell, turning to Hermione for assistance.

Hermione poked her cheek, gazing at the ceiling, contemplating.

After a pause, she suddenly suggested, "Let's do this. TV shows say organizations like yours have fun things. Grant me access to your interesting collections and information. How about it?"

Fury was taken aback by the proposal.