Chapter 123
In fact, just like the Snap of the Infinity Stones, it has requirements, but its requirements are not as strict.
Simply put, it's about gaining and losing, or an equivalent exchange.
You will lose something if you want to gain something.
In the movie, Diana wishes for the return of Steve, whom she had lost. After her wish is granted, she loses her powers.
Barbara Minerva wished to be as powerful as Wonder Woman, and in doing so, she lost her kindness.
Maxwell Lorenzano's wish was even more ambitious: he wanted to become the Wishing Stone itself.
And then, he succeeded.
The Wishing Stone turned to ash and became a human-shaped Wishing Stone. Whenever he shook hands or made other contact with someone, he could grant their wish and take anything they wanted in return!
It has to be said that Maxwell Lorenzano's quirky move of Wishing Stone to become the Wishing Stone and then receiving wishes from others is quite ingenious.
Most importantly, once it becomes the Wishing Stone itself, it can freely take anything belonging to the person making the wish!
What does that mean?
This means he can take anything from the person who made the wish, whether it's good or bad!
Even if the cancer cells taken away are from the person making the wish, as long as the requirement of 'gaining and losing' is met, the Wishing Stone's wish-granting mechanism can be fulfilled!
Of course, this would cause cancer cells to appear in his body, and he would definitely not do anything selfless.
Moreover, when he wished to become the Wishing Stone itself, what he lost was 'health'. Judging from the outcome shown in the movie, the lost 'health' cannot be taken back from others.
Therefore, Maxwell Lorenzano's fate was almost sealed.
After all, this Wishing Stone comes from the God of Lies, and you can tell from its name that it is definitely not a righteous and benevolent artifact.
However, it would be inappropriate to call it evil, because the Wishing Stone has another mechanism that is even simpler and more brutal: as long as you cancel your wish, everything will be restored, and you won't have to pay a price!
With such lenient conditions, they really aren't afraid of being taken advantage of!
All in all.
Su Quan doesn't need to make a wish to the Wishing Stone itself or possess its abilities.
All he needs to do is punch the Maxwell Lorenzano member behind the Wishing Stone a few times to unlock his power, and he can become the 'God of Wishes' effortlessly and without paying any price!
That's why Su Quan never went to look for the Yellow Crystal Wishing Stone.
Do you believe it?
Barbara Minerva's voice suddenly rang in my ears.
Su Quan paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Sorry, I was thinking about something. What did you ask me?"
Barbara Minerva shook her head and pointed to the advertisement on TV: "Do you believe that this Black Gold Cooperative can really make money for ordinary people through investment?"
Su Quan shrugged. "I don't know if ordinary people can make money, but I do know he definitely doesn't have any."
"Why?"
"Everyone knows how profitable the oil business is. If you have money and projects, would you give the opportunity to make money to ordinary people you don't even know?"
"Won't."
"I don't know either."
Su Quan smiled noncommittally and changed the subject back to jewelry, "So? How much are these jewels worth?"
Barbara Minerva glanced around and whispered, "You're incredibly bold to just pull it out like that. What if it gets stolen?"
"I've calculated that the total value of these jewels is at least five million. If you sell them slowly, the price should be even higher."
Five million? That's a bit less than I thought. But it's 1984 now, and the average annual income per household in the United States is only $9,000. Five million is already a huge sum of money.
Su Quan smiled calmly at Barbara Minerva and asked, "Can you help me?"
"Me? You... you're going to hand me over?"
Barbara Minerva was surprised. They had only known each other for half a day, yet he dared to entrust her with such valuable jewelry.
Su Quan said definitively, "I don't know how much you should get according to the industry rules, but here, you can get one-tenth."
One-tenth?
That's 500,000?
Barbara Minerva was about to excitedly say that this was too much, but Su Quan continued.
"There are additional conditions."
Barbara Minerva took a deep breath. "What are the conditions?"
"First, you need to exchange half of this money for gold; second, I want you!"
Barbara Minerva was stunned when she heard this. She could understand exchanging half of her money for gold, since gold is the best store of value, but what did she mean by asking me to do that?
He... he's interested in me? Impossible! He's so rich and handsome, he could have any beautiful woman he wanted, how could he possibly be interested in a country bumpkin like me?
He probably means he wants me to work for him, right? That must be it!
Barbara Minerva hurriedly brushed her hair aside and whispered, "Mr. Su Quan, although you are very handsome and generous, and I really hope to work for you, I don't want to give up my job at the museum."
"If all you want is for me to appraise and sell your jewelry, there's no need to make such a condition."
Su Quan looked at her with a half-smile, gently shook her head, and said, "Well then—alright, as you wish."
Barbara Minerva opened her mouth as if to speak but hesitated. She felt that Su Quan's reaction was as if he was saying that she had misunderstood. She wanted to ask, but she was afraid that she was just being presumptuous and that asking would only make things more awkward.
After hesitating for a long time, she finally decided to give up.
After leaving the restaurant, Barbara Minerva returned to her office in a daze, carrying her suitcase.
As a country bumpkin who was ignored and looked down upon, Su Quan's words, "I want you," stirred up a storm in her heart, making it impossible for her to concentrate on her work.
One moment I feel I should muster the courage to ask clearly, the next I feel I'm just being presumptuous, and asking will only make me lose face.
Before she knew it, it was time to leave work. Barbara Minerva forced herself to stop thinking about all this nonsense, carefully picked up the suitcase containing the jewelry, and prepared to leave the museum to find her friend Veronica.
Veronica Kyle, a top scientist and businesswoman whom she greatly admires.
I mentioned to myself a while ago that I wanted to buy some jewelry, so this is a good opportunity for me to show her some.
As soon as Barbara Minerva stepped out of the museum, she was somewhat surprised to see Su Quan, who was about to leave, and a tall, beautiful woman holding Su Quan's arm.
"Did you see that? That's Diana's boyfriend. I heard that he donated a lot of money to our museum so that she could work there."
"Really? That's so enviable."
"What's there to envy? If I were Diana, with such a rich boyfriend, why would I even bother going to work? I'd be working from dawn till dusk every day, exhausted, and wouldn't know how to enjoy myself at all."
"If you want to find a rich man and enjoy life, you have to be as beautiful as Diana!"
"That's right."
Several colleagues, as if they didn't recognize or even see Barbara Minerva, whispered enviously among themselves and walked straight past her.
"Diana —heh, I told you I was overthinking it." Barbara Minerva muttered to herself and left silently.
P. S.: There's a little Easter egg hidden here.
As the sun set, the last rays of the evening glow spilled through the bright French windows and shone on Su Quan.
On the sofa behind her, Diana crossed her long legs and, without any semblance of a goddess image, recounted her excitement and experiences on her first day of work to Viniria and Helen.
Su Quan listened for a few moments, smiled, and continued to ponder his own affairs.
The Yellow Crystal Wishing Stone and the Cheetah matter don't require much effort; just keep an eye on Maxwell Lorenzano, who is currently preoccupied with several other things.
To be precise, it was a few people.
The biggest event in the Justice League Universe in 1984 was Wonder Woman's battle against Cheetah and Maxwell Lorenzano, during which she realized the truth that if you have no man in your heart, you can draw your sword against the God of Nature.
However, around 1984, several events occurred that left a deep impression on the future.
Four years ago, a spaceship landed at Kent Farm in Smallville, Kansas.
Three years ago, Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne were murdered in Gotham's Crime Alley.
Two years ago, STAR Labs obtained the Mother Box.
Next year, Queen Atlanna of Atlantis will flee Atlantis to escape a political marriage. Wounded, she will be found by a lighthouse keeper in the nearshore waters, where she will fall in love and give birth to the future Aquaman in the same year.
Superman, Batman, Cyborg, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman —these events that have occurred recently have encompassed almost the entire Justice League and have had a significant impact on the course of the world.
Su Quan doesn't intend to completely change the course of the world, but some things can be planned in advance.
For example, Clark Kent, who is only a few years old now, has not yet awakened or discovered his talent, let alone knows that he will become Superman who saves the world in the future.
If not now, when will he become Creepy Uncle, leaving behind photos that will lead to his future death and granting him his abilities?
Wouldn't it be great to get sunlight decades ahead of time?
Then there's Atlanna, the Queen of Atlantis, who is about to elope. Although she doesn't have any special abilities, the fact that she can live freely underwater is enough for Su Quan to make a trip for her.
Whether you believe it or not, Su Quan himself believes it.