Tony rubbed his brow.
"Tell him I'll pay three times the black-market price for every last bit of vibranium he has."
"I'm sorry, sir."
JARVIS replied immediately.
"The latest dark-web intelligence indicates that Klaue is being hunted across national borders by an exceptionally elite team of operatives. His entire supply chain was cut off half a month ago. There are currently fewer than seventy grams of vibranium circulating on the black market, and the impurity content is high."
Tony's fingers stopped tapping on the desk.
Seventy grams? That wasn't even enough for the foundation of the next generation of heavy armor.
He rubbed his face in frustration, his gaze settling on the black, custom-made Titanium Alloy Phone beside the console.
If conventional business methods wouldn't work, he would have to turn to the guy who never played by the rules.
"Put me through to the guy who spends all day ordering takeout on my card."
The phone rang twice before a bright, irreverent electronic voice piped up through the receiver. "Ordis notification: a certain anxious tin-can sponsor is calling."
Loud chewing followed in the background, mixed with the clatter of ice as a straw stirred around the bottom of a plastic cup.
"Get to the point. My stir-fried pork intestines just came out of the wok."
Chen Xiao's voice was languid and slightly muffled.
"I need materials."
Tony got straight to the point.
"While you were running all over the universe, did you ever come across a metal lighter than titanium alloy, tougher than abyssal adamant, and perfectly compatible with energy conduction? My nanotech armor project is stuck on the frame's load-bearing capacity."
A gulp came from the other end of the line.
"Vibranium, obviously."
Chen Xiao made it sound like a given.
"Isn't that shield your dad left you