Another Billion Secured

California, Tony's home.

Although Tony had no idea where Su Ming had obtained his father's belongings, he still had doubts about whether they could help him overcome this crisis.

That doubt only grew as Tony looked through the personal items his father had left behind.

"Doesn't seem like there's anything useful..."

Tony's mood gradually sank, and he unconsciously looked toward Su Ming, who stood calmly by the side.

"What makes him so confident in these belongings?"

What am I doing? I clearly decided not to trust anything this bounty hunter said beyond fighting...

Even so, who could refuse to grasp at hope when cornered?

Just then, Howard Stark appeared on the projector screen and called out to the camera.

"Tony..."

That drew both Tony's and Su Ming's attention.

For some reason, Alisha had not come with Su Ming.

On the screen, Howard Stark said solemnly,

"You're still young. Everything I've done is to pave the way for your future..."

Howard said that the technology of his era simply could not create humanity's future.

"The map I left behind will bring you new discoveries... Only you can change humanity's future!"

Hearing that, Tony immediately found the map his father had left behind.

It was worth mentioning that Su Ming had only taken a small portion of Stark's belongings from S.H.I.E.L.D. The larger items, including the massive map model, had been loaded onto a truck and sent directly to Tony's home at Su Ming's request.

"Damn, I remembered wrong..."

Looking at the opened boxes on the floor, Su Ming had thought the important item was in one of them. In the end, the only useful thing inside was a videotape.

What could truly bring Tony hope was hidden within the map model.

Looking at the model, which stood half a wall tall, Su Ming thought,

That's it!

Tony keenly sensed that the map seemed to conceal something unusual.

As if a question in his heart had been answered, he quickly moved the model into his workshop for study.

With JARVIS's help, he discovered that an inconspicuous sphere contained an elemental structure he had never seen before.

After analyzing it, he was delighted to find that this New Element could not only eliminate palladium, but also serve as the reactor's new core...

"I knew only a New Element could help me!"

To detoxify himself, Tony had tried countless combinations of elements already known to the scientific community, but none had worked...

That was also what had driven him to despair.

"It's forcing me to develop a New Element..."

Tony had truly considered developing a New Element himself, but time simply did not allow it.

The appearance of the New Element's structure swept away the dark clouds that had weighed on Tony's heart for days.

At last, Tony smiled happily.

"Tony?"

At that moment, Su Ming spoke and pulled the cheerful Tony back to reality.

Tony turned to look at Su Ming, who seemed completely confident, and silently praised him.

He really knows how to surprise me!

Tony remembered that Su Ming had already perceptively noticed his predicament and claimed he had a way to solve it, yet Tony had dismissed him at the time.

Who would have thought that at such a crucial moment, Su Ming would truly bring him something capable of changing his fate?

This bounty hunter had some real skill...

Although he had apparently wanted to kill Tony when they first met, to be fair, the man had been reasonable when reason was called for~

Back then, Tony had bought his own life for just fifty million. It had been an absolute bargain.

Thinking back on his history with Su Ming, the man had saved him more than once and, in the end, merely taken some money before leaving.

Tony had never met such a good person in his life!

Though his competitive nature had once made him find fault with Su Ming at every turn.

Mr. Silver Duke was like timely rain, always appearing when Tony was in trouble.

What a lovable guy...

Though Tony Stark had never conceded to anyone, how could anyone dislike someone like Mr. Silver Duke, who only asked for money in exchange for good deeds?

Tony had forgotten that Su Ming's prices were not low at all. Tony simply did not care.

From that moment on, the always-arrogant Tony formed a favorable impression of Su Ming.

Just as he was about to say something, a wave of pain struck him. His palladium poisoning symptoms worsened again...

Tony groaned, and gray-black veins had already become visible along his neck.

Hiss—

At that moment, Su Ming swiftly injected something into Tony's neck.

"Right, Director Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. asked me to pass along his regards..."

If Tony's poisoning had not flared up, Su Ming might have forgotten that, before leaving S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury had given him a syringe containing medicine that could delay the symptoms of palladium poisoning.

Nick Fury had originally intended to speak with Tony himself, help him through the poisoning crisis, and thereby persuade him to join the Avengers Initiative.

But he had already used the most important Stark belongings as bargaining chips in his deal with Su Ming.

Since he also wanted to recruit both Su Ming and Tony into his plan, he simply gave the medicine to Su Ming without hesitation.

After all, it was not an antidote. It could only temporarily relieve the symptoms of palladium poisoning.

So, in Nick Fury's eyes, it was far less valuable than Su Ming and Tony.

"Ah~ What is this?"

As Tony felt sharp pain in his neck, a cool sensation immediately followed, easing the suffocating discomfort that had plagued him lately.

Tony could not help but grow curious.

Su Ming was somewhat frightened in retrospect. Luckily, Tony's poisoning had flared up right in front of him and reminded him of it. Otherwise, he might truly have forgotten to give Tony the injection.

If Tony suddenly died halfway through developing the New Element, Su Ming would be deeply at fault...

Thinking that, Su Ming answered honestly.

"Tony, this is medicine S.H.I.E.L.D. developed specifically for you to alleviate the symptoms of palladium poisoning.

"I think this injection should be enough to hold you on until the New Element is successfully developed.

"I nearly forgot about it... Heh heh."

Tony touched his neck and felt the strange protrusions from before slowly receding. He knew that whatever Su Ming had injected truly could delay his symptoms.

He sighed in relief, but he also had a complaint.

"You had something this good and didn't take it out sooner? You let me suffer for all these days..."

But Su Ming had genuinely saved his life and ensured that he had time to research the New Element.

Tony would not ignore such a favor.

"Mr. Silver Duke, I know your rules—five hundred million, paid in full."

"Stop!"

Su Ming raised a hand and looked at Tony in surprise.

What was this supposed to mean?

Back then, Tony had refused when Su Ming asked for five hundred million. Su Ming had flown back and forth between Brazil and Washington, working himself to the bone before finally getting the goods.

Tony had now confirmed they worked, yet he still wanted to take them at the original price?

Where did such a good deal come from?

Could an off-plan property cost the same as a completed one?

"Tony, I need to remind you, that was the original price..."

Tony Stark looked at Su Ming's professional smile and knew exactly how he operated.

Alright, alright~

It's just money. No big deal...

But how could the proud Tony act warmly toward another man?

With that thought, Tony snorted.

"I'll give you double! One billion..."

At the same time, his eyes kept darting toward the New Element structural diagram. He could not wait to bury himself in it immediately...

Looking at the generous Tony, Su Ming knew he was eager to develop the New Element. Since Tony had already offered double the price, continuing to haggle at this point would only make Su Ming unpleasant.

There would be more opportunities in the future anyway...

So he did not put on airs.

"Deal!"

The moment he spoke, the phone rang, and Alisha's slightly hoarse voice came through.

"Boss... the military called. There's a commission..."

Without even saying goodbye, Su Ming left Tony's home.

At that moment, Tony made a phone call. He knew that creating this New Element would require enormous amounts of energy.

His little workshop could not possibly accomplish it.

Over the phone, he arranged to purchase an ion-emitter assembly worth ten billion, then picked up a sledgehammer and began renovating his mansion, which was worth several hundred million.

If Su Ming, who had left in such a hurry, had known that Tony spent more than ten billion on equipment alone,

he might have regretted leaving quite so decisively...