Five Hundred Million, and I'll Help You

Stark's private jet.

After downing a few glasses of brandy, Tony Stark lay on the sofa, taking a nap.

Meanwhile, Su Ming admired the luxurious private jet before him.

He had just quietly activated the system's appraisal function and learned the plane's price:

[Modified private jet → Valuation: $400 million.]

Short on cash, Su Ming really wanted to toss Tony's plane straight into the system—at his richest, he had only possessed a little over $400 million himself.

But he couldn't.

On one hand, the plane's owner was right in front of him, and Tony had no intention of giving or lending the plane to Su Ming.

On the other hand, they were flying at high altitude. Even if he could exchange it, everyone on the plane would probably die horribly...

That was not something Su Ming wanted to see.

Perhaps Las Vegas had been a good opportunity to make money, but his account balance had not been enough to exchange for a gambling-related ability.

Su Ming had considered borrowing some money from Tony first, then exchanging it for a powerful gambling talent and sweeping through Las Vegas.

But looking at Tony's arrogant face, Su Ming simply could not bring himself to ask.

Ever since meeting Tony, he had never let him gain the upper hand. It had always been Tony begging him to handle things.

"Borrowing money is impossible! Besides, Tony said he'd cover all the losses..."

This sort of psychological contest between men... perhaps not many people understood it...

Watching Tony lose his composure again was one of Su Ming's few pleasures besides making money.

"Once we get back, I'll have Alisha keep digging into Afghanistan. Or... maybe take a trip to Somalia? Colombia wouldn't be a bad choice either..."

Just as Su Ming contemplated his next plan to make money,

Tony beside him tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

Because he knew he probably did not have much time left to live.

While Tony Stark had been focused on developing new armor, he had accidentally discovered that the palladium levels in his body were rapidly rising.

The armor's core power source was the reactor in his chest, and the reactor's core energy source was the palladium inside it.

The missile shrapnel in his body had not yet been completely removed, and the reactor's electromagnetic force kept it firmly pinned in place.

In other words, he could not survive without the reactor for the time being.

Palladium was toxic to the human body. Keeping it inside himself for so long had allowed the poison to invade his body.

In just one month, the toxin level in his blood had soared to 53%.

The reactor had mainly been installed to save his life, and only secondarily to provide energy for the armor...

But now, the reactor was going to take his life?

This was a dead end—

"Fuck..."

Tony did not want his company to be ruined because of his declining health, so before leaving, he had handed the position of company president to Pepper Potts.

He had even specifically hired a legal consultant to carry out a proper transfer.

"To be fair, Natalie Rushman really is a knockout..."

But since when could a legal consultant effortlessly beat the president's bodyguard?

His chief bodyguard, Happy Hogan, was as fragile as paper in front of Natalie.

Did that make any sense?

Thinking back to the new armor he had developed, another question surfaced in Tony's mind:

"Do I still need a bodyguard?"

Monte Carlo Circuit.

Dressed in a handsome blue racing suit, Tony Stark happily discovered another thing Silver Duke was not good at—racing.

He repeatedly invited Su Ming to experience the thrill of racing for himself, his attitude practically fawning.

How could Su Ming fail to see through Tony's little scheme? He just wanted to see him embarrass himself again.

"Go ahead and gloat...

Once I make enough money, I can casually exchange for driving skills on Schumacher's level and make you eat your words!

Right, and Gao Jin's gambling skills... or even Tonight the Tiger would work..."

As Tony turned to get into the car, Su Ming's gaze sharpened. He suddenly noticed a trace of black on Tony's skin—a bluish-black hue spreading from the inside out, clearly a sign of poisoning.

Su Ming suddenly understood:

How long had it even been?

Tony's poisoning symptoms were already visible to the naked eye?

His eyes lit up as a way to make money came to mind.

He could intercept the box that would inspire Tony to develop a new reactor—the one Tony's father had left behind.

As for where to find it, Tony had already given him the answer.

On the plane, Tony had mentioned the legal consultant named Natalie Rushman more than once. He was clearly very interested in her.

The moment he heard the name, Su Ming knew who she was.

The famous [Black Widow], Natasha Romanoff.

Beautiful, curvaceous, and highly skilled—the top female agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

That also stirred Su Ming's memories:

S.H.I.E.L.D. had preserved the research results Tony's father left behind all this time, eventually handing them to Tony and helping him develop a new reactor element.

Having made up his mind, Su Ming called Tony aside and said in a low voice:

"Five hundred million, and I'll help you!"

Tony Stark was baffled by Silver Duke's abrupt remark.

"? What five hundred million...? What can you help me with?"

Su Ming revealed a professional smile. The moment Tony saw it, his body instinctively shuddered.

His premonition that he was about to bleed heavily grew stronger and stronger...

He stared at Su Ming with suspicion and vigilance, waiting for an explanation.

Seeing this, Su Ming sighed inwardly.

This feeling of actively soliciting business really sucks. I waste my breath, and they might not even accept.

Wasn't Tony looking at him like he was guarding against a wolf right now?

Thinking back on how his previous attempts at soliciting business had not gone too smoothly, Su Ming had a feeling Tony might not believe him this time either.

With the attitude of giving it a try, he said:

"Poisoned, aren't you, Tony..."

Tony Stark's expression froze. He looked at Su Ming in surprise, his eyes darting rapidly, but for a moment, he did not know what to say.

Su Ming continued in a low voice:

"Tony, I know the palladium in the reactor in your chest is eroding your body. I can help you solve this problem."

He extended a hand, his professional smile growing even more amiable.

"Only five hundred million!"

Listening to Su Ming, Tony's expression went from surprise to shock to disbelief. Finally, he gave a soft laugh and shook his head helplessly.

"Silver Duke, I don't think you can help me with this.

But your powers of observation are truly impressive...

Please keep it confidential for now.

Let's not talk about this anymore. Watch me bring back a trophy for you!"

With that, Tony took off his sunglasses, gave Su Ming a confident smile, put on his helmet, and headed toward the blue-and-white race car emblazoned with the [Stark] logo...

Su Ming's outstretched hand still hung in the air as he watched Tony nimbly jump into the narrow cockpit.

As the green light came on, dozens of race cars became streaks of multicolored light and sped into the distance.

The thunderous roar of countless engines in his ears reminded Su Ming:

Another attempt at actively soliciting business—failed.

With a trace of doubt, Su Ming made his way to the spectator stands.

Was this what the old saying meant—being too eager was bad for business?

Thinking back to his conversation with Tony, Su Ming did not think he had done anything wrong. He really could obtain the key item that would help Tony escape his predicament.

But unfortunately, Tony simply did not believe him.

What Su Ming did not know was that Tony had thoroughly absorbed the lessons from Las Vegas:

He would no longer easily believe anything about Su Ming other than his combat abilities...

At that moment, a strange man dressed in a staff uniform appeared on the racetrack.

After a burst of electricity flashed, the clothes on the figure's upper body instantly burned to ash, revealing high-tech equipment beneath:

A reactor almost identical to Tony's sat on his chest, with several sparking lines extending from it and wrapping around his torso and arms.

Two long whips dragged along the ground. As electricity jumped erratically across them, they carved furrows into the once-smooth track.

Standing outside the guardrail, Su Ming instantly recognized the man.

"Hey! Isn't that... what's-his-name?"