When inlaid into weapons, they can specifically increase damage against undead creatures; when inlaid into shields, they can enhance the user's resistance, providing a certain degree of immunity to elemental and poison damage.
Aside from the accuracy bonus when inlaid into armor and helmets, which isn't very useful, the attribute boosts provided by the diamonds are quite valuable.
However, activating the magical effects of these items isn't so easy.
Simply put, it must be combined with the socketing process from Diablo 2.
In the game, all you have to do is give your equipment to Larzuk and click confirm, and he'll put sockets in it.
The operation involves just a few mouse clicks, no waiting, and the whole process seems very straightforward.
But in reality, is it really that easy? The answer is clearly no.
You see, from Act I to Act V, there are five blacksmith NPCs in the game.
Aside from Larzuk, who resides in the Barbarian homeland, neither Charsi, who has half-Barbarian blood, nor Fara, who once served as a warrior in the Church of Light and mastered healing magic, nor Hratli, who is both a sorcerer and a blacksmith and skilled in crafting magical equipment, can accomplish this.
Even Healer Elb, who is stationed year-round in Harrogath and often learns skills from angels, cannot put sockets in equipment.
It's clear that putting sockets in equipment isn't as simple as just making a hole in it.
Perhaps it's an engraving technique, or maybe it's the skill of inscribing magic circles; in any case, the socketing process must involve some arcane knowledge that is only passed down among the Barbarian tribes.
Even the blacksmiths in the world of Diablo 2 couldn't learn the socketing technique, so it goes without saying that it's even more impossible in the Marvel world.
Even if a small oversight led to the gems falling into the wrong hands, there's no need to worry about them being used by villains against himself.
That's why Shi Xiaolei so readily brought them out to satisfy Stark's curiosity.
"Gems that can effectively harm undead creatures?"
"Yes," Coulson nodded and reported seriously to the director, "In fact, besides the 'diamonds' specifically for undead creatures, according to Agent 17's intelligence, Locke also produced four other gems with different effects: Topaz for adding lightning damage to equipment, Ruby for fire damage, Sapphire for freezing damage, and Emerald for poisoning."
Ever since Stark became Iron Man, SHIELD's level of attention on him had increased severalfold.
Every move he made was under SHIELD's scrutiny, so how could SHIELD agents be absent from the celebration party held after he perfected the new energy technology?
Sure enough, the day after the party, a female agent, disguised as a socialite and attending the party as a guest's companion, compiled and reported the intelligence to her team leader, Coulson.
In fact, SHIELD had already guessed that Stark would announce the news at the party, meaning he would inform his 'close' friends about the completion of the new energy technology before the official press conference... After all, the emergence of new achievements meant a new blue ocean.
The pie was too big, and even with the strength of Stark Industries, it was impossible to monopolize all the benefits.
Moreover, it's common practice in business to contact potential partners and companies before publicly announcing new achievements.
What truly surprised Coulson was the unexpected development caused by Shi Xiaolei.
Having specialized in 084 for many years, SHIELD always took things that couldn't be explained by common sense very seriously.
Therefore, even without clarifying the accuracy of this intelligence, and without seeing the actual items and verifying their effects, Coulson dared not be careless—less than half an hour passed from receiving the intelligence to meeting Nick Fury.
"I understand, raise Locke's security clearance by one level." Nick Fury tapped his fingers unconsciously while thinking, then issued an order a moment later, "Find an opportunity to meet him again and sound him out.
If he doesn't mind, ask him if he's willing to sell."
"Understood." Coulson nodded, accepting the mission, and reminded, "This mission might require a significant budget."
"Uh~." Hearing this, Nick Fury suddenly felt a headache, "Just give me a number first."
"At least five million per gem." Coulson smiled helplessly, "That's not even counting the premium for special effects, you know, such large gems are never cheap on the market."
"How much did Stark spend? Did he also buy them for five million each?"
"Yes. According to Agent 17's report, Locke sold ten gems to Stark in total, two of each color—red, yellow, blue, green, and white—for a total of fifty million US dollars." At this point, Coulson couldn't help but give another wry smile, "And that was already a 'friend's price.' If the transaction object were us, I think the price would likely increase even further."
"...Damn rich people."
...Almost at the same time, Shi Xiaolei, who was in New York, uttered the same words.
However, there wasn't a hint of annoyance in Shi Xiaolei's 'damn rich people'; instead, it was filled with excitement and thrill.
"Buddy, you need to get used to it." Wearing a pair of aviator sunglasses, Stark patted Shi Xiaolei's lower back, "In fact, if it weren't for all the conditions you set, limiting my scope… you know."
"No, no, this is already enough. I mean, this is much better than I imagined."
Standing in the spacious living room, large enough for a dance party, Shi Xiaolei watched Connie pull 2B, darting around the room, occasionally letting out surprised and joyful laughter.
His face was full of excited and happy smiles, and a sense of fulfillment, almost surreal in its happiness, welled up in his heart.
After the party last night, Stark planned to rest for a few days to recover from the fatigue accumulated during his long period of 'seclusion'.
He would only return to work to oversee things once the patents were registered and Pepper's team had negotiated the specifics with the applicants who wanted to collaborate.
Having nothing to do and not wanting to immediately go back into seclusion to research the gems, Stark decided to personally take on the task of 'finding a house for Shi Xiaolei'.
Well, saying he took it on himself, he actually just acted as a mentor to Shi Xiaolei—under Stark's guidance, Shi Xiaolei went to the bank and, with the fifty million dollars from selling the gems, completed the procedures to upgrade to a VIP client.
Then, again under Stark's guidance, he made a request to the bank, asking them to help him find a property that met his requirements.
It must be said that in America, where capital reigns supreme, being a VIP client truly works wonders.
He went to the bank in the morning, and just after lunch, they already provided feedback.
Half an hour later, Shi Xiaolei had already brought his two family members to the house the bank helped him select, to appraise the property before them.