**
Link understood the situation—Danny Rand is the current Iron Fist of K'un-Lun, but instead of staying to protect the sacred city, he had left and reclaimed his family's corporation. Without Link's intervention, The Hand would have attacked K'un-Lun, and without the Iron Fist's defense, K'un-Lun would have been vulnerable and likely destroyed.
Fortunately, The Hand had already been dealt with by S.H.I.E.L.D., but Danny Rand was unaware of this. As the Iron Fist, he naturally wouldn't let The Hand off so easily.
Link pondered for a moment before asking, "Why don't you just tell him directly? It doesn't seem particularly relevant to the collaboration."
"It's true, not entirely related," Fisk admitted. "After Danny Rand learned about my current projects, he thought they were impressive and expressed interest in collaborating. I'm considering whether or not to accept, and that's why I want your advice."
Without hesitation, Link replied, "Of course, you should accept. Hell's Kitchen is a massive opportunity. Right now, you're just getting started."
"Any shrewd investor will certainly be eyeing this, but you must keep a firm hold on control. Capital is always incredibly greedy."
"The charity work you're doing—that's your cause, not theirs. If you lose control, you could lose everything you've worked for."
"Therefore, you want as many like-minded partners as possible, including Rand Enterprises."
"I trust your judgment. If you believe Danny Rand is trustworthy, then I assume you've already weighed his character; otherwise, you wouldn't be asking me."
Fisk chuckled. "Exactly. He's inexperienced but has a strong moral compass. I don't think he would abandon charity work just for the sake of profits."
"That's good then. Start small, bring in some capital, but ensure you consider future growth when evaluating. I can also help you find investors, like Stark Industries."
"Tony Stark is passionate about charity, partly for the tax benefits and partly due to his personal beliefs."
"With Stark on board, others will need to weigh whether they can match his influence before jumping in. This works in your favor."
"Of course, right now it's just a collaboration. You can worry about the rest later."
Link's final statement was a caution not to overreach. Stark wasn't the easiest person to work with, and Fisk pushing too hard might not end well.
Vanessa chimed in, "I've heard that Mr. Stark also has a penchant for collecting art. Maybe I could connect with him through that."
"No, he doesn't handle that himself. You should speak with Ms. Pepper Potts instead," Link advised. "In the future, Stark Industries will likely be under her control, and that's important to remember."
"Understood, thank you!" Vanessa acknowledged, recognizing the significance of a powerful woman behind a successful man.
Fisk was pleased, having not only received advice but also gained a potential connection to Stark Industries. That was a huge win.
He had already been feeling the pressure, which was why he invited Link in the first place. Consulting him was secondary; getting Stark on board was the real goal.
Did Link realize this?
Of course, he did. Since joining S.H.I.E.L.D., he'd been navigating New York's elite circles. While it wasn't a large community, conversations often carried hidden meanings.
This investment was mutually beneficial for both Link and Stark Industries. On one hand, it expanded Stark's business ventures, and on the other, it allowed Link to profit while improving his social standing.
Link could no longer rely on his past life as a professional gambler. His circumstances had changed. His charity foundation now held 10% of Stark Industries' shares, instantly elevating his social status.
Why did Fisk value Link's opinion?
Because Link's status had shifted. This was the same path Fisk wanted to follow, and it wasn't about Link's eloquent advice; it was about status.
Understanding the deeper reasons was crucial. Link wasn't just offering guidance for the sake of it—though his advice was sound—Fisk's growing influence was because of his rising status.
However, that wasn't enough just yet. Fisk was still mainly in real estate, and not among the top firms, which limited his ability to rise too high for now.
Perhaps in the future, if he expanded enough, his United Construction company could become a giant. But for now, it wasn't enough to gain a major foothold.
Link added, "Since we've decided, let's not delay. I'll make a call now."
That surprised Fisk and Vanessa—they hadn't expected Link to take immediate action to secure the deal.
However, Link just didn't like dragging things out. "Hey, Pepper!"
"Link! I didn't expect a call from you. How's Jessica?" Pepper Potts answered, surprised.
"She's right here. I'm calling about an investment opportunity. Is Stark Industries shifting its focus to New York?" Link asked.
"Yes, since the weapons division shut down, Tony's focusing on renewable energy and advanced tech," Pepper explained. "The Stark Expo is set to reopen, and Stark Tower is complete. However, Tony wants to overhaul the building's energy supply."
"The tower has several R&D departments, and using clean energy could save significant power."
"Great. Do you know United Construction?" Link was confident Stark Industries would invest, especially with its shifting priorities.
"Is that the company developing West Midtown?" Pepper asked, her knowledge of the business far sharper than Stark's.
"Exactly. Recently, Rand Enterprises has shown interest, and I know Wilson Fisk personally. I believe Stark Industries could also invest..." Link laid out the charity project, explaining how it would help address local poverty.
By resolving the local issues, developing the area wouldn't lead to significant social unrest.
In addition, crime and drug problems had been addressed, and with gangs temporarily subdued, they wouldn't pose much of an issue for future development.
Neither the city nor investors would want gangs causing disruptions, and while eradicating them completely might be impossible, reducing their influence was beneficial.
Pepper Potts considered it. "That sounds like a promising project. I think it's worth pursuing."
"Great. I've still got several billion left over, and I'm planning to invest some of it into this as well." Link had retained substantial funds from his last venture, and since Fisk's project was up and running, it seemed like a perfect opportunity.
This project was bound to be profitable!
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(End of Chapter)